AF Blog — Periwinkle

@Hairwaytoheavennn in Poison and Phantom Green

1. Winter Wonderland Blues ❄️☃️ and Holiday Greens 🎄 for Your Hair

Embrace the winter wonderland with our rich blues like Poseidon and jewel-toned greens like Phantom Green. Create a mesmerizing teal by mixing Poseidon and Aquamarine, perfect for capturing the essence of the season. Consider balayage or ombre techniques using different shades of blues turning your locks into a captivating icy landscape, or create dimension with a green color melt, Iris Green melted into Phantom Green with some red hair accessories!? It’s giving Christmas tree🎄. If you want to really make a statement, try mixing some Space Cowgirl with a little Ginger Flare to get the perfect ‘Grinch’ Green. If you want to keep your signature blue but make it more festive, try styling your hair with holiday accessories, like @xomerlissa does here:

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by Melissa Ann (@xomerlissa)

@xomerlissa’s styles are always a sleigh! 🛷

@Sighmmaya used Periwinkle and Poseidon for this wintery balayage

2. Ice Queen Blonde Mix: Achieve Frosty Royalty  👑

Channel your inner ice queen ❄️👸 with a frosty blonde mix. Lighten your hair with Bleach, Please - which is perfect for a wintery blonde on its own - or add a dab of Periwinkle after you’ve rinsed your bleach to tone it to be the perfect icy-toned blonde. This ethereal shade is perfect for those who want to stand out while embracing the winter chill 🥶.

3. Radiant Reds: Ignite the Night with Fire Hair 🔥 

Make a bold statement with radiant reds, capturing the warmth of the holiday season. Our Poison and Wrath shades are ideal for a fiery, festive look, no custom mixing required. Experiment with placement techniques like highlights or peekaboos, adding a touch of drama to your holiday hairstyle. I love a Ginger Flare and Violet Dream blend for the perfect cranberry hair color that looks great on multiple hair levels. It's the perfect way to have festive hair without needing to bleach.

View this post on Instagram

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

If you want to take it one step further, a spicy split dye with a custom ginger mix with Ginger Flare and a drop of Purple AF on one side, and the other side dyed with Phantom Green. The ultimate holiday mix! Two-toned hair is one of my favorite ways to stand out, especially something as bold as a green and red hair combo.

@Hairwaytoheavennn used Poison and Phantom Green for this two-toned Christmas look.

4. Sterling Winter Magic: A Metallic Touch for Winter Hair ❄️☃️

Sterling silver isn't just for jewelry; it's also a stunning hair color choice for winter. Showcase the versatility of Sterling with different color placements. Whether it's an all-over silver hue, strategically placed highlights, or a custom silver mix, Sterling adds a touch of elegance to almost any winter look. Mix 50/50 Sterling and Periwinkle for a stormy winter’s night vibe 🌨️. 

Equal parts Sterling and Periwinkle

Or if you think you might be on the naughty list, Blue Jean Baby and Sterling creates a smokey-toned dark blue, making your hair resemble the coal you’ll be getting in your stocking this year.

Base of Sterling with Blue Jean Baby

5. Foxology Finishes: Polishing Your Festive Look 💅🎅🎁🕎

Let's talk about the finishing touches that can take your holiday look from ‘deck the halls’ to completely decked out! Our Foxology line offers a range of polishes that add the perfect finishing touch. Highlight your icy blonde with Snowflake it til you Make It or add a pop of color to your red locks with Crimson Claus. Or, be especially bold and do a holiday nail design like Sigourney Nuñez did with this adorable holiday wrapping-paper inspired look:

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by Sigourney Nuñez (@nailartbysig)

Sigourney used: 

✨Goldie Fox

☃️Foxy the Snowman

🎄Perfectly Pine

🎅🏽Crimson Claus 

💚Phantom Green

To create these holiday plaid nails!

Foxology’s Polish line is honestly the best nail polish I have ever used. When I am feeling fancy and want a more elegant design, I will take it with me when I get my nails professionally done - because it lasts SO much longer than most nail polish AND truly doesn’t chip (plus it’s free of 15 common harsh chemicals and vegan, which most professional polish is not!). It’s also a quick-drying polish, unlike other traditional nail polish. If you are anything like me, I always ruin at least one nail every time I am waiting for my nails to fully dry (why does it take forever!?!), but never with Foxology! The brushes are also designed in a way that I can actually paint my nails at home and not get polish on my fingers. I was so excited for this collection to launch and it did not disappoint. I dare you to really stand out this season with a holiday-look, head to toe!

