AF Blog — Lifestyle

Fox Fam… It’s TIME! 😍 Halloween is near, the weather is cooling down and the vibes are getting spooky! 👻🍂 Whether your hair is changing as quick as the leaves are or you want a costume based on your current color, we have inspo galore! 🤩 From brunette to orange to bleached hair, you can find just about anything in this blog to get your costume ideas flowing 👇

If you didn’t know, we can see the future and our crystal ball sees these Halloween costumes in yours! 🔮💫

👱‍♀️ Blonde Hair Inspo

Lighten up, it’s the best time of the year! 🤪 Whether you're channeling the boldness of Daenerys Targaryen, the iconic energy of Barbie, or the cunning edge from Gone Girl, a bleach blonde base is your ticket to a show-stopping look. Maybe you want to be a shining star like Glinda and show your magic? 🪄 Or maybe you're feeling a little more wicked this year like Ursula? Either way, bleach blonde gets the job done. Let’s not forget Tiffany Valentine's terrifying persona makes for a hot look 👀 So, grab your Bleach Please, a little courage, and get ready to transform into your favorite character this Halloween!

Shop our Bleach, Please Collection here

💙 Blue Hair Inspo

Feeling a little blue? (In a good way!) 😏 Dye your way into one of these iconic characters with our bold and deep blue shades. Channel the melancholic Sadness with Poseidon or the pure electric energy of Hatsune Miku with some Aquamarine. Dive into the otherworldly with Coraline or Corpse Bride for an unforgettable Halloween, or embrace your inner villain with Hades from Hercules. If those just simply aren’t your vibe, opt for something a little more lighthearted like Marge Simpson's iconic blue hair! A CLASSIC 🍩  So, grab your favorite shade of blue and get ready to make a splash this Halloween! Shop our blue collection here.

Autumn is here, and it's time to give your hair a makeover! With the leaves changing and the air getting crisp, there's no better time to experiment with a new hair color. This fall, we're seeing a resurgence of bold, vibrant shades, rich rubies, fiery reds, and of course a fall twist on the color of the year in baked peach. Let's dive into some of the hottest semi-permanent hair color trends to slay these coming Fall months! 

Ruby Wine

If you're looking for a deep, rich color that's perfect for fall, ruby wine is the way to go. This gorgeous shade can be easily achieved using a 50/50 mix of long-time Arctic Fox favs Ritual and Wrath. @stellacini got the most gorgeous velvet-y vibe with this mix over her faded green base! This rich color is sure to turn heads and is the perfect statement for fall. 

Ebony

@morganmckain in Transylvania 

Blue-toned black is sneaking back in, and we’re definitely not mad at it! Ebony is making the charts as a fall trending color, and it’s perfect for our Foxes who are dyeing to add a bit of mystery to their look. Pour up Transylvania to transform into whatever shade you’re rockin’ into a bold hair choice with a sultry, mystic edge. You can also add a touch of Blue Jean Baby for that extra punch.

Pro Tip: Transylvania is a pigmented color with blue undertones and will bleed during the dyeing process so be sure to cover up, use vaseline and scrub your shower immediately!

Neon Oranges and Pinks

@ddcohair in Frosé, Peach Prosecco, and Electric Paradise

@torymua in Porange

This one might be a bit of a surprise, but fall is a great time to whip out the neons and make the boldest statement of 2024. Peachy oranges, and rusty pinks are THE color combo to totally seal the show and try something unique. Porange and Electric Paradise will be your stars for this show, both vibrant AF, and both with UV reactive tones that will glow in the dark if you’re gracing any festivals in the fall months. When working with these stunners, bleach will get you best results, so make sure you’re applying on a bleached, even base for the best results you could dream of! 

Baked Peach

@lolaliner in Peach Prosecco

Peach ruled 2024 from start to finish, and for a trendy twist on the color of the year, baked peach is the one to dye! You’ll need a platinum base for this look to shine it’s brightest, and then, you guessed it! Peach Prosecco is your gal. Add a few drops of Ginger Flare for a grungier vibe and you’ve got the hottest color on your hands.

