Ash brown hair is very versatile and can offer a more sophisticated look dependent on the style you choose. Like other brown hair colors, it comes in different shades from light to dark and is easy to maintain. In this blog post, we will show you 40 different ways to rock ash brown hair. Whether you’re looking for a subtle change or a dramatic transformation, there’s an ash brown hair color for you!
How to Achieve and Maintain Ash Brown Hair Color
- Use a cool color to counteract yellow tones. If you’re looking for an ash brown hair color, ask your stylist to mix in some cool tones such as violet or blue. This will help counteract the yellow undertones that naturally occur with darker shades of hair color, and will leave you with a shade of brown that is similar to the beautiful fall colors we all know and love.
- Maintain your cool hair color with the right products. Purple shampoo is a must when it comes to maintaining ash brown hair color (or any other cool-toned hair colors). Not only does this help prevent your strands from turning brassy, but it also helps keep your ash brown locks shiny and vibrant in between salon visits! A conditioning hair gloss is another great at-home product for keeping your ash brown shade shiny.
- Treat yourself to a deep conditioning mask every once in awhile! Cooler shades of hair color tend to be more drying on the strands than warmer shades because they contain less red and orange hues which can add moisture back into the strands. Using a deep conditioning mask at least once per week will help ensure that you’re hydrating your strands so they look as healthy and vibrant as possible.
- Don’t forget to chat with your stylist about what they recommend when it comes to caring for your new hue! Every head of hair is different, so asking them what products they recommend based on what they’ve seen work well with their other clients is always a good idea!
Rose Gold Brown Hair
Rose gold hair is one of the hottest color trends in recent years. The gorgeous combination of blonde and rose gold highlights works beautifully with dark brown hair. To achieve this look, ask your colorist to hand-paint blonde and auburn balayage highlights through your mid-lengths to ends, leaving the roots untouched. Be sure to wear a heat protectant spray on your hair before you use styling tools so that it stays healthy and shiny.
@orkunbaykut
Rooted Ash Brown Balayage
If you are looking for a way to grow out your color without the hassle of extensions, balayage is the technique for you. Balayage is a freehand hair painting technique that allows stylists to be creative and create one-of-a-kind results. The end result is natural-looking, soft, and subtle.
@orkunbaykut
Beige Ash Brown Hair
As blondes get darker, they start to become beige. Beige ash brown hair is a warm, light brown shade with highlights. It’s a great way to lighten up your brunette hair and it looks gorgeous with fair skin, too.
@orkunbaykut
Natural-Looking Ash Brown
If you really want to go the high-low route, opt for this natural-looking ash brown. It’s also a great option if you don’t want to deal with calling in a pro but still want your color to look salon-quality. According to celebrity hairstylists, this shade is best suited for medium length hair with a cool skin tone.
@orkunbaykut
Dreamy Ash Brunette Color
If you have dark brown hair and want to add a little lightness without dyeing your hair blonde right off the bat, this style will give you the appearance of sun-kissed locks. As with any dyed hair look, be sure to invest in deep conditioning treatments and shampoos formulated for colored hair to keep your look vibrant and healthy for as long as possible!
@orkunbaykut
Ash Brown Babylights Hair
Ash brown babylights hair is a brown hair color with a hint of ash, or grey. It’s achieved with lighter, more subtle highlights that frame the face. This is a great option if you want lighter locks but don’t want to bleach your entire head of hair.
@orkunbaykut
Cool Chocolate Brown Hair
This ash brown hair color is a true chocolate brunette with cool tones and ashy highlights. A perfect combination of dark roots that go into cool-toned brown, balanced out by smoky highlights and a lighter brown balayage.
@orkunbaykut
Ashy Brown Ombre Hair
Ashy brown ombre hair is a beautiful natural brown color that can be a perfect transition if you are going from lighter to darker hair. It’s also a great way to add dimension to your hair without looking like you have brassy highlights. In the past, ombre hair colors were very vibrant and bold, but now people are switching it up and going for more natural colors that can be worn every day.
