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Dark grey paint ideas


Benjamin Moore: 10 Best DARK Gray (Charcoal) Paint Colors

What are the most POPULAR dark gray paint colours?

When it comes to the best DARK gray paint colours, it’s ALL in the undertones. And not just that, it’s about MATCHING these undertones to your interior finishes – regardless of your personal tastes. This means that if your home loves a violet undertone and you don’t, you might need to take a deep cleansing breath (and a glass OR TEN of wine helps) and focus on what your home is asking for.

EVERY GRAY HAS UNDERTONES

For those of you hoping for the EVER-ELUSIVE perfectly neutral gray, I hate to pop your paint parachute, but grays have undertones. And not just gray paint colours, but gray SURFACES too. That gray tile that looks pretty darn neutral? Yup. Your sectional sofa that’s the most perfect dark charcoal? You bet your booty it does. Even your brand new white quartz countertop with gray veining – it too has undertones. Once you figure out the undertones of your interior finishes, it will be easier to pick the best paint colour to go with them (if your room is a blank slate, then focus more on the exposure of your room).

As for the hues you can expect to see, warm gray paint colours will have either violet or green undertones whereas cool gray paint colours lean into BLUE, violet or green (often a blend).

While the gray areas in the above wood wall look ‘gray’, they have a definite violet undertone, making Benjamin Moore Trout Gray a great choice!

Now, if you’ve been reading up on the darker end of things, you might have come across my blog post on Sherwin Williams’s best DARK gray paint colours, as well as Benjamin Moore’s best DARK greige and taupe paint colours. Greige and taupe paint colours are tough to hit as the undertones often come up more than you want, leaving you with more than just ‘neutral-looking’ walls. As for gray paint colours, same thing. While it’s easier to get a somewhat neutral look in the lighter end of things, as you go darker, these undertones can rise up with a vengeance – a pretty vengeance though.

But regardless of the undertone, compared to Sherwin William’s selection, Benjamin Moore kicks some serious badonkadonk, so let’s get started.

BTW, You’ll find that ALL of these colours have LRVs that are lower than 30. Not sure what LRV is? It could save your PAINT LOVIN’ LIFE – read all about it HERE.

1. BENJAMIN MOORE CHELSEA GRAY HC-168

WARM GRAY-GREEN UNDERTONE

Chelsea Gray has an LRV of 22, making it a popular choice for cabinets, exteriors and even all of the walls in a room! With that moderate LRV, it’s the right depth to add drama and style to a space without weighing it down too much.

In the above dining room, look at how sharp Chelsea Gray looks with the white trim work. You’ll get a similar look using Benjamin Moore Chantilly Lace with Chelsea Gray.

And while sometimes you don’t see it at all, Chelsea Gray has a green undertone. It’s also classified as a WARM gray, but you won’t see it looking TRADITIONALLY warm like Metropolis (coming shortly).

In this kitchen (below), Chelsea Gray looks simple and low contrast with the black laminate countertops, letting the white subway tile and cabinets do the contrasting…

FULL PAINT COLOUR REVIEW: Benjamin Moore Chelsea Gray

2. BENJAMIN MOORE STEEL WOOL 2121-20

Going in the OPPOSITE direction to Chelsea Gray (as it relates to undertones) is Steel Wool. Whereas Chelsea Gray has a green undertone and a tiny wink o’ warmth, Steel Wool is a COOL gray paint colour with a violet-blue undertone.

The great thing about Steel Wool is its flexibility, nodding at both the blue and the violet end of things without 100% commitment to either. And it does all of this while still looking more or less ‘gray’, as shown in this next entryway photo…

The trim colour in the above photo is Benjamin Moore Cloud White, a white with a wink of warmth to offset the cool approach of Steel Wool.

FULL Paint Colour Review of Benjamin Moore Steel Wool

3. BENJAMIN MOORE GRAYSTONE 1475

WARM GRAY – VERY SUBTLE GREEN UNDERTONE

Benjamin Moore Graystone has an LRV of almost 30, making it one of the LIGHTER options on this page. When it comes to this particular type of warm gray, I would love to show you something a bit darker, but if we bump down just ONE NOTCH to Squirrel Tail, we pick up a green that’s more distracting than a streaker at a football game (it wasn’t me, I swear).

