Finding the right ash blonde hair dye can feel overwhelming when you face shelves full of boxes promising cool tones but delivering brassy yellow results. You want a shade that neutralizes warmth and gives you that sophisticated silvery blonde finish, not another disappointing orange disaster.
This guide covers seven ash blonde hair dyes you can buy in the UK right now. You’ll discover what each shade actually looks like on different hair colours, whether the formula is permanent or semi permanent, and exactly where to order it online. We compare brands from Smart Beauty to high street favourites like LOreal and Garnier, plus natural plant based options and semi permanent toners for commitment free colour.
1. Smart Beauty ash blonde hair dye with plex
Smart Beauty offers an ash blonde hair dye that combines professional results with plex technology to protect your hair during the colouring process. This UK made formula delivers a cool toned blonde without the brassiness you often get from high street brands, and you can apply it safely at home without needing salon equipment.
Shade and undertone of Smart Beauty ash blonde
The Smart Beauty ash blonde gives you a light silvery blonde finish with strong violet undertones that neutralize any warmth in your hair. You’ll see a subtle grey shift rather than a golden or honey tone, making it perfect when you want that Scandinavian inspired look. This shade works particularly well if you’re lifting medium to light brown hair or refreshing previously bleached hair that’s gone yellow.
Type of dye and how long the colour lasts
Smart Beauty’s ash blonde uses a permanent formula that lasts through multiple washes and grows out gradually without harsh lines. You can expect six to eight weeks of vibrant colour before you need to reapply, though your roots will show earlier if you have darker natural hair. The plex enriched base means your colour stays truer to tone as it fades rather than shifting brassy.
Vegan plex enriched formula and ingredients
This ash blonde blonde hair dye contains plex technology that repairs bonds in your hair strands while the colour processes, reducing damage and leaving you with shinier results. The formula is completely vegan and cruelty free, and Smart Beauty removes PPD, ammonia, and resorcinol from their ingredients list. Your scalp stays comfortable during application, and you avoid the harsh chemical smell that traditional dyes produce.
Plex enriched formulas protect your hair structure during colouring, giving you healthier looking results than standard box dyes.
Who this ash blonde works best for
You’ll get the best results with Smart Beauty ash blonde if you start with light brown to dark blonde hair. This shade also works brilliantly as a toner over pre lightened hair, especially when you’ve bleached to a pale yellow and need to remove warmth. Those with very dark hair should bleach first to avoid muddy tones.
Application tips for colouring at home
Mix the colour according to packet instructions and apply to dry, unwashed hair for maximum colour deposit. Work through your hair in sections, saturating each strand thoroughly, and leave the dye on for the full processing time. Check the colour every five minutes during the final stage to catch your perfect ash tone before it goes too ashy.
Where to buy from Smart Beauty in the UK
You can order Smart Beauty ash blonde directly from their website at smartbeautyshop.com, where you’ll find detailed shade guides and application videos. The site ships across the UK with standard and express delivery options, and you can often find promotional codes for first time orders or seasonal collections.
Choosing your ash blonde blonde hair dye shade
Smart Beauty provides a virtual shade matcher on their product pages that helps you predict results based on your current hair colour. You can also contact their customer support team for personalised advice when you’re unsure which ash blonde tone suits your starting point best.
2. LOreal Paris Preference light ash blonde 8.1
LOreal Paris Preference light ash blonde delivers a cool platinum finish that you’ll find in most UK supermarkets and chemists. This established ash blonde blonde hair dye comes with a translucent gel formula that LOreal claims gives you luminous reflections without warmth, and the brand backs it with decades of home colouring expertise.
Shade and finish overview
You get a light silvery blonde result with LOreal Preference 8.1 that sits on the cooler side of the blonde spectrum. The shade contains violet pigments that counteract yellow and orange tones, creating that sought after ash finish. Your hair will look noticeably lighter after application, with a subtle pearl undertone rather than a golden glow.
Permanent formula and longevity
This permanent dye lasts through six to eight weeks of regular washing before you notice significant fade. LOreal includes a colour matching conditioner in each box that helps seal the pigment into your hair shaft and adds shine. Your colour stays vibrant for the first month, then gradually softens while maintaining its cool tone.
Permanent ash blonde formulas give you lasting colour that grows out gradually rather than washing away after a few shampoos.
Best starting hair colours for this dye
You’ll achieve the truest result if your natural hair falls between light brown and medium blonde. Starting with very dark hair produces muddy results, and you should bleach first to reach pale yellow before applying this shade. Previously coloured hair takes this ash tone well provided you’re not lifting from red or copper shades.
Other ash blonde shades in this range
LOreal Preference offers multiple ash blonde options including 9.1 very light ash blonde for an even paler result, and 7.1 ash blonde for those wanting less lift. Each shade in the range maintains the same cool toned formula while varying in lightness level.
Where to buy this shade in the UK
You can purchase LOreal Preference 8.1 from Boots, Superdrug, Tesco, and Sainsbury’s both in store and online, with prices typically ranging between £6 and £9 per box.
