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14 Ash Brown Hair Color Ideas and Formulas
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26.08.2019

14 Ash Brown Hair Color Ideas and Formulas

Not just for blondes; ash brown hair colour is the cool hue of the moment. Taking over our Instagram feeds one post at a time, this popular shade is adding a touch of silver to brunettes with mink-toned highlights, smoked-out ombre and ashy balayage. A fresh take on classic brown hair, this stunning colour is about to become your mane-stay.
Whether you’re a hair colourist looking to perfect your technique, or simply searching for your latest hair inspiration for the new season, we’ve got everything you need to know right here.

What is Ash Brown Hair Colour?

Think a cool, smoky shade with a rich, deep brunette base. Unlike warm brunettes, featuring hints of red or gold, ash brown hair is much cooler, toning things down with an almost silvery finish.

Who is it Best For?

Ash brown hair is versatile enough to be adapted to different skin tones and shades, adding elements of the look to build up the desired finish. Paired with cool skin tones, which typically feature pinkish undertones, an ash brown hair colour works to balance and neutralise pink or red areas of the skin. But that doesn’t mean this shade will drain warm complexions. To build up this new hue on warm skin tones, start with a classic brunette base and smoke out your shade with an ash brown balayage or ash brown ombre for a more subtle take on the trend.

Ash Brown Hair Colour Ideas

Scroll through our collection of the best ash brown looks and find your new fave.

1. Ash Brown Balayage

Here’s how to take classic, sun-kissed balayage next-level: Smoke out a cool brunette base with a scattering of soft, ashy strands from mid-lengths to ends. To go even smokier with this Instagram-worthy colour, apply Opal-Essence by Illumina Color in Silver Mauve onto lighter sections of hair.
Image Credit: @biancahdrs

2. Ash Brown Ombre Hair

Switch up contrasting colour with a smoky twist on ombre hair. Stretch ash brown roots through to the mid-lengths before transitioning into a cooler blonde shade; a grown-out effect to graduating colour.
Image Credit: @tc2_hair

3. Light Ash Brown Hair

We’re all about this sepia-toned shade. Start with a dark blonde base before building light ash brown colour from root to tip, ensuring your shade is completely seamless.
Image Credit: @ambiente_by_pablo

4. Ash Brown Hair with Highlights

Highlights on any hair colour will instantly lift and lighten your shade. Add a scattering of cool blonde highlights through an ashy brown base, brightening your shade with a multi-tonal finish. To keep hair looking glossy add WellaPlex to colour.
Image Credit: @ans0403

5. Dark Ash Brown Hair

Rich, deep, smoky; This dark ash brown hair colour adds depth to classic brunettes with a just a hint of coolness. Ideal for natural brunettes looking to take their shade up a notch, achieve a dusty, smoky finish by toning with Illumina Color, using one of the cooler shades.
Image Credit: @sonitabeauty

6. Medium Ash Brown Hair

You don’t have to go a shade warmer when lightening up block brunette colour. Medium ash brown hair colour is the best of both worlds; a seamless, cool brunette shade that’s a little lighter, without moving over to dark ash blonde. If you prefer one colour to multi-tonal strands or highlights, this is the shade for you. Apply EIMI Glam Mist to up the shine on this ice cool brunette look even more.
Image Credit: @jamiekeikohair

7. Smoky Ash Brown Hair

Ready to make more of a statement? This smoky look weaves together a blend of silvery ribbons of colour with hints of mauve, delivering a multi-tonal effect that oozes cool. To really show off every shade in this ash-inspired look, curl hair into loose waves and scrunch EIMI Ocean Spritz through mid-lengths to ends for colour-enhancing texture.
Image Credit: @jamiekeikohair

8. Rose Ash Brown Hair

Not feeling a full-on pink pastel shade? Add a different dimension to an ash brown base and achieve a cool hint of pink on hair. Opal-Essence by Illumina Color in Titanium Rose delivers the perfect amount of colour while adding luminous shine and a glossy finish you’ll love.
Image Credit: @sergiu.cristea.f
To keep colour fresh and cool, add a purple shampoo like Invigo Blonde Recharge Cool Blonde with violet hues to rid lighter sections of brassy tones. Alternatively, if you're salon guest went for a richer tone, recommend a shampoo to keep colour protected and vibrant. If your client's hair is feeling a little dry post-colour, recommend Nutri-Enrich Deep Nourishing Mask our five-minute wonder. Apply to damp hair through the mid-lengths to ends to lock in moisture and nourish stressed-out hair. Glossy shine and luminous colour await.

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