Skin tone
“When choosing any hair color, it’s always important to take your skin tone into account,” says Rubel. A good rule of thumb? Cooler colors (like ash brown) generally work best on cooler skin tones, while warmer colors are best for, you guessed it, warmer skin tones. But that doesn’t mean ash brown is totally off the table if you have a warmer skin tone, says Rubel—you’ll just need to work with your colorist to find the best placement and technique to complement your look (i.e. adding in a few golden highlights around your face and throughout your lengths to create balance, says Rubel).
Starting point
Another important thing to keep in mind: Make sure you consider your starting color before going ash brown. “If you’re starting with very dark hair and your goal is ash brown, you’ll likely need to lighten your hair first before depositing the ash brown shade,” she explains. “Always consult with your colorist before your appointment and make sure you bring reference photos of what you like and dislike.”
