How to Go Ash Blonde

Co-authored by Karen Leight

Last Updated: November 17, 2024 References

Ash blonde is an incredibly popular hair color and looks great on light skin tones. While you can always go to the salon to get an ash blonde color, it's also possible to do it at home. If you're hair isn't already light blonde, you'll need to bleach your hair first. By using peroxide combined with a light ash blonde hair color, you'll have ash blonde hair in no time.

Part 1

Part 1 of 3:

Bleaching Your Hair

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1
Get your hair to a level 9/10, which is light blonde. A level 1 hair color is black, while a level 10 is a very light blonde. Most people don't have hair that's a level 9 or 10, so you'll probably need to bleach it. Check to see how many shades lighter your hair needs to be, if any.^{[1]
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- You can do a quick online search to find a chart that will show you the different hair color levels.
2
Combine bleaching powder with a level 20 peroxide. Pour 1 part bleaching powder into a bowl, along with 1 part level 20 peroxide. Bleaching powder and level 20 peroxide can be found easily online, as well as in most big-box stores.^{[2]
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- A level 20 peroxide used for the appropriate amount of time will lift your hair color 2 shades.
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3
Mix the bleaching powder and level 20 peroxide thoroughly. You'll want to mix the bleaching powder and peroxide together so that there aren't any lumps. A small whisk works great, or you can use a spoon or other available mixing tool. You should end up with a semi-thick consistency.^{[3]
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4
Protect your skin and clothing. Bleach and dye can be rough on skin and clothes, so make sure to protect your surfaces. Put a towel around your shoulders to keep your clothes clean, and wear gloves to protect your hands.^{[4]
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- It's a good idea to wear old clothes that you don't mind getting ruined, just in case.
5
Separate your hair into 4 sections. Use the tail end of a rat-tail comb to part your hair down the center from your forehead to the nape of your neck. Then part your hair horizontally from ear to ear. Clip up 3 sections of the hair and leave the last section down.
6
Apply the lightening mixture to ¹⁄₂ inch (1.3 cm) sections of your hair. Use an applicator brush to begin applying the bleach and peroxide to your hair. Begin applying it on your ends first, working your way up to doing the roots last. Put your hair up in a cap once you've finished your whole head to help the process go faster.^{[5]
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- Be sure to use thin sections so all of your hair is saturated with bleach.
- If you apply the mixture to your roots first, you'll end up with much lighter roots that don't match the rest of your hair color due to the heat coming from your head.
- Work through each of the 4 sections until all your hair is bleached.
7
Check your hair over the next hour to see if it's light enough. Most people will need to leave the bleach on their hair for about an hour to get the right shade. To make sure everything is going smoothly, check your hair color periodically during the hour to see how close it's getting to a level 9 or 10.
- If your hair reaches the right shade before the hour is up, you can wash it out.
- If your hair is still too dark once the hour is up, wash all the bleach out then dry your hair. You can simply repeat the process again. If you choose to bleach again, be aware that this may cause damage to your hair.
8
Wash out the bleach and dry your hair. Once you've reached a level 9/10 and your hair is light blonde, it's time to rinse out the bleach and peroxide using cool or lukewarm water. Shampoo your hair thoroughly, and dry it once it's clean.^{[6]
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Part 2

Part 2 of 3:

