TikTok has spoken, and the results are in: Blue hair is the color du jour. All you have to do is search the term #bluehair for proof—nearly 700,000 posts dedicated to the hue indicate just how versatile and captivating this color can be. The only downside to blue hair is that it’s notoriously tricky to maintain. Ahead, learn more about blue hair dye and discover three of our top haircare tips to prolong its vibrancy.
Who Should Try Blue Hair?
The short answer is that everyone can try blue hair—it’s all about finding the most flattering shade based on your skin tone and undertones. Consulting a colorist well-versed in fantasy shades can give you the most complementary result. If you’re unsure, it’s always a good idea to scroll through their social media channels to get an idea of which looks they’re able to bring to life. You should also consider how much time you’re willing to devote to maintenance. For example, an all-over pastel shade will likely require more upkeep than a dark blue ombré or navy color block.
Good hair day by @aigneestyles.
How Do You Get Blue Hair?
Generally, those with blonde or gray hair can more easily experiment with blue hair dye since shades of blue tend to pop against these lighter hues. Anyone starting with red or dark brown bases, on the other hand, may need a few rounds of bleach to create a noticeable color contrast. It’s important to note that bleach will always cause some damage. As such, we recommend leaving vivid hair color transformations to the pros to maintain the look and feel of your strands.
Good hair day by @thegirlnamedwalter.
Why Is Blue Hair Dye So Hard To Maintain?
Unlike permanent and demi-permanent hair colors, blue fantasy shades usually come in the form of semi-permanent hair dyes. This type of hair color simply coats the surface of your hair with pigment, giving you a short-term color change that gradually fades after a few shampoos. There are also innovative semi-permanent formulas that provide longer-lasting results, such as Matrix SoColor Cult Semi-Permanent Hair Color. This pro-loved dye range is available in 13 punchy shades and can withstand up to 20 (!) washes. Use the Matrix Salon Finder to see if your nearest salon is stocking SoColor Cult in Retro Blue, Dusty Teal, and Admiral Navy.
Good hair day by @emily_hair_colorist.
3 Ways To Extend the Life of Blue Hair
Caring for blue hair may require a few tweaks to your haircare routine, but the payoff—i.e., a vibrant, lasting hair color—will be worth it. Here are three tips to keep in mind to help prolong the life of your blue hue.
Pick up a dedicated vivid haircare system
Blue hair can prematurely fade if your shampoo and conditioner aren’t specifically designed for bright, color-treated hair. We suggest reaching for a system like Matrix Keep Me Vivid Shampoo and Matrix Keep Me Vivid Conditioner to help maintain the vibrancy of fast-fading hair colors. When using this duo, your hair color can last up to 65 days, plus you’ll notice increased shine.
Good hair day by @projessionalhair.
Wash in cool water
Many colorists agree that washing your hair in cooler water can help preserve your hair’s hue. That’s because hot water can lift the scales of your hair’s cuticle layer and allow dye molecules to escape. Cool water, meanwhile, works to seal the hair’s cuticle so it lies flat, keeping color locked in for longer.
Good hair day by @trishas.hair.
Use a dry shampoo
As important as it is to heed the above wash day tips, it’s equally important not to overwash your strands and risk stripping your color. Instead of a daily suds sesh, use a dry shampoo to refresh your mane in between washes. Among our favorite formulas are the super absorbent Redken Deep Clean Dry Shampoo and the fragrant, neroli-scented Kérastase Fresh Affair Fine Fragrance Dry Shampoo.
Next Up: 20 of the Most Popular Hair Color Trends To Try in 2024
Use our salon locator to try blue hair with a colorist near you.
Header photo credits (left to right): @emily_hair_colorist, @projessionalhair, and @thegirlnamedwalter
