Keeping up with the latest hair trends is a lot like discovering new beauty products. Just when you think you’ve found your favorites, new and exciting formulas have magically appeared upon digital and in-store shelves. This also happens when it comes to different shades of blonde. The second you think you picked your all-time favorite hue, you discover a brand new shade on Insta.
While ash blonde hair color has been a mainstay in the cool-toned family, so many new variations keep popping up, each one totally worth adding to your “must try” list. Today we’re discussing all things ash blonde hair, including what it looks like, which skin tones can pull it off best, and how to take care of it. We’re also showcasing 50 of our favorite ways to try the look, from silver ash blonde hair to dark ash blonde hair and beyond.
What Is Ash Blonde Hair Color?
The word ash gets thrown around quite a bit in the hair world—but what is this so-called “ash” we’re talking about? And what actually qualifies as ash blonde hair? Long story short, ash hair colors are cool-toned hues with undertones of gray and white. (Think about the color of actual ashes!)
Ash blonde hair can range from platinum white to dark blonde, but it always has those cool undertones. On the opposite end of the spectrum, you’ve got warmer tones, which is where hues such as honey and caramel blonde fall.
Who Does Ash Blonde Look Good On?
Whenever choosing a new hair color, it’s a good idea to consider your skin tone. You want to select a shade that complements your complexion. Typically, cool-toned shades—including all types of ash blonde hair—look best on people with cool undertones and fair skin.
Not sure how to determine your skin’s undertone? Look at the veins on the underside of your arm. If your veins appear blue or purple, you likely have a cool undertone. If your veins appear green, you likely have a warm undertone.
With the above said, there aren’t any super hard or fast rules about who can rock ash blonde hair. A professional colorist can tweak any hair color to suit your skin tone. So, if you want to live that ash blonde hair life, go for it!
How Can I Get My Hair Ash Blonde?
If you’re feeling ready to delve deep into ash blonde hair color, you’ll definitely want to head to a seasoned colorist who can help you nail the look. These cool hues are tricky to pull off on your own, so put down the box of ash blonde hair dye and call your stylist stat.
To achieve a gorgeous mane of ash blonde hair, your colorist will likely need to use bleach to help lighten some or all of your hair. This is true whether you’re going for all-over light ash blonde hair or just a few ash blonde highlights on brown hair. After lightening, the colorist will be able to give your hair an ash blonde hue via professional dye and toners. Redken ShadesEQ are in-salon glazes that subtly manipulate your hair color to infuse warm or cool tones. The Ash Gold series is new to the Redken ShadesEQ family, and they really lean into the fusion of cool and warm to help achieve that striking ash blonde color.
As time goes on, touch-ups will, of course, be necessary, and your colorist will also likely recommend routine hair gloss and toner services between appointments. These can help keep your ashy strands brass-free and cool.
How To Care For Ash Blonde Hair
So, you finally have the ash blonde hue you’ve been dreaming of…now what? To maintain those cool tones and keep your hair feeling healthy and strong, you’ll want to adhere to a solid hair care routine.
Begin with a shampoo and conditioner like the Redken Color Extend Shampoo for Color-Treated Hair and Color Extend Magnetics Conditioner for Color-Treated Hair. This gentle, anti-fade system cleanses while strengthening and keeping your strands fresh and vibrant. You can also add a purple toning shampoo and conditioner to your weekly or bi-weekly routine to help fight off any unwanted brassiness. We recommend the Redken Color Extend Blondage Color Depositing Purple Shampoo for Blonde Hair and Color Extend Blondage Color Depositing Conditioner.
If your ash blonde strands are feeling the damaging effects of bleach, incorporate a weekly hair mask like L'Oréal Professionnel’s Absolut Repair Resurfacing Golden Masque into your routine. This editor-approved formula instantly nourishes and restores weakened hair, leaving it softer and shinier.
How Would I Look With Ash Blonde Hair?
After all this talk of icy, cool shades, it’s only reasonable to be left wondering how you’d look with ash blonde hair. If you’re hoping to take ash-blonde for a no-commitment spin, try it out using one of our favorite virtual hair color makeover apps.
The 50 Best Ash Blonde Hair Ideas To Try Now
There’s no one-size-fits-all shade of ash blonde hair. But no matter your skin tone or desired level of maintenance, there’s definitely a shade that will work for you. Read on for (more than) a few of our favorite ash blonde hair ideas for all skin tones and hair types.
Light Ash Blonde
If you spent your teenage years spray tanning and have never met a blonde hair treatment you didn’t like, then light ash blonde is for you. The cool-toned shade adds near-white and silver notes to your ‘do, updating the bright blonde hair color you’ve held onto for years.