Fiery Red

@missempi in Poison and Sunset Orange

RED has to be our favorite color - and if you’ve seen the Fox Fam rocking a red you KNOW you’ve found yourself heading to checkout for that same bottle. All our reds have INSANE color pigment payoff, but Poison is the IT girl when it comes to a good red. The lighter your base, the more venomous the color, so keep that in mind when you’ve decided on your poison. With a head of hair like this, you’ll be a walking fire hazard! 

Pro Tip: Sunset Orange is known for its red undertones, so a touch of that to your concoction and you’ll have to call the fire department! 

And that’s a wrap on our trend report, Fox Fam! Will you be dyeing any of these? Don’t forget to tag us @arcticfoxhaircolor and you just might get a feature. We can’t wait to see! 

@evelina.forsell in Ginger Flare

Time flies when you’re having fun, and we DEFINITELY have. 10 years ago we set out to create the best prismatic hair color line and now we’re coloring and conditioning hair across the globe. We’ve celebrated all things AF all year long with launches, giveaways, donations to amazing organizations and more. But first, let's take a look back at what was going on in our world in 2013 when it all began.

- “What does the Fox Say” was the most viral Youtube video of the year...
- Now we’re always asking “what does the Fox FAM say?!”
- Word of the year: SELFIE (how perfect)
- Platinum and pastel hair were IT
- Pixie cuts and mohawk braids were everywhere
- Orange Is the New Black and Breaking Bad were the most talked about TV shows
- We were obsessed with cronuts
- Miley twerked at the VMA’s
- Britney coined the term “work, b*tch”

The timing couldn’t have been more perfect to launch a brand dedicated to all things attitude and hair color. Since the start we have been driven to create a space for everyone to express themselves and do it all for a great cause. But what have we done since launching Arctic Fox?

- Evolved our hair color line to now include over 20 unique shades
- Produced an affordable and high quality hair care line                                     - Expanded the brand to be wherever YOU are, in some of the most popular beauty stores Ulta, Sally Beauty, and Hot Topic                                                      - Launched our Foxology gel nail kits and nail polishes
- Became a leader in affordable at-home hair color
- Empowered our Fox Fam to embrace their uniqueness
- Helped thousands of animals along the way with your support of AF

We’ve done so much through the years to create our colorful community and impact the lives of animals worldwide through our efforts. All of this made it that much more important to us to go out with a bang for our 10th anniversary and we couldn’t be more thankful to have spent it with all of you. Here’s how we celebrated through this year:

We added new dyes to the mix… and brought some back. Our newest shade, Ginger Flare is now one of our most popular colors, and we LOVE to see you sport your coppery looks!

@evelina.forsell in Ginger Flare

But for a bit of nostalgia, we brought back an old favorite this year. Your peachy bestie, Porange is back (for a limited run) just in time for you to create looks around Pantone’s Color of the Year for 2024, Peach Fuzz! 

@meghanowen in Electric Paradise and Porange

We let YOU decide on future launches! We listened to your requests and you helped make Ginger Flare a best seller. So we took it a little further by letting our Fox Fam decide which color we should release in 2024 and you guys did NOT disappoint. Make sure you’re signed up for emails and follow us on our socials to see when the chosen shade is released. We can’t wait to see you guys use this gorgeous spacey blue shade.

Expansion, expansion, expansion! Our Foxology nail line had TONS of growth this year. We added dozens of new polish colors and gel nail kits to the mix. We even introduced you to Foxy the Snowman.

Checker Out

Pinkerchief

As seen on…. TV, magazines and just EVERYWHERE. This year your favorite at-home hair color and nail brand (aka US) was featured on celebrities like Karol G and Megan Fox. How sick is that?

There were lots of opportunities to win big! We partnered with brands like Loungefly for social media giveaways to give back to our Fox Fam.

And for our loyal Fox Fam, there were even more ways to save and earn! We leveled up our rewards program for our loyal customers to have better ways of earning points on their AF purchases.

We gave back to those in need. Our animal rescue partners have been near and dear to us through the years. As a company that prides itself on donating 15% of our revenue to animal welfare organizations, we wanted to make sure we gave back in more ways this year. 

