Blue Hair Dye for Dark Hair: Colorful and Creative Options

If you love blue hair, but think that blue dye for dark hair is an impossible dream, think again. We’ve got all the details on how you can turn your dark locks into fabulous blue tresses!

Blue hair has been popular for a long time, and dying your hair blue is a fun way to give yourself a funky new look. Lots of celebrities have embraced the blue hair trend, including Lady Gaga, Rihanna, and Kylie Jenner.

There’s a huge range of blue hair shades to choose from, ranging from pale ice blue, through vibrant electric blue to mysterious midnight blue. And one of the best things about blue hair is that you can try this hair trend on any natural hair color.

If you have dark hair, you might think that the blue hair trend isn’t for you. But luckily, there are plenty of products you can use to get this look.

So this guide will help you choose the perfect blue hair dye for dark hair. You’ll discover the different types of hair dye, the best home dye kits to try, and how to keep blue hair vibrant for longer. 

The Challenges of Dying Dark Hair Blue

If you’re thinking of dying your dark hair blue, you face two main challenges.

The first challenge is that some blue hair shades won’t show up well on dark hair. You may find that they only give your hair a hint of blue, which shows up better under bright lights. That’s not really a problem, as long as you’re happy with the results you get. 

If you want a brighter, bolder or paler shade of blue, you can get round this by pre lightening your hair to a level 9 or 10. This will make your chosen shade look much more vivid, but it will also dry and damage your hair, so you will need to give it lots of extra moisturizing treatments.

Your second challenge will be keeping your blue hair looking great for as long as possible. Fashion colors, like blue, purple, or pink, tend to fade very quickly, so without proper care, your hair could look faded and dull within just a week or two. 

Good hair care will help you avoid this, so make sure you follow our tips for keeping blue hair vibrant, a little further on in this guide.

Selecting Your Perfect Shade of Blue

There are so many blue hair shades available, and the choice can feel overwhelming. Here are some of the most popular shades of blue hair, to help inspire your next color change.

Dark Blue Hair Dye

If you have medium-brown or darker hair, a dark blue temporary hair dye is a great way to start experimenting with different blue hair shades. You won’t be committed to the shade long term, and you won’t need to lighten your hair before applying the blue dye.

But if you do decide to take the plunge and apply a permanent blue dye, remember that lighteners and permanent dyes will dry your hair out. So make sure you pamper it with all the deep conditioners, hair oils, and hair masks.

Blue Black Hair Dye

Your skin’s undertone will help you find the best shade of blue for your locks. If you have a cool or neutral skin tone, this cool-toned blue black hair color will look amazing, while warmer skin tones suit rich, purple-based blue hair shades.

And if you’re nervous about going totally blue, why not leave some sections in your natural hair color?

Bright Blue Hair Dye

If you’re going to have blue hair, you might as well go all the way and make it bright. This color will stand out in a crowd, but it needs careful attention to keep the color vibrant for longer. Minimize washing and keep any sulfate-based products far away from your locks to prevent fading.

Light Blue Hair Dye

If you’re tempted by rainbow hair colors, a pastel blue hair dye provides the perfect contrast against all of the cotton-candy hues. Add this shade to your wishlist for your next spring hair color change.

Midnight Blue Hair Dye

A rich, deep blue that has all the mystery of the night sky. Midnight blue hair color is often designed to work really well on dark locks, or you can apply this dye to lightened hair for a more vivid shade. 

Navy Blue Hair Dye

Navy blue hair shades can be chic or casual, depending on how you style them. You could also add some black slices through your hair for a cool, neutral look.

Silver Blue Hair Dye

A cool ice blue looks stunning, but it will also fade fast. So limit the number of washes each week and opt for color-safe, sulfate-free shampoos to avoid stripping the color from your locks. Keep the dry shampoo handy to freshen up your locks between wash days.

Royal Blue Hair Dye

A semi-permanent hair color in a vibrant royal blue would be ideal if you don’t want to schedule a trip to the salon. This shade will show up best on lighter hair, and will give a subtle tint on dark hair. If you want to achieve a brighter shade without the need for bleach, try using a temporary color wax which is also gentle on curly hair.

