Ash Blonde Hair Colour Ideas And Expert Advice

Whether you're a natural blonde, a lover of balayage or a platinum queen – blonde hair can be hard to get right. First, there's the upkeep. Then, the tone. And finally, the condition. If you've got blonde ambition, you're probably already well aware of the amount of things to consider before heading to the hair salon. Luckily for you though, you've come to the right place. 2023's set to see the return of ash blonde hair as a major trend, but this year it's not about how light you go – tone is everything and ash blonde is set to be big. Ash blonde is a hair colour genre that covers all manners of looks, from your cool Scandi platinums to smoky silver and everything in between.

Want to try ash blonde hair for yourself? We've spoken to some of the UK's leading hair colourists to break down everything you need to know. From the hues to ask for to the products to keep your hair in tip-top condition. Consider this your ash blonde hair crib-sheet.

What Is Ash Blonde Hair?

First things first, if you find the descriptions of hair colour confusing – you're not alone. 'Last year was the year of warmth full of honey blondes and coppers,' explains Harriet Muldoon, celebrity colourist and blonde expert at Larry King. 'Ash, pearl and platinum are taking centre stage this year, with celebrities like Anya Taylor Joy serving up all the inspiration.'

'For this look I’m obsessed with using Redken’s Shades EQ Champagne Blonde range to create this pearl ash finish,' says Harriet.

'When it comes to ash blonde inspiration, there are plenty of celebrities to look to. Gigi Hadid, Kim Kardashian and even Ryan Gosling in the upcoming Barbie movie provide great ash inspiration,' suggests Provoke ambassador and celebrity colourist Kris Barnes.

How To Keep Ash Blonde Hair In Top Condition

'To maintain your ash blonde colour at home and seal in the look, I’d always recommend Redken Blondage or a grey shampoo such as Graydient,' explains Harriet.

'Ash blonde shades go brassy very quickly and particularly if you have warmer undertones in your hair,' explains Kris. 'I recommend using a toning shampoo such as the Provoke Touch of Silver Brightening Shampoo once a week to keep the colour cool and vibrant.'

'Blonde hair and ashy tones also require more maintenance to keep healthy and shiny between salon visits,' says Kris. 'I would recommend an at-home bonding treatment or routine bi-weekly too. The new Provoke Blonde Rehab range is a five-step bonding routine. It's affordable and will really keep hair looking salon fresh and strong.'

Main image credits: Instagram @hairinel @vanessahong