Our team kicked off the year with visits to Viva Rescue and Judith A. Bassett Candid Education & Conservation Center to meet with the animals we help impact through our donations.

At Viva Rescue our donations this year helped cover care costs that saved the lives of young goats.

Our donation to Judith A. Bassett Candid Education & Conservation Center helped them fund the addition of several new enclosures. Including one for an actual arctic fox!

Our work with Second Chance Animal Rescue helped to cover medical costs for several animals in their care.

WIth IFAW we were able to support their efforts to help animals around the world even through natural disasters and displacements in areas with political unrest.

Without you and your support, none of this would be possible. We are so happy to have built a community that supports us as a brand and our ongoing fight for animal welfare. We couldn’t be more thankful for our Fox Fam and we’re so excited to show you what we have up our sleeves in the new year and beyond. Thanks for celebrating with us all through 2023!

The holidays are upon us (where TF did this year go!?) and the stars have aligned to bring you a gift guide ruled by the Zodiac elements for that special someone in your life. So let’s get started with the gifting magic shall we? 

Air - Gemini, Libra, Aquarius

Air signs are the thinkers and doers of the zodiac, with their intellectuality and curiosity being the driving force in how they move through the world. Their live and let live mentality allows them to breeze through life, rarely stopping to catch a breath. They analyze and probe, but easily make decisions, because they’re just THAT smart. Sound like anyone you know?

Air signs are synonymous with freedom, and bringing a breath of fresh air to our world. People under an air sign are adventurous, curious, and ever-changing (much like our hair). This personality can make them somewhat difficult to pin down and to peg exactly what gifts they’d enjoy.  So we have a few ideas to help you out!

Arctic Mist Diluter is designed to swish with other colors and create unique mixes, and pastel shades. These lighter, customized looks match well with air signs and appeal to their outgoing personality, and ever changing nature. 

@salinesimon in Arctic Mist Diluter and Aquamarine 

While air can seem elusive or confusing for some others under a different elemental star sign, they are very interested in other people and naturally analytical. The air element can sometimes be an overthinker, taking a while to ponder their next move. For that reason, people and products that ground them back into the present moment are great for air zodiac signs. 

Resurrected Shampoo and Conditioner is perfect for the Gemini, Libra or Aquarius in your life. Air zodiac signs tend to be intellectual (many air signs are lawyers, doctors, writers, speakers, or scientists) and their minds can get a little busy. Treat them to a touch of pampering and down time with the Resurrected duo. She will help them nourish their hair and maybe even switch off that deep thinking mode for a while. 

If you want to treat an air sign with something that will appeal to their more adventurous side,  Celestial Shimmer is an electric member of Foxology’s latest Holiday Glitter Nail Polish drop! This eye-catching blue glitter brings seasonal shine and more than a hint of the stars - perfect to be the center stage at allll the holiday parties! 

Fire - Aries, Sagittarius, Leo 

Arguably the most perfect gift for that passionate fire sign in your life is Crimson Claus, a delightful crimson red shade for those who are not sure they made the nice list this year. But hey, it was a good time wasn’t it!?

Fire signs are known to be pretty fiery; (ironic we know!) sometimes they deliver a chaotic, disruptive energy due to excitement and passion, because well, fire signs are always in doing mode. They are trendsetters often leading the way and breaking new ground. They are confident and there is very little in life that they don’t feel they are equipped to take on.  

Fire signs will be well matched to Poison, our most fiery red tone that mirrors their personality. This shade will exude that confident, center-stage persona that belongs to Aries, Sagittarius, and Leo zodiac signs. 

@not_reagan in Poison

If there’s one word that comes to mind when we think of fire signs, it’s VOLUME. Pump up that hair with Vacay Volumizing Shampoo, and make any hairdo end in…WOW. 

Earth - Taurus, Virgo, Capricorn

Helloooo, practical and grounded queens!

Earth signs are known to be creators, and organizers with a loyal nature. Their artistic flair makes them innovative in their personal and professional lives. Rooted and grounded energy permeates the auras of earth signs, and they generally take on life with a practical approach and take time before making big decisions. Do you feel that calming energy already? 

