Fear of Ash Tones...help!

[goldcopperbrown]

So I have been dying my hair reddish tones for a while, while still trying to stay within the realm of being a brunette. However, I notice sometimes it fades and gets too brassy, and every colorist I've talked to has told me I should stay away from those tones because they're not flattering.

I think they're right (so I'm not just saying this to please other people!) but I'm so afraid of ash tones (and because my hair has red in it, neutral tones don't do anything). I'm so afraid ash = boring and frumpy. I want to see some examples of sexy ash/neutral brown hair, but I keep thinking of frosty 90s hair. any help?

and those of you who dye your hair with ash colors, what colors have seemed the prettiest to you?

Thanks everyone!

[lilravendark]

I actually love ash tones lol being Asian whenever i dye or lighten my hair i get this horrible brassy orang utan orange that naturally occurs so i love using a dark ash blonde dye on my hair. I have heard many people saying ash tones are undesirable but i think they can look really cool. This is a good example of the colour i use but mine is darker in the sun it looks like this http://plaza.ladysquare.com/uploads/lovecosme/2008-11-06_145708_milk_tea_brown.jpg and also anoyhrr good example of nice ash tone http://tomimito.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/03/Hyori8.jpg

[MonaLisa]

I think mine is ashy brown. Sometimes I really hate it...but sometimes in the sun it looks reddish a little bit, or when low light...it can look black.
It's the whole brown thing that i dont like i think, ashy or no, I wish it was black or more red, but well....
I've tried a lot of things, and concluded that ashy brown, healthy and long looks better than any fake color i could fry it with:)
Everyone is different. You can watch pictures of other people, but that color won't look same on you, you are unique.
And also there is so many different tastes out there. Something you consider boring, someone will consider naturally wonderful :)

[trillcat]

Ash tones can wash you out, it all depends on your skin color, I don't mean that bad.
I am very pale, pink really, and I have roseacea, so red tone anything in my hair makes me look just awful.
I accidentally turned my hair copper once, it was the most beautiful color, I LOVED it, I so wish it worked with me, but on me, horrid!
I have to stay with cool tones.
My natural hair I consider boring, ash yet gold in the sun, dark dark blonde ( I am a blonde I am! Take me kicking and screaming to my grave, I am a blonde!)
It is growing out as I speak, dark dark ash gold blonde.
Delusional, why yes! LOL
(I have updated my album pics for all who want to see)

[Firefox7275]

You don't need a colourist to tell you what is and is not flattering, look for yourself and ask honest mates. Maybe you could try an ashy semi permanent colour?

[Gwen]

Oooo, I'm afraid of ash tones too! I find that if you're new to the colour it could look grey-ish. I'm naturally blonde (ash blonde) and yes, looking frumpy and grey is definetly one of my biggest fears when I get rid of this bleach on May 25th. I was born with red hair so I still have that red pigment in my hair... If I dye my hair at home, it'll turn orange or red :/ I like red hair, but on other people lol. I've had it and it doesn't suite me.

Unfortunetly I don't know how to post photo's to show you what my hair used to look like. Check out my albums though... There's an old photo of me and my dad back in the day. That's kinda ash blonde...

Gwen

[Eire]

Ash doesn't equal frumpy. Anyone with cool toned skin looks better in ash shades than warm ones. Just look up some celebrities with summer/winter complexions and you'll see flattering ash shades. But if you are warm-toned, then your colorists are right and you should avoid them.

[jaine]

Your picture definitely looks like you have warm tones in your skin ...I think warm tones in your hair are a good choice. Copper, warm red, maybe dark golden brown or dark reddish brown.
A neutral brown would work too...but not ash, I think it would clash and look green compared to your skin (assuming my monitor is showing the right colors)

[KatiSasha]

You could try a neutral gloss (you can get it at Sally's) it doesn't deposit color, but closes up your cuticle and adds shine while keeping your color fresh. It's not as damaging, if any, as a semi-permanent dye and won't interact with any brand haircolor.

Edit: Also, since it's summer, you could try a little bronzer swept on the bridge of your nose, cheekbones, and a bit on your forehead (just the places where sun would naturally hit your face). It will warm up your skin tone even more and help to counteract the brassiness in your hair.