@orkunbaykut
Dark Ash Brown Bronzlights
Bronzlights are a blend of brown and gold, with warm undertones that add depth to your ash brown hair. With a lighter, warmer color that flows into your darker shade, you can create depth in your look. Bronde highlights over an ash brown base will also make for a stunning look.
@orkunbaykut
Soft Ash Brown Highlights
In contrast to light brown hair, ash brown hair features a bit of gray tint in it. This results in a more natural look than its light brown counterpart. It’s still considered a warm color, though the gray tint does give it more cool undertones.
@orkunbaykut
Contrasting Ash Highlights
The key to this color is color placement and technique. Your stylist will place your base color so that it’s rich but not too dark, then add dimension with cool brown highlights on the mid-lengths to ends.
@ozdenkurtur
Smoky Brunette Balayage
This look shows subtle hints of grey in the ends and around the face to give it an edgy feel, but still keep it simple with the all-over brown base color. The dark ash brown base holds its own all day long, while the blonde balayage keeps it fun for any time of year!
@ozdenkurtur
Silver Brown Hair Color
This cool brown hue isn’t just flattering for pale complexions; it looks stunning against olive skin too!
@ozdenkurtur
Chocolate Metallic Brown
You’ll get a shimmery brown shade when you blend dark chocolate brown with copper highlights. This is the most common hair color choice for dark eyes and light to medium skin tones, but it can also complement medium to dark skin tones.
@hairbykheytristen
Blonde Ombre with Ash Brown Roots
The ombre technique involves gradually blending one color into another, usually moving tints and shades from dark to light. In this case, ash brown roots are blended into blonde ends.
@ozdenkurtur
Ash Brown Hair with Money Piece
Looking for a way to add some dimension to your ash brown hair? Opt for a money piece. This beauty trend is when a stylist places either highlights or lowlights around the face, adding depth and an air of mystery.
@ozdenkurtur
Dimensional Cool Brown Color
You want a shade that’s warm without being too orange, and cool without looking ashy. This dimensional cool brown color is all of those things and more. The tone is smooth and shiny with the perfect amount of color dimension.
@ozdenkurtur
Smoked Brown Balayage
If you don’t want too much maintenance, ask for something more subtle; if you want something bolder with lots of variation throughout the day, then go with smoked brown balayage.
@hairbyairaykuh
Ash Brown with Face Framing Highlights
The ash brown highlights are added in soft strokes around the face to create a natural sun-kissed look. Because of its complexity, this trend gives us some serious winter vibes!
@bunaldemir
Shiny Cool Brown Highlights
Cool brown highlights can add a natural-looking depth and dimension to your hair. They’re also low maintenance, giving you the best of both worlds in terms of having fun with your look without adding too much effort to your styling routine.
@bunaldemir
Blonde Balayage for Dark Hair
For those with dark hair, highlights are a great way to soften your look. Blonde highlights can be added to any shade of brunette, black or red hair. They can be as subtle or as bold as you like, depending on the look you want to achieve.
@bunaldemir
Grey Highlights for Dark Hair
Grey highlights on dark hair are also very versatile. It’s a great base if you like to change your hair color often. If you have black or dark brown hair, grey highlights will instantly add a dramatic edge to your look. Just make sure there’s enough contrast between the two shades so that they don’t blend in with each other too much.
@bunaldemir
Ash Blonde Ombre for Brunette
Those brunettes who want a hint of lightness in their look but don’t want to go for platinum highlights should opt for an ash blonde ombre. As you can see from this model, subtly fading your roots into lighter tips is a gorgeous way to add dimension and depth to your hair color without going too far outside your comfort zone.
@bunaldemir
Medium Cool Brown Highlights
If you want to add a bit more dimension to your hair color but don’t want anything too overpowering, consider medium cool brown highlights. They’re a good way to add some subtle visual interest and can be achieved with simple techniques that are easy on the hair.
@themostflorya
Mocha Ash Brown Shade
Mocha ash brown is a perfect balance of cool and warm tones, which makes it wearable for a variety of skin tones. It has just enough warm undertones to not make people feel like they’re rocking grey hair, but still has great depth and dimension. If you want a natural look that doesn’t involve being too noticeable, this could be the perfect choice for you.