Shown with Benjamin Moore White Dove & Cheating Heart

But compared to the slightly warmer greige end of things, Graystone holds itself AMAZINGLY well as it relates to undertones. While it definitely nods at green, it’s more of a polite nod than a ‘come hither’ one. In the above photo, you’ll see Graystone with White Dove trim and Cheating Heart door.

Look at how much more GREEN shows up to the party in this next foyer with warm white trim and a GORGEOUS wood front door. Remember, your room’s EXPOSURE, interior lighting and surrounding finishes play a HUGE part in how a colour is perceived.

The Best Paint Colors for the INSIDE of Your Front Door

4. BENJAMIN MOORE GRAY 2121-10

Seriously, I could go on and on about Gray…SO I WILL! Gray is not just GRAY, it’s a very dark charcoal with a reasonably strong violet-blue undertone. I can’t even TELL you how many times I refer this colour to my Online Colour Consulting clients.

With an LRV of ALMOST 10, it’s definitely one of the darkest options out there – at least before things start looking blackish, at which point it’s ALL in the sheen. In the above photo, notice how the semi-gloss sheen of the paint bounces the light, making Gray look LIGHTER than you might expect.

In this next photo, while the wood bar DESPERATELY needs to be painted the same colour as the mantel, let’s focus on how Gray grabs the darker stone in the fireplace tile…

BTW, if you go to the paint store, you HAVE to ask for Gray 2121-10, including its number. Why? Because if you just ask for GRAY, the employee will say ‘which GRAY do you want?‘ and you’ll be on an endless ferris wheel of misery trying to figure out WHICH gray you’re referring to.  

FULL Paint Colour Review of Benjamin Moore Gray 2121-10

Let’s take a quick break to talk about paint samples…

Undoubtedly, you’ll be heading out in the near future to grab paint samples – stop right there! I want you to check out SAMPLIZE. Samplize offers peel and stick paint samples that are more AFFORDABLE, EASIER and more ENVIRONMENTALLY FRIENDLY than traditional paint pots. Here are just a FEW reasons why I recommend Samplize to my clients…

Visit the SAMPLIZE website HERE

5. BENJAMIN MOORE METROPOLIS CC-546

WARM GRAY – VIOLET UNDERTONE

Metropolis is hands-down, one of the BEST warm gray paint colors on the market. Some warm grays lean so far that they’re mistaken for taupe, others are so subtle they don’t always have ENOUGH warmth. Metropolis sits right in the middle and is a great choice, especially for some of the granite countertops from the early 2000s.

Metropolis has a violet undertone, and while it’s not shy about it, it’s also not overwhelming by any stretch of the imagination.

FULL Paint Colour Review of Benjamin Moore Metropolis

6. BENJAMIN MOORE AMHERST GRAY HC-167

Amherst Gray is a HUGELY popular dark gray paint color, coming in a hot second place to Chelsea Gray. With an LRV of 17, Amherst Gray has a bit more meat on its bones without going as dark as Kendall Charcoal (also lovely).

But remember, there are ALWAYS sneaky undertones and Amherst Gray comes in HOT with a green undertone that can come up considerably depending on its surroundings…

Really, when it comes to Chelsea Gray, Amherst Gray and Kendall Charcoal, just ASSUME you’ll see green.

FULL Paint Colour Review of Benjamin Moore Amherst Gray

7. BENJAMIN MOORE TROUT GRAY 2124-20

I have MAD love for Trout Gray as it’s a gray that’s colorful enough to be interesting without being overwhelming in its approach. As for undertones, Trout Gray leans nicely into blue; a blue that leans HARD into violet, as shown in this powder room with personality.

Blue Paint Colours: The 2 Types & Where They Work Best

Trout Gray has an LRV of almost 15, making it a WICKED gorgeous option for feature walls, built-ins, cabinets or ENTIRE ROOMS!

FULL Paint Colour Review of Benjamin Moore Trout Gray

Want a bit more COLOR? Check out Benjamin Moore Wolf Gray, she’s a beauty!

The MOST NEUTRAL Dark Gray Paint Colors

While the above options are the most POPULAR dark gray paint colors, this next section is about the most NEUTRAL dark grays. Why aren’t they included above? Well, they’re rarely used and this is because the majority of interior finishes NEED gray paint colors with noticeable undertones! This doesn’t mean these options aren’t pretty, they’re just not POPULAR.

