The L'Oréal Professionnel Blond Studio range covers every lightening service a salon runs — on-scalp roots, foils, freehand balayage and high-lift work — but with six lighteners to choose from, matching the right one to the service isn't always obvious. This guide compares the full Blond Studio line-up (often searched as Blonde Studio) by format, lift and best use, so you can pick with confidence every time.
Every product below is stocked for trade at Hairco & Beauty.
Blond Studio lighteners at a glance
A quick side-by-side of the range. Exact mixing ratios and development times are on each product page.
| Lightener | Format | Lift | Bond protection | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Multi-Techniques Blue Powder Bleach (8) | Powder | Up to 8 levels | No | All-rounder for foils, off-scalp and mixed techniques on any hair type |
| 9 Levels Lightening Powder (9) | Powder | Up to 9 levels | No | Maximum lift with improved hair quality |
| 9 Bonder Inside Lightening Powder | Powder | Up to 9 levels | Yes | Extreme lift where bond integrity matters |
| 8T Purple Lightening Balm Bonder Inside | Balm | Up to 8 levels | Yes | Lift, respect and neutralise in one step; on-scalp and French balayage |
| Clay Freehand Powder | Clay powder | Up to 7 levels (no ammonia) | No | Precise freehand and balayage that stays where you place it |
| Platinium Plus Paste | Paste | Up to 7 levels | No | Conditioning lift for coloured or resistant hair; open-air, enclosed, global or on-scalp depending on developer |
How to choose by service and hair condition
- Everyday lightening (foils, off-scalp, mixed work): the Multi-Techniques Blue Powder Bleach is the core, do-anything powder — up to 8 levels with a dust-controlled, blue-based formula that helps neutralise warmth as it lifts.
- Maximum lift: 9 Levels Lightening Powder pushes up to 9 levels while looking after hair quality.
- Maximum lift on compromised or precious hair: 9 Bonder Inside gives the same 9 levels with bond protection built in.
- On-scalp work, or lift and tone in one step: the 8T Purple Lightening Balm — a creamy balm with bonder inside, 29% nutritive oil and a Purple Dye Complex that softly neutralises as it lifts.
- Freehand and balayage: Clay Freehand Powder — a no-ammonia clay that lifts up to 7 levels and stays where you place it for clean, predictable freehand work.
- Conditioning lift, or coloured/resistant hair: Platinium Plus Paste (also searched as Platinum Plus) — a creamy, enriched paste that lifts up to 7 levels and adapts to open-air, enclosed, global or on-scalp work depending on the developer.
Blond Studio Multi-Techniques Blue Powder Bleach (Studio 8)
The workhorse of the range and the one most salons reach for daily. It lifts up to 8 levels, works across every off-scalp technique, and suits all hair types. The blue base helps control warmth during the lift for cleaner, more even results.
Blond Studio 9 Levels Lightening Powder (Studio 9)
When you need more power, the 9 Levels powder lifts up to 9 levels while protecting hair quality — ideal for darker bases or stronger lift in a single process.
Blond Studio 9 Bonder Inside Lightening Powder
The same up-to-9-level performance with bonding technology built in, so you can push lift on finer, lightened or more fragile hair with better integrity. Reach for this when condition is a concern but you still need maximum lift.
Blond Studio 8T Purple Lightening Balm Bonder Inside
A high-care balm that lifts, respects and neutralises in one step. It lightens up to 8 levels with a +17% faster take-off, bonder inside and 29% nutritive oil to protect the hair, plus a Purple Dye Complex for soft, anti-yellow toning as you work. The balm format suits foils, freehand and on-scalp, and it's a natural fit for French balayage — lift first, then tone with an acidic gloss such as Dia Light.
Blond Studio Clay Freehand Powder
A no-ammonia, clay-based lightener built for freehand and balayage. Its 19% clay gives a thick, malleable texture that holds its shape and stays exactly where you place it — so you get precise, controlled open-air placement with no demarcation. It lifts up to 7 levels with a gentle, predictable action that helps build balayage confidence and is well suited to damage-conscious clients.
Blond Studio Platinium Plus Paste
A luxury, ready-to-mix lightening paste that lifts up to 7 levels while conditioning as it works. Enriched with Nutri-Cerides and White Beeswax, it smooths and softens the hair fibre for a beautifully conditioned result, and its smooth, creamy texture makes for easy, even application. It contains ammonia for confident lift on coloured or difficult-to-lighten hair, and adapts across open-air, enclosed, global and on-scalp techniques depending on the developer and ratio. Designed to be used with the Blond Studio Nutri-Developer (20, 30 or 40 Vol), with a development time of up to 50 minutes.
Which developer should you use?
Blond Studio lighteners are mixed with a Blond Studio developer (oxidant). Match the strength to the lift you need and the technique:
- Blond Studio Nutri-Developer — nourishing crème developer in 20, 30 and 40 Vol.
- Oil Developer 30 Vol and Oil Developer 20 Vol — oil-based developers for a comfortable lift.
As a rule, 40 Vol is limited to off-scalp use only. Always follow the mixing ratio and maximum development time printed on the lightener you're using.
Blond Studio 8 vs 9: what's the difference?
The quickest way to read the range: the 8 products lift up to 8 levels and the 9 products up to 9. Beyond raw lift, choose on format and care — powders for classic foil and off-scalp work, the balm for on-scalp and lift-and-tone, the clay for freehand, and the Bonder Inside options when you want maximum lift with bond protection.
FAQs
Which Blond Studio lightener is best for balayage?
For hand-painted, open-air balayage the Clay Freehand Powder is purpose-built — no ammonia, up to 7 levels, and a texture that stays put — while the 8T Purple Balm is ideal if you want to lift and tone in one step.
What's the difference between the powder and the balm?
Powders (Studio 8, 9 and 9 Bonder Inside) are mixed fresh and suit foil and off-scalp work. The Purple Balm is a creamy, ready-textured format with bonder and toning built in, designed to be comfortable on-scalp and across freehand techniques.
Do I need a bonder?
If you're pushing strong lift on finer, pre-lightened or fragile hair, a bonder helps protect integrity. The 9 Bonder Inside and Purple Balm have bonding built in, so there's no separate additive to mix.
Are these suitable for on-scalp use?
The Purple Balm and the Platinium Plus paste can both be used on-scalp with the correct developer and ratio. The powders are generally for off-scalp and foil techniques. Always follow the current manufacturer guidance for each product.
Professional use only. Always carry out an allergy alert test 48 hours before every colour or lightening service, and follow current manufacturer instructions.
All six Blond Studio lighteners and developers are available at trade prices with next day UK delivery.
More lightening & colour guides
- L'Oréal Blond Studio: the complete salon lightening guide
- Bleach powder & lightener guide: blue vs white, lift levels & bond protection
- Professional ash blonde formulas
- How to tone after lightening (Color Touch & Shinefinity)
- Hair colour numbering explained: levels & tones
Written by Charlotte Read, Content Writer at Hairco & Beauty. Charlotte has over six years' experience in professional hair and beauty, and our guides are informed by colleagues with 100+ years of combined salon experience and by insight from the trade customers we supply. More about our content.