[Oksana]

I went brunette for a while and had it dark ash brown..i loved it :), but i most certainly do have a cool skin tone.
For some reason inserting album pictures isn't working for me tonight, but this is a pretty good representation of the color if you want to see it:

http://forums.longhaircommunity.com/album.php?albumid=5867&pictureid=76688

[Firefly]

I think mine is ashy brown. Sometimes I really hate it...but sometimes in the sun it looks reddish a little bit, or when low light...it can look black.
It's the whole brown thing that i dont like i think, ashy or no, I wish it was black or more red, but well....
I've tried a lot of things, and concluded that ashy brown, healthy and long looks better than any fake color i could fry it with:)
Everyone is different. You can watch pictures of other people, but that color won't look same on you, you are unique.
And also there is so many different tastes out there. Something you consider boring, someone will consider naturally wonderful :)

I could have written this post! This is me, and my experience as well. The only thing that worked for me was temporary rinses/deposit only color. Anything that lifted color --and even the darker colors often lift color first-- eventually made the ashy-ness worse (this isn't true for everyone, just my experience). I haven't done anything color-wise in ages; like Mona Lisa I came to the conclusion that for me shiny and natural are better than dull and colored.

[Kathie]

Sooo many fashion models have ash toned hair... I really like it and cant wait to have it myself...

http://jegans.files.wordpress.com/2010/07/alessandra-ambrosio.jpg?w=333&h=508 http://reflectionagency.typepad.com/.a/6a00e5537c152088340147e2e6ab48970b-800wihttp://3.bp.blogspot.com/_mLmGEPimlBk/SJHBj24wdxI/AAAAAAAADKE/azmZehoEMZ0/s1600/versace_rtw.jpg

[KittyLost]

My hair is naturally ash brown and I hate it, I dye my hair warm golden browns and red colours and pink as well as unnatural cool colours like blue and purple. I've never had anything look awful on me, at least no-one has said anything.
Everyones different.

I'm currently growing out hair dye to get back to my natural colour as it's been a few years since I last saw it so I'm hoping to have a new found love for it. If your hair is naturally ashy then it should suit you fine also works well if you're cool toned.

Ash blondes seem to be more popular than ash browns. I think it could just be the word ash givibg it bad connotations. If you're unsure about ash colours just look for cool colours instead. They will be the same but you might find them more flattering.

[Annibelle]

I have cool skin-- and it's very pale-- and I have strange tones. In different lighting, I've had red, blonde, and ashy tones/highlights! And my hair is 100% virgin. Each tone looks really good on me, though, which, from what I've read, it shouldn't-- red is only supposed to look good on people with warm tones, but it looks fabulous on me (perhaps because my skin is pale and freckled and my eyes are green-- I dunno). Maybe your hairdresser is right, but I wouldn't depend on his/her opinion!

[Blandine]

Everything depends on your skin tone. If it is warm, ashy colours are not for you. People whose hair is naturally ash-coloured and who have a cool skin, however, look as if they were deathly sick if they dye their hair red. I see too many of those fashion victims around...

[cato]