I also don’t have full reviews of these colors OR photos to show you simply because I don’t refer to them as often, meaning these are SUPER brief summaries…

8. BENJAMIN MOORE ASPHALT CC-548

Asphalt has an LRV 19.71 and a VERY slight violet undertone. This makes it an interesting option for exteriors with roofing, stonework or brickwork that need a more passive approach. It’s also an interesting cabinet color when very little undertone is needed. 

9. BENJAMIN MOORE OVERCOAT CC-544

With an LRV 13.47, Overcoat has a similar approach to Asphalt with a slightly stronger violet undertone and a bit more MEAT on its bones. Overcoat would be a beautiful exterior option, as well as for front doors and dramatic feature walls.

10. BENJAMIN MOORE DOLPHIN AF-715

Dolphin has an LRV 22.52, making it the lightest of these last three. It also has a negligible undertone, maybe a tiny wink green. The risk with this color is that if your finishes have a violet undertone, Dolphin could look flat or even slightly green just in comparison. Not sure this is possible? Take a sample of Benjamin Moore Metropolis and place it next to Dolphin and watch the magic unfold before your very eyes! Okay, maybe that’s a bit dramatic as the shift is subtle, but it’s THERE, I swear! 

And lastly, of the WHOLE BUNCH…

What’s the MOST POPULAR Dark Gray Paint Color from Benjamin Moore?

Hands-down, the most popular DARK gray from Benjamin Moore is Chelsea Gray. Whether it’s on cabinets, feature walls, doors or exteriors, Chelsea Gray is the one gray that hits a wide variety of styles and tastes.

But do you want my HONEST OPINION? I know you do. If I’m choosing a gray paint color like this for one of my Online Paint Color Consulting clients, I’m probably gunning for Sherwin Williams Classic French Gray instead. Why? It’s not as warm and it ALSO has less undertone.

READ MORE

Are Gray Paint Colours Still Trendy on Walls, Cabinets & Exteriors?

The Best DARK Greige & Taupe Paint Colours – Benjamin Moore

The 12 Best Whole Home Gray & Greige Paint Colors

The Best Front Door Paint Colors (Exterior)

The Best Darker Paint Colors for Cabinets & Vanities

NEED HELP?

CHECK OUT MY ONLINE PAINT COLOR CONSULTING, COURSES & E-BOOKS! 

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40+ Gorgeous Gray Paint Colors

Warm Grays

Genevieve Garruppo for Homepolish

Revere Pewter, Benjamin Moore

Benjamin Moore

"For those on the fence about gray, I sometimes introduce Benjamin Moore's Revere Pewter. It threads the line with greige and has warmer brown undertones. When a darker gray shade is going to feel too dark or somber, I find a gray like this one integrates well with warmer wood furnishings while keeping the room light." - Carolyn Pressly
SHOP

Conforth White, Farrow & Ball

Megan Tatem

"This pale gray paint has a touch of taupe/lavender that provides a wonderful neutral backdrop to both traditional and modern interiors. I love how the color evolves over the day: cooler earlier in the day and a bit more moody at night." - Grant Gibson
SHOP

Cornforth White, Farrow & Ball

Farrow & Ball

"This is a perfect tone of gray. It catches light beautifully. It's subtle and very chic. It is the perfect complement to any other neutral." - Nicole Fuller
SHOP

Ammonite, Farrow & Ball

Megan Tatem

"It's the perfect neutral and a great alternative to off-white. I recently painted a wood paneled room this color, and the overall effect was warm and inviting." - CeCe Barfield Thompson
SHOP

Modern Gray, Sherwin Williams

Megan Tatem

"This is the ideal background color: warm, soft, and plays well with everyone. It's like the consummate party hostess who brings out the best in every guest. It's the perfect backdrop for blues (denim, chambray, navy) in a living room, and makes olive green look fantastic. It can handle fuchsia and orange in a bunk room, but also goes beautifully soft with creams and grays when used in a master bedroom or kitchen." - Allison Bloom
SHOP

Elephant's Breath, Farrow & Ball

Megan Tatem

"This warm and luxuriant shade is stunning in a room with white woodwork and crystal chandeliers. Pop it with coral or hot pink." - Dana Gibson
SHOP