3. Garnier Nutrisse 9.13 light ash blonde dye
Garnier Nutrisse 9.13 brings you a nude light ash blonde that neutralizes warmth while keeping your hair looking natural rather than starkly platinum. This permanent ash blonde blonde hair dye comes enriched with avocado, olive, and shea oils that nourish your hair during the colouring process, and you’ll find it stocked in most UK high street shops at an affordable price point.
Shade and finish overview
This shade produces a light ash blonde with neutral undertones that sits between cool and natural on the blonde spectrum. You get a subtle beige blonde result rather than an icy silver tone, making it ideal when you want to go lighter without looking washed out. The colour has enough ash to prevent brassiness while maintaining warmth that flatters most skin tones.
Permanent formula and longevity
Garnier Nutrisse uses a permanent oil enriched formula that delivers lasting colour for up to eight weeks. Your hair stays conditioned throughout the colouring process thanks to the natural oils in the mix, and the fade resistant pigments maintain their ash tone rather than turning yellow. The included grape seed oil conditioner seals colour into your hair shaft and adds shine that lasts between applications.
Oil enriched permanent dyes condition your hair while colouring, giving you softer results than standard formulas.
Best starting hair colours for this dye
Your starting point should be light to medium blonde for the truest ash result. Dark blonde hair lifts well with this shade, though you might need two applications if your natural colour runs deeper than level 7. Previously highlighted hair takes this tone beautifully when you want to even out your colour.
Other ash blonde shades in this range
Garnier offers 9.1 light ash blonde for a cooler result and 8.1 ash blonde for less lift with similar toning properties. The Nutrisse Ultra Colour range includes additional ash options if you need stronger grey coverage.
Where to buy this shade in the UK
You’ll find Garnier Nutrisse 9.13 at Boots, Superdrug, Asda, and Morrisons with prices between £5 and £8 per box, and you can order online from Amazon UK for home delivery.
4. Clairol Nice n Easy 9A light ash blonde
Clairol Nice n Easy 9A offers a multi dimensional ash blonde that mimics natural hair colour with its blend of three tones plus highlights. This permanent ash blonde blonde hair dye builds its reputation on grey coverage and realistic results, and you’ll find the formula gentler on your scalp than many competing brands thanks to its conditioning base.
Shade and finish overview
You get a light ash blonde result that contains subtle dimension rather than flat colour. Clairol adds natural looking highlights into the formula that create depth and movement in your finished shade. The ash tones neutralize brassiness while the multi tonal approach prevents that obvious box dye appearance.
Permanent formula and longevity
This permanent colour lasts through eight weeks of regular washing before significant fade appears. Clairol includes a colour seal conditioner that locks pigment into your hair and protects against early fade. Your ash tone stays true throughout the wear time rather than shifting warm.
Best starting hair colours for this dye
Your natural hair should fall between medium blonde and light brown for optimal results. Darker starting points produce muddy tones, while very light blonde hair takes this shade beautifully for toning and dimension. Previously coloured hair accepts this formula well provided you’re not covering vibrant fashion colours.
Grey coverage and toning strengths
Clairol Nice n Easy excels at covering stubborn grey hairs while maintaining an ash finish. The formula deposits enough pigment to mask greys completely, and the three tone technology prevents that flat grey blending that some dyes create. You get natural looking coverage that blends seamlessly with your non grey strands.
Multi dimensional ash blonde formulas give you realistic colour that mimics natural highlights rather than solid flat shade.
Where to buy this shade in the UK
You can purchase Clairol Nice n Easy 9A from Boots, Superdrug, Tesco, and Amazon UK with prices ranging from £6 to £9 per box depending on retailer promotions.
5. Shrine Mixed Up semi permanent ash blonde
Shrine Mixed Up delivers a semi permanent ash blonde that tones your hair without the commitment of permanent colour. This deposit only formula neutralizes warm tones and adds cool silvery pigments to your existing blonde base, and you can wash it out completely when you fancy a change or want to try a different shade.
Shade and toning result
You get a cool ashy finish that removes yellow and orange tones from your hair while adding subtle silver grey pigments. The shade works as a toner rather than a lightener, depositing colour onto your existing blonde without lifting your natural hair. Your result depends on your starting shade, with paler blondes taking more visible ash and darker blondes receiving gentle toning.
Semi permanent formula and fade time
This ash blonde blonde hair dye lasts between four and eight washes before fading completely. Your colour gradually lightens with each shampoo, and you can reapply whenever your hair starts showing warmth again. The formula contains no ammonia or peroxide, making it gentler on your hair than permanent options.
Semi permanent formulas let you experiment with ash tones without committing to permanent colour changes.
Who this low commitment dye suits best
You’ll love Shrine Mixed Up if you have pre lightened or naturally blonde hair that tends towards brassiness. This shade suits anyone wanting to test ash tones before committing to permanent colour, and it works brilliantly between salon visits when your highlights need refreshing.
