AF Blog — Poseidon

@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

@violentinside in Purple AF and Transylvania

Taking that first dip into vivids might sound a bit scary…but it definitely doesn’t have to be! AF dyes are totally safe for your hair (vegan, cruelty-free, and they deep condition!) so you never have to think twice before you take the plunge. Whether you’re going for the coveted purple hair with Purple AF, a deeper red with Wrath, or a classic ginger with Ginger Flare, we have ALL the tips to make your first time experimenting with hair dye well worth the wait. So let’s get started with those first timer tips, shall we? 

Before you get started with hair dye, you’ll need to know the color of your current hair and what shades are going to work for you - aka your hair level! If you’re thinking, WTF is a hair level anyway? Don’t worry! We’ll break it all down for you. Simply put, it’s the current color of your hair, and it fully impacts how the color will take to your strands. Hair level ranges from a deep black at level 1 all the way up to a white platinum shade at 10+. Your own natural hair color will fall somewhere along this gamut of options, and if you need some help finding it, this blog has it fully covered for you! 

Hair Dyes that Work for Your Hair Level

Your best strategy for a first time dye is sticking to the most pigmented and deeper shades, and not pastels or lighter colors. We know that pretty pastel is everyone’s envy, but they shine best on pre-lightened hair, so if you’ve never had your fun with bleach, you'll want to choose the semi-permanent colors that don’t require this step.  

The best part of using strong, pigmented shades is that they take easily to almost any hair base - giving you the best chance of an amazing result on your first attempt with color.  

The next part of your hair color master plan is to choose the right pigmented shade for you. We’re about to dive in with color inspo, and spill all the deets on which AF shades will work for our brunette, blonde, or red haired Foxes! 

Best Hair Color Shades for Brunettes 

Brunettes usually line up on the hair level range between 4-6, so the best colors to dress those tresses would be the deeper, warmer shades of the AF rainbow. You’ll rock a gorgeous tint of your chosen color on level 4 hair, without having to use any bleach! And when the sun hits…O.M.G. 😍

✨AF Pro Tip✨: The deeper the brown the more likely the color will show up subtly. A strand test is your best bet to see exactly how the colors will translate to those locks!

Ritual offers a deliciously dark purple that will look beautiful over a brown hair base. This shade is daring enough for brunette’s taking the first step into hair coloring, but it’s also classy enough to graciously take center stage at any and all events. 

If you’re a brunette and like the idea of going red, try stepping into the warm glow of Wrath. She’s a red cherry shade that offers brown-haired Foxes a risk free route to switch up their style. Thanks to her warming tones, Wrath compliments your brown hair level perfectly.  

Another stop off on the purple section of the color spectrum and we find a bold, true purple. Purple AF is an intense all-out look but one that definitely works on a brunette base. If you’re interested in greens and blues the good news is your brown shade can take these cold colors too. Check out Poseidon, Aquamarine, and Phantom Green. Ready to pull off the look of your dreams? 

Best Hair Color Shades for Redheads 

If you’re a Fox with natural red hair, well we’re in AWE! Red is one of our fave hair colors, but if you’re looking to switch it up, you can experiment with a whole range of new colors too. 

But, there is a small catch. Redheads often find that their hair holds its natural pigment more firmly than other hair colors. (Hair can be stubborn like that). The hair color might not take in the same way as with blonde or brunette bases, but do a strand test first and you’ll get your answers. If the strand test works as intended, you’re all set to give your new shade the go ahead.  

Of course, there is also the option to lighten your hair first using Bleach, Please, our hair lightening kit! We get that bleaching might feel scary given it’s your first time dyeing your hair - but Bleach, Please is an easy DIY method to ease yourself into it. Just make sure you use gloves and follow all our instructions (like avoiding your roots!) for a smooth transition into lighter locks. If you’re not down to go that route, we still have some shades that we think would look ah-mazing on you!  

Purple AF is a shade that will definitely work over your natural red hair and give your tresses a whole new dimension. If you want to go a little darker on the spectrum, Poseidon offers a blue hue, which when poured over natural red hair can appear a little purplish in color. It’s a shade that will totally WORK IT on our red-heads. 

