Smouldering Beauty: Clearing the Mist Around the Smokey Ash Brown Hair Colour

Smokey ash brown is a modern twist on classic brunette shades, bringing a cool elegance. In this blog, Laura Elliott, Head of Education at Neäl & Wølf shares everything you need to know about the hue, including colouring and maintenance guidance.

1. What is the smokey ash brown hair colour?  

Smokey ash brown is a cool brunette shade with subtle grey undertones that create a misty hue. This multidimensional colour blends ashy tones with natural brown, resulting in a refined, contemporary look. This shade allows you to have the richness of brunette, without the warmer tones that often come with this colour.

2. What is the difference between ash brown and regular brown?  

The key difference between ash brown and regular brown is the undertones. Regular brown shades often have warm undertones, like red or gold, whereas ash brown is much cooler, with undertones of grey and blue. This gives ash brown a more muted finish, compared to the vibrancy of traditional brunette shades. 

3. What skin tone looks best with ash brown?

Smokey ash brown works particularly well with cool skin tones. The grey and blue undertones of the ash balance out the cooler undertones of the skin, enhancing your natural complexion without overwhelming it. For those with warmer undertones, we’d recommend using soft balayage highlights or lowlights to prevent the style from looking too stark. For more information on skin tone and colour, read our blog: What Hair Colour Suits Me? A Guide to Choosing the Right Shade

4. Does ash brown hair make you look older?  

Absolutely not! The idea that ash brown hair can make you look older is a common misconception. Lighter, warmer shades usually make hair look more youthful by reflecting light and therefore making facial features appear more softened. However, smokey ash brown hair can also reflect light if it is well maintained and shiny, making you look younger.  

5. How do you get smokey ash brown hair? 

We would suggest visiting your stylist to create your perfect smokey ash brown hair. Our Neäl & Wølf salons can create your chosen shade with our new GLAZE colour, 7NA. As well as colouring your hair, this True Demi Toner leaves your hair with a glossy, super shine finish that will make your tresses glow. Find out more: GLAZE Demi Toner

6. Does going ash brown turn your hair green?

Green tones in ash brown shades only appear when your hair isn’t coloured properly, as the underlying pigments haven’t been neutralised. If your hair has yellow or brassy tones from previous treatments, the cool ash can create a green hue. To prevent this happening and for best results, always have your hair professionally treated by a hair stylist.

7. How do you maintain ash brown hair? 

Alongside visiting your hair salon for touch ups, you can maintain your hair at home with the right hair washing routine. There is a common myth that purple shampoo is just for blonde hair, but this can also be used to keep warmer tones at bay from cooler shades, like smokey ash brown. On your hair wash day, massage hair with our BLONDE Purple Brightening Shampoo, rinse and finish with BLONDE Purple Brightening Conditioner. 

With the right care and professional guidance, smokey ash brown hair can be a stunning addition to your look. Looking to embrace the misty shade? Locate your local salon today and discuss our new 7NA GLAZE shade with your stylist: Find your Neäl & Wølf salon