37 Chic Dirty Blonde Hair Ideas for Every Skin Tone

Call it dark blonde, call it dirty blonde…whatever search term you’re using to find hair color inspiration, we know exactly what you’re looking for: a pretty in-between shade that isn’t as bright as platinum, as warm as honey blonde, or as dark as full-on brunette. Still, it has elements of all of the above.

Dirty blonde is actually a term that stylists have been using since the 1950s, says hairstylist Jill Buck. Sometimes it’s referred to as dishwater blonde, though that’s not the nicest-sounding description. Despite the lackluster name, Buck says this not-light-enough-to-be-blonde-and-not-dark-enough-to-be-brunette color has become one of the most requested shades.

To help you on your quest– because finding the right dirty blonde for your skin tone can be a true challenge– we pulled together a roundup of top-tier photo inspiration, along with pro tips from Buck and colorist George Papanikolas.

Keep scrolling here to find the best dirty blonde hair color for you, including all the how-tos and what to avoid if you do decide to rock this shade.