18 Ash Brown Hair Color Ideas That’ll Convince You to Go to the *Cool* Side
Cooler weather means cooler tones are here to play!
The weather is droppin' in degrees, and while you're prepping to trade in your summer 'fits for your fall boots, cozy sweaters, and tights, you may also want to switch up your hair color for the new season. Fall 2024's biggest hair color trend I'm calling? Ash brown hair. Hear me out: It's basically the antithesis to the warm shades you see all spring and summer—in, like, the best way possible. "Whereas warm brunette shades look lighter and richer, ash brown colors are usually deeper with a smoky, matte-like finish," says Nina Rubel, colorist at Rob Peetoom in NYC.
You also can choose to incorporate how much or how little ash brown you want in your hair. Another huge trend atm? Baby-highlighted pieces, which give you just a touch of something different if you're like me and aren't ready to take the full plunge just yet. But before you book that appointment—because, yes, ash brown hair requires the help of a professional colorist—keep reading for a few things you should know. Plus, 18 super-pretty ideas to kickstart your inspo—don't forget to DM them to your colorist.
This Classic Ash Brown Hair
Colored in a balayage-like technique, this picture is the perfect example of how great ashy tones can look on a brunette. The model still has that rich brunette depth, but the ash tones cool up the ends.
This Piece-y Ash Brown Hair
Fact: Dark, brown-black roots are a great way to complement some of the lighter tones in your ash brown hair color. I love how the highlights are kinda piece-y in this look—it's such a pretty contrast.
Whisper Ash Brown Touches
Dubbed a "Whisper Highlight," this next look shows that a subtle touch of ash brown can bring to life super deep brunette colors. This long-layered haircut perfectly accentuates the cool tone.
Beige-Ash Brown Hair
Beige is the perfect balance between cool and warm tones—this beige leans on the cooler side, making it a stepping stone into ash brown hair. If you usually go with a warmer coloring, this is a way to incorporate the trend without going all the way to the other side of the color wheel.
Baby-Lighted Ash Brown Hair
You heard it here first: Baby-lighted hair is going to be *all* over your Instagram feeds come fall and winter. This right here is the style to do if you want everyone to wonder what it is you did that makes you look so good.
This Mushroom-Ash Hair
I like to think of "Mushroom" hair as an earthier ash brown color. Emrata rocks it here with a mega-volume blowout with curls that showcase the shade.
This Creamy Ash Brown Hair
If you aren't really into the highlighted look, you'll love this all-over ash brown hair color. The result is soft, creamy, and super subtle (like, subtle enough that you can go lighter come spring or summer).
This Face-Framing Ash Brown Hair
A couple of face-framing pieces take this ash brown hair color to the next level. Don't you love how they brighten up the entire face?
This Ash Brown Balayage
Balayage—i.e. hand-painted highlights—is a great way to get in on the ash brown hair color trend if you're looking for something a bit more subtle. The roots remain nice and dark, but the lengths have some ashy—but blended!—highlights for contrast.
This Long Ash Brown Hair
The longer length of this ash brown hair is a great way to show off the dimension of your color. Look closely and you'll see the prettiest combo of cool undertones.
This Light Ash Brown Hair
Just because you want to try ash brown hair doesn't mean you have to go super dark. This style looks great with a medium-brown base and silver-toned highlights.
This Ash Brown Hair With Dark Roots
This ash brown hair color is all about shine. Hot tip: One of the easiest ways to keep your color looking fresh is to (A) load up on heat protectant before heat styling and (B) avoid prolonged sun exposure, says Rubel.
This Smoky Ash Brown Hair
Trying to amp up the smoke factor of your ash brown hair? Go for a base that's a little lighter, and ask your colorist for a smoky, matte-like finish.
This Dimensional Ash Brown Hair
There's so much dimension and shine going on in this ash brown hair color, which brings out the deep-brown base. (Psst: Swipe through for this colorist's pretty epic before-and-after shot).
This Gray Ash Brown Hair
I love how this ash brown hair color leans a bit more gray than some of the other options. Go for this look if you want something extra cool-toned and ashy.
This Mauve Ash Brown Hair
A teensy bit of mauve gives this ash brown hair color a slightly purple tone when you look closely. And, like, can we just talk about how good this color looks when styled in loose beach waves?
This Delicate Ash Brown Hair
A few soft-brown highlights against the face make this ash brown hair color super approachable for anyone on the fence. I mean, what's not to love?
This Ash Brown Hair With Silver
The silver ends on this ash brown hair color make it a super-pretty option for long bobs or asymmetrical cuts. Just run a flat iron through your ends to recreate this sleek AF texture.
What to consider before going ash brown:
Skin tone
"When choosing any hair color, it's always important to take your skin tone into account," says Rubel. A good rule of thumb? Cooler colors (like ash brown) generally work best on cooler skin tones, while warmer colors are best for, you guessed it, warmer skin tones. But that doesn't mean ash brown is totally off the table if you have a warmer skin tone, says Rubel—you'll just need to work with your colorist to find the best placement and technique to complement your look (i.e. adding in a few golden highlights around your face and throughout your lengths to create balance, says Rubel).
Starting point
Another important thing to keep in mind: Make sure you consider your starting color before going ash brown. "If you're starting with very dark hair and your goal is ash brown, you'll likely need to lighten your hair first before depositing the ash brown shade," she explains. "Always consult with your colorist before your appointment and make sure you bring reference photos of what you like and dislike."
Meet the expert:
- Nina Rubel is a hair colorist and the creative director at Rob Peetoom in New York, NY.
Ruby was the beauty editor at Cosmopolitan, where she covered beauty across print and digital. Her work has appeared on The Zoe Report, Fashionista, and StyleCaster. Follow her on Instagram.
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