I love ash tones. My natural hair colour is dark ash blonde, but I have ruined it with reddish brown hair dye, I am on my way getting rid of that and getting my natural colour back :phttp://www.google.ee/imgres?imgurl=http://cdn.blogs.sheknows.com/celebsalon.sheknows.com//2009/07/hayden-panatierre-long-blonde-hairstyle-09-832x1024.jpg&imgrefurl=http://celebsalon.sheknows.com/long-hairstyles/hayden-panettieres-sexy-hairstyle/&usg=__i_dyO46hE02jAWAQu9hoVJJF3W8=&h=1024&w=832&sz=252&hl=et&start=0&zoom=1&tbnid=Vz3wFXcUdlynYM:&tbnh=141&tbnw=122&ei=tC_LTa3KE4W2-waBw820Aw&prev=/search%3Fq%3Dash%2Bblonde%26um%3D1%26hl%3Det%26sa% 3DN%26biw%3D1280%26bih%3D868%26tbm%3Disch&um=1&itbs=1&iact=hc&vpx=136&vpy=219&dur=324&hovh=150&hovw=122&tx=95&ty=113&page=1&ndsp=40&ved=1t:429,r:8,s:0http://www.google.ee/imgres?imgurl=http://www.sophisticatededge.com/assets/images/Beauty/Hair%2520Coloring/Medium-Brown-Ash-Blonde-Highlights.jpg&imgrefurl=http://www.sophisticatededge.com/medium-brown-with-ash-blonde-highlights.html&usg=__zxoW1o06J1DRUagMqKJ_veYYq-M=&h=326&w=490&sz=29&hl=et&start=0&zoom=1&tbnid=y-iWbo4MLzD9uM:&tbnh=135&tbnw=186&ei=tC_LTa3KE4W2-waBw820Aw&prev=/search%3Fq%3Dash%2Bblonde%26um%3D1%26hl%3Det%26sa% 3DN%26biw%3D1280%26bih%3D868%26tbm%3Disch0%2C228&um=1&itbs=1&iact=rc&dur=398&page=1&ndsp=40&ved=1t:429,r:31,s:0&tx=83&ty=72&biw=1280&bih=868http://http://www.google.ee/imgres?imgurl=http://buduaar.ee/files/Upload/ForumImages/Caramel-Brown-Ash-Blonde-Highlights.jpg&imgrefurl=http://buduaar.ee/Foorum/Forum/topic/268349%26lk%3D0&usg=__MIMiyhsv72wzjz4m86IdAV3O5E4=&h=461&w=490&sz=92&hl=et&start=253&zoom=1&tbnid=24Kq7yY3Nw9hVM:&tbnh=164&tbnw=174&ei=QzDLTbTlK8Lu-gaclNmtAw&prev=/search%3Fq%3Dash%2Bblonde%26um%3D1%26hl%3Det%26sa% 3DN%26biw%3D1280%26bih%3D868%26tbm%3Disch1%2C6938&chk=sbg&um=1&itbs=1&iact=rc&dur=239&page=10&ndsp=25&ved=1t:429,r:15,s:253&tx=119&ty=107&biw=1280&bih=868http://http://www.google.ee/imgres?imgurl=http://static.becomegorgeous.com/gallery/pictures/juliannehoighhairstyles_ashblondewavyhairstyle.jpg&imgrefurl=http://www.gallery.becomegorgeous.com/julianne_hough_hairstyles/julianne_hough_ash_blonde_wavy_hairstyle-1239.html&usg=__OxjPw1D1NDyVoSGBRhKkQVPLu8A=&h=354&w=266&sz=80&hl=et&start=0&zoom=1&tbnid=-82ECsJHZHXY9M:&tbnh=144&tbnw=120&ei=tC_LTa3KE4W2-waBw820Aw&prev=/search%3Fq%3Dash%2Bblonde%26um%3D1%26hl%3Det%26sa% 3DN%26biw%3D1280%26bih%3D868%26tbm%3Disch1%2C0&um=1&itbs=1&iact=hc&vpx=712&vpy=63&dur=481&hovh=160&hovw=120&tx=122&ty=158&page=1&ndsp=40&ved=1t:429,r:4,s:0&biw=1280&bih=868 http://www.google.ee/imgres?imgurl=http://static.becomegorgeous.com/gallery/pictures/juliannehoighhairstyles_ashblondewavyhairstyle.jpg&imgrefurl=http://www.gallery.becomegorgeous.com/julianne_hough_hairstyles/julianne_hough_ash_blonde_wavy_hairstyle-1239.html&usg=__OxjPw1D1NDyVoSGBRhKkQVPLu8A=&h=354&w=266&sz=80&hl=et&start=0&zoom=1&tbnid=-82ECsJHZHXY9M:&tbnh=144&tbnw=120&ei=tC_LTa3KE4W2-waBw820Aw&prev=/search%3Fq%3Dash%2Bblonde%26um%3D1%26hl%3Det%26sa% 3DN%26biw%3D1280%26bih%3D868%26tbm%3Disch1%2C0&um=1&itbs=1&iact=hc&vpx=712&vpy=63&dur=481&hovh=160&hovw=120&tx=122&ty=158&page=1&ndsp=40&ved=1t:429,r:4,s:0&biw=1280&bih=868

[|Xei]

Since you've been colouring your hair with warm tones all along, I don' t think it'll be wise to just jump straight into ash tones as that can be quite a big change. Instead, I think it might be better to try a neutral tone to begin with (the red tones in your hair CAN be neutralized to create a neutral tone). Neutral tones have no warmth, but they are not nearly as cool-toned as ash tones, so if you want to see whether cool tones would work for you, neutral is a good starting point. Judging from your picture, I think neutrals would work well for you.

[kwaniesiam]

So I have been dying my hair reddish tones for a while, while still trying to stay within the realm of being a brunette. However, I notice sometimes it fades and gets too brassy, and every colorist I've talked to has told me I should stay away from those tones because they're not flattering.

