Blonde is a flattering hair color you can wear throughout the year. And when researching popular blonde shades, you will encounter champagne and ash blondes. Champagne blonde is a neutral to warm blonde, ideal for people with neutral or warm undertones. Ash blonde is a cool blonde suitable for cool skin tones.
Champagne blonde vs. ash blonde: which hair color should be your pick?
Champagne Blonde Vs. Ash Blonde: Quick Comparison
| Characteristic | Ash Blonde | Champagne Blonde |
| Shade | A cool, light greyish-blonde shade. Different shades: light ash, beachy ash, dirty ash, platinum ash | A soft, warm, light golden-blonde shade. Different shades: soft gold, champagne blush, pearly champagne, champagne bronde |
| Blonde type | Cool | Neutral to slightly warm |
| Undertones | Green, blue, or violet undertones | Pinkish, peach, or beige undertones |
| Maintenance | High maintenance; requires regular salon glosses and purple shampoo to prevent brassiness. | Moderate maintenance; requires color-safe products to protect warm, golden tones. |
| Recommended | Purple shampoo | Color-safe shampoo for warm blondes |
| Gray coverage | Works well with silvery ash blonde | Works well with pearly champagne blonde |
| Best For | Those who prefer a more muted, subtle hair color. | Those who want a radiant, elegant hair color. |
What Is Champagne Blonde?
Champagne blonde is the new rage, named after the bubbly drink. It is a soft, neutral shade that perfectly blends warm and cool blonde tones. This blonde has golden hues and rosy undertones, which make it a warm neutral shade. Due to these warm undertones, it works well for people with warm and neutral skin tones.
Champagne blonde is the color to go for when you’re looking for an elegant and sophisticated look, but it has warmth and friendliness to it. Since champagne blonde leans more toward neutral, it works well as a year-round style. You can dye your hair champagne blonde or add it as highlights, ombre, or balayage.
What Is Ash Blonde?
Ash blonde is a cool blonde that adds depth to your hair. It is a cool color with gray (silver), blue, and violet undertones that works well with neutral and cool skin tones. It can have several variations, including natural, dirty, light, sandy, and medium ash blonde.
At first glance, ash blonde may look like platinum blonde. However, it has more gray undertones and is often paired with a darker root smudge for a natural, lived-in look.
What Does Champagne Blonde and Ash Blonde Hair Look Like?
With its golden hues and shine, champagne blonde hair looks like sparkling champagne. On the other hand, ash blonde leans more toward icy, gray, and silver.
The champagne blonde hair shade can range from a pale, almost platinum blonde to a darker, more golden blonde, depending on the person’s natural hair color and the desired result.
Ash blonde hair is often described as having a “dirty” or “mousy” appearance. It tends to be a more muted, subtle shade of blonde that does not have the bright, golden tones often associated with traditional blonde hair.
Key Differences Between Ash Blonde and Champagne Blonde
So, what are the key differences between champagne blonde and ash blonde? These two popular blonde shades differ in shade, type, and maintenance requirements.
Shade
Both champagne and ash blonde can be worn in different shades depending on your skin tone and preferences.
Shades of champagne blonde include soft champagne blonde, the subtlest shade of this color. You can add a touch of pink to champagne blonde to achieve a champagne blush blonde. Pearly champagne blonde is the most “out there” shade and the brightest for this blonde type.
Champagne bronde is the perfect choice for brunettes who don’t want to go fully blonde yet.
Ash blonde hair can go from light, silvery shades to dark smoky blondes. Some of the typical shades of ash blonde include the following:
- Light Ash Blonde
- White Ash Blonde
- Platinum Ash Blonde
- Beachy Ash Blonde
- Pearl Ash Blonde
- Dirty Ash Blonde
Blonde Type
Champagne blonde is a neutral blonde that leans more toward a warm blonde. On the other hand, ash blonde is a cool blonde with gray undertones.
Skin Tone
Champagne blonde is an excellent shade for all skin tones. Champagne blonde with more gold undertones works well with warm skin tones. With pink hues, it can also go well with cooler skin tones.
Ash blonde does not work well for people with olive skin or orange undertones. On the other hand, ash blonde works well for people with lighter and cooler skin tones.
Process
Going champagne blonde is an intense process, especially if you have darker hair. The process starts with lightening the hair as close as possible to the desired champagne blonde shade.
You can choose the shade of champagne you want and whether you want more rose or gold hues to match your skin tone.
Getting to a light blonde depends on your current hair color. You’ll have to bleach your hair to a level 9/10 blonde, or platinum, if it isn’t already a light blonde. The bleaching process could take multiple appointments depending on the color of your hair, previous color jobs, and your hair’s health.
Be aware that multiple bleaching sessions require a significant financial and time investment, so consult with your stylist about the total estimated cost before starting.
Once your hair is lightened to the correct level, the final step is toning. Your colorist will apply a professional demi-permanent toner or gloss. This single step neutralizes the raw, brassy bleached hair and deposits your exact champagne or ash blonde shade.
Whether you’re getting champagne blonde or ash blonde, the process will take a few appointments unless you already have blonde hair. The process will be longer if you’re naturally black or brunette.
Maintenance
Your hair care routine will change whether you get champagne or ash blonde. Since it requires bleaching hair, you must use shampoos that protect your specific tone.
Ash blonde is actually a high-maintenance tone, as cool pigments fade quickly when exposed to washing, heat, and sun, which can reveal unwanted brassiness. To maintain the cool tone, you will need frequent salon glossing treatments and strict at-home use of purple shampoo.
To maintain champagne blonde, use a color-safe shampoo for warm blondes and avoid blue or purple shampoos that can muddy the warm, golden tones.
You’ll also need to use heat protectant during heat styling when you have champagne blonde or ash blonde hair. Both champagne and ash blonde require color-safe products to maintain their color. It’s advisable to wear a hair mask weekly to nourish your hair.
Gray Coverage
Blonde is an excellent choice for people with gray hair. But between champagne blonde vs. ash blonde, which one works better for gray coverage? The best option will depend on whether you want to camouflage or blend these gray hairs in.
Pearly champagne blonde works well for gray coverage.
Due to its gray undertones, silvery ash blonde works well to conceal gray hairs. It can be used for full gray coverage or to blend in gray strands.
If you’re going blonde primarily to cover or blend your graying strands, this icy shade is the ideal choice. This makes it easier for the cool base to blend with your natural hair. Taking ashy highlights all the way to the root offers seamless blending for gray coverage, as the cool tones mimic your natural silver hairs.
The choice between champagne blonde vs. ash blonde boils down to preference. But if you have a warm or neutral skin tone, champagne blonde is the way to go.
However, ash blonde could be your best choice if you have fair and cool skin. Ash blonde also works better with gray coverage if you wish to disguise your graying strands.
Related Topics