Earth signs love anything tasteful and classy. Mix that in with self-care and you’ve got a winning gift on your hand! Our Stony Path Gel Nail Kit combines all of the above in a simplistic, yet classy design - that mix of gray and silver is enough to make an earth sign say yes, please!  

We can’t do our earth signs justice without highlighting a rich green that just GIVES earth, goddess energy. Phantom Green is THE shade for earth baddies, and you can pick the matching nail polish to fully embody the look! 

@aambriaa in Phantom Green

@jadetoblack in Phantom Green and Frosé

Earth signs are good at caring for themselves and their loved ones. This caring nature can even extend to their homes or objects they care about. Earth signs will go to war for the people and things they care about most.

Lean into the protective, nurturing nature of the earth sign personality with the OG Hair Perfume and UV Protectant. This product keeps locks hydrated and protected from UV, because you KNOW our earth signs are spending all the time they can in the outdoors. Combined with that luscious grape scent? It’s the perfect stocking stuffer. 

Water - Pisces Scorpio, Cancer

Water signs are intuitive, emotional, sensitive, and sentimental. So yes, they love all the extra love they can get! 

Water signs have an elite ability to sense the world around them, and understand feelings and emotions of themselves and others. They tend to absorb the environment and emotions around them like a sponge, so having the right circle is important to them. This zodiac group needs clarity in their mind, body, and spirit.  

When you’re thinking of the water sign in your life, a gesture of nurturing self-care will go a long way! Throw in Pool Party, our foaming hair mask with allll the yummy nutrients for a spa day you can squeeze in before a shower or long, relaxing bath. 

Pisces, Scorpio, and Cancer signs are also capable of transformation in order to reach their potential, with more focus on building a fulfilling life than awards or material things. 

If you want to gift your loved one with a new look to aid their outward transformation, Blue Odyssey is a navy blue, and steel blue marbleized nail kit that can perfectly fit the spiritual and intuitive sense of a water sign, allowing them to transform their look with ease. 

Because of those heavy feels, water signs can be cautious at times, and tend to seek comfort in life, but this doesn’t stop them looking for depth and emotional fulfillment by any means! 

The color that best channels this feel-y energy is Aquamarine! The gorgeous blue with teal undertones that brings the watery element to life and channels intuitive, imaginative, and free energy. Take it to another level with Aquamarine’s matching nail polish and omg, you know that’s a winning combo.

@rike.m in Aquamarine

@jadetoblack in Aquamarine and Blue Jean Baby 

Whether you’re treating yourself or your loved ones to our Zodiac picks this year, we can’t wait to see what you come up with! If you’re testing out a new color, or a special nail look, tag us at @arcticfoxhaircolor on Instagram - you know we LIVE for it. 

Bonus tip! If you’re a Fox Fam Rewards program member, you can send any of your friends a gift of $5 to use towards their first purchase! You’ll get $10 off your next order with every successful referral. Spread the Fox Fam love, we adore a big fam. 🥰

The Fox Fam are already totally head over heels in love with the awesome AF hair color range. But hold up, there’s more?! Yup. 

NEED more of THOSE bright colors? Sure you do. Want even more intricate shades, patterns, and prints, but this time for your nails? Well, duh! 

That’s why we’ve been mixing up some of our most popular shades into the Foxology collection of nail lacquers with all the bold AF colors you know. Sprinkle in patterns and prints and your nails can become a canvas with unlimited possibilities; you can paint almost anything your mind can imagine. 

Before you unleash your nail art work worthy of the Louvre, we need to do a little basic prep, but don’t worry we’ve made it simple to follow, even for Nail Art novices. 

Nail Art: The Basics 

Start With a Clean, Dry Base 

Just like when dyeing your hair, you’ll want to always start off your nail art with clean, dry nails. 

Visionaries like us (tongue slightly in cheek) need a clean slate to work with. Start by scrubbing away any old polish to reveal your blank canvas. But it’s not quite time to dip the brush into the paint yet.

First up, cleanse the nail bed to make sure your nails are clean underneath too, because this will not only give you healthier nails, but also a better overall look once you add your custom nail art. We always use lukewarm water to soak and clean under nails to reduce the drying impact on the skin and prevent aging (it’s totally preferable to scorching your skin in molten hot water). We’re always looking out for you, Fox.

