Dirty blonde hair is a medium blonde shade with hints of light brown, such as wheat or cappuccino tones. It’s achieved by adding darker tones to naturally blonde hair or lightening brown hair with streaks of darker blonde. This shade of blonde is super popular. I’m seeing more and more women ask their colorist it!
Erin McGrath is a talented hairstylist and salon owner in The Woodlands, Texas. She offered some advice for women who like to go dirty blonde next.
💡 Key Things to Know First
- Keep the hairline bright, so you always feel brightest around your face.
- The dimension can be similar to your natural hair color for a softer grow out.
- Use color-safe shampoos to extend your hair service in between salon visits.
- Dry shampoo or texturizing spray is great for styling. McGrath loves the Moroccanoil Dry Shampoo Light Tones and Davines Dry Texturizer.
- Bring photo inspirations to the consultation to check with your stylist whether your preferred blonde is ideal for your skin tone and natural hair color.
To help you find your hair inspiration, here’s a photo gallery of the most popular dirty blonde hair color ideas.
#1: Amazing Dirty Bleach Blonde
A cool white-as-snow dirty blonde hair dye can bring out the pink in your skin and enhance your hazel eyes, especially if you have blue or grey hints. Ideal for wavy lobs and layered cuts.
#2: Natural-Looking Dirty Blonde Bob
A natural-looking bob is a great choice if you want a low-maintenance style. Perfect for natural medium and light hair tones, dirty blonde color can be achieved by asking your stylist for blonde and light brown baby lights. Adding a bob haircut will make your hair look full-bodied and polished with low effort and maintenance.
#3: Dirty Blonde Money Piece on Dark Hair
Try a dirty blonde money piece on your dark hair if you’re a brunette who wants a change but doesn’t want to be too blonde. The honey blonde hair tone looks great on most skin tones. Ask your stylist for a balayage with a money piece.
#4: Reverse Dirty Blonde Ombre
A highly textured dirty dark blonde hair root to sexy brunette tips is an ultra-fabulous style to treat yourself with. Adorn your long dirty blonde ombre hair color with waves to accentuate that perfect blend!
#5: Dirty Blonde Bangs
Dirty blonde bangs are the perfect accent to a stunning pixie cut. If you’re ready for a cool short haircut, ask your stylist for side-swept bangs that will showcase your eyes and add some flair to this amazing haircut. To create this style, blow dry your bangs with a paddle brush and lock them into place with Amika’s Fluxus Hairspray for that touchable finish.
#6: Low-Maintenance Dirty Blonde
Try a low-maintenance dirty blonde hair color if you’re a busy woman on the go and don’t like to spend lots of time at the salon. The color placement ensures a beautiful grow-out, and adding lowlights creates dimension, making those blonde hues pop. This cooler, dirty blonde color will complement women with a warmer skin tone, so don’t be afraid to ask your stylist to add some dimension to your blonde.
#7: Stunning Dirty Blonde Balayage
Dirty blonde balayage is the perfect low-maintenance color. The warm tones complement most skin complexions, making it universally flattering. The color placement of balayage on your dirty blonde hair ensures a seamless grow-out, which means no harsh lines. This also increases the timing between salon visits. When styling your long dirty blonde hair, add some curls and spray in some Bedroom Hair by Kevin Murphy for that perfect beachy style.
#8: Natural Dirty Blonde Hue
Consider a natural dirty blond hair color as a change from your typical solid blonde look. Keeping the dirty blonde hair a more natural mix of blonde tones helps give your tired hair a break and allows it to heal. A natural blonde hue is also great if you want to switch to a more low-maintenance color. Ask your stylist to match your natural root color to create dirty blonde highlights and lowlights.
#9: Gorgeous Dirty Blonde Hair with Highlights
Try dirty blonde hair with highlights if you’re after a beachy, sun-kissed, yet lower-maintenance hair color. This color is great for women with naturally light brown to dark blonde hair. This bright beige tone looks great on neutral, warm, and cool skin tones. If paired with darker roots, dirty blonde hair with blonde highlights is lower-maintenance than the traditional highlights.
#10: Dirty Blonde Curly Hair
Dirty blonde curly hair is great for ladies with thick hair looking to liven up their curls. The beige tone looks wonderful on a variety of skin tones. A curl specialist will be the best person to help you achieve this haircut and style.
#11: Yummy Dirty Strawberry Blonde Hair
Dirty strawberry blonde hair is a great color if you have a neutral to warm skin tone. Coppery balayage highlights create dimension throughout and brightness around your face.
#12: Daring & Dark Dirty Blonde
A dark, dirty blonde hair color is perfect for transitioning from artificial hair color to embracing your natural greys. It would be best to ask for babylights and a silvery matte toner to achieve darker blonde shades. Prepare to be in the salon for several hours when receiving a full babylight service. To maintain this tone, you will need a purple shampoo and visit the salon for toners.
#13: Beautiful Dirty Blonde with Blonde Highlights
A dirty blonde with blonde highlights is a relatively low-maintenance color because the contrast between the highlights and the natural color is not too big. If you want to feel blonder, ask your colorist to leave a bolder blonde money piece around your face and go softer on the blonde highlights on dirty blonde hair around your crown area. That placement will also prolong the time between your color services to 12 to 14 weeks because you will get a softer re-growth.
#14: Soft Dirty Blonde Money Pieces for Women Over 70
If you’re a woman over 70, soft dirty blonde money pieces add dimension and brightness. They give you a youthful feel to your hair color. Money pieces are mainly focused on your face but can also be used throughout your hair to add a “wow” factor.
#15: Dirty Blonde with Purple Ends for Women Over 50
If you’re a lady over the age of 50, purple ends on dirty blonde hair add a fun tone and dimension to fashion colors—a darker shade of purple in highlight form is one of the more conservative dirty blondes.
#16: Modern Dishwater Blonde Hair Color for Older Women
Modern dishwater blonde hair is very soft and dimensional with a few pops of bright blonde color. Perfect if you’re an older woman, dimensional blonde hair is versatile and will create a youthful glow!
#17: Dirty Blonde Hair with Lowlights for Women Over 60
If you’re over the age of 60, dirty blonde hair with lowlights is an easy way to blend out your grey hair. Adding in lowlights allows dimensions and an even and faded grow-out with lower upkeep. Short dirty blonde hair is guaranteed to be very easy to style.
#18: Dirty Platinum Blonde with Dark Roots
Consider a metallic shade that suits a warm to neutral complexion when looking for dirty blonde hair ideas. This color illuminates your hairstyle when under the light. Perfect for all types and lengths of hair, whether it be a pixie or simple straight medium hair.
#19: Fun Dirty Blonde Ombre with Beach Waves
A dark to light dirty blonde hair with ombre like this is what everyone wants right now. Beautiful and easy to style!
#20: Dirty Ash Blonde on Shoulder-Length Hair
Feel like a beach goddess with this dirty ash blonde hair, paired with a shoulder-length cut, smokey roots, and subtle balayage that looks perfect on straight layered hair. This dirty blonde style is also perfect for mid-length, thin, fine hair.
#21: Brunette Medium-Length Hair with Honey Highlights
Add depth and dimension to your natural dirty blonde hair for a healthier hairstyle with these warm caramel streaks! The golden dirty blonde with highlights look wonderfully vibrant with dark hair because of the contrast and added dimension.
#22: Alluring Light Dirty Blonde
Spice up your natural hair color with light dirty blonde hair that looks undeniably pretty on any skin tone.