10 Smoky Ash Blue Hair Ideas – How To Get The Cool Look At Home.

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Tired of your same old hair color? Want to try something new? Ash blue hair is the perfect cool-toned alternative to black or brown.

Ashy shades are so on-trend right now for adding an understated edge to your look.

Blue is a little higher up on the daring scale than more natural-looking shades like ash brown or ash blonde. But if you’ve got the right skin tone, style and bags of sass, it could be an awesome statement look for you.

But how do you know if this shade will suit you? What styles rock this color best? And can you really get the look at home?

We’ve got everything you need to know, from the best products to use, to how to style your new look. Let’s go.

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What is ash blue hair?

Ash blue hair is a cool-toned shade of blue with grey undertones.

It is a cool, subdued shade of dark or light blue that can be achieved by using a hair dye or by bleaching your hair and then adding a blue toner.

The exact shade of ash blue will vary depending on the starting hair color and the type of dye or toner used.

If you have dark hair, you may end up with a darker, more navy shade of ash blue.

If you have blonde hair, you can go for a lighter, pastel blue or ashy turquoise color. 

It looks incredible in balayage, ombre and dipped ends styles, and blends beautifully with other cool blue and pastel shades like aqua, pinks, silver and blue-black.

Check out the latest looks for ideas and inspiration.

ash blue hair collection pinterest board

10 Awesome ash blue hair color ideas.

#1: Ash Blue Balayage

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This soft and dreamy balayage blue is perfect for adding a touch of color to natural hair.

The ash blue shade is blended into dark brown hair using the balayage technique, resulting in a beautiful, low-maintenance look.

#2: Ash Blue and Teal Tips

This teal ash blue shade is the one for those who want to add a pop of color to their locks.

The roots are left their natural color and only the tips are dyed, resulting in a fun and playful look.

To get this style at home, start by bleaching the tips of your hair. Once you’ve achieved your desired level of lightness, use a hair dye to add the ash blue shade.

#3: Ash Blue Black Hair

Blue-black or midnight blue is a darker, more intense and mysterious version of ash blue hair.

It has a navy blue hue and is best for those with naturally dark hair who want to add a little extra depth and dimension.

For this look, use a blue-back hair dye for all-over glossy coverage.

#4: Smokey Silver-Blue

Silver is one of the most on-trend metallic colors right now. This gorgeous silver blue color is perfect for those with naturally light hair and darker roots.

To get this look at home, start by bleaching your hair to a light blonde shade.

Once you’ve achieved your desired level of lightness, mix silver grey and blue hair dye to create a shimmering effect.

#5: Ash Blue Ombre

This stunning ombre look is achieved by blending ash blue through the mid and ends of your hair.

You may need to use bleach at the ends of your hair for a more vibrant color pop.

For a color melt, blend a few shades of blue hair colour together to create a natural-looking gradation.

#6: Ashy Aqua Blue

If you’re into more rich and vibrant colors, this fun and playful aqua blue shade is pastel perfection.

You’ll need a light base to achieve it, so start by bleaching your hair to a pale blonde shade.

Once you’ve achieved your desired level of lightness, use an aqua blue hair dye to add color or highlighted throughout.

For extra dimension, mix in a little silver or white hair dye or darker blues and sea greens to create a mermaid effect.

#7: Peekaboo Ash Blue

This fun and flirty peekaboo style is achieved by dyeing the underside of your hair.

It’s a cheeky layer of color that ‘s perfect for those who want to experiment with blue hair without going all out.

To get the brightness of tone, you’ll need to bleach the underside of your hair and add an ash blue hair dye on top. Peekaboo highlights are also a cool way to wear this style.

#8: Pale Ash Blue Streaks

Streaks are an awesome way of introducing bold colors without going all the way. They’re also a great way to add dimension to your hair.

The number of streaks you add is up to you. For a more subtle look, add a few streaks through the front of your hair. If you want a bolder style, go crazy and add them all over!

#9: Light Ash Blue Highlights

Highlights blended into dark ash brown hair, resulting in a beautiful and natural-looking style.