Now, you might want to trim and file your nails BEFORE painting to get them in tip-top shape for your design. Since you're creating nail art, try not to cut them too short -  you might need that extra real estate to work with for your exquisite patterns. 

Follow these simple steps and you’ll soon have a perfect clean surface to add a base coat before you add polish!

Use a Base Coat 

You’ll want to set up the right foundations for your inner Picasso with a base coat. Apply one layer of base coat and allow it to completely dry before moving forward. *Waits impatiently* *Twiddles thumbs* 

Base coats are usually clear or slightly bluish in color and protect your nails from getting stained or damaged by nail polish and other nail art materials. The long story short is, your base coat will help the polish stay in place longer, without chipping the design, so it’s kind of a must have if you want your dazzling nail display to last. 

We have a fab base coat with all the juicy and healthy vitamins you nails need to thrive in our Foxology line up. It sets things up perfectly, ready for your masterpieces. (Muse entirely optional). 

Intricate Designs 

For intricate designs, make sure your base layer is fully dry and has enough coats (2- 3 usually works) this will make your design easier to realize and it will last MUCH longer. 

Fox Pro Tip: Plan out your design! It’s easy to get carried away and jump right into painting, but.... planning the execution of intricate designs before-hand and knowing what you want to create step-by-step usually results in something more beautiful and refined. 

Here’s another couple of pointers for your application technique. 

Ombre

If you’re going for an ombre effect, use a sponge. Apply the polish with the sponge from the tip of the nail downwards with a tapping or pressing motion. 

With the first coat decide where the ombre line will finish. Use a clean side of the sponge to dab and fade out the finishing line. Finally, apply a second coat over the top section of the nail and gently fade it out to blend in with the previous coat and achieve the ombre pattern to faded perfection. 

Need a little more ombre inspo? Try out Sunset Orange and Cosmic Sunshine for an ombre that’s prettier than a sunset. Or completely switch temperatures and blend Periwinkle into Sheer Nude for a cool blue and white winter ombre tone. 

Patterns

To shape intricate designs on your nails with patterns use a much smaller pointed brush to have greater control over the lines and artwork you create. You are working in a small space so it makes sense to use a smaller tool, right!? 

For bonafide proof this works, check out how @nailartbysig created this awesome blood drip effect design ready for Halloween with Foxology shades and a fine brush. It’s the inspo you need! 

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by Arctic Fox Hair Color (@arcticfoxhaircolor)

And there’s more. @nailartbysig has been maxing out the potential of the Foxology collection with some delicious color and pattern combos. 

Going as a “Pink Lady” with your crew this Halloween? This powerful pink mix of Frose and Virgin Pink has us calling our squad immediately. With a unique pattern on each nail this look has some added complexity that we find completely satisfying. 

@nailartbysig in Frosé and Virgin Pink

Next up, let’s take a look at this perfect autumnal blend. Purples, oranges, and a frosted pink help set up an impressive display for your digits. This design is anything but uniform, with block colors contrasted with a small circle dot on each nail. There’s even room for a seasonal ghost wearing a witches hat for Halloween. Loving your work! 

@nailartbysig in Sunset Orange, Frosé, and Purple AF

Blue Jean Baby with a single stand out leopard print pattern is the flawless go to design when you want to unleash your Queen of the jungle phase.

@jadetoblack in Aquamarine and Blue Jean Baby

Want to add a little pop to your prints? Try this kaleidoscopic design from @jadetoblack in Aquamarine, Phantom Green, Cosmic Sunshine, Poison, and Virgin Pink to add complexity and contrast. 

@jadetoblack in Aquamarine, Phantom Green, Cosmic Sunshine, Poison, and Virgin Pink

Finally, why not try making waves and your friends green with envy via this Phantom Green and Frosé combo.  Block forest green colors are contrasted with a single digit in Frosé with a wavy Phantom Green line pattern. 

@jadetoblack in Phantom Green and Frosé

Want to inspire someone else with your artistic flair? Paint a colorful picture for the rest of the Fox Fam by tagging us @arcticfoxhaircolor.