15 Ash Brown Hair Color Ideas That Look Gorgeous on Everybody

Brown hair is one of the most popular hair colors, and with so many different shades to choose from, it’s not hard to see why. While warm-toned brown hair is ultra-flattering (especially in the summer), we can’t seem to get enough of ash brown hair color lately. The cool-toned hue lacks the golden undertones of chocolatey browns, instead boasting a dimensional blend of soft silver, gunmetal, and muted brown tones. Like other brunette shades, ash brown can skew lighter or deeper (dark ash brown hair is an especially flattering choice for those with fair skin). 

If you’re ready to give ash brown hair a try, keep reading. Ahead, we’re sharing the lowdown on how to get the best ash brown hair color for your skin tone and undertone and sharing tips on how to keep your newly-colored mane in mint condition. 

How To Get Ash Brown Hair Color at Home

One thing we love about ash brown hair is that it’s fairly simple to achieve at home. With that being said, it’s important to consider your starting shade when shopping for an ash brown hair dye.

Those with lighter strands—think blonde or light brown–may be able to dye their hair as-is. Using ash brown hair dye on dark brown hair, however, may not produce the most vivid end results. If you’re starting with a darker color (like dark brown or black), it’s a good idea to bleach your hair first (we suggest using the L’Oréal Paris Féria Hyper Platinum Advanced Lightening System Bleach, which can lighten hair up to eight levels). Then you can color your hair with the ash brown hair dye of your choice. The L’Oréal Paris Superior Preference Fade-Defying Shine Permanent Hair Color in Medium Ash Brown is our pick for the perfect mid-toned cool brown shade. If you’d prefer a lighter hue, try a light ash brown hair dye, like the L’Oréal Paris Excellence Creme Crème Permanent Triple Care Hair Color in Light Ash Brown.

15 Ash Brown Hair Color Ideas We Love

Now that you have the details on how to get a gorgeous ash brown hair color, keep scrolling for color ideas to inspire your hair transformation (and if you’re still not sure which shade to choose, check out our Hair Color Concierge, where you can consult with an expert for personalized color recommendations).

1. Espresso brown

Deep ash brown is an excellent choice if you have naturally dark hair and want to play with color without added maintenance from lighter hues. Not to mention, it looks sensational on olive and deep skin tones. To achieve this inky hue, we suggest reaching for a dark ash brown hair dye, such as the L’Oréal Paris Excellence Creme Universal Nudes in Natural Black. The formula is ammonia-free, suitable for all hair types and textures, and helps protect hair as it colors. 

2. Ash bronde

Natural blondes seeking to embrace an ash brown hue without darkening their hair too much may want to consider ash bronde. This soft, subtle shade has depth and dimension but is light enough that it won’t feel like a massive departure from your natural hair color. 

3. Light ash brown

Light ash brown hair is slightly deeper in tone than ash bronde, which is neither overtly brown nor obviously blonde. It’s a versatile hue that can flatter both fairer and deeper complexions beautifully. To achieve the look, pick up a box of L’Oréal Paris Féria Multi-Faceted Shimmering Permanent Hair Color in Crystal Brown.

4. Mushroom brown

Mushroom brown hair is an ultra-cool take on ash brown, replete with both silvery highlights and gray lowlights for depth and dimension. The cool-toned hue looks brown in low lighting but showcases its silvery cast in direct sunlight. 

5. Medium ash brown

If you can’t decide between a light shade or a deeper hue, we suggest taking the middle ground with a medium ash brown color, like toffee. Get the look at home with a cool-toned brown hair dye, such as L’Oréal Paris Superior Preference Fade-Defying Shine Permanent Hair Color in Cool Medium Brown.

6. Ash brown ombré

Those looking to embrace an ash brown color without committing to regular touch-ups may want to consider opting for an ashy brown ombré. This option lets you sport dark roots that lighten to a silvery, cool-toned brown toward the ends. 

7. Ash brown sombré

If subtle hair colors are your vibe, you may want to test the waters with ash brown sombré (aka “subtle ombre”). A spin-off of the ombré trend, this look lets you play with color without taking a dramatic approach. Basically, the switch between the shade at your roots and on your ends will be ultra-subtle, for a seamless and natural-looking gradient of color.

8. Ash brown highlights

While highlights often lean warmer, they don’t have to: Opting for ash brown highlights is a great way to brighten your mane without adding any unwanted warmth. This look is particularly well-suited for those with naturally dark ash brown hair, though it works well on medium brunette hair, too. 

