Get ready, ladies - it's time to change your hair colour (perhaps for the third time this year), and if you're looking for a new look, may we suggest blue hair dye? Blue, from light tones to midnight navy, looks good on any skin tone or hair texture. Keep reading for our best hair dyes to buy online to achieve a luscious blue hue, from retailers like Amazon through to Shrine and their revolutionary dye drops.
Seriously, blue hair looks good on everybody. Case and point - King Kylie (the iconic nickname for Kylie Jenner in the 2010s) has returned to the pop culture scene, with Jenner shocking the world by returning to her roots, literally. Kylie has got blue hair - have we been transported back to 2013?!
Closer's top blue hair dyes at a glance:
Best permanent blue hair dye: Schwarzkopf LIVE Urban Metallics 3-Pack, £19.78 on Amazon
Best semi-permanent blue hair dye: Crazy Color Tint Hair Colour, £6.59 on Amazon
Best custom blue hair dye: Shrine Blue Hair Dye - Drop It Kit, £12.99 on Shrine
Dyeing your hair at home means you can explore a wide range of colours. If you're looking to go dark, black hair dye might be calling your name. Prefer something warm and sultry? Red hair dye it is, but today - let's focus on the most distinctive colour of them all - blue.
Nowadays, you don't have to spend a fortune in the salon because box dyes in 2024 are just as good as the real deal. Plus, it means you don't have to suffer through making small talk with your hairdresser. Looking to switch to a luscious blue hue? Whether pastel or metallic, you've come to the right place. Let's get started with the best blue hair dyes.
Shop: The best blue hair dye to shop online in 2024
Best permanent blue hair dye
amazonIf you're committed to the blue crew, you'll want to go down the permanent hair dye route, and no one does that better than Schwarzkopf. This Blue Mercury shade has a beautiful metallic tinge that shimmers in the light. Reviews mention how refreshing it was to use a formula that got straight to the blue hue on one application, instead of weird green or grey outcomes.
Pros
- We love the built-in metallic shine booster infused with nourishing coconut oil
- Reviewers appreciate the vegan formula
- The product promises shiny, glossy results, and it delivers
Cons
- Let it be noted - this works effectively only on bleached hair
- It is only available as a three-pack right now
Best semi-permanent hair dye
amazonRrp: $18.99
Don't want to commit to the blue crew quite so strongly? We get it. Crazy Color has these amazing 100ml bottles of semi-permanent hair dyes that'll have you experimenting with a new look for summer. They have regular blue, but we're a fan of the sapphire blue - dark and mysterious. Reviewers praise how pigmented the formula is, which means it can transfer for a little while after applying. Be prepared to wash your pillowcases.
Pros
- Semi-permanent hair colour cream - lasts approx. 4-8 washes
- We love how affordable and budget-friendly this option is
- Reviewers love how pigmented and rich the blue colour is
Cons
- Colour can transfer easily onto pillowcases
Best custom blue hair dye
shrinewww.weareshrine.com
If you're looking to get a custom shade of blue that you can't find on the box-dye shelves, Shrine has you covered. Using only one bottle, you can create up to 30 full head colours and achieve a spectrum of unreal results, which you can build up over the course of weeks. Shrine's top tip? Purchase the blue and indigo drop kits and mix them to achieve an unreal indigo-purple hair dye shade.
Pros
- One bottle with endless custom shades
- Add desired drops to conditioner, quick and nourishing
- We appreciate the vegan formula
Cons
- Reviewers note roots may need bleaching for the colour to take fully there
Best light blue hair dye
bleach londonwww.cultbeauty.co.uk
Pastel princesses, rise up. Live your light blue hair dreams with Bleach London's BLULLINI semi-permanent cream. Ideal for those who want a change but not a super-long commitment, Bleach London's formula sticks around for one to 30 washes. Perfect for those who want to recreate Phoebe Bridgers' gorgeous locks from the Met Gala 2023.
