AF Blog — Sterling

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.

Are you ready to say goodbye to your current hair color and switch things up? At Arctic Fox Hair Color, we believe that the best results often emerge from the most unexpected choices 😏. Get ready to dive into the world of "Unlikely Color Cover Ups," where we reveal four unlikely Arctic Fox shades that effortlessly conceal your existing hair color and reveal a STUNNING new look 👏.

1. Lavender Bliss 💜

Have faded blue or green hair that won’t quite go away? Prepare to be blown away by Violet Dream. By layering a VERY diluted Violet Dream over your faded green or blue, you'll experience Lavender Bliss. The blue and green undertones will be tamed into a soft, pastel dream, resulting in a perfect fusion of warmth and coolness that's sure to leave heads turning.

2. Teal Temptation 🌊

Arctic Fox's Aquamarine is a shade that dares to challenge convention. If you’re working with a faded pink or red, this shade will create a stunning contrast that revitalizes your fade. The bold teal hues mixed with the faded tones will create a purple shifting blue shade depending on how intense your color is underneath.

3. Rose Gold Stunner🌹

Brunette bases, we didn’t forget about you. Did you know that some of our shades work over brunette bases as gorgeous tints? Elevate your brown tresses by layering a mixture of Sunset Orange or Ginger Flare mixed with Purple AF. The warmth of our orange shades will give off a beautiful copper tint all on their own, but mixed with Purple AF this will give off a rose gold tint sure to stun. 

4. Slate Gray  🌫️

Got faded purple? Give Sterling a try! This smokey shade will transform into an ashy purple when applied over your faded color. Sterling is your go-to solution for gracefully transitioning from vibrant hues or evening out uneven tones, leaving you with the perfect smokey shade. *This shade will only appear on bases that were previously pre-lightened to a level 9+.

@averyrose1992 in Sterling and Girls Night

At AF, we understand that hair color is a canvas for self-expression, and we aim to offer a palette of possibilities. Not seeing a solution that might work for you? DM us on Instagram for custom color help or email our color specialists for more customized feedback ! 🌈

If you haven’t heard the good news yet, here it is… SUMMER HAS OFFICIALLY BEGUN! 🥳☀️ Question is, have you decided on how you’re going to color your summer yet? Maybe you’re stuck between a couple of really great shades and just can’t decide? Well I’ve come prepared with some summer mixes, just for you 😉 

When I think of summer, I think HOT 🔥 So let’s crank up the heat with these orange and red focused mixes first. Sunset Orange is a wonderful base for this, so let’s get to mixing in some other shades.

Sunset Orange + Poison + Cosmic Sunshine 🥵 

@theeglamnaija

Sunset Orange + Wrath 🧯

@a.dragon.soul

Sunset Orange + Violet Dream  🌶️ 

@evelina.forsell

Unreal, right?! Why don’t we cool things down a bit with a few blue mixes 💧 Let's dive right in (pun intended 😏).

Poseidon + Aquamarine 🌊

@jessicamoralemusic

Aquamarine + Periwinkle + Transylvania 💙

@billiedawningle

Aquamarine + Phantom Green 🐚

@arisa_hair

Arctic Mist Diluter + Aquamarine 

@salinesimon

When you think back to how you colored your summer, what shade is going to forever bring you that summer nostalgia feeling when you see it? Is it blue? Is it pink? Maybe it’s green! ✨

The beauty of ‘color your summer’ could mean a lot of things but color expression is definitely one of them 🎨 You may be wondering “well, when I think of summer, I think of a beautiful sunset to end the perfect day with my favorite people”. To be completely honest, I couldn’t agree more. So let’s settle things down with a couple of sunset inspired mixes! 🌅 

Electric Paradise + Poison 🌺

@tamaracamps

Cosmic Sunshine + Frosé ☀️ 

@itslauren.jpg

Periwinkle + Purple AF 

@_gumshoe_

After a long day of laughter, heat and good vibes; It’s time to reminisce on the core memories you’ve built and get ready to make more during those long summer nights 🌌 Nothing says “summer nights” more than this last mix.