Applying Color

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1
Combine 1 part level 10 peroxide with 1 part light ash blonde hair color. Similar to how you mixed the peroxide and bleach, you'll want to combine 1 part level 10 peroxide with 1 part of your chosen ash blonde color in a bowl. Mix them together with a whisk or spoon so that there are no lumps, creating a semi-thick consistency.^{[7]
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- You can buy level 10 peroxide and ash blonde hair color at a big-box store, beauty supply store, or online.
- This can be done right after you've dried your hair from the bleach, or you can wait a couple of days to prevent damage to your hair.
2
Separate your hair into 4 sections. Part your hair down the middle from forehead to nape, then across from ear to ear. Use clips to secure 3 sections out of the way, and begin with the remaining section. Once you finish the first section, move on to the next.^{[8]
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3
Apply the mixture to ¹⁄₂ inch (1.3 cm) sections, starting at the ends. Use an applicator brush to apply the color to the ends of your hair first. Always apply the color to your roots last. Put your hair up in a plastic shower cap once you're finished.^{[9]
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- It's essential to work with small sections so each strand of hair gets saturated.
- Remember to wear gloves to keep your hands dye-free, and keep a towel on your shoulders to protect your clothes whenever applying a mixture to your hair.
4
Read the box of dye to determine how long to wait. For the most accurate information, read your box of hair dye to find out how long to leave the dye in your hair before rinsing it out. This should be clearly labeled on the instructions.
5
Wash out the color and dry your hair thoroughly. Once you've waited the appropriate amount of time described on the box of hair color, you can take off the cap and rinse out your hair using cool or lukewarm water. Wash your hair to remove all of the excess dye, and dry your hair thoroughly afterwards.^{[10]
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Part 3

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Toning Your Hair

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1
Mix 1 part purple hair dye with 2 parts conditioner. Buy a semi-permanent purple hair dye and mix it in a bowl with regular conditioner. By using 1 part purple dye and 2 parts conditioner, you should end up with a pastel purple once everything is mixed.^{[11]
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- The purple hair dye and conditioner will tone your hair, getting it to that ashy color.
2
Apply the dye and conditioner mix to your hair. Use an applicator brush to apply the dyed conditioner in sections, just like you did when applying regular color. Once you've covered your entire head, put a shower cap on to keep the hair in place.^{[12]
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Wait 30 minutes before rinsing your hair. Let the conditioner and dye sit on your hair for 30 minutes, or until you like the ashy color of your hair. Rinse your hair a final time, making sure to get all of the conditioner out. Dry your hair and then enjoy your new ash blonde color.^{[13]
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Tone your hair using toner or purple shampoo, if desired. Mixing purple hair dye with conditioner isn't the only way to tone your hair. You can use an ammonia-based toner mixed with a level 20 developer. Or, you could use purple shampoo, which is gentler than the toner.^{[14]
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- If using purple shampoo, you'd simply wash your hair with the shampoo 2-3 times a week, leaving it in for 5-10 minutes each time you shower.

Expert Q&A

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Question

Can you go ash blonde from dark brown?

Karen Leight
Professional Hair Stylist
Karen Leight is a Professional Hair Stylist and the Owner of Karen Renee Hair, a private salon suite inside the Salon Republic Hollywood in Los Angeles, California. With over 12 years of experience, Karen is a licensed cosmetologist specializing in hair color, balayage technique, and women’s and men’s precision haircuts.

Karen Leight

Professional Hair Stylist

Expert Answer

Yes, that's actually much easier than doing it the other way around. How long it takes depends totally on whether your hair was dyed brown in the first place, though.

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Is ash blonde bad for your hair?

Karen Leight
Professional Hair Stylist
Karen Leight is a Professional Hair Stylist and the Owner of Karen Renee Hair, a private salon suite inside the Salon Republic Hollywood in Los Angeles, California. With over 12 years of experience, Karen is a licensed cosmetologist specializing in hair color, balayage technique, and women’s and men’s precision haircuts.

Karen Leight

Professional Hair Stylist

Expert Answer

Well, dying your hair is never really healthy, although it can sustain some color without being seriously damaged or anything like that. I guess the answer really depends on how often you've dyed your hair going into the ash blonde layer.

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Can I put ash blonde on bleached hair?

Karen Leight
Professional Hair Stylist
Karen Leight is a Professional Hair Stylist and the Owner of Karen Renee Hair, a private salon suite inside the Salon Republic Hollywood in Los Angeles, California. With over 12 years of experience, Karen is a licensed cosmetologist specializing in hair color, balayage technique, and women’s and men’s precision haircuts.

Karen Leight

Professional Hair Stylist

Expert Answer

Yes, although you should talk to your stylist about potentially adding other layers or working in different sessions depending on the texture and color of your hair.

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Maintain your hair color by using shampoo and conditioner that provides color support.

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If your hair has reddish tones, it's going to be harder to neutralize the color when bleaching. It might be a good idea to go to a professional to tackle the red tones effectively.

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