Agreeable Gray, Sherwin Williams

Megan Tatem

"It's faint enough to be a neutral, but saturated enough to make a difference. " - J. Randall Powers
SHOP

Lamp Room Gray, Farrow & Ball

Megan Tatem

"This shade of gray is pretty because it has a little taupe in it that makes it very chic. It can be beautiful in a living room, dining room, or bedroom." - Alex Papachristidis
SHOP

Rodeo, Benjamin Moore

Megan Tatem

"It has the right mix of warm and cool undertones to be a true gray. It has just enough brown to achieve that perfect warm gray. It looks beautiful on walls, trim, paneling and cabinetry—use it everywhere!" - Wendy Labrum
SHOP

Purbeck Stone, Farrow & Ball

Farrow & Ball

"A lovely warm neutral that enriches the space, and looks amazing with any wood floor stain. I love this color because of its versatility, and can be used in both formal and casual settings. The color is always pleasing to the eye." - Amanda Sacy
SHOP

Pashmina, Benjamin Moore

Megan Tatem

"It's a rich, warm gray that creates an inviting, intimate space. It's also a perfect exterior color paired with a dark charcoal trim." - Karen Vidal
SHOP

Revere Pewter, Benjamin Moore

Benjamin Moore

"I keep coming back to this paint color again and again. It's warm enough to use in a space with little sunlight, but not too warm to be considered "greige." It looks soft and rich without overtaking the room." - Amanda Reynal
SHOP

Charleston Gray, Farrow & Ball

Farrow & Ball

"Hands down my favorite gray paint is Charleston Gray by Farrow & Ball. It’s a deep, sumptuous shade of gray that wraps you like a velvety fog. I use it when I’m trying to create intimacy in an oversized space, or warmth in small room with little natural light." - Patrick Ediger
SHOP

Dark Grays

Stacey Van Berkel

Artist Grey, Ralph Lauren

Ralph Lauren Home

"This color is true to Ralph Lauren. It is a chameleon color in the sense that it works with many different tones of gray and blue." - Robin Strickler
SHOP

Cheating Heart, Benjamin Moore

Megan Tatem

"The biggest fear to overcome when using a dark color is that it will make your room feel smaller. Not true! A dark color makes the walls seem to disappear and adds incredible drama to a room. This charcoal has just the right amount of brown in it to add warmth. It's as gorgeous on walls as it is on millwork and trim. I've even used it on the bottom of a claw foot tub." - Jen Going
SHOP

Iron Mountain, Benjamin Moore

Megan Tatem

"I look for dimension within paint colors, something that shifts a little from day to night. I love the subtle depth and warm brown underpinning of this shade. This deep, dark gray is beautiful in a matte wall finish, stunning in satin for millwork, or easily pulls off sexy in a gorgeous gloss for furniture and cabinetry. " - Drew McGukin
SHOP

Down Pipe, Farrow & Ball

Megan Tatem

"It's such a beautiful shade that works with a mixture of tones and finishes. The color has a deep richness that doesn't fall flat and can give a space a great punch, especially when paired with light colors for high contrast." - Shannon Wollack & Brittany Zwickl of Studio Life.Style
SHOP

City Shadow, Benjamin Moore

Benjamin Moore

"For millwork and cabinetry, I frequently come back to Benjamin Moore’s City Shadow. The color is bold and dynamic, while maintaining a warmth and softness that many dark gray’s can lack." - Katie Hackworth
SHOP

Pantone Charcoal Gray, Valspar Paint

Valspar Paint

"A perfect backdrop for art collectors and enthusiasts. This grey sets a bold tone and pairs beautifully in a monochromatic setting or one with a stark contrast. I'm a firm believer in giving a big impression in a subtle way and this gray never falls flat. " - Becky Shea
SHOP

Mole’s Breath, Farrow & Ball

Farrow & Ball

"This rich, warm gray is the perfect neutral when you want to create depth in a space. It works equally well in small spaces to cozy them up, as well as large rooms to make them feel inviting. I also love it as a trim color to add sophisticated glamour to your millwork and moldings. A kiss from a Mole never seemed sweeter!" - Donna Mondi
SHOP

Plumbago Gray, Fired Earth

Fired Earth

"This rich shade has warm blue undertones, which makes one feel right at home. It’s sophisticated tone makes any space feel chic." - Birgit Klein
SHOP