9. Medium ash brown money piece

A money piece is a coloring technique that involves lightening just the strands around your face to help brighten your look without the hassle of an all-over dye job. While you can have any color money piece, we love how a light ash brown complements a deeper mushroom brown hue—it’s noticeable, but still subtle. 

10. Ash chocolate brown

If you prefer to keep your hair color on the dark side, ashy chocolate brown hair may be right up your alley. The deep, inviting hue has all of the richness and dimension of a classic chocolate brown hair color—only without the reddish or golden undertones. Get a similar look at home with L’Oréal Paris Excellence Creme Universal Nudes in Natural Dark Brown.

11. Medium ash brown balayage

For a more low-maintenance style, try medium ash brown balayage. With this technique, your colorist will freehand paint individual strands for perfectly blended, lived-in look. Since the light strands begin a bit further down from your roots, this tonal look is also relatively low-maintenance. 

12. Ash brown hair with pastel highlights

Test out the pastel hair trend by adding pastel pink or purple highlights to your ash brown hair color. Blending a light, pastel shade throughout your cool-toned brown base can lend your otherwise classic look a youthful, playful vibe.

13. Smokey ash brown

We like to think of smokey ash brown as the slightly darker, moodier cousin of mushroom brown. The dimensional hue features silver, charcoal, and espresso highlights woven throughout an ash brown base for an almost metallic effect that’s hard to resist. 

14. Chunky ash brown highlights

Take your highlights to the next level with chunky ash brown highlights. These ribbons are thicker than traditional highlights and look especially stunning when worn on wavy or curly hair. Ensure your highlights look natural by choosing a cool-toned hue only a couple of shades lighter than your ash brown base.

15. Gray ash brown

Gray hair is trendy and effortlessly cool, but it can feel like a big commitment if you’ve never sported a silver hue before. To dip your toes in, dry a gray ash brown shade—it’s slightly softer than a stark silver, so it’s a bit more approachable for gray hair newbies. It’s also a great pick for those sporting gray roots. Recreate the look with an ultra-cool toned hair dye, such as the L’Oréal Paris Excellence Creme Crème Permanent Triple Care Hair Color in Mocha Ash Brown.

How To Maintain Ash Brown Hair

To keep your ash brown hair color looking its best, a proper haircare routine is a must. Here are four tips to keep in mind as you’re building out your routine. 

Use a bond-repairing system

If achieving ashy brown hair required a bleach session (or two), you may find that your hair isn’t feeling as healthy as you’d like. Using strengthening haircare products can help restore your hair’s healthy look and feel. We love the L’Oréal Paris EverPure Bond Repair System, which includes a pre-shampoo treatment,shampoo, and conditioner. Used together, the trio helps strengthen weak hair bonds and protect against breakage—plus, all of the products are color-safe, so you don’t have to worry about your new hue fading prematurely. 

Add purple shampoo to your lineup

Ash brown hair is, by definition, cool-toned—which means you’ll want to take care to keep unwanted warmth from cropping up. Once weekly, or as needed, as suggest swapping your usual shampoo for a purple shampoo, such as the L’Oréal Paris EverPure Sulfate Free Purple Shampoo for Toning Blonde Bleached Hair. The violet-tinted formula helps neutralize brassy yellow tones to help keep your ashy color pure. Pair it with the coordinating L’Oréal Paris EverPure Sulfate Free Purple Conditioner for Toning Blonde Hair for the best results.

Try a glossing treatment

Another way to minimize brassiness—and keep your ash brown hair color looking sleek and shiny—is by using a hair gloss. You can head to the salon for a professional glossing treatment or do it at home with the L’Oréal Paris Le Color Gloss One Step In-Shower Toning Gloss in Cool Brunette. The ammonia-free formula helps enhance hair color and tone, boosts shine, neutralizes brassiness, and deeply conditions for glossy, healthy-looking hair.

Limit heat styling

Excessive heat can cause your ash brown hair dye to fade, so it’s a good idea to limit how often you reach for the blow dryer or flat iron. If you must use hot tools, be sure to prep your strands with a heat protectant first to help shield your hair from unnecessary damage. We recommend the L’Orèal Paris Elvive Dream Lengths Heat Slayer Leave In.

Next Up: How to Find the Best Brown Hair Color for Your Skin Tone (and Undertone)

Photo Credit: IG/@coloredbyphuong