@themostflorya
Dark Ash Balayage Curls
To achieve this look on curly hair, ask your stylist to highlight every other strand of hair in a vertical line so that it doesn’t look as though you have streaks running through it. The goal is to have highlights that look like they’re part of your natural hue and not an obvious dye job.
@coloredbyphuong
Darkest Brown Balayage
For the darkest brown hair with cool undertones, you’ll want an ashy caramel brown tone. This balayage will add dimension to your mane and give it a hint of color.
@themostflorya
Dark Mushroom Brown Hair
A dark mushroom brown is a universally flattering shade for anyone. It’s ashy, it’s cool, and it complements all eye colors.
@themostflorya
Light Mushroom Brown Color
Light mushroom brown tones are another flattering option that many women try when they’re going for a lighter look but don’t want to be too blonde or light-haired. These shades are also great if you have warm skin undertones, because they counteract them.
@themostflorya
Icy Ombre for Dark Brown Hair
The icy ombre is another great way to incorporate ash tones without doing so many root touchups if you start out with a darker base like charcoal or chocolate brown hair and then fade into an icy grey-silver at the ends of your locks. This style is fun for those who want to experiment with bleach but don’t want to do their whole head!
@themostflorya
Ashy Caramel Brown Hair
You can’t go wrong with this ashy caramel brown. When it comes to hair color trends, this look is what all the cool girls are wearing right now. If that sounds like something you’d like to try out, make sure to add this shade to your list of inspirations.
@jacksonnunesoficial
Dark Brown Hair with Cool Undertones
Dark brown hair with cool undertones is a beautiful, deep shade that works on fair skin tones and dark skin tones. Any hairstyle with loose waves will look good with this color.
@hairby_chrissy
Ashy Coffee Brown Waves
This ashy shade is a lovely combination of both ash brown and coffee brown shades. It produces a cool, soft hue that’s sure to make your hair stand out. The best way to achieve this look is by using balayage or foils.
@hairby_chrissy
Cool Brown Highlights for Straight Hair
Cool brown highlights are probably the easiest color change you can make. They’re simple to apply, subtle enough that you don’t need a ton of upkeep, and appropriate for the office.
@rodolffocarvalho
Ice Latte Brown Curls
Calling all light or medium skin tones! This subtler version of the ash brown trend allows you to wear its cool color without being overwhelmed. It’s great for brunettes who want to transition into a lighter color, but aren’t ready to go full blonde just yet.
@natalieannehair
Light Ash Brown Babylights
If you’re going for the full babylights effect, it’s best to visit a stylist who can apply the color in the most natural-looking way possible using multiple shades of light brown dye instead of bleach or high lift dyes. If you do decide to use bleach, make sure to follow up with a toner post-dye job to help give your hair some shine and soften any brassiness from the bleaching process.
@coloredbyphuong
Ash Beige Brown Color
This color is a blend of cool brown, ash blonde and beige that creates a low-maintenance look. The roots are ash brown but the hair turns into an ashy beige blonde with light brown and blonde highlights. It’s perfect if you want to give your natural dark hair some dimension without making too many changes.
@ugr.ugurlu
Silver Highlights with Dark Roots
This look is a great choice for brunettes who want to dramatically lighten their hair, since the darkest shade of ash brown is not much lighter than natural dark brown hair. The look can be done with any style of highlights, from chunky to fine.
@ilhankaymak
Charcoal Brow Highlights
To achieve these charcoal brown highlights, ask your stylist to add in some babylights around your face. These ultra-fine streaks of color are similar to face-framing balayage in that they brighten up the front of your hair—but instead of adding lighter pieces throughout (which can easily turn brassy), babylights add in darker strands of color so that you still retain an overall brunette base.
@vinneylima
Warm and Cool Highlights
Mixing warm and cool tones has been a popular trend in the hair industry. Ask your stylist to create ash brown highlights with a mix of both warm and cool tones. This ash brown look is perfect for any length of hair, but it’s especially gorgeous on long layers.
@nuritunbulofficial
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