30 Dirty Blonde Hair Ideas for Different Skin Tones

Speaking from a professional side, Buck says she keeps her Dirty Blondes at a level 7 and 8. "I use tones from ash to gold but keep my levels deeper," she says, "Depending on your skin tone that will determine the tones used."

Like with Kristin Cavallari, Buck notes it’s important to get an accurate photo of your client’s skin tone.

"Are they more tan than normal? Do they always wear this color foundation? Will they keep their tan up? I like to look at someone’s eye color as the natural highlight in their eye is generally a good tone for their hair," she says.

If you're going for less of a highlighted look and more of a single-process allover dirty blonde, consider showing your stylist this cool-tone shade.

Though Buck warns single process colors, while beautiful, require more maintenance than highlights because of the growing out process. "As the hair grows it creates a solid line for the color. It’s not better or worse it’s just something to remind your client," she says.

The overall outcome is determined by the foil placement, Buck says. If a client is hoping for more of a rooted, grown-out look with little maintenance, like this curly bronde effect, which L.A. colorist Chad Kenyon created incorporating golden babylights on a dark base, she says a "feathered diagonal shape foil placement is needed."

To brighten and warm up the skin, ask your colorist to focus the lightest highlights around your face. This technique will create the impression of overall lighter hair even if you have a dark base.

Like Laverne Cox's golden blonde, a darker root adds depth to the lighter dirty blonde color. It's a stunning, complementary option for all, but especially darker skin tones.

We're living for this beautifully blended balayage, which incorporates honey highlights to warm up a dark, ashier base. 

The only time I see the texture really changing my application is in very curly hair, Buck says. Because of the difference in density, she says curly hair has a tendency to have fine ends, creating new growth that looks heavily colored, while the ends are darker. To counteract this, she simply tips out all the ends in order to keep the color looking fluid.

Swipe left for the transformation! Colorist Katie Cartwright color-corrected a super brassy, reddened color by giving her client this blended, warm dirty blonde.

This super-warm bronde would look exceedingly flattering on medium-to-dark skin tones, especially when paired with a shag haircut like Halle Berry's.

Jessica Alba was one of the celebs to help put the "lived-in color" concept on the map. This incredible blonde sombré is perfect for natural brunettes who want to lighten their strands up a bit without too much maintenance.

Swipe to check out the amazing color correction on this client, who went from a brassy, chunky grow-out to a cooler, more natural dirty blonde.

Cara Delevingne's neutral-toned dirty blonde would work on a variety of skin tones. Buck says a natural blonde base is the perfect starting color for dirty blonde hair, due to the fact that the highlight will look as natural as the sun highlighting the hair itself. "This is my favorite blonde to create and will create the least amount of upkeep as well," she says.

"For a more overall color or brighter look, a client will need a heavier foil placement closer to the scalp," Buck says. Like Swift, who has kept a pretty consistent dirty blonde shade since the start of her career—aside from the 2016 Bleachella Era. We're loving this false lob she wore to the 2020 Sundance red carpet for her film premiere of Miss Americana.

Ciara's cooler-toned sombré blonde is such a head turner—and would definitely require a purple shampoo.

Beverly Hills colorist Matt Rez is an expert in darker blondes. Using his trade-marked midlight color technique to blend neutral, warm, and cool tones without lifting the base color, he creates balanced dirty blondes like this one.

Buck says dirty blonde is much easier to maintain than a platinum blonde "
"because if the toner fades out slightly it’s still ok and can be maintained with purple and blue shampoos." Not to worry, she says dirty blonde "will still be shiny because of the underlining gold tones from the lightening process."

This easy to maintain color looks absolutely killer on beauty influencer Natalie Rose Vella's naturally wavy hair texture and medium skin.

Getting a darker base to dirty blonde is a similar process to naturally blonde hair, Buck says, however, the brunette will be lifted more levels than the blonde. "For example, a blonde level 7 will only be lifted with lighter by 1-2 levels,"
she says. "A brunette will require more lifting to power to get 4 levels of lift."

"It's all about the melt," says L.A. colorist Erin McKay of this low-maintenance color job. 

Fashion designer Anine Bing has a great honeyed bronde, plus, her shoulder-length cut is absolute goals.

Tipping out the ends of the hair, like with this amazing blend by hairstylist and makeup artist Frances, is a great add on for the dirty blonde, Buck says. Going one level lighter at the ends, rather than a traditional highlight, gives a beautiful pop of color to finish it off, she says. It's definitely not required though!

Color-specialist Andrea Peterman at the Ramirez Tran Salon managed to create this neutral blonde hue that's just incredible. Not only does it look amazingly natural, but the buttery tones are to die for.

It’s important to avoid having the color actually looking dirty, Buck says. By that, she means it should still sparkle, look healthy, and intentional, much like SJP's iconic dirty blonde.

In hair color terms the word muddy or dingy is often used when we use a toner with too much green base or blue base, Buck says, which is why she always adds a drop of warmth to her toners even when going for an ash finish.

The highlights on this textured lob are seriously stunning. Anja Burton at the Ramirez Tran Salon expertly blended these tones for a sunkissed style we're seriously coveting.

Liu has managed to achieve this wonderful, honey tinged dirty blonde. It's such a great mix of caramel tones that shine bright. In terms of maintaining this golden hue, Buck says it depends on the type of service originally provided to the client but recommends:

1. Purple and Blue shampoos for in between appointments

2. Toner application by the stylist between 6-8 weeks

3. Color retouch application at 4-6 weeks if an all-over color

Currently, Bucks dirty blonde inspirations include client Julianne Hough’s hair which has always been a bright blonde but has finally moved into the dirty blonde phase.

This look manages to find a perfect balance between dirty and blonde that seems like I'd be universally flattering.

As far as upkeep goes, Buck loves Joico’s Blonde Life Shampoo ($19) for brightening dulled out hair. She likes their Color Balance Purple Shampoo ($17) for blonde clients and their Color Balance Blue Shampoo ($17) for brunettes! She says these products help maintain hair health while leaving it looking shiny and toned.

Honestly, don't discount this majorly tendy pixie. The lighter blonde, highlighted style here is so pretty and dimensional.

Oh, to have this warm and bright hair! Amber McMahen blended various Sparks Colors to get this dimensional dirty blonde shag.

Not only do we love the relaxed low-pony Owen Gold created here, but Soo Joon's low-maintenance blonde looks so natural.