Types of Hair Dye

As well as the hair color, you’ll also need to decide what type of hair dye you want to use. 

Whichever option you choose, experts recommend carrying out a strand test and patch test and strand test 24 hours before coloring your hair. This will let you see the color you can expect to achieve and and rules out any dangerous allergic reactions.

Permanent

Permanent box dyes lift the cuticle and deposit color inside the hair shaft. This means that the results will be long-lasting, but it can leave your hair dry and brittle. 

Demi-Permanent

Demi-permanent box dyes use a weaker developer than permanent color treatments, which is gentler on your hair. But you should still get even coverage and long-lasting color.

Semi-Permanent

Semi-permanent dyes are gentler than permanent or demi-permanent dyes because they only deposit color on the outside of your hair strand. They’re also easier to apply but the color won’t last as long. 

Temporary

Temporary hair colors are also known as wash-in-wash-out colors. They’re gentle on your hair and easy to apply but will wash out quickly. This makes them a great choice if you are experimenting with color or want a color just for a few days.

Professional Vs. Box Dye

Alternatively, you could visit the salon for a professional hair color treatment. This can be a great option if you have damaged hair, as the colorist will be able to give you advice on the gentlest color treatment for your locks. 

7 Best Blue Hair Dye for Dark Hair

So you’ve decided to go ahead and you’ve chosen your blue hair shade and type of hair dye.  

There’s a massive range of blue hair dyes out there. So to help you make your choice, here are 7 of the best shades of blue hair dye for dark hair:

Manic Panic Blue Amplified Hair Color, Blue Moon

This semi-permanent dye will give you a vibrant true blue color, even on dark hair. But for the best results, it’s best to lighten your hair to level nine or ten and use a toner to remove yellow undertones before applying your blue dye.

Like all Manic Panic colors, this dye is vegan and cruelty free, and you can mix it with any other Manic Panic colors to create your own custom shade. It will give you some of the most vibrant results of any blue hair dye, but does bleed a lot and stains skin and clothes easily.

With good care, this color will stay looking good for up to six weeks. 

Schwarzkopf Live Intense Color Cosmic Blue 090

This Schwarzkopf permanent hair dye will give you a subtle blue/black shine on dark hair, so it may not be for you if you’re looking for a very bold color. 

The dye contains a Vibrancy Serum which gives great depth of color and fade resistance, and leaves your hair feeling smooth and shiny. 

Kiss Tintation Semi Permanent Hair Colour Blue Moonlight T223

If you want to achieve a bold blue hair color without compromising your hair health, this semi-permanent hair color from Tintation might be ideal. The natural formulation contains conditioning agents like argan oil, collagen, and keratin to give you vibrant color and leave your hair feeling healthy and conditioned. 

And all of Tintation’s 48 vivid colors can be mixed to create your own personal shade. 

This deep blue color will leave a subtle hint of blue on dark hair, but will give a vivid blue color on blonde hair or hair that has been pre-lightened. With good care, your blue hue could las

Lime Crime Electric Blue Hair Dye, Mystic (Electric Blue)

Lime Crime’s vegan hair dyes are known for giving vibrant color and great shine. They’re easy to use at home, and the range of shades makes it easy to achieve the bold color you’re looking for.

This bright blue semi-permanent hair dye will give vivid, super-saturated color on pre-lightened hair, or a more subtle tint on dark blonde and light brown hair. It’s free from harsh ingredients like ammonia, peroxide, and bleach, so it’s kind to your locks as well.

Garnier Nutrisse Hair Colour, Intense Indigo

Garnier Nutrisse Intense Indigo is a permanent hair dye that will give you intense, midnight blue hair with pure indigo reflects. It’s ideal for use on hair shades between light brown and darkest brown.

Garnier Nutrisse is a popular hair dye brand which is formulated with a blend of three fruit oils: avocado oil, olive oil, and shea oil. This means it delivers bold hair color while also nourishing and protecting your locks. And Garnier’s Colorboost technology gives you high impact color that lasts up to 8 weeks.  

