Ash brown hair color has become increasingly popular, gracing Instagram feeds and captivating those seeking a modern twist on classic brunette shades. This cool hue introduces a touch of silver to brunette hair through mink-toned highlights, smokey ombre effects, and ashy balayage techniques. This guide provides a comprehensive overview of ash brown hair, including who it suits best, various style ideas, maintenance tips, and the differences between ash blonde and ash brown.
Ash brown hair color is a cool, smoky shade with a rich, deep brunette base. Unlike warmer brunettes that feature hints of red or gold, ash brown tones down the warmth with an almost silvery finish. This results in a sophisticated and modern look.
Ash brown hair is versatile and can be adapted to suit various skin tones and shades.
Elevate traditional sun-kissed balayage by smoking out a cool brunette base with soft, ashy strands from mid-lengths to ends. For an even smokier effect, consider applying Illumina 10/69 or 10/81 + Welloxon Perfect Pastel 1.9% (6 volume) to the lighter sections for an extra cool pop.
Transform contrasting color with a smoky twist on ombre hair. Stretch ash brown roots through the mid-lengths before transitioning into a cool blonde shade to create a lived-in effect.
Read also: Sun-Kissed Golden Brown
This sepia-toned shade begins with a dark blonde base and builds light ash brown color from root to tip, ensuring a seamless transition.
Highlights instantly lift and lighten any hair color. Adding cool blonde highlights through an ashy brown base brightens the overall shade with a multi-dimensional finish. To maintain a glossy and healthy appearance, incorporate WellaPlex into the coloring service or complete the look with a ColorMotion+ Structure+ Mask treatment.
This rich, deep, and smoky shade adds depth to classic brunettes with a subtle coolness. Ideal for natural brunettes seeking to enhance their shade, a dusty, smoky finish can be achieved by toning with Illumina Color, using one of the cooler shades. Illumina Color contains a built-in violet base for an extra dose of coolness.
A medium ash brown hair color offers a seamless, cool brunette that is lighter without transitioning into a dark ash blonde. This shade is perfect for those who prefer a single color over multi-dimensional strands or highlights. Enhance the shine with EIMI Glam Mist.
For a more striking statement, this smoky look blends silvery ribbons of color with hints of mauve, creating a multi-dimensional effect. To showcase every shade, curl the hair into loose waves with the ghd Soft Curl and scrunch EIMI Ocean Spritz through the mid-lengths and ends for added texture.
Read also: Guide to Light Brown Hair
For a unique twist, add a cool hint of pink to an ash brown base. Color Touch 9/75 or Shinefinity 00/56 + 00/00 Crystal Glaze delivers the perfect amount of color while adding luminous shine and a glossy finish.
To keep ash brown hair color fresh and cool, use a purple shampoo like INVIGO Blonde Recharge Cool Blonde with violet hues to eliminate brassy tones in lighter sections. For richer tones, use a color-protecting shampoo to maintain vibrancy.
If hair feels dry post-color, use Nutri-Enrich Deep Nourishing Mask, applying it to damp hair from mid-lengths to ends to lock in moisture and nourish stressed hair.
Those with lighter strands, such as blonde or light brown, may be able to dye their hair ash brown without pre-lightening. However, applying ash brown hair dye to dark brown hair may not produce the desired results.
If starting with a darker color, it’s advisable to bleach the hair first. The L’Oréal Paris Féria Hyper Platinum Advanced Lightening System Bleach can lighten hair up to eight levels. After bleaching, use an ash brown hair dye of your choice. The L’Oréal Paris Superior Preference Fade-Defying Shine Permanent Hair Color in Medium Ash Brown is a great option for a mid-toned cool brown shade.
Read also: Achieve Honey Brown Hair
Ideal for those with naturally dark hair who want to experiment with color without the maintenance of lighter hues, deep ash brown looks sensational on olive and deep skin tones. Achieve this inky hue with a dark ash brown hair dye, such as the L’Oréal Paris Excellence Creme Universal Nudes in Natural Black.
Natural blondes can embrace an ash brown hue without darkening their hair too much by opting for ash bronde.
Slightly deeper in tone than ash bronde, light ash brown is a versatile hue that flatters both fairer and deeper complexions.
An ultra-cool take on ash brown, mushroom brown incorporates silvery highlights and gray lowlights for depth and dimension.
A balanced choice for those undecided between light and deep shades, medium ash brown provides a toffee-like tone.
For those seeking to embrace an ash brown color without regular touch-ups, an ashy brown ombre is an excellent option.
A subtle version of ombre, ash brown sombre (or "subtle ombre") allows for color experimentation without a dramatic approach.
Opting for ash brown highlights is a great way to brighten hair without adding unwanted warmth.
The money piece technique involves lightening the strands around the face to brighten the look without an all-over dye job.
For those who prefer darker hair colors, ashy chocolate brown offers the richness and dimension of classic chocolate brown without the reddish or golden undertones.
A low-maintenance style, medium ash brown balayage involves freehand painting individual strands for a perfectly blended, lived-in look.
Experiment with the pastel hair trend by adding pastel pink or purple highlights to ash brown hair.
The moodier cousin of mushroom brown, smokey ash brown offers a deeper, more intense shade.
Thicker than traditional highlights, chunky ash brown highlights look especially stunning on wavy or curly hair.
For a trendy and effortlessly cool look, try a gray ash brown shade. It’s softer than stark silver, making it approachable for gray hair newbies and a great pick for those sporting gray roots.
If achieving ashy brown hair required bleaching, use strengthening haircare products to restore the hair’s health. The L’Oréal Paris EverPure Bond Repair System, which includes a pre-shampoo treatment, shampoo, and conditioner, is highly recommended.
To prevent unwanted warmth, use a purple shampoo, such as the L’Oréal Paris EverPure Sulfate Free Purple Shampoo for Toning Blonde Bleached Hair, once a week or as needed.
Minimize brassiness and maintain sleek, shiny ash brown hair by using a hair gloss. The L’Oréal Paris Le Color Gloss One Step In-Shower Toning Gloss in Cool Brunette is a convenient at-home option.
Limit the use of heat styling tools to prevent fading. When using hot tools, apply a heat protectant to shield the hair from damage.
Both ash blonde and ash brown share cool ash undertones and minimize brassiness. However, they differ in their levels on the hair color chart. Ash browns fall between levels 4-7, while ash blondes fall between 8-11.
The ideal choice depends on the current hair color. For example, Madison Reed's Pisa Blonde 9NA (a level 9 medium ash blonde) is best for natural hair colors between levels 7 and 9 aiming for the coolest blonde result. Siena Brown 6NAV (a level 6 medium ash brown) is great for brunettes wanting a cool ash brown result.
Both colors require color-protecting shampoo and conditioner, as well as a mask, toner, or gloss to combat brassy tones. Color Therapy Hair Mask in Perla is suitable for blondes, while Color Reviving Gloss in Espresso is excellent for brunettes.
To fix hair that has become too ashy from overuse of toning products, use Madison Reed Prime for Perfection® to remove excess color.
Both ash blonde and ash brown are good options for blending gray hair for a more natural look. While ash shades may not fully cover gray as well as neutral or warm shades, they offer less noticeable regrowth.
tags: #ash #brown #hair #color #guide
