35 Best Dirty Blonde Hair Color with Highlight Ideas

 

If you are looking to update your hair color, then dirty blonde is a great choice. It is a medium to a dark shade of blonde with light brown undertones and can be easily adapted to suit your preference, including with highlights, lowlights, and experimenting with coloring techniques like ombre and balayage. Dirty blonde has been trending on social media and is one of the hottest colors this year because of its versatility. Give your dark hair depth and dimension by adding dirty blonde highlights, or show the world your playful side with pink ombre or purple tips. Keep reading to become inspired and find the perfect shade of dirty blonde to suit your complexion and preference.

 

RELATED: 17 Best Shades of Blonde Hair to Try Now

 

1. Natural Dirty Blonde Hair

Dirty blonde hair is a medium to dark blonde color that has brown undertones. It is a versatile color that looks natural and is much lower maintenance than lighter shades of blonde. The natural dirty blonde looks best on those with warm skin tones but can easily be adapted to suit your preference and will complement all hair textures and lengths.

 

 

2. Dirty Blonde Hair with Blonde Highlights

If you want to give your dirty blonde hair a lift, blonde highlights are an excellent addition. Dirty blonde is a medium shade of blonde that is easy to wear but can be toned down or made to look brighter. Blonde highlights will give the hair depth and dimension and are great for lightening the hair and brightening the appearance.

 

 

3. Dirty Blonde Highlights on Brown Hair

Those with naturally light brown hair can easily try out dirty blonde. Instead of dyeing your entire head of hair, you can add the color in a subtle and versatile way, with highlights. Dirty blonde has light brown undertones, so the addition of this color onto a brown base will look very natural. You can also ask your hairstylist to strategically place the highlights in the hair so that they create a face-framing effect.

 

 

4. Dark Dirty Blonde Hair

Dark blonde hair is a dark shade of blonde with light brown undertones, but there are various shades of the color, letting you opt for a slightly darker or lighter color, depending on your preference. The dark shade of dirty blonde hair is flattering on most people and easy to wear. It is also low-maintenance.

 

 

5. Dirty Blonde Highlights on Dark Brown Hair

To give your dark brown hair a lift and create depth and dimension, dirty blonde highlights are what you need. Dirty blonde is a versatile shade that can be added to the hair in various ways. The color is a darker shade of blonde and will be less harsh when added to dark brown hair because there is less contrast than if you were to opt for a lighter blonde.

 

 

6. Platinum Blonde Highlights on Dirty Blonde Hair

Platinum blonde hair is a statement color, but it is high-maintenance and does not suit every complexion. A great way to try out the color is to add it in highlights and on dirty blonde, this will boost brightness and create a subtle contrast. Highlights are great for creating depth and dimension and will lighten the hair and brighten the appearance.

 

 

7. Dirty Blonde Hair with Lowlights

Lowlights are created by adding a shade to the hair that is darker than your base color. On dirty blonde hair, you can add darker blonde or a medium shade of brown lowlights to create a subtle and natural-looking contrast. This is a gorgeous way to experiment with your color and it can also make the hair look thicker and fuller; ideal for those with thin or fine hair.

 

 

8. Balayage on Dirty Blonde Hair

Balayage is a more versatile option than traditional highlights because it is created by hand painting the color onto the hair. It creates a sweeping effect and has a more natural result, giving the hair a sun-kissed appearance. On dirty blonde hair, you want to add a color that is a shade or two lighter to create contrast.

 

 

9. Dirty Strawberry Blonde Hair

Strawberry blonde hair is a blondish-red color that can vary in vibrancy. To tone down the red undertones you can add strawberry blonde to the hair, with highlights or balayage. This is a fantastic way to lighten the hair and brighten the appearance and the color is versatile and flattering.

 

 

10. Light Dirty Blonde Hair

Dirty blonde hair is a medium blonde hue with brown undertones. It is very natural in appearance and because it is not so bright, it is easier to maintain. There are various shades to choose from, some darker and others lighter, making it easy to find the hue that best complements your complexion. Light dirty blonde is great for someone with warm skin tones.