L’Oreal Paris Hicolor, Black Sapphire

This L’Oreal Paris Excellence Hicolor shade is a dark blue/black permanent hair dye that’s formulated specifically for dark bases and gives great lift and color with no brassiness.

You will need to buy a separate developer to mix with this hair dye. 30 volume is recommended for natural hair and 20 volume for relaxed hair.

This hair color does have a drying effect, so be sure to give your hair plenty of pampering with moisturizing conditioner and hair masks.

L’Oreal Paris Colorista Midnight Blue Hair Dye

A semi-permanent dye is a great way to try out a color without a long-term commitment. This L’Oreal Paris Colorista Midnight Blue hair dye is free from ammonia, bleach, and peroxide, so it isn’t harsh on your locks.

It’s a rich, conditioning hair dye that gives brunette hair a subtle tint of deep blue with gorgeous reflects and then gradually fades with each wash. 

Keeping Blue Hair Vibrant

Like all ‘fashion’ hair colors, blue hair color tends to fade fast. However, it should still last around four to six weeks if you follow these simple tips to keep your blue tresses looking gorgeous for longer. 

Use Color-Protecting Products

Always look for color-safe, sulfate-free shampoo and conditioner for blue hair. These won’t strip the pigment from your hair as quickly as regular hair products, and they’ll also help to prevent additional dryness.

Then once a week, you can give your color a top-up with a color-depositing blue conditioner that will help keep the hue looking rich.  

Minimize Washes

Even if you use color-safe shampoo and conditioner, washing your hair frequently will quickly fade your color, especially if you’ve opted for a bright blue color. 

Many people wash their hair too frequently anyway, so it’s better to try and minimize your washes and freshen up your locks with dry shampoo in between wash days. Our hair type guides will help you find the best wash frequency for your hair type.

Minimize Heat

Heated styling tools like blow dryers and curling wands will dry out your locks, especially if you have natural hair that tends to be dry anyway. 

If you have colored hair, the heat from your styling tools will make your color look dull and faded. So for the sake of your hair color and the health of your hair, it’s best to avoid hot styling tools as much as possible. If you really want to use your heated styling tools, be sure to apply a heat protectant before you start.

Avoid Chlorine Exposure

The chlorine that’s added to swimming pool water can affect the color of your hair and build up on your strands. If you want to preserve your blue color, it’s best to avoid chlorinated water completely. 

If you don’t want to give up your daily dip, always wear a swim cap and rinse your hair thoroughly when you get out of the pool. 

FAQs

If you’re nearly ready to take the plunge with blue hair, here are the answers to some of the questions you might still have.

What Is the Best Shampoo for Blue Hair?

Always use a color safe shampoo on blue hair and minimize how often you wash your blue tresses. 

Nexxus Color Assure Shampoo And Conditioner are sulfate-free and enriched with argan oil to keep your hair hydrated and your color looking fresh and vibrant for longer.

Do You Need to Bleach Dark Hair to Dye It Blue?

Some hair color kits are designed for dark hair, so you won’t need to bleach dark hair before you apply the blue dye. 

But to achieve a really bright or ice blue color, you will need to lighten your hair first. 

How Long Will My Blue Hair Color Last Before Fading?

This depends on the color you choose and how well you look after it. Brighter colors tend to fade quicker than dark blue shades, and a bright blue shade might only look fresh for a week.

But if you don’t wash your hair too frequently, and use color-safe hair care products, you will keep your hair looking vibrant for longer. You can also use a hair gloss every two weeks to refresh your hair’s color and shine.

The Bottom Line

Blue hair looks amazing, and with so many different shades to choose from, you’re sure to find one that you love. 

There are plenty of blue hair shades that you can use directly on dark hair. And if you decide you’d love to rock a bright or pale shade of blue, you can achieve this by pre lightening your locks first.

It can be difficult to keep blue hair looking vibrant, but with the right hair care products and some simple hair care tips, your blue locks will be turning heads for longer!