Using equal parts Periwinkle + Sterling with just a few drops of Blue Jean Baby and BOOM… You’ve created a masterpiece. 👩‍🎨🎨✨🤌

So how will YOU color your summer? 🌈 Let us know in the comments! And as always, if you have questions on how best to use any of our products, feel free to reach out to us at support@arcticfoxusa.com. Stay foxy! 🦊 

When choosing your next AF color, considering your skin’s undertone can help narrow down your choice and accentuate your natural features.

So what is an undertone anyway? Your skin tone is the surface level color of your skin that can change due to the season or sun exposure. For example, your summer foundation color might be darker than your winter foundation. Your undertone on the other hand is the underlying tone of your skin that is ever-present and doesn’t change with the seasons. Keep reading to find out more about how to determine your undertone and which Arctic Fox hair colors are best suited for you.

While knowing your undertone can help narrow down your choice of color, don’t let it stop you from fully expressing yourself. We’re all about breaking the rules at AF! Read through to the end and we’ll give you some tips on how to break the rules in a way that still accommodates your undertone.

Undertone Categories

There are three categories of undertones: cool, warm, and neutral. Cool undertones have a pink or bluish hue to their skin. Warm undertones have a yellow, golden, or peachy hue to their skin. Neutral undertones have undertones that are close to the color of their surface skin.

How to Find Your Undertone

Figuring out your undertone can be a bit confusing at first. Follow the tests below for an easy way to determine your undertone.

Vein Method

Take a look at your veins. A good place to look is around your wrist or the back of your hands.

1. Do your veins appear purple or blue? You have cool undertones.
2. Do your veins appear green or olive? You have warm undertones.
3. Do you have a mix of blue and green, or can’t tell? You likely have neutral undertones.

Jewelry Method

If you have trouble seeing your veins or want confirmation of the vein method, the jewelry method is a great option! Most people are attracted to either silver or gold jewelry based on the way it looks against their skin. Grab a piece of silver and another of yellow gold. Try them on and take a look at which you feel best in.

1. If you prefer the way silver jewelry looks on your skin, you have cool undertones.
2. If you prefer the way yellow gold jewelry looks on your skin, you have warm undertones.
3. If you look great in both or don’t have a preference, you likely have neutral undertones.

White T-Shirt Method

Throw on a white t-shirt and go outside in natural light. Pay attention to how your skin looks in comparison to the white t-shirt.

1. If your skin looks rosy or pink, you have cool undertones.
2. If your skin looks golden or yellow, you have warm undertones.
3. If you don’t really see a change, you have neutral undertones.

If you’re struggling to figure out which category you fall in, or you’re a mix of cool and warm undertones according to the tests, then you most likely have neutral undertones!

Best AF Colors for Cool Undertones

If you have cool undertones, cool colors will complement your skin best. Think blues and purples or colors with those undertones. Check out the color chart below for the best AF colors for cool undertones.

Cool AF Collection: https://arcticfoxhaircolor.com/collections/cool-af

@blairemartine

@sheaella

Best AF Colors for Warm Undertones

If you have warm undertones, warm colors will complement your skin best. Think reds, oranges, yellows or colors with those undertones. Check out the color chart below for the best AF colors for cool undertones.

Warm AF Collection: https://arcticfoxhaircolor.com/collections/warm-af

@notyourdestiny___

@itslauren.jpg

Best AF Colors for Neutral Undertones

If you have neutral undertones, lucky you! You can rock any literally any AF color.

@berlinstacey 

How to Break the Rules

Rules are meant to be broken, babe. So how do you break the rules while still considering your undertone?

Frame your Face 

Use the trendy money piece look or face framing layers in a color that does complement your undertone in combination with colors that don’t.

@chjango john.n1115

Split Dyes

Split dyes are a great way to incorporate multiple colors. Choose one side that compliments your undertone with the other half that doesn’t.

@itskcphan

Create A Melt

Create a melt with a color that matches your undertone closest to your face melted into a color that doesn’t match. Another option is to melt AF into your natural color. For inspo on the best color melts, make sure you’re following us on TikTok and Instagram!  

@la_main_d_argent_

@kisandyy

Don’t Give A F!

Seriously. Do whatever you want! Rules are meant to be broken, and if you feel great in a color that doesn’t complement your undertone, who cares?! Confidence is the best complement.

@ashley.smit17