It works with all kinds of cool blue shades – from dark blue hair to midnight or electric blue. Use a mix of dark and light shades to really stand out from the crowd.

You can either use the traditional highlighting technique to blend the blue or balayage your hair for a more natural result.

#10: All-Over Ash Blue

This is a bold and beautiful style that’s easy to do for those who want to make a statement. It’s also another great way to add depth and dimension to your hair.

For an all-over blue look, use a blue hair dye to color your entire head of hair. You can either choose one shade or mix and match different shades to create a unique look.

Can I dye my hair ash blue at home?

OK, ash blue IS a tricky color to achieve at home, but it’s not impossible!

There are loads of off-the-shelf ash blue hair dyes and bubble hair dyes you can buy at places like Amazon to get the look.

If you’re opting for a style like balayage, highlights or ombre, it’s probably best to get your hair done by a professional. These are complex styles that require precision and expertise.

But if you’re feeling confident, there are plenty of tutorials online that can show you how to achieve all-over color, or playful styles like dipped ends, waves and streaks.

Does ash blue hair need bleach?

Whether you need to bleach your hair to get ash blue hair depends on the color your hair is now – your base color.

If you have dark hair – anything from a level 3 or 4 – you will need to use bleach to achieve the ash blue shade.

If you have lighter hair – level 6 or lighter – you may be able to get away with using a blue hair dye without bleaching your hair first.

It also depends on the style you’ve got your heart set on.

For an all-over color, you’ll definitely need to bleach your hair first. But for styles like ombre or balayage, you can get away with using a blue dye without bleaching your whole head.

The best way to find out is to do a strand test. This involves dyeing a small section of your hair and seeing how it turns out before you commit to coloring your whole head.

And if you’re still not sure, consult a professional colorist. They’ll be able to customize the perfect ash blue hairstyle and color for you based on your hair type, texture and condition.

Which is the best ash blue hair dye?

Here’s a round up of the best ash blue hair dyes around based on customer reviews and our own tried and tested!

Best ash blue hair dye

Hair dyeLooks likeBuy it now
L'Oreal Paris Feria Multi-Faceted Shimmering Permanent Hair Color, 411 Sapphire Smoke (Smokey Blue) L'Oreal Paris Feria Multi-Faceted Shimmering Permanent Hair Color, 411 Sapphire Smoke (Smokey Blue)

L'Oreal Paris Colorista Semi-Permanent Hair Color for Light Bleached or Blondes
L'Oreal Paris Colorista Semi-Permanent Hair Color for Light Bleached or Blondes, Blue
L'Oreal Paris Feria Multi-Faceted Shimmering Permanent Hair Color Kit, 411 Downtown Denim L'Oreal Paris Feria Multi-Faceted Shimmering Permanent Hair Color Kit, 411 Downtown Denim
Punky Midnight Blue Semi Permanent Conditioning Hair Color Punky Midnight Blue Semi Permanent Conditioning Hair Color, 3.5oz
Kao Liese Creamy Bubble Color - Midnight Ash Kao Liese Shokunin Creamy Bubble Hair Color Midnight Ash, 3.65 Fl Oz/108ml, For Black Hair
Got2b Metallic Permanent Hair Color, M67 Blue Mercury
Schwarzkopf Got2b Metallics Permanent Hair Color, M67 Blue Mercury

How to achieve ash blue hair color at home.

If you’re feeling brave and want to try this look at home, then bleaching your hair is the best place to start.

This will allow you to achieve any shade of blue, from a light pastel to a dark navy.

But if you’re not ready for such a big commitment, then adding some blue Highlights or lowlights to your existing hair color is a great way to experiment with the look.

Whichever route you decide to go down, make sure you use a good quality bleach and blue dye or toner to avoid damaging your hair.

Here’s a great video tutorial by Hair Color Experts Wella that shows you how to dye your hair this color at home, step-by-step.

Ash Blue Hair FAQs

Is ashy hair blue or purple?

The truth is, ashy hair typically has hints of both blue and purple tones.

The exact shade can vary depending on factors such as your skin tone, lighting, and the hair dye you’ve used.

If you want to enhance the blue tones in your hair, you can try using a blue-toned shampoo or conditioner.

