Hair Color
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04.07.2025
14 Ash Brown Hair Color Ideas and Formulas
Not just for blondes; ash brown hair color 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 color is about to become your mane-stay. Whether you’re a colorist 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 Color?
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, ash brown hair color works to balance and neutralize 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 Color 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. #PROTIP: To go even smokier with this Instagram-worthy color, apply Illumina 10/69 or 10/81 + Welloxon Perfect Pastel 1.9% (6 volume) to lighter sections of hair for an extra cool pop.
Image Credit: @biancahdrs
2. Ash Brown Ombre Hair
Switch up contrasting color with a smoky twist on ombre hair. Stretch ash brown roots through to the mid-lengths before transitioning into a cool blonde shade; to create a "lived-in" effect to graduating color.
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 color 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 color 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-dimensional finish. To keep hair looking glossy + healthy add WellaPlex to your service, or complete the look with a ColorMotion+ Structure+ Mask treatment.
Image Credit: @ans0403
5. Dark Ash Brown Hair
Rich, deep, smoky; This dark ash brown hair color 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. FUN FACT: Illumina Color has a built-in violet base for an extra dose of coolness in every shade.
Image Credit: @sonitabeauty
6. Medium Ash Brown Hair
You don’t have to go a shade warmer when lightening up a brunette. Medium ash brown hair color is the best of both worlds; a seamless, cool brunette that’s a little lighter, without moving into a dark ash blonde. If you prefer one color to multi-dimensional strands or highlights, this is the shade for you! Apply EIMI Glam Mist to step up the shine on this ice cool brunette.
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 color with hints of mauve, delivering a multi-dimensional effect that oozes cool. To really show off every shade in this ash-inspired look, curl hair into loose waves with the ghd Soft Curl and scrunch EIMI Ocean Spritz through mid-lengths and ends for color-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. 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 your clients will love.
Image Credit: @sergiu.cristea.f
To keep color 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 color protected and vibrant. If your client's hair is feeling a little dry post-color, 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 color are waiting.
Ash Brown Formulas
SMOKY CHESTNUT
LIGHTEN
Blonder Multi Blonde
Welloxon Perfect Developer 9% (30 volume)
TONE
Color Touch 9/73 + 9/97 + 8/71
Color Touch Emulsion 1.9% (6 volume)
ARTIST: @hairbysulo
COOL ESPRESSO
LIGHTEN
BlondorPlex
Welloxon Perfect Developer 6% (20 volume)
LOWLIGHT
Color Touch 6/71
Color Touch Emulsion 1.9% (6 volume)
TONE
Color Touch 7/97 + 9/16
Color Touch Emulsion 1.9% (6 volume)
ARTIST: @hairbycallum
ICED MOCHA
LOWLIGHT
Color Touch 6/0 + 6/3
Color Touch Emulsion 1.9% (6 volume)
ROOT MELT
Color Touch 6/0 + 5/0
Color Touch Emulsion 1.9% (6 volume)
TONE
Color Touch 8/73 + 8/0
Color Touch Emulsion 1.9% (6 volume)
ARTIST: @aalyhabeauty
HIDDEN VEIL
LIGHTEN
Blondor Multi Blonde
Welloxon Perfect Creme Developer 6% (20 volume)
TONE
Color Touch 9/01 + 9/03
Color Touch Emulsion 1.9% (6 volume)
ARTIST: @hail.does.hair
STONE ASH
ROOT
Color Touch 3/0 + 4/0 + 4/71
Color Touch Emulsion 1.9% (6 volume)
MIDS + ENDS
Color Touch 7/73 + 7/43 + 7/75
Color Touch Emulsion 1.9% (6 volume)
ARTIST: @sofiacalderonehair
COLD BREW
LIGHTEN
BlondorPlex
Welloxon Perfect Developer 6% (20 volume)
GLAZE
Shinefinity 09/07 + 08/0
Shinefinity Activator
ARTIST: @topknotbalayage
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