12 Blue-Black Hair Color Ideas Trending This Year (2024)

• Matt Rez is a celebrity hair colorist whose clients include Hailey Bieber, Adele, and Sydney Sweeney.
• Chase Kusero is a celebrity hairstylist and co-founder of IGK Hair.

Wavy Navy

"It's a striking and bold shade without being overly dramatic," Kusero says of the resurgence of blue-black hair. "It's a way for people to make a statement with their hair without going over the top."

Rich Black

According to Rez, blue-black colors work well with olive and golden undertones—look no further than his dye job on Gal Gadot for proof.

Classic Blue-Black

When asked about blue-black hair, Rez's mind immediately went to Camila Mendes—no surprise, given the two often work together. To maintain that reflective, deep tone, he suggests going to the salon for a gloss about every six weeks.

Blue-lights

Traditional black-blue shades don't always feature actual blue. Instead, they tend to have a tinge of blue when light reflects off the hair. But that doesn't mean you can't add some true-blue touches. We're big fans of this highlight-style take on the look.

Sideswept Midnight

"Midnight black is a darker shade of black hair with a blue undertone," Kusero says. "This is different from traditional black hair, which does not have any undertone." He also notes that the hue is particularly striking on softer, pale skin tones since it creates contrast.

Blue Ombré

Somewhere between subtle and bold lies this chic interpretation of blue-black hair. With a slight ombré effect and tinges of gray, it's perhaps the most neutral take on blue hair we've ever seen.

Deep Blue-Black

According to Kusero, maintenance levels depend on your hair's porosity: "If the hair is more porous, it is more prone to fading," he explains. "To maintain the color for as long as possible, I'd recommend using the proper hair care products. You should follow a schedule of three to four weeks for root touch-ups, depending on the rate of hair growth."

Natural Blue-Black

Before you go blue-black, be sure you're ready to commit—because it is a commitment. "Whether glossing or going permanently blue-black, this color stains and is very hard to get out," Rez shares."If you are not sure you want to commit long term, gloss or do a demi-permanent blue-black. That's easier to remove."

Close-Crop Blue-Black

For a more subdued take on the trend, Rez suggests opting for blue-toned black hair over a true mix of the two. As far as styling, anything goes with blue-black hair. Per Rez, the rich tone bounces light and reflects beautifully, so it looks as great with a close crop as it does with hip-length tendrils.

Fluffy Blue Tones

To maintain the rich, dark color, Kusero suggests opting for hydrating shampoos and conditioners—and be sure to throw in an at-home glaze every few washes to keep that shine.

Icy Blue

For this shade, the colorist weaved icier shades of blue into true black hair. This creates more contrast than traditional blue-black tones without reading too brightly colored.

Blue-Black Bob

Kusero offers this tip: "It's important to consider if you can pull off platinum blonde hair because if you can, you most likely can pull off midnight blue-black hair."