 

 

11. Ombre Dirty Blonde Hair

There are several techniques to try, letting you add your chosen shade of dirty blonde to the hair in a way that best suits your preference. Ombre hair is a gorgeous coloring technique that is created by blending two or more colors, to produce a graduated effect from dark to light. Keeping the roots your natural color makes this coloring option low-maintenance, while still giving your hair contrast.

 

 

12. Dirty Blonde Curly Hair

Dirty blonde hair can complement all hair textures and can be styled as you want. With curly hair, the color, which is a medium blonde, can highlight your curl pattern. You can also add dirty blonde highlights to light brown hair, or add light blonde highlights to create more of a contrast and enhance your curls.

 

 

13. Long Layered Dirty Blonde Hair

Layered hair is a popular choice because it can create texture and movement. Adding layers to thick hair can remove the bulk and weight, while on thin hair it can create the illusion of thicker, fuller hair. When adding dirty blonde hair, you can strategically place it on layers around the face, creating a face-framing technique.

 

 

14. Dirty Blonde Hair with Highlights And Lowlights

Lowlights are created by adding a color that is darker than your base color to the hair, while highlights are lighter. The combination of highlights and lowlights will create depth and dimension and will make your hair look more voluminous and healthy. You can add lowlights and highlights to all hair lengths but it will have the most noticeable effect on longer hair.

 

 

15. Brown Dirty Blonde Hair

Brown hair is versatile and can be lightened and brightened subtly and naturally by adding dirty blonde to it. The colors complement each other because dirty blonde has light brown undertones in it already. You can therefore lighten your hair and brighten your appearance, but do so in a low-maintenance way.

 

 

16. Blue Ombre on Dirty Blonde Hair

You do not have to stick to natural colors when trying out dirty blonde hair, and the hue pairs well with bright, bold colors too. Blue hair is expressive and fun. It is associated with calmness and tranquility and there are various shades to choose from, letting you find the color best suited to your complexion. Ombre is a great way to add blue to your hair and will gradually blend into the blonde.

 

 

17. Dirty Blonde Hair with Red Highlights

You can experiment with dirty blonde hair, creating a look that best reflects your style. A great way to do this is with colors that create a contrast, which will also draw attention to your hair and highlight your texture. Red highlights will give your hair warmth and can be incredibly flattering.

 

 

18. Dirty Blonde Hair with Blue Tips

If you want to stand out from the crowd you can experiment with your hair color, adding blue to the tips. Unlike ombre, coloring only the tips will create more of a contrast with your base color and draw the eye down. Dirty blonde hair pairs well with blue, and will create a bold or subtle contrast, depending on the shade of blue you choose; darker colors will be more noticeable while light colors will have a muted appearance.

 

 

19. Long Dirty Blonde Hair

Long hair gives you versatility with how you color and style it, and will look great when dyed dirty blonde. This is a fantastic way to show off the color, and you can experiment with different techniques, including highlights to give the hair contrast and create depth and dimension.

 

 

20. Ash Dirty Blonde Hair

Ash blonde hair is a cool shade of blonde that has silver and blue tones to it. It can be a great alternative to warm blondes and looks fantastic on women with pale, pink skin tones. You can modify the color slightly by adding dirty blonde to it, which will add more depth. Dirty blonde is also a cool tone, so it is easy to combine these colors.

 

 

21. Flamboyage Dirty Blonde Hair

You have likely heard of balayage but have you heard of the trendy coloring technique, flamboyage? This is a combination of balayage and ombre and is focused on one area of the hair, for example, around the face. It is excellent for lightening the hair and brightening your appearance, but it is still low-maintenance and super flattering.

 

 

22. Highlights for Long Dirty Blonde Hair

Highlights are created by adding color to the hair that is lighter than your base color. Dirty blonde hair is a medium to a dark shade of blonde and looks great with all hair textures and lengths, but to give your long hair more depth and dimension an excellent choice would be to add highlights.

 

 

23. Long Straight Dirty Blonde Hair

Straight hair can appear sleek and glossy. When long, you have versatility with how you style your hair, including trying updos or leaving it loose. However, because there is a lack of texture there is not as much movement or volume, but this can be achieved by adding warm and cool tones to your dirty blonde hair, creating a subtle contrast.