This holiday season, let your hair steal the spotlight. With Arctic Fox Hair Color's bold and vibrant shades, you can start your own holiday hair trends, and with our Foxology Holiday Collection, you can complete your look to really embrace the season. Spread holiday cheer and stand out with Arctic Fox! 🦊

@pasteljacqueline in Poseidon 

We’ve been in denial but summer is long gone, and the fall vibes are quickly fading into winter. As the cold months settle in, your tanning routine, skincare routine, and hair care routine are probably all undergoing a major change. So that calls for a whole new routine! AKA an excuse to indulge in some new self care, but hey, who are we to judge!?

The same hair advice we preach year ‘round for both lasting color AND ultimate hair health is don’t 👏🏻 wash 👏🏻 your 👏🏻hair 👏🏻 every 👏🏻 day. And guess what, that advice still applies during the colder months even though you might be sweating less, staying in more, and opting for a movie night instead of a night out with the girls. In any case, having designated wash days once or twice a week is a great way to keep that moisture locked into your strands for as long as possible. 

When it is wash day, make sure you’re using a color safe and sulfate free shampoo and conditioner! This step makes the biggest difference, and shampoo and conditioner is not the place to skimp out when it comes to your hair care routine! Our Resurrected Duo is vegan, color-safe, and sulfate-free, and it’s also PACKED with amino acids and antioxidants that contribute to hair strength and hydration. Resurrected shampoo is formulated with argan and macadamia nut oil to hydrate and soften while adding shine and reducing frizz. PERFECT for those winter months when hair static is an absolute pain in the a🫢. Shea butter, castor oil, and sunflower seed oil (just to name a few!) are the allstar ingredients in Resurrected conditioner - all of the above boost hydration, strengthen each strand, and leave you with soft, nourished strands. Ugh, can it be wash day already!? 

Even though winter seems to be the time to turn that shower knob as hot as it can go, remember your hair needs extra moisture during these months and a lower water temperature is your best friend! Try a lukewarm lather and rinse finished off with some cold water - this will help prevent brittle and breakage on those lovely strands. 

Whenever you do venture out into the cold, try a protective style like braids, a low bun, or tuck it into your favorite beanie! Depending on where you live, cold air or harsh elements actually dry out your hair and can contribute to breakage, so protecting your strands is a MUST. Silk or satin headwraps or pillowcases will be an absolute lifesaver during the dryer months - your hair will thank you. 🤝

Our favorite ✨Pro Tip✨ when it comes to keeping your hair ULTRA healthy and moisturized is adding in a pre shower hair mask to your routine. If you’ve been looking for a hair mask bestie to really take your haircare routine to the next level, Pool Party might just blow you out of the water! She’s packed with top tier vegan ingredients - castor, argan, sunflower seed oil, and apple fruit extract - a power team that accelerates hair growth, strengthens strands, fights frizz, and boosts hair hydration. Wow, that was a mouthful. 

There’s more than one way to party it up with Pool Party if you forget to marinate your locks before a shower! You can apply it any time to dry ends for a quick hydration boost, use it instead of conditioner during a shower, OR mix it up and use it as a wet styling cream (but maybe save that one for summer). 

Sometimes a pre shower mask and the perfect wash day routine still calls for some back up. Money Hunny Repair Serum is the IT girl of our haircare line. Her formula is silky, lightweight, and actually repairs split ends. With a blend of argan, babussa, arginine, avocado, macadamia nut, and jojoba seed oil, Money Hunny is the sweet remedy to dry, brittle, and breaking hair. You can use her on dry or damp hair for whenever you need that extra boost of TLC. 