If you want to enhance those fiery locks, try on Poison, Ginger Flare, or Sunset Orange! Because of their orange and auburn tones, they absolutely STUN on a red hair base. Virgin Pink poured over red hair can give a light, natural ginger, too! Who knew!? 

Best Hair Color Shades for Natural Blondes

Natural blonde hair is at the lighter end of the hair level range, falling between 7 and 10+ on the spectrum. To break that down just a bit more, 7 is a dark blonde, 8 is blonde, 9 light blond, and 10+ platinum!

Sunset Orange will come through slightly differently depending on how light your blonde hair is. For Foxes with medium blonde hair, you can expect a deep-red orange. For lighter blonde hair expect a stronger hue, delivering more of the red undertones of this stunner.

Phantom Green shows up wonderfully on lightened hair, however if you have medium to darker blonde hair, this shade will still look unreal and deliver a more subtle emerald nuance to your strands. 

Aquamarine is a delightfully intense blue shade that will have you dreaming of mermaid hair and crashing ocean waves. The good thing about using a blue shade like this on blonde hair is that it will hold the color for a while, so you can take time to enjoy that new shade to its full potential. 

Once you're ready to move to a new hair color, the blue can be gradually faded out with sulfate-free shampoos. Once it’s faded you can transition to a new hue, you can find complementary colors on the color wheel and cocktail up some stunning hair color combos! 

Because purple is a complimentary shade on the color wheel it works wonderfully well over blue. Purple AF, Periwinkle, and Girls Night are some of our fave purple shades to work over the top of faded out Aquamarine. 

Certain shades of green including turquoise or teal, can create a vibrant and mermaid-like appearance when combined with blue hair. Phantom Green and Neverland can deliver a rich green hue over a faded blue shade amplifying that sea-maiden siren vibe. A final tantalizing option for covering faded blue hair is to go pink! Try Virgin Pink over blue if you want something that really pops with a bubblegum pink shade. 

Whether it’s your first time dyeing, or your one thousandth, keep those looks comin’ and tag us at @arcticfoxhaircolor. We LOVE to see it! 

@bluepixiie in Aquamarine

@emma.cairo in Virgin Pink 

@honeybeecolorcollective in Wrath, Ritual, Poison

@yadeemua in Purple AF and Sunset Orange

@iamzoeyluna in Transylvania 

Keep your look top-class this fall

You can embrace the change, or you can dread it. But you can’t deny it: summer is over, baby. We’re working on ditching our late sleep-ins (dry shampoo for the win!), have restocked our coffee supplies, bought the organizers, and are getting used to the sound of the alarm. But how has our Fox Fam been falling back into a routine? Let’s just say that leaves aren’t the only things that are changing color!

Lustrous, rich hair tones can make even the most boring schedules feel brighter, and with the onset of busy days, we’re seeing a rise in the deep, dark tones. They can be low-maintenance while still being high-impact, and they give the rich feeling of thicker hair that autumn styles show off the best. On top of that, blends and color combinations keep the looks as interesting as you are.

Whatever your day-to-day looks like this fall, we’re excited to see everyone in dark mode.

New you, new hue

Good news, stargazers: Venus is out of retrograde💫! As (we’re sure) you already know, this means it’s a great time to start fresh with whatever’s been blocked for you lately. Romance can get kicked into high gear, work and creativity will start flowing, and we can’t think of a better sign that it’s time for a brand-new look.

Part of your 2023 back-to-real-life glow-up should be a hair color that you’re stoked to show off — not to mention the noticeably hydrated and healthy hair that comes with using our AF deep-conditioning hair dyes. We’ve mentioned a few times lately that we are really digging the transition from summer ‘cools’ to autumn ‘warms’, and that means going for a darker tone than what you rocked during the sunny season. Plus your hair will be totally in step with Fall 2023’s palette, making your hair the perfect accessory and always on-point.

There’s something else that a darker tone gives to your updated ‘do—aside from all that lovely confidence that comes with a makeover, that is. Going to the dark side of the color wheel gives the gift of a low-maintenance mane. 

In our previous blog on warm hair colors, we explained how a simple warm color can add depth to your hair that will give you a thicker, fuller-looking style without needing extra time with your diffuser. When you combine your warm-color lowlights with a time-saving volumizing shampoo you’re going to have a full look all day.