White Ash Blonde Hair
Speaking of bright tones, white ash is a shade that’s seen a dramatic uptick in popularity. It’s like the cool girl’s platinum, especially when applied as highlights over a dark ash hue or worn with visible roots.
The contrast between the icy shade and a dark base is striking. All you need is a vampy matte lipstick to complete your Instagram goddess look—trust us, you’ll be eager to show this hair color off.
Holographic Ash Blonde Hair
Hot on the tail of mega-trends like rainbow and pastel hair, holographic strands have hit in a big way. The reflective technique requires hair stylists to hand-paint color onto a glass plate before transferring it to the hair in sections—much like the traditional screen printing process. The result is a reflective, ashy white-purple mane that’s absolutely jaw-dropping. Summer hair, here you come.
Platinum Ash Blonde
While white ash blonde hair is often seen in highlights, ombre, and balayage, platinum ash is striking as a full head of hair. It’s not often we recommend a single shade for the entire head, but this stunning color is the grand exception to the rule.
Ash Blonde Hair Balayage
One of the reasons ash blonde hair is so flattering is its ability to play nicely with almost any other hair color. And that’s why ash blonde makes a fantastic balayage color. As a hand-painted highlight all over the head, ash blonde adds serious high points to your mane.
It’s key to keep platinum as bright and cool as possible, so make sure you’ve thoroughly noted your stylist’s hair care instructions before getting up from the salon chair.
Beachy Ash Blonde
Ash blonde hair looks amazing with beachy texture. Use a few spritzes of texturizing spray like Pureology Style + Protect Wind Tossed Texture Finish Spray to give your mane that effortless texture—even when there’s no beach in sight.
Ash Blonde With Dark Roots
For those not sold on constant root touch-ups, let us introduce you to ash blonde with dark roots, your new best friend.
White Ash Bob
Why are you carrying all that extra length around, girl? Just snip it off! Combine those fresh, gorgeous ends with bright ashy color for a show-stopping look.
Ashy Blonde Lob
Short strands and a blonde color are a match made in heaven. These brilliant highlights, in particular, will totally brighten any winter day when paired with a dark base.
Cool Ash Blonde Hair
We recommend this shade to the ladies who already have some experience maintaining brass-free locks. To keep cool ash looking fresh, you should be ready to commit to a full hair care routine. That includes using a purple toning conditioner, such as the aforementioned Redken Color Extend Blondage Color Depositing Conditioner.
Honey Ash Blonde Hair
Like a speck of white on a painting, a bright honey blonde hair color creates the illusion that there’s more depth to your hair than really exists. The result? Your hair will look thicker without any extra work (or extensions).
Caramel Ash Blonde Hair
Trade dark strands for a flattering caramel shade with hints of ash blonde throughout.
Crystal Ash Blonde Hair
When it comes to balayage, we’re fairly obsessed with the shade crystal ash. The color made the rounds of social media last year and involves a gradual transition from medium ash brown to very bright, ashy white ends.
Pearl Ash Blonde Hair
Unlike white ash blonde, this close cousin is about finish rather than shade. Pearl ash is a shimmery, luminescent shade with an ultra-cool silvery hue. It’s especially striking against very pale and medium skin tones.
Dark Ash Blonde Hair
We call this shade dark ash blonde, but you also may know it as light ash brown. There’s very little difference between the shades, which combine a beige-y nutmeg base with light ash top notes.
Dirty Ash Blonde Hair
Dirty ash blonde is a surprisingly wearable color. Like dark ash blonde, it brings in notes of medium brown while still maintaining pristine coolness. It’s a shade made for medium and medium-dark skin tones.
Golden Blonde Ash Blonde Hair
As with all very light hair colors, golden ash blonde hair requires regular maintenance to stay bright. If you’re a blonde veteran, that’s no added inconvenience for you.
Platinum Ash Blonde Hair On Darker Complexions
Against darker complexions, platinum ash blonde hair is striking and modern.
Ash Blonde Hair On Olive Skin
Make olive skin look its most gorgeous with a customized ash shade.
Ash Blonde Hair On Tan Skin
Whether you have medium skin or have just been spending a lot of time in the sun, you’ll love the way ash blonde hair color looks against your complexion.
Ash Blonde Hair With Honey Highlights
Instead of just going honey, ask your stylist for an ash blonde shade that just barely has hints of honey throughout. You’ll get a stunning, reflective finish.
Strawberry Ash Blonde Hair
This ultra-cool hue combines a light red with ash blonde, creating a rich blonde that’s made for fair and medium skin. Because it’s such a stunner, we love this look for all hair lengths and textures.
Blue-Tinted Ash Blonde Hair
If you’ve experienced bleach-related hair damage and are trying to salvage what’s left of your hair with a lob, we suggest adding some spice with an unexpected pop of color. Here, we’ll even make the decision easy for you: Pastel blue is the way to go.