Now that you’ve got that hair care routine on lock 🫡 you may be wondering if the dead of winter is still a good time to try on a new color. When you’re using AF hair dye, it’s always a good time to switch up your color!  Every color is formulated the same way - FULL of deep conditioning properties so it’s basically a color conditioner! ✨Girl Math✨So you know what that means! You can change your hair literally as many times as you want, all. year. long. Of course it depends on where you’re at now, but if you’re starting out fresh, use Bleach, Please to get to that platinum blonde, throw on Sterling for a totally icy look, and play around with the blues of the AF rainbow to find that wintery wonderland ‘do. Not sure what your starting point is? Check out our breakdown on the Color Wheel! 

And of course, we wouldn’t be your hair bestie without dishing our top inspo that’s making us reach for a new bottle of dye because OMG. 

@tejamaechele in Electric Paradise over Periwinkle

@lizzvargashair in Purple AF and Girls Night 

@faithlrobertson in Sterling

@pasteljacqueline in Poseidon   

@shealla in Arctic Mist Diluter, Bleach, Please, and Sterling  

@shemmysux in Periwinkle  

@kirathesith in Phantom Green and Transylvania

@sophiaxnova in Purple AF

Is TikTok making you want to dye your hair? Welcome to the club! If you’re thinking about pulling the trigger on that new color but have no idea where to start, you’re in the right place. We’re about to dish all our tips for your first time so that you can get that flawless color you’ve been dreaming of. 

Vegan and Cruelty Free Formula

The biggest and most common concern with first-timers is worrying about hair damage. Especially if you have virgin hair. And we get it! All the hair dyes in the AF color range are formulated without any harsh chemicals and packed with so many deep conditioning properties they’re basically a colored conditioner! So not only can you leave it on as long as you want, you’ll also come out with soft locks full of color!  

Semi-permanent dyes are the perfect solution to trying out bold colors minus the fear of settling down with one shade forever. AF hair dyes start with our signature full throttle bold color and then naturally fade out slowly over time with no additional processes. AKA you can try out new colors with the confidence that they won’t damage your strands, and they’ll still look ah-mazing as they fade. Semi-permanent hair dyes definitely don’t have to be scary!

@eclipse.lunxr in Virgin Pink

Starting with Vivid Hair Dye

When you’re first starting out with vivids, you need to keep in mind how light or dark your natural hair is to ensure you get the best results. For example, if your hair is light brown, deeply pigmented shades like Wrath, or Purple AF were made for you, Fox! Avoid pastel colors or the lighter blues and greens, unless you bleach and lighten your natural hair base first.  

Need more inspo before you take the leap? We got a list of important questions you need to ask before you dye your hair, just to make sure you’re ready to jump into the world of color! 

@queenbcyn in Wrath

Picking your new hue

One way you can crack the color code is by considering your skin’s undertone to help narrow down your choice and lead you to a new shade that will accentuate your natural features. 

Your skin tone is the surface level color of your skin that can change due to the season or sun exposure, we all notice our skin tone change a bit in the summer months, right? 😎 Your undertone on the other hand, is the underlying tone of your skin that is ever-present and doesn’t alter with the seasons.

Knowing your undertone can help narrow down your choice of color (unless you want to rebel and go with whatever shade you’re feeling). Start by finding out which of the three categories of undertones you fall into: cool, warm, or neutral.

Cool undertones have a pink or bluish hue to their skin. Warm undertones have a yellow, golden, or peachy hue, while neutral undertones mirror the color of their surface skin.

To figure out your undertone, use the Vein Method, Jewelry Method, or White T-Shirt Method as all are proven ways to see how your skin tone compliments and reacts to colors - and yes you can totally do them right at home! 

The white t-shirt method is as simple as it sounds -  throw on a white t-shirt and go outside in natural light. Pay attention to how your skin contrasts with the white shirt. If your skin looks rosy or pink, you have cool undertones. If your skin looks golden or yellow, you have warm undertones. If you don’t really see a change, you have neutral undertones.

The vein method might be the easiest one! If your veins appear purple or blue, you have cool undertones. Green or love mean you have warm undertones, and a mix of blue and green are neutral undertones. If you can’t really tell, you likely have neutral undertones as well. 

The jewelry method is probably the most fun! It’s simply the way jewelry looks on your skin. If you prefer silver jewelry against your skin you have cool undertones. If you prefer the way yellow gold jewelry looks on your skin, you have warm undertones.If you look great in both or don’t have a preference, (lucky you) you likely have neutral undertones.