A purple-toned product like purple shampoo or toner can help bring out the purple tones in your hair.

What skin tones suit ash blue hair?

As with all hair colors, the shades that suit you best will depend on your natural skin tone.

If you have a cool skin tone, chances are ash blue will look great on you.

Cool skin tones are usually pale or porcelain-colored with pink or blue undertones.

If you’re not sure what your skin tone is, hold a piece of white paper up to your face. If your skin looks more yellow next to the paper, then you have a warm skin tone.

If it looks pink or blue, then you have a cool skin tone and can rock any shade of blue hair – from navy to pastel.

That’s not to say warm skin tones can’t get in on the action. Mix in warmer colors like peachy pinks, gold or caramel for a subtle take on the trend.

If you’re not sure what color your undertones are, just use our handy checklist below!

If you have cool undertones:

  • Your skin tone is pink or pale.
  • You blush easily!
  • Jewel and pastel colours are so your thing.
  • The colour yellow washes you out and does not look good on you.
  • You have blue not green veins in your wrist.
  • Pearls and silver jewellery look awesome on you.

If you have warm undertones:

  • You have red or golden tones in your natural hair.
  • Your skin tone is golden, tan or olive.
  • You might have freckles.
  • You have green not blue veins in your wrist.
  • You suit bright or rich shades better.
  • Gold jewellery looks awesome on you.
cool or warm undertones infographic

Will ash blue hair suit me?

You can also find out which hair colour suits you by taking our quiz!

Just answer a few quick questions to find out what other hair colours most suit you!

Which Hair Color Suits Me?

You can also try out some virtual colors in Here are the best apps to change your hair color!

How long does ash blue hair last?

Ash blue is a color that can be tricky to maintain, so you’ll need to put in a bit of extra effort to keep your ash blue hair looking its best.

If you use semi-permanent hair dye – then your color will start to fade after 6-8 washes.

If you use permanent hair dye – then your color will last up to 6-8 weeks until your hair grows out and you need a root touch up.

What does ash blue hair fade to?

Ash blue hair can fade to green or teal over time, especially if it’s not well-maintained.

If you have dark hair, fading will show up less than if you have lighter or blonde hair color.

It’s not a long-lasting color but at the same time, blue is also a notoriously difficult color to remove – so make sure you’re committed before you take the plunge!

You may also see some unwanted warmth as it fades – a yellow or orange tone, especially near your roots.

You can get rid of any unwanted brassy tones and keep your color cool and looking fresh by using an ash blue corrector like blue shampoo and conditioner.

Or you can top up your color up with a blue toner or gloss in between colorings.

How do I take care of my ash blue hair?

Blue hair is notoriously difficult to maintain, but there are some things you can do to keep it looking its best.

  • First and foremost, use a good quality shampoo and conditioner designed for colored hair. This will help to keep your color vibrant and prevent fading
  • It’s also a good idea to use a leave-in conditioner or hair mask once a week to keep your hair hydrated and healthy.
  • And finally, avoid heat styling as much as possible – heat can cause your color to fade quickly. If you do need to use heat, make sure you use a heat protectant spray first.

With a bit of effort and a lot of love, you can keep your ash blue hair looking amazing for weeks on end!

Parting words.

So there you have it – everything you need to know about ash blue hair.

Whether you’re thinking about trying the look or are just curious, we hope this article has been helpful.

Good luck!

Found your perfect ash blue shade? We’d love to see it! Tag us on Instagram @colouredhaircare or Facebook and share your hair dye success stories. Looking for more hair care tips? Check out How to Look After Colored Hair: 11 Expert Secrets For Long-Lasting Color.

This article was written by:

  • Nicola Freeman, Creative Director & Content Lead
    Creative Director & Content Lead

    With over two decades of passionate hair dyeing experience, I've experimented with nearly every shade imaginable. My journey began long before blogging; as an award-winning copywriter in London and New York, I shaped narratives for iconic brands. However, when friends sought advice during lockdown for at-home hair dyeing, I realized my true calling. Beyond being your hair color expert, I'm a mom of two girls, wife to artist Tony, and an avid soccer player!