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Officially the coolest shade of the season.
With so many shades of blonde to choose from, it’s hard to commit to just one. But good news! You don't have to! Yay! If you've tried every blonde shade under the sun but haven't veered from those warm, golden-blonde shades, it's time that you add ash-blonde to the top of your list of hair-color trends to try ASAP. Before you resort back to the same ol', same ol' again, scroll through the below for all the insight and inspo you need to get acquainted with the new hair color you're about to be obsessed with. But first...
Blonde is a very broad category that includes a ton of different shades. Ash blonde is one of said blonde shades, and it's easily spotted by its blue and violet hues that emulate a silvery or gray cool tone, as explained by Kim Bonondona, hair colorist and owner of Mane Champagne Studio in NYC. But there's not just one shade of ash blonde! Ash blondes can vary from a darker silver-gray to white blonde with pearly tones and everything in between. It’s a cooler (literally, it’s a cool-tone color) iteration on a classic hair color that looks good on virtually every skin tone, as long as you get the right combination of undertones. To help you find the right ash-blonde hair for you, we rounded up the 33 coolest (heh) ideas, below, that’ll convince you to make the switch.
A post shared by Kim Bonondona|NYC Hair Painter (@mane_champagne)
Golden blondes contain a lot of yellow and a lot of warmth, but do you see any of that here? Nope! That's because this white-ish platinum blonde has all the cool tones and none of the brass.
A post shared by Jackie Aina (@jackieaina)
Ever so slightly warmer than the slide before this one, this ash-blonde color still has all the coolness you love about ash blonde but with all the right undertones to compliment a deeper skin tone.
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As cool as ash blonde hair looks (I mean, is this the cutest pixie cut ever?!), it's not exactly the easiest to maintain. Bonondona says because it's one of the lightest shades, it fades out quicker—but it looks good while it lasts.
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If you *despise* brassy hair color, aim for the opposite side of the spectrum and use silver shampoos for a tinge of blue, silver, or purple to keep the tones in check.
A post shared by Tati 🦋 (@tatianaarend)
As cool as as extreme ash-blonde shades are, metallics doesn't exactly look natural. Try this ashy, rooty blonde look if you want something that could pass as your real hair color.
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In addition to loading up on the purple shampoos, visit your salon in-between your color appointments for just a toner to refresh the color and cancel out any yellowness that appears as it fades.
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Can't decide between a gray hair color or blonde? Do both! Let your stylist know your predicament, and they'll create a combination of toners to give you the exact shade you want.
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The bleaching process tends to cause a lot of dryness to the hair, so keeping your strands hydrated is non-negotiable, k?! Use a hot oil treatment once a week to restore your hair's shine, and thank us later.
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Head's up: To get ash blonde, your colorist has to lift the hair as light as possible in order to eliminate the hair’s warm tones. Since hair can only be lifted to a certain amount of levels in one session, Bonondona says it could take more than one session to get the desired ashy color for someone with a darker root.
A post shared by 𝕀ℕ𝔻𝕀𝔸 🏳️🌈 (@indiaalexandrial)
It'll likely take a handful of sessions to achieve a color like this, which means more money, time, and patience, so brace yourself and your wallet. Bonondona says you'll typically need to see your colorist every 2 months for a touch up or four to six weeks for a bleach-out.
A post shared by Los Angeles Hairstylist Lauryn (@locksbylauryn)
This ashy blonde balayage on dark brown hair is the perfect way to try the trend without totally making the switch from brunette to blonde.
A post shared by Stephanie Brown (@stephaniebcolor)
Icy platinum, is that you? No, not quite, but this ashen remix is all over Hollywood and Insta influencers. Keep it fresh by incorporating a color-depositing conditioner and a leave-in conditioning serum into your weekly wash routine.
A post shared by Kathleen (@kathleen_hair)
Not about the upkeep that comes along with a color as high maintenance as ash blonde? Ask your colorist about shadow roots to make the grow-out process a little less painful.
A post shared by Vincent Oquendo (@makeupvincent)
While you should never bleach your hair at home, it's tempting after looking at this inspo photo, right?! But bleached color like this with a hint of ash and absolutely no yellow is hard to achieve if your hair isn't naturally light, so it's worth the wait to see a pro colorist.
A post shared by Takisha Sturdivant-Drew (@takishahair)
"Every client, no matter what natural level hair color they possess, has warm underlying pigments," Bonondona explains. "When you put the ash toner on, it will neutralize the yellow and create a cool-toned blonde." Cool, right? But when the temporary toner starts to rinse out, the hair will start to fade yellow, and that's where purple shampoo comes in to return your strands back to icy blonde.
A post shared by Bryce Scarlett (@brycescarlett)
There's something super-edgy and cool about ash-blonde hair with darker roots. Case in point, this inspo photo. Even when your hair is styled in a classy bun hairstyle, it still looks badass.