✨Remember that changing your look doesn’t have to mean changing your beliefs, and that’s why as much as we love watching your evolution, we’ll never be anything other than vegan and cruelty-free. Dye away, and with AF dark hair dyes, you’re dyeing for a cause.

To Bleach or Not to Bleach?

Real talk: Summer puts your hair through the wringer with chlorine, salt water, and sun damage. Keep in mind that even though we pack our potions to the brim with hair-helping ingredients, you can choose to skip the bleaching step now and again. You can also be creative and use it only in sections. Our influencers have found some truly jaw-dropping ways to only color parts of their hair—and still stun. Money pieces are a great example of a simple switch-up that can change your whole look, without changing your entire head.

@_negatronn in Iris Green and Neon Moon

@tavujesus in Frosé

@lazybonesbeauty in Cosmic Sunshine

AF’s Bleach, Please is as gentle as a lightener can get, and even has added goodness to keep your hair healthy while it works. And yes, AF’s range of hair color dyes produces a truer color match when they are used on lighter hair. But if you’re looking for a tint without putting your hair through the bleaching process, you can opt for a beautiful color undertone that will come through even on darker or already dyed hair. 

For an idea on how your color will turn out with your natural or current base color, have a look at our guide to using AF hair dyes on unbleached hair. If you like how these look, we’ve grouped all the colors here for easy shopping! 

Pro-tip: Knowing your hair’s color level will be key to planning your look, and we can help you with that, too! Just cruise by this gem of an explainer which breaks it down for you.

Of course, the only way to get the strong, intense pop of color you see on some of our most colorful influencers is to lighten your hair first.

@christystarmua in Aquamarine and Periwinkle

@violentinside in Purple AF and Transylvania 

Stir it up for some killer color

Remember: going dark doesn’t mean melting into the surroundings, and it certainly shouldn’t mean you’re stuck with one color! Blend your pastes for a unique shade, or combine multiple colors into your locks for a truly standout fall look. In our last blog, we talked about this fall’s trending hairstyles, and there was a lot of mention of color accents and how to use them. 

 In particular, the money pieces and the peekaboo styles work best when the color is applied precisely (and only!) where you want it. Because we want our Fox Fam’s hair dreams to come true and your looks exactly as you envisioned them, we recommend that you use our gentle-on-hair alligator clips to keep your sections secured and under control while you work.

Here are the results of perfectly applied color.

@yadeemua in Ginger Flare

@wonderingminds_420 in Ritual and Electric Paradise

@onedreamparis in Virgin Pink

How to Darken Your Current Shade

Looking for a darker shade that isn’t a total change of color? Easy peasy! 

There are two ways you can do this:

1. The first method will neutralize the color you have and deepen it slightly. Take a quick look at our color wheel blog (honestly, just bookmark it already) to find out what the opposite color is to the one you already have! Once you’ve got that, simply mix in a drop or two to your current color, and voila.
2. Method number two is using a darker shade of the same color to help deepen the tone. Let’s say you have Aquamarine, you can add a bit of Blue Jean Baby to darken it. Again, the color wheel blog has a wheel that shows where all the AF colors fall on the wheel so it’s a snap to find out which one you need.

 To keep the blending simple and the colors separate while you apply, our tint bowls are going to be some of your besties.

Peep these dark hues on our Fox Fam!

As always, we look to you, our boldest and bravest Foxy trailblazers for our inspiration. After all, we can talk about change, but you are the gorgeous bunch that does it, flaunts it, and shares it with the world! Here are some superb examples of falling into the dark for autumn.

@makeupbytiffanybanks in Poseidon covered in Ritual

@lil.mishroom in Cosmic Sunshine, Sunset Orange, and Purple AF 

If you’re thinking of going green, stay tuned! Next week we’ll give some precise mixing tips for gorgeous green hues that need a little bit of alchemy to get just right.

So lovelies, as you traipse into autumn vibes this year, remember that you can go dark and shine! Treat your hair right by using AF conditioning hair dyes, and for the love of gosh, share your hair journey with your Fax Fam by tagging @arcticfoxusa on your socials!