Pink-Tinted Ash Blonde Hair
You thought we were just going to leave it at a single pastel shade? Not a chance. This cool rose shade is all the best parts of the pastel trend, without any of the harsh neon hair color influence.
Chocolate Ash Blonde Hair
Bright blonde hair isn’t for everyone, nor is it your only option for cool-toned hair. For something darker, we love the look of chocolate blonde ash.
Brown Ash Blonde Hair
Natural brunettes, this one’s for you. If you’re thinking of giving this shade of brown ash blonde hair a try, make sure your stylist places a few bright highlights throughout for maximum movement and depth.
Ash Blonde Hair Ombre
For everyone on the hunt for a sleek way to try out a new color, ash blonde ombre is our best recommendation.
Smoky Ash Blonde Hair
When blended with ashy blonde hair, silver turns into a moody, smoky hair color that’s unforgettable.
Ash Blonde Hair With Brown Lowlights
If you’re hoping to go lighter for summer but aren’t set on a full head of blonde, brown lowlights are the right choice for you. It’s modern and chic without becoming excessive. It also looks picture-perfect framing tan or dark skin.
Rose Gold Ash Blonde Hair
Fact: We are truly and utterly obsessed with rose gold ash blonde hair. Second fact: We very rarely see people actually wearing it. If you’re interested in being a follicular rebel, then rose gold is the right shade for you.
Ash Blonde Hair On Fair Skin
On fair skin, ash blonde is summer-appropriate and totally beachy.
Long Ash Blonde Hair
Let those ashy inches flow, baby. Of course, if you’re embracing lots of length, you may want to invest in liter bottles of your favorite shampoo and conditioner.
Ash Blonde Hair With Brown Highlights
Pairing an ashy blonde base with a brown balayage treatment, this hair color idea allows you to take ash a little darker while still remaining a blonde.
Short Ash Blonde Hair
Here’s another reminder that ash isn’t only good for long hair. Shorter hair looks equally lovely in cool tones.
Fringe With Ash Blonde Hair
Why not try a fringe with your ashy hair color?
Ashy Charcoal-Influenced Waves
Great news: Blonde highlights can very easily be turned into ashy charcoal strands. To add drama when you’re done with having light hair, make gray your next big move.
Super Subtle Ash Blonde Balayage
Not everyone wants their hair color to make them look like a whole new person (this is one of the reasons having a salon consultation is so important). This super subtle balayage is perfect for refreshing your look without parting with what makes you, you.
Extra Long Ash Ombre
When it’s too cold to do anything else in the winter, grow out your hair! All those extra inches are dramatic and gorgeous.
Silver Ash Blonde Hair
Add a flash of silver to your ‘do for a whole new take on highlights.
Champagne Ash Blonde
We usually reserve a glass of bubbly for special occasions, but champagne blonde can be enjoyed at any time of year. This variation of ash blonde is shiny, dimensional, and flattering on so many skin tones.
Gray Ash Blonde Hair
While we’re on the subject of cutting-edge color trends, let’s talk about gray-blonde ash. This shade is one of our favorites for the year because it’s an updated approach to the muted gray hair that’s been so popular.
Ash Blonde Pixie
Ash blonde hair paired with a pixie cut makes just as much of an impact as longer strands. This cut and color combo is a great option for women over 50.
Blush Ash Blonde
Pink hair is huge right now, but if you don’t want to try a full head of pink, consider blush blonde. This ash blonde hue offers the slight tint of color you desire without all the maintenance of a traditional fashion hair color. This is one of our favorite picks for fair skin tones.
Ash Brown With Ash Blonde Highlights
Give your ash brown hair brightness and dimension with a few ash blonde highlights. This subtle change makes a big difference, we promise!
Greige
Greige is 2022’s hottest hair color, combining warm beige with cool gray. Basically, you get the best of both worlds.
Ash Blonde Hair Curly Hair
Whether you’re rocking your natural texture or creating ringlets by hand, ash blonde hair looks striking with curly strands.
Dark Ash Base with Pearl Ash
If you have naturally dark strands but want to play with ash blonde, opt for this look that combines a dark ash base with pearl ash. Hello, contrast!
Earl Gray Ash Blonde
Here’s another option for those of you starting with a darker base. Have your stylist lift the color slightly and add an earl gray tone throughout.
Smokey Ash Brunette
If you’re unsure about going blonde (at least not yet), this smokey ash brunette is an excellent gateway. Ask your colorist to incorporate baby-fine silver-white strands throughout. Over time, you can add more and gradually go blonder.
Cream Soda Ash Blonde
This creamy take on ash blonde is perfect for all seasons, while the balayage approach allows your hair to grow out nicely.
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