 

 

24. Purple Highlights in Dirty Blonde Hair

Purple hair is fun and expressive but it can also be daunting to try out bold colors because they demand attention. A more subtle and wearable approach is to add your chosen shade of purple to the hair with highlights, creating a subtle contrast. This is also less damaging to the hair, as you are only dyeing pieces rather than the entire head. Strategically place the highlights to frame the face.

 

 

25. Sun Kissed Dirty Blonde Hair

Dirty blonde hair is versatile and can be adapted to suit your preference. For those who want natural-looking hair, then add a dark shade of blonde, like dirty blonde, to a light brown base color using the balayage technique or with babylights. The result is a subtle contrast, giving your hair a sun-kissed appearance.

 

 

26. Dirty Blonde Hair with Pink Ombre

Ombre is one of the easiest ways to experiment with bright, bold colors. By keeping the roots your natural dirty blonde color, the technique is low-maintenance because you do not need to be concerned with root regrowth. It will also cause less damage. Pink hair is gorgeous and feminine and there are multiple shades to choose from, from vibrant neons to soft, muted pastels.

 

 

27. Dirty Blonde Hair with Purple Tips

Dyeing your hair a bright and bold shade of purple is a great way to show your playful side. Taking risks with your hair is fun and expressive, and dirty blonde hair will be an excellent base color for purple tips. Focusing the purple on only the ends of the hair is a low-maintenance option and is less damaging than dyeing all of your hair.

 

 

28. Dirty Blonde Hair and Blue Eyes

Blue eyes usually look best when paired with warm colors like golden blonde, dark browns, and rich red hues because these hues create a contrast. When choosing the perfect shade of dirty blonde hair, you may wish to add warm highlights like strawberry blonde or caramel to the hair to make the eyes pop.

 

 

29. Dirty Blonde Hair Brown Eyes

Naturally blonde hair and brown eyes are a striking combination and are especially flattering on those with dark brown eyes. Dirty blonde is a fantastic shade because it is dark to medium blonde with light brown undertones, this makes it a low-maintenance color. You can also add it to light or dark hair, making it exceptionally versatile.

 

 

30. Dirty Blonde Hair Hazel Eyes

An excellent way to try blonde hair without it being too bright or high maintenance is dirty blonde. This versatile hue is a dark to a medium shade of blonde and can be easily mixed with lighter colors or darker. You can also work with your hairstylist to find the perfect shade to complement your eye color.

 

 

31. Dirty Blonde Hair with Green Eyes

Dirty blonde hair is a color that can be adapted to suit your skin tone and complement your eyes. This can be achieved by adding highlights or lowlights to the hair. Warm colors complement green eyes, but the dirty blonde hair is a cool shade so pairing it with brighter blondes makes the hair feel brighter and warmer. This will let your eye color pop.

 

 

32. Blue Highlights in Dirty Blonde Hair

What better way to let your personality shine than by adding bold colors to your hair? Instead of dyeing all of your hair blue, you can add the color in a more subtle and wearable way, with highlights. They can be thick and chunky to achieve more contrast or thin, delicate pieces added to the hair. The choice is yours!

 

 

33. Strawberry Blonde Highlights on Dirty Blonde Hair

Strawberry blonde hair is a reddish-blonde hue that is versatile and can be added to the hair in various ways. This includes highlights, and adding strawberry blonde to a dirty blonde base color will give it a lift and result in a warmer color. This is a color that is best suited to women with fair, cool, and neutral skin tones.

 

 

34. Dirty Blonde Hair Extensions

Hair extensions are a great way to make your hair look thicker and fuller or to achieve a longer length. You can also introduce different colors to the hair with your extensions, for example, adding dirty blonde to the hair. This is an excellent choice if your hair is naturally dark because you do not need to bleach your strands to lighten them.

 

 

35. Dirty Blonde Highlights on Black Hair

If you are looking for a way to create contrast with your black hair, then look no further than dirty blonde highlights. Dirty blonde is a dark shade of blonde and will look more natural when added to dark hair than if you add lighter blonde shades. It is great for lightening the hair and brightening the appearance and can enhance your hair texture.