Guggenheim Color G042, Fine Paints Of Europe

American Artist/Fine Paints Of Europe

"As an avid art collector, this gray in their Eurolux Interior Matte, is the perfect backdrop for any collection. The matte finish absorbs natural and artificial light allowing the space to come alive with undertones that appear to make the walls gradually change throughout the day. Very alluring!" - Patrick Planeta of Planeta Design Group
SHOP

Chelsea Gray, Benjamin Moore

Megan Tatem

"I use this shade over and over again on cabinets and vanities because it is the perfect medium-dark gray. It has warmth, but never looks brown, and has enough pigment to make a statement without shouting. Such a classic!" - Erin Gates
SHOP

Chelsea Gray, Benjamin Moore

Megan Tatem

“I love this shade of grey when I want to create a dark, moody aesthetic. It’s the perfect way to add drama to a room—such as in the luxurious lounge of our recent design project at 10 Greene Street. The deep, cool grey tone is sexy, seductive and just perfect for this stunning Soho loft.”- Cheryl Eisen
SHOP

Pale Grays

Douglas Friedman

Silver Blade, Fine Paints of Europe

Fine Paints of Europe

"To me, Silver Blade by Fine Paints of Europe is a rich, elegant and classic gray that elevates any room. It contrasts beautifully with light and dark colors as well as all textures. Always welcoming you in." - Raquel Garcia
SHOP

Passive, Sherwin Williams

American Artist/Sherwin Williams

“This is a light airy gray that enhances architecture with subtle shadows, but doesn’t become too heavy or drab…A happy gray! I love it for bathrooms, kitchens or bedrooms.” – Jeff Andrews
SHOP

Silver Chain #BM1472, Benjamin Moore

American Artist/Benjamin Moore

"It is soft and works well in both traditional and modern rooms. I recently used it on the cabinetry of a townhouse kitchen with countertops in super white quartzite." – Mark Cunningham
SHOP

Cloud, Dunn-Edwards Paint

Megan Tatem

"It feels soft and airy, but is still saturated enough to make an impact and elevate a space. It's incredibly versatile, working in anything from traditional to modern spaces, and pretty much everything in between. I love it paired with white for a crisp, clean contrast, and with dark charcoal for more dramatic feel." - Jessica McClendon
SHOP

Graytint, Benjamin Moore

Benjamin Moore

"This is the perfect whisper of gray to add to a room where you want a crisp, tailored look but something more than white or ivory. It provides a lovely soft highlight to decorative trim in traditional settings, and is cool enough to provide a modern edge to more contemporary interiors." - Emilie Munroe
SHOP

Winter's Gate, Pratt & Lambert

Megan Tatem

"This color has the ideal hint of color for homeowners that may be too shy to jump out of their beige comfort zone. It's light enough to read as a neutral and is a beautiful balance for bright white trim. It's ultra-versatile on ceilings, as it complements both light and dark wall colors." - James Wheeler
SHOP

Green Grays

Benjamin Moore

Stonington Gray, Benjamin Moore

Benjamin Moore

"I've found that this hue looks pure and fresh at any time of day or in any type of space. It's not too dark, not too light…it's just right." - Caitlin Murray
SHOP

Stonington Gray, Benjamin Moore

Benjamin Moore

"Benjamin Moore Stonington Gray HC-170 is my tried-and-true favorite gray. Subtle enough in tone, with just enough depth of color to add personality to any interior. It works perfectly as an “up and over” color, encasing a room in a solid hue. And it's sophisticated and modern—all the while being classic and cool." - Nathan Thomas
SHOP

Graystone, Benjamin Moore

Benjamin Moore

“I love the way this gray dresses up a room! You’ll find me rolling this handsome hue from the walls up through the ceiling for a seamless, sophisticated look that never goes out of style.” - Marie Flanigan
SHOP

Horizon Gray, Benjamin Moore

Megan Tatem

"I like that it is light and airy. It is a whisper of barely there color. This gray doesn't go green, blue or lavender. It is a perfect neutral backdrop!" - Summer Thornton
SHOP

Sleigh Bells, Benjamin Moore

Megan Tatem

"This color is warm without being muddy, and it has just the perfect amount of pigment–dark enough to be sophisticated and crisp, light enough to be bright and airy." - Orlando Soria for Homepolish
SHOP