And of course, we wouldn’t be your hair bestie if we didn’t have a full rundown on picking colors that go with your undertone right here!

In short, all our cool toned babes look best in Aquamarine, Poseidon, Periwinkle, Neverland, Girls Night, Purple AF, and Ritual.

@tayreichel in Neverland, Aquamarine, Periwinkle, and Arctic Mist Diluter 

Warm undertones stun in reds, oranges, yellows, or colors with warmth like Electric Paradise, Wrath, Sunset Orange, Poison, and Virgin Pink.

@sophia.vog in Wrath, Poison

And for our neutral undertone Foxes..well, you can literally go for any AF color. 

@jingleheartart in Cosmic Sunshine and Neon Moon

Our second method for picking a hair color is by using color theory and the color wheel. The color wheel is a visual tool to explain and visualize the relationship between colors (That much was obvious, right?). The color wheel will help you better predict how specific colors will mix together and how to avoid results that just don’t hit the heights you want to scale with your new hairdo.

For example, complementary colors are two shades that live opposite each other on the color wheel such as, violet and yellow, red and green, orange and blue. When you are coloring for the first time it is best to pick a hue that is opposite your natural hair color on the wheel in order to get an optimum result! Consult the AF color wheel here to find your inspo!

@imperial.hairstudio in Aquamarine, Virgin Pink, Violet Dream, Sunset Orange, Cosmic Sunshine

For unbleached hair, you can also check a prediction of how deep the color will show up based on your natural hair base.

If you want to go lighter and even work up to a pastel shade, you’ll need to lighten your hair up with a little bleach. You can look at the hair level charts on the AF product pages for a guide to how light you’d need to be to get your desired shade. Lightening it up gradually over time is the best way to go about it, especially if you are starting with really dark hair that borders on or around black tones. Our lightening kit, Bleach, Please is a safe option for healthy at-home lightening if you are going down this route. Before you know it you’ll be setting off sirens with your new delicious hair color.

@sheaella in Girls Night and Periwinkle 

So now you have done your research and found a complimentary hue and got your hair to the right base level, it's time to dive right in and get that new color on, right!? Erm... not quite!

The Strand Test, Your BFF

We always, ALWAYS recommend doing a strand test to see exactly how your shade will show up on your beautiful head of hair. 

Strand tests are SUPER important tools to help you see how the color will show up on your hair.

Even if you are blonde and have light hair, the natural tone of your hair will affect how color shows up so it's important to test it first. Everyone’s hair is different, and the Strand Test gives real world results of the color application. (The strand test never lies).

To start testing, shampoo and fully dry your hair, without conditioning. Find a 1 inch strand of hair in a hidden area and apply some of your chosen AF hue. Wrap the test strands in foil and let them process for at least 30 minutes before rinsing in cool water, drying your hair, and checking the outcome. You can always repeat the test as needed, if the shade was not what you were looking for.

Once you are happy and all set with your color, it's time to apply the shade to your locks. Naturally, we have some great tips and tools to help you get this process right!

The Hair Dyeing Process

Get ready to apply that delicious new color by either shampooing and drying your hair first, or even applying the color to hair that has not been washed for a day or two. This will allow natural oils to remain in the hair and can help the hair dye absorb into the strands better. We love to see that new vivacious color soak in.

While dyeing your hair use our alligator clips to separate your hair into sections to allow the color to be applied thoroughly and evenly. Ohh snap! 

@onedreamparis in Virgin Pink

If you are applying multiple colors the sectioning clips can be a lifesaver! For mixes, you can also use AF mixing bowls to measure out and mix up a perfect storm of color. It just makes it a little easier to get the exact ratios you need.

Before you apply the color and allow it to process for at least 30 minutes, you should take a couple of precautions to prevent staining your skin. 

First, apply vaseline around your hairline to prevent staining on your face or neck, because, well, that’s not a great look.  And finally, wear our reusable gloves while you apply your color and rinse it off, to prevent the hair dye from staining your hands and making it look like you have been in art class.

Whoop! 30 minutes later and you’re done! Your gorgeous new color can be unleashed into the world.