Pros
- Produces a beautiful baby blue hue that softens the face
- We find it works in just 30 minutes
- Reviewers note it fades nicely
Cons
- Hair needs to be pre-bleached and toned
Best aqua blue hair dye
amazonArguably the most popular shade of blue, aqua is fun, memorable, and inviting. Any gal rocking an aqua-blue hue knows how to have a good time. Stargazer's semi-permanent hair dye can last up to 15 washes in pre-lightened hair and eight washes in un-lightened hair. Reviewers note that their hair did not feel dry after dyeing and barely faded even after five washes.
Pros
- All the Stargazer semi-permanent hair dyes can be mixed to make custom shades
- We appreciate that this is free from ammonia or peroxide
- Reviewers love the vegan and cruelty-free formula
Cons
- Colour can hang around for up to two months on certain hair types
Best blue hair dye for dark hair
amazonWant to dye your hair but don't want to bleach it? Don't get the blues (hehe, get it) because Garnier Nutrisse Hair Dye is ideal for our dark-haired girls. This gorgeous midnight blue shade works on all hair textures and is visible even on dark hair without the need for bleach. Reviewers with very dark brown hair noted that the colour took instantly, a hint of blue which you can see sparkling in the light.
Pros
- Reviewers note up to 8 weeks of strong colour
- We love that the five different oils reveal up to three times shinier hair and up to three times stronger hair
- Perfect for those with dark hair who want a blue hue when the sunlight hits
Cons
- Some reviewers found the application process messy because of the runny formula
Best blue-black hair dye
amazonFor those who frequently use dark hair dyes but want to try something a bit different this time around, L'Oréal's Colorista can deliver you a beautiful black shade with a subtle shimmer of mesmerising blue. This permanent gel colour will last you up to eight weeks and offers 100% grey coverage. Reviews say it is the only hair dye that doesn't attach to their facial skin, which is a bonus.
Pros
- We praise its quick results, coming up in just 20 minutes
- Suitable for all hair types, from straight to coily
- Includes deep conditioning hair mask for nourishing post-colour treatment
Cons
- Reviewers warn it has a strong scent when applying
Choosing the right blue hair dye
We spoke to DIY hair expert Blanca Aguirrezabal, founder of home improvement site The Blog Stuff, who gave us all the tips and tricks you need before you venture into the world of hair colouration.
"Finding the right hair dye that won't cause damage to your hair is very important", explains Blanca. "It's also important to take into account your natural hair colour, the desired effect you want to achieve, and whether you want a permanent or temporary change.
"You need to determine what level of maintenance you're willing to commit to as well. Are you okay with touch-ups every six to eight weeks? Or are you looking for something that will last a bit longer?" Blanca concludes.
How to get hair dye to last longer
Now, when it comes to making sure that fresh dye stays fresh, that can be a pretty hard job to maintain. Make sure to follow these tips to ensure you keep your hair colour from fading:
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Try a dedicated colour-locking shampoo or conditioner. A specially designed blue shampoo will do the trick for blue-dyed hair. For other hair dye colours, for example, if you've gone full Marilyn with blonde hair dye, a purple shampoo will keep your hair non-brassy. Here are the best purple shampoos.
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Applying a hair toner in your suitable shade once in a while can revive any fading colours.
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Limit your hair-washing days. If you are guilty of overwashing, aim to wash your hair at least every other day.
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Turn down the water temperature when shampooing. Hot water can cause dye to bleed from your hair prematurely. Turn it to cold if you can handle it!
Remember, avoid getting dye on your skin, but if you do, don't worry - just follow this quick, easy guide to getting dye off skin.
How can I wash blue hair dye out?
According to Bleach London, blue and green hair dyes can be particularly tricky to get rid of because of the "blue pigment sticking to the hair. The easiest and safest way to remove stubborn faded blue or green colour is "to neutralise with a red based colour. This is its opposite on the colour wheel. So use a pink Bleach London Super Cool Colour or Rosé Shampoo and Conditioner to gently neutralise the colour, help pull the green tones out and replace them with a pinky lilac colour. After a while, shampooing with a normal non-toning shampoo can resume, and the hair should return to a very light blonde." You can also try a hair-stripping method using clarifying shampoo.
Ruby Barry is a Product Writer for Closer Online, specialising in fashion and beauty. The team has nicknamed her "dupe queen", as there's not a product in the world she can't find a cheaper alternative for.