Gray Owl, Benjamin Moore

Megan Tatem

"This gray is super classic and sophisticated, but not boring AT ALL. It's a very, very warm gray–meaning that it's still a cool tone, but has more yellow in it than blue." - Emily Henderson
SHOP

Gray Owl, Benjamin Moore

Benjamin Moore

"This fabulous gray reminds me of French porcelain—cool with a slight hint of green. Great for morning light! Try it in a white kitchen to lacquer barstools and pop them with shades of buttercup." - Christine Markatos Lowe
SHOP

Moonshine, Benjamin Moore

Benjamin Moore

"I like Benjamin Moore Moonshine because it’s a pure-toned gray, not too yellow, not too blue. It can go from moonlight shimmering over water to stormy seas and it goes with literally EVERYTHING. I can’t think of one other color it wouldn’t complement, coordinate with or support." - Danielle Rollins
SHOP

Gray Cashmere, Benjamin Moore

American Artist/Benjamin Moore

“For me, this is a no-fail selection. I’ve used it in bathrooms, kitchens, garden rooms, and bedrooms—all with beautiful results. It has the perfect amount of blue saturation to pair with bronze, green, periwinkle, or even spice. I prefer it EXTRA glossy on paneling!” - Meredith Ellis
SHOP

Whisper, Benjamin Moore

Benjamin Moore

"It's a super soft and subtle shade of gray that feels fresh, light and airy. It reflects light beautifully to really open up a space, and serves as the perfect neutral backdrop." - Nicole Gibbons
SHOP

125 photos of ideal do-it-yourself design options

For those who think gray is boring and monotonous, we recommend looking at photos of gray walls in the interior. Decorated in gray tones, the room does not look standard.

The sponsor of this article is the site "Your house design" is an information portal about the interior design of apartments and houses. Landscaping, cottages: new items, photos, videos, options for the perfect combination and recommendations from professionals. As well as crafts and everything connected with them.

Designers are increasingly using it in their work. You can decorate the walls of the room with this color using:

  • wallpaper;
  • gray wall paint;
  • decorative plastering;
  • whitewash.

Walls in gray tones are distinguished by a variety of shades: wet asphalt or stone, charcoal or anthracite, mother-of-pearl gray, metallic shades. This is not the whole list.

Any shade you choose opens the door to creating a unique, unique interior.

The gray color of the walls in the interior is perfect for classic styles. Just a little bit of this color is enough for the room to acquire its own individual charm.

Gray color is able to visually adjust the dimensions of the room. The light gray color of the walls looks strict, but quite positive.

Light shades are suitable for a small room - they expand the room, add more light to it.

Dark gray walls are appropriate in spacious rooms with a lot of light.

Harmonious combination with different colors

If gray prevails in the interior of the room, then it is worth diluting it with more colorful colors. Moreover, this color goes well with almost any other color.

Gray is a mixture of white and black, so it is neutral. It goes well with these colors:

White. White-gray walls make the room brighter and more positive. White does not draw attention to itself and only emphasizes the overall gray design.

Blue and green. Against the background of gray, these shades play with completely different colors than usual.

Even the most unimpressive shades of blue and green harmonize perfectly with grayish walls. The room becomes especially cozy.

Yellow. This sunny color is quite often combined with gray. Against its background, the cheerful color of yellow looks very expressive. If you add gold to gray, the room will look very elegant.

Pink. It is worth choosing not a bright pink, but its more muted shades. Light gray walls combined with warm pink elements make the room cozy and soft.

Red. This aggressive color is not for everyone. But it is worth noting that the graphite gray color of the walls, in alliance with dark red, looks very elegant.

Beige. The combination of these colors is especially popular. Designers have mixed gray and beige colors, and the world has recognized a new trend - grey. This color is suitable for any room.

The gray walls in the interior are perfectly combined with wood. Birch, alder, spruce, beech and exotic woods are used for furniture, frames, doors.

Gray wallpaper - boredom or style?

Gray wallpaper for walls in the interior requires a certain addition. Walls in plain wallpaper are the perfect backdrop for objects and details in bright colors.

Unusual in shape and color furniture will look advantageous against a gray background. Properly selected lighting and decor will turn a room with gray walls into a real masterpiece.