Hair Color Maintenance

Keeping your new hair color looking fresh can be done in more than one way! Remember, our dyes will still look super pretty as they fade - BUT the less you wash your hair the slower the fading process is. Opt for our Vacay Volumizing dry shampoo in between wash days to stretch your clean hair as long as possible, and don’t forget to throw in a few drops of your chosen hair color to your conditioner to keep that color looking fresh! Our 4 oz bottles are perfect for that touch ups!

Of course, a big part of success with hair dye is not only choosing the right hair dye color, but maintaining your new color afterwards. Throw in a color safe shampoo and conditioner into your wash day routine (like our Resurrected Duo) to keep that color alive and long-lasting. You can also grab an extra 4 oz bottle of your chosen color and add a few drops into your conditioner as needed for that extra oomph if you see your color starting to fade. 

✨AF Pro Tip✨ Pool Party is your pre or post shower bestie when it comes to deep hair hydration for the softest, most luscious locks. She can even double as a styling cream for that coveted wet hair look. Did we mention she smells absolutely delicious?

Want to share your new hair color and make us green with envy? Tag us @arcticfoxhaircolor and show us and the Fox Fam what you and your new color are made of.

@briannahoang in Poison

No need to worry about a hair-tastrophe over here! With us in your corner, you’ll be safe from the most common hair dye mistakes and get your dream hair every time.

If you’ve been here a while, you already know how your fav AF shades show up boldly on their own, and brilliantly in mixes. Our formulations are always vegan and cruelty-free, not to mention packed with hydration so you’re already caring for your hair even when you’re coloring it!  

Now that we have that covered, it’s a good time to say hair dye mistakes can, and DO happen (We’ve all seen ‘em.) Here are our top hair dye hazards to watch out for, and how to fix them.

Choosing the wrong color for your current hair level 

Picking a color that won’t show up on your hair’s current level might not be a total hair disaster, but it can be anticlimactic when you’re all amped and hyped for a bold new shade, and your results are a bit lower than anticipated. 

It’s important to know your hair level BEFORE picking a color so it shows up as vividly as it's meant to. Don’t know what a hair level is and how to figure it out? You know we got that covered, right here! 

And always ALWAYS do a strand test! You’ll be able to see how the color will actually take on your hair, before going full steam ahead and pouring a new color over your tresses. If the color doesn’t pop the way you wanted, refer back to our blog on WTF is a hair level? And the tried and true color wheel breakdown to test something else. Once you're happy, it’s time to apply your new hue. 

If you have darker hair and you’re not totally down to lighten it, this range of shades will be your bestie as you dip your toes into the world of vivids! 

Switching your hair color shade 

Shifting gears from one shade to the next is an obvious moment in time where there can be some kind of hair color implosion you just didn’t see coming. If you want to avoid this mistake you need to be well prepared and armed with the knowledge you need to switch. 

Let’s give you a few pro tips on the process. If you’re currently rocking a blue hue and want to pick up a vibrant new shade, it’s a step by step process. First up we need to fade that shade a little lighter. Once the blue has faded to something lighter, it is ready to take a hot new color - but some shades will work better than others. 

Purples, and lavender shades work well with blues, as do greens like turquoise or teal. Even a pink shade like Virgin Pink can look unreal over a blue tone!

If you’re changing color and need to counteract orange or brassy tones with a red, orange or yellow tinge running through the strands, then color theory can point us in the right direction to neutralize those unwanted tones. For brassiness, the tones are orange or yellow, so consult the wheel to see which colors sit opposite to cancel out excess warmth.

If you want to get a grasp of the basics of color theory, head right this way. We have a full blog on the color wheel that you can take learnings and inspiration from. Hair learning nerds assemble! 

And if you’re a visual learner, watch @stellacini (aka the color shifting MASTER) transform her copper base into this gorgeous emerald. Are you kidding!? 

View this post on Instagram

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

Leaving the dye on for the right length of time 

If you’re a first-time dye-er, you might be unsure how long you can actually leave the dye on for before it, idk, totally ruins the look you were going for.

The upside is you're in the right place, Fox. Some dyes are harsh to hair, but AF dyes are safe to leave on for long periods of time. So make sure you let the dye sit for a while so it can be absorbed by your strands, and your resulting color will knock it out of the park. 