I think they're right (so I'm not just saying this to please other people!) but I'm so afraid of ash tones (and because my hair has red in it, neutral tones don't do anything). I'm so afraid ash = boring and frumpy. I want to see some examples of sexy ash/neutral brown hair, but I keep thinking of frosty 90s hair. any help?

and those of you who dye your hair with ash colors, what colors have seemed the prettiest to you?

Thanks everyone!

If you've been coloring your hair warm/red tones, start with a neutral tone and cool it off from there. Trying to go ash over top of red or golden dye can be disastrous. Most of the accidents I've seen involving green hair were overdoing the ash in the color mixture to try and neutralize brassiness.

[growingpains]

Fear not, it is exceedingly difficult to go from warm to ash. Much easier to go from ash to warm.

I have natural ashy brown colored hair (see picture album, aside from the weird outdoor one where it looks orangey, which is not accurate). See my album for how it can look.

However, when died, my hair pulls red like crazy. There's no avoiding it. Whether died light or dark, even when using ash toner, it fades to a red toned color. I hate this enormously. I tried for so many years to dye my hair but stay to the cool tones and epically failed each time. Maybe it's just my hair, but going ash is hard, which is weird cause undyed, my hair is ash all the way (which I love).

Don't get me wrong, I like warm hair colors and even dyed warm hair; I just don't like how my hair when dyed mutates to a warmer color than desired without fail.

Considering you're battling brassiness, I doubt you have to worry about being too ashy.

However, if you want to try and tone it a bit without dying, try using blue (or purple) shampoo (or conditioner). It's designed for blondes and people with white hair who go yellowy, but works like a charm on medium colored hair also. Keeps the brassies at bay.

The shampoo is better - but a bit drying. The conditioner is less effective, but gentler, though also way harder to find.

I've normally been able to find the shampoo at london drugs or shoppers, but the conditioner only at select hair product stores.

[jaine]

Sooo many fashion models have ash toned hair... I really like it and cant wait to have it myself...

http://jegans.files.wordpress.com/2010/07/alessandra-ambrosio.jpg?w=333&h=508 http://reflectionagency.typepad.com/.a/6a00e5537c152088340147e2e6ab48970b-800wi

http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_mLmGEPimlBk/SJHBj24wdxI/AAAAAAAADKE/azmZehoEMZ0/s1600/versace_rtw.jpg

Those top 3 actually look kind of golden toned to me (especially the first one) and the bottom one has red tones...maybe it's just my monitor though because when I search for "ash hair color" on google images, I see a lot of golden and red toned hair.

This looks ashy to me:
http://www.glamourbeautycenter.com/images/products/thumbs/sat_ash_brn_7a.jpg
http://www.wiggoddess.com/images/18-22.jpg

[HeatherJenae]

Try the No-Brass dyes at Walgreens. They are made specifically to not deposit red into your hair when dying brown. I've used them before. It's really true. Brown with no red. The color is of course very dark right after you dye, but it's semi permanent so it fades nicely.

[Ermine]

Along with what everyone else said, there's a lot in between gold and reddish hair colors and borderline grey ashy colors. I guess I'm kind of biased since my natural color is ash blonde and it works very well for me and my cool skin tone. I guess ash hair colors get a bad rap from older women going gray and using blonde highlights to disguise it a bit, and the 90s trend. So, by all means go for it if you have cool skin tones and pick the right ash color on the spectrum.

[teela1978]

Ash gets a bad rap. Mine is very ashy (imho). Ashy hair does generally have fun highlights in the sun though. Its not completely flat boring color, its shiny, it goes gold and red in the sunlight, its pretty! I think my hair is very sexy looking :)

[Bianca]

Ash gets a bad rap. Mine is very ashy (imho). Ashy hair does generally have fun highlights in the sun though. Its not completely flat boring color, its shiny, it goes gold and red in the sunlight, its pretty! I think my hair is very sexy looking :)

I agree. I just looove my free highlights :p

[Kathie]

Those top 3 actually look kind of golden toned to me (especially the first one) and the bottom one has red tones...maybe it's just my monitor though because when I search for "ash hair color" on google images, I see a lot of golden and red toned hair.

This looks ashy to me:
http://www.glamourbeautycenter.com/images/products/thumbs/sat_ash_brn_7a.jpg
http://www.wiggoddess.com/images/18-22.jpg
Weird, I'd bet money that those colors were ash. With the first three I see them as a very similar color as the first swatch you have there! Maybe it is the monitor... or maybe its seeing ash colored hair in all its glory :D its such a rare color that it could be hard to recognize it when its long and shiny :P