Trendy gray styles

Loft. Gray color is ideal for this direction. A characteristic feature of a dynamic loft is brick or stonework, which blends very well with a gray palette.

Hi-tech. Style implies the presence of nickel-plated parts, chrome surfaces and modern lighting fixtures. Gray color is able to successfully emphasize all this.

Scandinavian design. Thoughtful, rigorous and practical. The white-gray combination is quite common here.

Classic style. Gray color will help in creating the interior of the old times. Wood, metal and a lot of textiles will bring originality to the classic design.

Gray in different rooms

Kitchen. Gray walls in the kitchen, if it is small, it is better to decorate in light shades. They will expand the kitchen and refresh the atmosphere in it.

Living room. Gray is relaxing. Just what you need for a good rest in the living room.

0 0 0 0 0 Colorists are always on the lookout for new combinations of shades that together give rise to the most noble and elegant color options. One of the successful finds was shades with an ashy undertone. Who should choose them?

Contents

  • Which girl suits ash hair?
  • Trendy ash shades for hair coloring
  • How to choose ash color paint?
  • Ash Hair Dye Ideas
  • How to dye your hair ash: photo tutorial
  • Review of the best ash colors
  • Ash hair care

Ash hair has long been a noticeable trend in coloring. True, you should not follow it blindly, like other trends. First, it makes sense to at least mentally try on this image to understand whether it will be combined with your appearance and style. Further in the article, we will tell you who suits the ashy color, what are the options for dyeing hair and how to dye your hair ashy yourself.

© kosmopariki

Which girl suits ash hair color?

Ash hair is a trend for girls with a cold color type. If your features correlate with a warm color type, then with such coloring you are unlikely to be able to create a harmonious image.

© kosmopariki

The chosen shade will compete with the warm undertone of your skin. However, if you are ready for experiments and want to create an unusual look with smoky gray, as if gray hair, you can take a chance - or see what other options girls with a warm color type have for a bright and successful transformation. Believe me, there are many.

© hair_witches

If you have fair skin with a cool undertone, blue, gray or green eyes, then ashy hair will definitely suit you.

© kosmopariki

True, we must keep in mind that this color can emphasize the pallor and dullness of the skin, uneven tone, wrinkles - in a word, visually add age.

© kosmopariki

© kosmopariki

© kosmopariki

Everything has to be foreseen in advance in order to end up with an image that will truly please you.

© kosmopariki

Platinum blond can be complemented with a light ash tone - this way monochromatic coloring will look more natural, and the hair will gain visual volume.

© lucicagrab_hairstylist

Dark

Ash blond and darker taupe are the main colors used in smoky dark hair.

© nurzh8n

They are usually handled in two ways. You can “highlight” dark hair with ashy paint, which gives the strands a pearly sheen. Or, on the contrary, to achieve an expressive matte effect with the help of shades of ashy scale.

Ash gray

A separate category - ash gray shades: both dark and light, they create a gray effect on the hair. Anyone who decides on such staining wants to get exactly this result.

© lubimskaya_color

This looks extraordinary and may surprise even inveterate experimenters who dye their hair either pastel or neon.

© nurzh8n

We advise you to read:

  • Dyeing hair at home: what products to choose for home coloring?
  • Coloring hair strands: ideas for blondes and brunettes
  • Hair coloring 2022: fashion trends

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How to choose ash-colored paint?

How to tone hair in an ashy shade? There is nothing complicated here. Professionals easily get an ashy shade by mixing the right compounds in the right proportion. And lovers of home coloring will easily find the right color in stores. Here are examples from just a few collections:

  • Color Sensation The Vivids (Platinum Metallic),

  • Color Naturals ("Ash Ultra Blonde"),

  • Olia ("Smoky Silver") by Garnier.

Another thing is that you need to know how to use such paint correctly. The most common mistake is trying to correct the result of unsuccessful coloring in a warm blond with the help of ashy paint. The result is far from ideal: on a warm base, ashy colors acquire a greenish tint. Professionals know that hair with a warm undertone must first be bleached, and then dyed in ashy color. So even at home, bleaching is indispensable in this case. But the risk of harming the hair in this scenario is quite high.

© kosmopariki

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Fashion ideas for ashy hair coloring

Ash colored hair can be combined in different ways with the natural shades of your hair. Here are some options.