A longer processing time will allow your hair to absorb MORE color and get that vibrant shade you’re going for. Conversely taking the dye off too soon reduces the processing time and the dye won’t penetrate the hair enough to achieve the intended color. 

There are various other factors here, such as the color you are covering and the tone you are shifting to. If you have followed our other tips on fading your hair gradually to get the right hair level before coloring, then the color will take well when left on for the correct amount of time…. AND your awesome new color will last much longer.  

@thegothwife in Transylvania, Aquamarine, and Poseidon

Not understanding your hair type 

Your hair type has a HUGE influence on how hair dye is absorbed by your stands. Our vegan hair formula is safe to use on all hair types - straight hair, curls, waves, spirals and corkscrew hair - they all look to DYE for in AF colors. Different hair types absorb color differently however, so it’s worth figuring out exactly what you’ve got up top. 

@iridescentsoulx in Frosé over faded Poison

Here’s some key considerations. Thick hair takes longer to absorb color, so you may need to leave the dye on a little longer. At the other end of the spectrum thin hair can absorb color much faster and may need a shorter processing time. Hair porosity (yes that’s a thing) impacts how well your hair absorbs moisture and retains it. High porosity hair may take color quickly and go darker, and the color may fade more quickly once applied. Low porosity hair may be more resistant to absorbing color, because the cuticles are more difficult to open. Finally, elasticity can also impact how well dye is absorbed. Hair with higher levels of elasticity will absorb color well and be less prone to breakage.

Low elasticity can make hair more resistant to color and other treatments. The good news is you can regain elasticity by caring and nurturing your hair over time (hello, hair care routine), which will make your hair stronger and more elastic.

Once you understand your hair type, AND texture - thin, thick, or medium hair, you can apply the knowledge to your color choices. 

If you need extra guidance, we’re already one step ahead of you! Find your type and how to color it right here. 

Lightening up your hair color

Perhaps you want to try out a new pastel shade but need a lighter base to work with first? Or maybe you have deep purple hair right now and want to jump to something new!  Sometimes it’s necessary to lighten hair with bleach before adding a color to ensure it takes fully to the hair and stands out. Our Bleach, Please hair lightening kit is also vegan and cruelty-free like the rest of our range, and has detailed instructions on how to lighten your hair correctly, so it’s a great option if you’re dipping your toes into the lightening world!

The key here is to check how each color will show up depending on the hair level first, and ensure your hair is at the correct level for the look you want to achieve. 

For any Foxes out there that don’t already know, hair level just means lightness of your hair - from 1 being a deep black, to 10+ as a platinum blonde. 

To achieve a pastel pink look with Frosé for example, you would need a base hair level of 9 or above. If you want the lovely light purple of Periwinkle, start with Level 10+ platinum hair! 

@chris0712 in Frosé

@asapashleeyy in Purple AF and Periwinkle

Mo damage, mo problems 

If your current hair is just too damaged to take color, all you’ll need is some patience and a nutrient-packed hair care routine. Lucky for you, our vegan and cruelty-free line is waiting to give some much needed TLC to your locks! 

Start with Pool Party for a pre-shower hair mask (at least 3 times per week), lather up with Resurrected Shampoo and Conditioner, and finish off with some Money Hunny repair serum on those ends. Consistency is key, fox, so keep that hair regime in check! And don’t forget to treat your locks to heatless hairstyles to keep the hair repair on the upward climb. 

And bonus! When your hair is ready for some stunning color, you won’t have to worry about damage when you stick to our range of dyes. Why? They’re packed with nutrients and have deep conditioning properties. Plus, they smell sooo grape! 

Post color hair care routine 

Taking care of your hair is always important, and post color it pays to nourish your hair and help lock in the new shade and shine for longer.  

The AF hair care range is crafted for colored hair making it the perfect option for giving your hair that health kick and new hair day bounce it deserves. Look how @dose_of_jos uses the entire AF hair care range on wash day, working the products together in harmony for optimum hair health and style. 

View this post on Instagram

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

Our pro tip is to wash your hair as sparingly as possible with cool water to maintain it’s condition. If you do need to clean your hair a little more often, try the AF Vacay Volumizing Dry Shampoo for that little refresh you crave in between wash days. 

Now you’re all set, Fox! What shade will you try next? Don't forget to tag us  @arcticfoxhaircolor in your next look!