@berlinstacy in Arctic Mist Diluter, Virgin Pink, Sunset Orange, Cosmic Sunshine, Iris Green, Aquamarine, Purple AF, Violet Dream, and Poseidon 

What is the Color Wheel?

The color wheel is a visual tool to explain and visualize the relationship between colors. When it comes to coloring hair, the color wheel is your personal hack to understand how colors will combine or cancel each other out when you’re creating your dream shade!

Understanding the color wheel will help you better understand color theory so you can better predict how specific colors will mix together and how to avoid results you weren’t expecting.

Color Definitions

When speaking to the color wheel, there are a few terms to know.

Primary Colors - What we learn in Kindergarten! Red, yellow and blue. These colors cannot be made from any other colors.

@erez_ivan in Poseidon 

Secondary Colors - Two primary colors mixed together that create orange, green, and violet.

@kunailuv in Sunset Orange, Cosmic Sunshine, and Purple AF 

Intermediate Colors - One primary and one secondary color mixed together: blue-violet, red-violet, red-orange, yellow-orange, yellow-green, and blue-green.

@lilygraceglam in Blue Jean Baby, Purple AF, Violet Dream, Poseidon 

What Are Complementary Colors?

Complementary colors are two colors that live opposite each other on the color wheel. For example: violet and yellow, red and green, orange and blue.

When mixing these colors, you will get a brown shade. We receive a lot of questions around natural shades from the Fox Fam, so this color wheel hack is good to know in case you want to go back to natural color OR to avoid mixing colors or applying over faded color that might yield a muddy result.

Knowing complementary colors can also be great in creating looks that are bold and contrasting, especially for split dyes or layering colors.

@ashley.smit17 in Space Cowgirl, Aquamarine, Virgin Pink, Violet Dream, and Purple AF

@hairwaytoheavennn in Poison, Phantom Green, and Space Cowgirl

What Is Your Base?

When choosing a color, it’s important to consider how your base shade will affect the final outcome. Using the color wheel and color theory, you can have a better educated guess on what might happen or how to plan to get the result you’re looking for.

Starting From A Natural Base

Your natural hair color will affect the outcome of your look. Learn all about hair levels here and which AF colors will work best for your natural base. 

Starting From A Processed Blonde

Most Arctic Fox hair dyes will look and perform best on hair that’s a level 9 or higher, for some, that will require processing. Using the color wheel to figure out the tone of your blonde will help determine which colors to choose to get the results you want. Most natural hair colors that are bleached to blonde will start with an orange undertone and may reach a yellow/brassy color at the lightest. There are multiple ways to cancel out unwanted yellow/orange tones. One option is to use a commercial toning product found at your favorite beauty supply store. A second option is to use the color wheel and “tone” with AF colors. If your hair is leaning toward the yellow side, pre-dye using Arctic Mist Diluter and Purple AF to create an extremely diluted purple color. If your hair is leaning toward the orange side, you might try pre-dyeing with Arctic Mist Diluter and Poseidon to create an extremely diluted blue. 

@salinesimon in Arctic Mist Diluter and Aquamarine

For example, if you want a Poseidon to appear as a nice true blue, but are starting out with yellow undertones, your color might pull green. Since we know that violet is opposite the color wheel from yellow, mixing in a little bit of Purple AF may help counteract those yellow tones.

Starting From A Faded Color

If you’re a DIY dye queen, you might already have a faded color on your hair. Using color theory, you can get to the next color seamlessly without creating a muddy mess!

This video by Stella Cini is a great example of how to use color theory to get your desired color or read this blog by Thuy Pham on how she shifted her hair from green to purple.

AF Colors Charted

Each of our colors have specific undertones. Knowing where our colors fall on the color wheel, can help you make decisions on which dyes to mix to get the results you’re looking for.

@nadine.xoo in Cosmic Sunshine and Sunset Orange 

@chjango_john.n115 in Violet Dream, Cosmic Sunshine, Sunset Orange, and Virgin Pink

@angelicabarragan3 in Space Cowgirl and Neon Moon

@_kenzurrito in Poison, Purple AF, Periwinkle, Aquamarine