Mixing tips and custom ash blonde tones
Shrine encourages you to mix shades together for customized results. You can blend ash blonde with their silver or platinum shades to create your ideal cool tone, adjusting the ratio until you achieve your perfect balance between ash and brightness.
Where to buy this dye in the UK
You can order Shrine Mixed Up ash blonde directly from weareshrine.com, where the brand ships throughout the UK with standard and express delivery options available.
6. Radico natural plant based ash blonde dye
Radico offers a natural plant based ash blonde that colours your hair using herbs and minerals instead of synthetic chemicals. This 100% natural ash blonde blonde hair dye suits you if you prefer organic beauty products and want to avoid the harsh ingredients found in conventional hair colour, and you’ll appreciate how the formula conditions your hair while depositing cool tones.
What the shade looks like on hair
You get a light ash blonde result with subtle beige undertones that neutralize red pigments naturally. The shade produces a soft matte finish rather than glossy shine, giving your hair an earthy blonde appearance that looks gentle and natural. Your final colour depends on your starting shade, with lighter hair showing more visible ash tones.
Natural ingredients and how they work
Radico combines henna, indigo, and cassia with mineral pigments to create their ash blonde shade. These plant extracts coat your hair shaft and deposit colour gradually without opening your cuticle, and the herbal formula strengthens your strands while adding subtle ash tones. You avoid ammonia, peroxide, PPD, and synthetic dyes completely with this natural approach.
Plant based hair dyes condition and strengthen your hair during the colouring process rather than causing damage like chemical formulas.
Who this plant based dye is best for
This natural dye works best if you have light to medium blonde hair and want to maintain cool tones without harsh chemicals. You’ll appreciate Radico if you experience scalp sensitivity or allergic reactions to conventional hair colour, and the formula suits anyone following a natural beauty routine.
Application and timing tips
Mix the powder with warm water to create a smooth paste and apply generously to clean, dry hair. Leave the colour on for 60 to 90 minutes depending on how intense you want your ash tones, and cover your hair with a shower cap to maintain warmth during processing.
Where to buy this colour in the UK
You can purchase Radico ash blonde from Ecco Verde UK at ecco-verde.co.uk, where the site ships throughout Britain with standard delivery options available.
7. Boots Superdrug and Amazon ash blonde dye
Boots, Superdrug, and Amazon stock multiple ash blonde brands under one roof, giving you the convenience of comparing options before you buy. These major retailers carry the high street favourites alongside professional formulas, and you can often find shades that smaller stockists don’t carry. Shopping through these platforms lets you read real customer reviews and spot deals across different ash blonde blonde hair dye brands simultaneously.
Ash blonde shades you will find here
You’ll discover LOreal, Garnier, Clairol, and Schwarzkopf ash blonde shades at all three retailers, plus specialist brands like John Frieda and Revlon. Boots and Superdrug stock their own label ash blonde options that cost less than branded alternatives while delivering similar results. Amazon carries the widest range including imported shades and professional salon brands that high street shops skip.
How to compare brands and formulas
Check the shade number and undertone description on each box to identify true ash formulas versus warm blondes. Read customer photos in reviews to see actual results on different hair types, and compare ingredient lists when you want to avoid specific chemicals. Look at the included extras like conditioning treatments and gloves that add value to your purchase.
Finding deals and bundle savings
Both Boots and Superdrug run three for two promotions on hair colour regularly, letting you stock up or try multiple shades. Amazon offers subscribe and save discounts when you set up regular deliveries, and you can find multipacks that reduce the per box cost. Watch for seasonal sales around bank holidays when retailers slash prices on beauty products.
Delivery options across the UK
Amazon provides next day delivery for Prime members and standard shipping for everyone else. Boots offers click and collect from thousands of locations across Britain, while Superdrug ships to your home or local store. All three retailers provide tracking so you know exactly when your ash blonde dye arrives.
When to choose a retailer over a brand site
Pick retailers when you want to compare multiple brands without visiting different websites or need your dye immediately through same day collection. Brand sites suit you better when you want detailed shade advice and application tutorials, or when exclusive shades aren’t available through general retailers.
Finishing up
You now have seven ash blonde blonde hair dye options to choose from, ranging from permanent formulas that last eight weeks to semi permanent toners that wash out in days. Each shade brings its own strengths, whether you need plex protection like Smart Beauty offers, natural plant ingredients from Radico, or the convenience of high street brands available at Boots and Superdrug. Your perfect ash blonde depends on your starting hair colour, how long you want the result to last, and whether you prioritize ethical ingredients or budget friendly options.
Starting with pre lightened hair gives you the truest ash tones across all brands, while darker natural shades need careful selection to avoid muddy results. Remember to check your current hair colour against each product’s recommended starting points before you buy.
Browse the complete range of ash blonde shades at Smart Beauty to find your perfect cool toned blonde with plex enriched protection.