A post shared by Christin Brown | CURLFACTOR (@curlfactor)
Debating dyeing your naturally curly hair? Here's some subtle encouragement to DO IT! These ash-blonde highlights makes each piece pop and really shows off the beautiful curl type and pattern.
A post shared by Evie Johnson (@contactevie)
You've been warned: Maintaining a cool-toned blonde with no roots, like this shaved hairstyle, requires lots of work and time at the salon, but that's a fair price to pay for perfectly color like this.
A post shared by BALAYAGE ARTIST || EDUCATOR (@styledby_debbe)
If you’re afraid of looking washed-out with your new ashy shade, try asking your colorist for a mix of warm highlights and cool lowlights to balance out your complexion.
A post shared by Ruslan Nureev (@hairbyruslan)
For those who want to take a baby step into the ash trend, try this slightly warmer version—an easy commitment if you want to tweak your current blonde without going full-on gray.
A post shared by Hung Vanngo (@hungvanngo)
If you're afraid of a color as cool as ash blonde washing you out, tell your colorist you'd like to keep enough depth to prevent that from happening.
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These ashy roots blend and fade so flawlessly into the highlights that you almost think this blonde balayage with ashy roots was natural (and that's the point).
A post shared by Amanda Lee Hair (@amandaleehair)
Want something that leans a little more beige than gray? Try the look shown here. "If my client prefers to stay bright, I will add a natural with a little bit of ash into the toner," Bononda explains. "The natural will dilute the ash and keep the hair bright."
A post shared by Bryce Scarlett (@brycescarlett)
Because it can be a pretty tricky process and color to achieve, medium brown, light brown, or dirty blonde are the best natural levels to have if you’re seeking to go ash blonde as easily as possible, Bonondona notes.
A post shared by Kim Bonondona|NYC Hair Painter (@mane_champagne)
This year's hair trends were allll about the two-tone color and face-framing pieces, so incorporate both of those trends with ash-blonde money pieces like these.
A post shared by Ruslan Nureev (@hairbyruslan)
For shiny, bright, platinum blonde like this, Bonondona says to avoid anything that can cause your hair to turn yellow, like smoke, sun, and even the minerals in your water (yup, now's the time to invest in a shower water filter).
A post shared by April 🌸 Toronto Hairstylist (@_goodnightapril)
If you're v familiar with balayage but not so much with ash-blonde color, keep in mind that a shade like this requires more time at the salon than a warmer blonde balayage, which can last four to six months.
A post shared by sierra kener | LA hairstylist (@sierrakener)
With this look, you get the warm, golden blonde highlights on the ends, with all the cool-tone ashy blonde at the roots. It's the best of both worlds.
A post shared by Alissa Violet (@alissaviolet) on Jan 29, 2019 at 4:40pm PST
Bonondona says ash blonde works particularly well on those with light or medium skin tones with pink-y or blush undertones. Fairer complexions will appreciate how ash blonde helps balance and neutralize any pink.
Sooooo, I had to cut my hair bc it was really badly broken and I was convinced I’d die because I’ve never had short hair but my curls are flourishing so I’m happy :)
A post shared by 🌸🌸Yerrr🌸🌸 (@wuzg00d) on Dec 27, 2018 at 5:11pm PST
Mix one part silver with one part blonde, and you get this gorgeously shiny hue that gives off all the hints of ash without the dark vibes of winter.
Have you checked out my recent video? I used a bunch of products from YouTuber collaborations. But are they really worth the hype? Check it out the direct link is in my insta story.
A post shared by Jennie aka BeautybyJJ🇬🇧 (@thejenniejenkins) on Oct 23, 2017 at 6:59am PDT
Two trends in one: Combine pastels and ash for a soft blonde shade that looks elevated, not cutesy. To keep the color vivid and your strands healthy, try using a keratin repairer, like the cult-favorite Olaplex, once a week to help strengthen weakened follicles post-bleach.
🌟 @miumiu @miumiuwomenstales 🌟#MiuMiu 🌟 thank you for a lovely night and for supporting female filmmakers ! Loved Shako Mako / directed by @haileybentongates - you can watch it online #MiuMiuWomensTales
A post shared by Pom Klementieff (@pom.klementieff) on Jan 27, 2019 at 12:41pm PST
This take on ash blonde is the perfect fusion of silver and gold. Keep your hair looking healthy with a deep-conditioning treatment, like Briogeo’s Don’t Despair, Repair! Deep Conditioning Mask.
Khaleesi who? 10 hours later and my platinum blonde dreams have come true 💖 read all about my experience in the June issue of @cosmopolitan !! Thank you @diaz_hair @julesbozza @bumbleandbumble and the baddest beauty assistant in the game @amakwarteng
A post shared by ABIGAIL KIM (@abigailkim) on Feb 27, 2019 at 5:58pm PST
Ash blonde isn’t one size fits all, and a veil of monotone gray makes this shade feel both edgy and Pinterest-worthy, all at the same time.