These hair dye mixes didn’t go as expected…they turned out even better!

We’ve been mixing up a storm this week and had to jump on here to share with our Fox Fam some of our favorite discoveries. Nothing is more exciting to us than experimenting with hair colors, and the endless color blends and creative applications for our AF hair color range that are just… *chef’s kiss*. Even more exciting is when we go wild and start throwing together colors that shouldn’t work together—but absolutely do.

Here are some traffic-stopping new hues that we’ve created with some seriously unexpected color pairings. If you’ve been collecting our color range at home but you’re not quite sure they work together, you might be in for a pleasant surprise. Read on and have a look at some of the surprising ways our AF Hair Colors come together to shake up the rainbow. 

Why are AF dyes so great for mixing?

AF’s range of colors is truly full of endless possibilities - the bolds, brights, and pastels show up incredibly on their own. But if you’re looking for something new, or want to add a surprising twist to your usual color routine, you can totally mix away to your heart’s content! You’d be surprised at the stunning shades you can create. 👀 

Sometimes you might need a little inspiration when it comes to cooking up a new look, we’re here to save the day with all the inspo - ratios and swatches included! Ready to dive in? Let’s get into the mixes you wouldn’t think would work, but omg do they! 

✨AF Pro Tip✨ Once you’ve found a great hair color, you can stick with it and keep it intense with regular dyeing, or switch it up for something totally new! AF dyes are hydrating and deep conditioning, so coloring your hair as many times as you want is completely safe. 

Mixes you wouldn’t think work but do

First up on our list of surprising mixes is this velvety hue. 60% Blue Jean Baby to 40% Sterling gives the blue a serious depth. This swatch shows the results on a platinum base, but you’ll get a similar result on a medium blonde, and a gorgeous tint on light brown.

Electric Paradise with a drop of Wrath gives us this 5-alarm siren of a color that is hard to predict from two colors on the same slice of the color wheel. It’s bold and bright, but it still gives ‘sexy’. Again, a platinum base here yields this exact color, but up to a medium blonde will see the same color and a light brown will still get a tint.

Ginger Flare, Space Cowgirl, and Frosé on a medium blonde base bring a fiery edge to your locks, in what might be our most unexpected blend yet. How can you get it? The mix to get this one just right is 70% Ginger Flare,15% Space Cowgirl, and 15% Frosé.

Arctic Mist Diluter, Poison, and Girl’s Night make a bubblegum pink that will stand out no matter where you show it off. What’s extra fun about this cotton candy hue is that adjusting the mix is a snap. So this swatch (on platinum) is about 80% Arctic Mist, 10% Poison and 10% Girl’s Night, but if you find it’s a bit dark just add in more Arctic Mist!

Space Cowgirl and Virgin Pink in a 50:50 ratio brings out a cinnabar hue in the final mix, and on a platinum base it gives a va-va-voom effect that can really pack a punch. 

Space Cowgirl and Periwinkle join forces to create an unexpectedly dark, leafy, earthy green. A simple 50:50 mix will get this result on a platinum base. 

For a dreamy twist on a calming green hue, add 75% Neverland and 25% Transylvania in your fave mixing bowls and adjust away! If you want darker, drop in more Transylvania… if you like it on the lighter side of the spectrum, use less. This color feels very ‘underwater fantasy’ to us. FYI this swatch is on a platinum base but you’ll still get a lovely deep teal tint on darker colors.

Basic rules of mixing

If you’re going to use this post as the match to your potion-making fire, make sure to follow a couple of basic rules:

1. Don’t go overboard with the colors, at least at first! Mix one or two to start with, otherwise the colors start to all trend towards brown.
2. Use the right tools! We always recommend (and use) our tint bowls to make sure we’re treating our dyes right and keeping the blends precise. If you want to keep your Foxology manicure intact, use these reusable gloves as well.
3. Remember that some colors can cancel out certain shades. As always, take a look at our color wheel post for some ideas on how to mix and match using the right colors.

You don’t know until you try

Mix it up, baby! Splash your fave shades into your best mixing bowl and stir away. And let us know what you discover! As always—share your hair change journey with the Fox Fam, tag Arctic Fox, @arcticfoxhaircolor and let us see what you create.