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Brunettes

Ash Brown

A medium brown with the warmth deliberately stripped out, leaving a smoky, faintly gray-green cast through the length.

Ash Brown
Ash Brown hair color, AI render on a female modelThe same studio portrait before the editBeforeAsh Brown
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Both renders come from the same edit instruction HairGlam uses for this look, applied to a studio portrait. In the app the shade lands on your own photo instead.

  • 12 free looks in the app
  • Your face, not a model's
  • Ready in seconds
Try Ash Brown on your photo Download on the App Store

Free on iPhone and iPad. 12 free looks: 4 haircuts, 4 hair colors and 4 makeup looks, no paywall in between. Or try it free in your browser.

Ash is defined by what it lacks. Green and blue pigments are added to cancel the orange sitting underneath every brown, and the result looks muted and matte beside a warm brown of the same depth. In flat daylight it reads soft and almost gray, while under warm bulbs the underlying orange starts creeping back through. It is the least stable brown to maintain, because every wash removes a little ash pigment and lets that warmth resurface.

  • Undertonecool, neutral. Cool pink and neutral-fair skin match its absence of warmth, whereas against strongly golden or olive skin the contrast can leave the complexion looking sallow.
  • Starting pointThe base needs taking to at least a level six and clearing of orange first, so most dark hair wants bleach or a high-lift tint before ash will hold.
  • UpkeepExpect a cool toner or ash gloss every four weeks, a blue-based shampoo between visits, and warm regrowth showing at the root within three to four weeks.
HairGlam Hair Colors: one woman, a fan of the same face in different hair colors
In the HairGlam app

Try Ash Brown on your own photo

  1. Add one selfie. Front on, even light, hair off your face. No account.
  2. Tap Ash Brown in Hair Colors, or any of the other 298 looks.
  3. See it in seconds on your own face, then save it for your stylist.

12 free looks: 4 haircuts, 4 hair colors and 4 makeup looks. No paywall in between, no account.

Try Ash Brown freeDownload on the App Store

Questions about Ash Brown

Which skin undertones suit Ash Brown?
Cool, neutral undertones. Cool pink and neutral-fair skin match its absence of warmth, whereas against strongly golden or olive skin the contrast can leave the complexion looking sallow.
What hair do I need to start with for Ash Brown?
The base needs taking to at least a level six and clearing of orange first, so most dark hair wants bleach or a high-lift tint before ash will hold.
How much upkeep does Ash Brown need?
Expect a cool toner or ash gloss every four weeks, a blue-based shampoo between visits, and warm regrowth showing at the root within three to four weeks.
What are the pros and cons of ash brown hair?
The pros: it cancels the orange that every brown shows as it fades, so it looks cool, soft and polished, and it flatters cool and neutral skin. The cons: it is the least stable brown, because each wash removes some ash pigment and lets the warmth back in, so it needs a cool gloss about every four weeks and a blue shampoo between visits. On golden or olive skin it can look flat.
Is ash brown warm or cool?
Cool. Ash brown has the warmth deliberately taken out, which leaves a smoky, faintly gray-green cast. It suits cool and neutral skin; warmer skin usually looks better in a neutral or mushroom brown.
Can I try Ash Brown on my own photo before I dye my hair?
Yes. HairGlam puts Ash Brown on a photo of your own hair in a few seconds, so you can check it against your skin tone and eye color before you book or buy a box dye. It is free to download on iPhone and iPad with 12 free looks: 4 haircuts, 4 hair colors and 4 makeup looks, and some looks can also be tried free in your browser at hairglam.app/try.

Guides that feature Ash Brown

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Diamond face shape hairstyles: add width where it helps

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Apps and alternatives

Virtual hair color app: how to test a shade on your own photo

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Every style in this catalog renders onto a photo of you, so you are judging your own face shape and coloring rather than a model's.

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Free to download. iPhone, iOS 15.1 or later.