Ash Blonde

Cool blonde strands over an ash blonde base are a popular color choice for those who want to try on blonde while still retaining their original, darker color. Optimal for diluting a darker base with light strands is the balayage technique. The result looks organic, despite the noticeable contrast.

© brookenesss_

Ash-blond color

Many girls find light brown hair color inexpressive. In fact, it has many advantages. One of them is neutrality. The shades of this range are neither warm nor cold. To add expressiveness to a neutral shade, many turn to ashy coloring.

© kseniya.belaya

As a result, the color becomes colder, and the metallic sheen allows it to “play” in a new way.

© dominiquenicolebeauty

Smoky dark hair

When natural dark hair is mixed with ash gray, you get the effect that colorists call smoky hair. Smoky coloring is an interesting and very winning choice for brunettes.

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© shonna619education

You can add a few lighter (and even colored) strands for a slight contrast that will give the look a fresh look.

© sloan_styles

Ice Ash Blonde

Ash shades are often used in blondes as they allow you to get a "clean" color and prevent the appearance of yellowness.

© hairbybrynnbates

And the alternation of white and ash gray strands allows you to add volume to your hair, which can be further emphasized by curling.

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Gray hair

A separate direction of the ash trend is gray hair. They may look like they are gray, but many young girls want to achieve exactly this effect.

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The mismatch of this hair color with age makes the image unusual, even extravagant. However, the degree of outrageousness can be reduced by using an ash-gray color in ombre coloring - for example, at the ends of the hair.

© kosmopariki

© kosmopariki

Denim-colored hair

© rubywaveshairstudio

In addition to the gray shade, girls who like to experiment with hair color can be offered dyeing in shades of denim blue.

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It's the ashy undertone that makes them muted. Shades of denim are often used when dyeing individual strands or ends of hair using the ombre technique.

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How to dye your hair ash: photo instructions

Before you start dyeing ash, weigh the pros and cons again. To minimize the risk (including for the health of the hair), it is better to contact a professional.

  1. 1

    Base preparation

    Before dyeing in an ashy shade, you need to get rid of the pigment of the warm spectrum, if any, that is, bleach it. Paints such as Color Naturals E0 "Super Blonde" from Garnier are designed for this purpose.

    Can lighten hair up to six shades. However, for dark hair, this may not be enough. However, such paint also brightens light shades most often, without getting rid of the warm undertone. Without experience in mixing compounds, it is extremely difficult to get the desired result. Girls with a cold undertone of hair can skip this step and immediately start dyeing in ashy color.

  2. 2

    Staining

    It's very easy to use home paints to update your look. It is only necessary, following the instructions, to mix the cream-paint with the developing composition, apply to the hair, withstand the specified time, and then rinse with water. We showed an example of a home staining procedure in this video.

  3. 3

    Maintenance

    When the dye is washed off, a caring balm should be applied to the hair, which will fix the color and soften the hair due to the nutrients.

    © kosmopariki

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Review of the best ash colors according to the editors of MakeUp.ru

Pay attention to these products. They, according to the editors, will definitely not let you down.

  • Color Sensation (No. 101 Silver Blonde), Garnier

    © garnier.ru

    Option for girls with blond hair - No. 101 "Silver Blonde" from the Color Sensation collection. With this paint, you can not only give your hair the desired pearlescent sheen, but also lighten it up to four tones. Noble cold blonde combined with a dazzling mirror shine - that's the result you can get after using this tool. The composition also contains caring ingredients in the form of flower oils.

  • Colorista Permanent Gel, L’Oréal Paris

    © loreal-paris.ru

    Ready to try "gray" coloring? To create a bold look, use the shade "Smoky Gray" from the Colorista Permanent Gel collection from L'Oréal Paris. True, only blondes and light blond girls should use it. On darker hair, the paint will not fully show itself.

    Find out what our readers think of this product here.

  • Olia Paint (No. 9.11 Smoky Silver), Garnier

    © garnier.ru

    Another option for blondes is Smoky Silver. Precious radiance gives expressiveness to the gray color; thanks to him, an unusual shade will not cause associations with gray hair, which is usually just what they want to paint over. Olia color also features a mild formula that minimizes possible damage to the hair.

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Care after ashy coloring

Even before coloring, you need to think about how to care for your hair after the procedure. The ash shade is quickly washed out.

Learn more