AF Blog

The Fox Fam are already totally head over heels in love with the awesome AF hair color range. But hold up, there’s more?! Yup. 

NEED more of THOSE bright colors? Sure you do. Want even more intricate shades, patterns, and prints, but this time for your nails? Well, duh! 

That’s why we’ve been mixing up some of our most popular shades into the Foxology collection of nail lacquers with all the bold AF colors you know. Sprinkle in patterns and prints and your nails can become a canvas with unlimited possibilities; you can paint almost anything your mind can imagine. 

Before you unleash your nail art work worthy of the Louvre, we need to do a little basic prep, but don’t worry we’ve made it simple to follow, even for Nail Art novices. 

Nail Art: The Basics 

Start With a Clean, Dry Base 

Just like when dyeing your hair, you’ll want to always start off your nail art with clean, dry nails. 

Visionaries like us (tongue slightly in cheek) need a clean slate to work with. Start by scrubbing away any old polish to reveal your blank canvas. But it’s not quite time to dip the brush into the paint yet.

First up, cleanse the nail bed to make sure your nails are clean underneath too, because this will not only give you healthier nails, but also a better overall look once you add your custom nail art. We always use lukewarm water to soak and clean under nails to reduce the drying impact on the skin and prevent aging (it’s totally preferable to scorching your skin in molten hot water). We’re always looking out for you, Fox.

Now, you might want to trim and file your nails BEFORE painting to get them in tip-top shape for your design. Since you're creating nail art, try not to cut them too short -  you might need that extra real estate to work with for your exquisite patterns. 

Follow these simple steps and you’ll soon have a perfect clean surface to add a base coat before you add polish!

Use a Base Coat 

You’ll want to set up the right foundations for your inner Picasso with a base coat. Apply one layer of base coat and allow it to completely dry before moving forward. *Waits impatiently* *Twiddles thumbs* 

Base coats are usually clear or slightly bluish in color and protect your nails from getting stained or damaged by nail polish and other nail art materials. The long story short is, your base coat will help the polish stay in place longer, without chipping the design, so it’s kind of a must have if you want your dazzling nail display to last. 

We have a fab base coat with all the juicy and healthy vitamins you nails need to thrive in our Foxology line up. It sets things up perfectly, ready for your masterpieces. (Muse entirely optional). 

Intricate Designs 

For intricate designs, make sure your base layer is fully dry and has enough coats (2- 3 usually works) this will make your design easier to realize and it will last MUCH longer. 

Fox Pro Tip: Plan out your design! It’s easy to get carried away and jump right into painting, but.... planning the execution of intricate designs before-hand and knowing what you want to create step-by-step usually results in something more beautiful and refined. 

Here’s another couple of pointers for your application technique. 

Ombre

If you’re going for an ombre effect, use a sponge. Apply the polish with the sponge from the tip of the nail downwards with a tapping or pressing motion. 

With the first coat decide where the ombre line will finish. Use a clean side of the sponge to dab and fade out the finishing line. Finally, apply a second coat over the top section of the nail and gently fade it out to blend in with the previous coat and achieve the ombre pattern to faded perfection. 

Need a little more ombre inspo? Try out Sunset Orange and Cosmic Sunshine for an ombre that’s prettier than a sunset. Or completely switch temperatures and blend Periwinkle into Sheer Nude for a cool blue and white winter ombre tone. 

Patterns

To shape intricate designs on your nails with patterns use a much smaller pointed brush to have greater control over the lines and artwork you create. You are working in a small space so it makes sense to use a smaller tool, right!? 

For bonafide proof this works, check out how @nailartbysig created this awesome blood drip effect design ready for Halloween with Foxology shades and a fine brush. It’s the inspo you need! 

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A post shared by Arctic Fox Hair Color (@arcticfoxhaircolor)

And there’s more. @nailartbysig has been maxing out the potential of the Foxology collection with some delicious color and pattern combos. 

Going as a “Pink Lady” with your crew this Halloween? This powerful pink mix of Frose and Virgin Pink has us calling our squad immediately. With a unique pattern on each nail this look has some added complexity that we find completely satisfying. 

@nailartbysig in Frosé and Virgin Pink

Next up, let’s take a look at this perfect autumnal blend. Purples, oranges, and a frosted pink help set up an impressive display for your digits. This design is anything but uniform, with block colors contrasted with a small circle dot on each nail. There’s even room for a seasonal ghost wearing a witches hat for Halloween. Loving your work! 

@nailartbysig in Sunset Orange, Frosé, and Purple AF

Blue Jean Baby with a single stand out leopard print pattern is the flawless go to design when you want to unleash your Queen of the jungle phase.

@jadetoblack in Aquamarine and Blue Jean Baby

Want to add a little pop to your prints? Try this kaleidoscopic design from @jadetoblack in Aquamarine, Phantom Green, Cosmic Sunshine, Poison, and Virgin Pink to add complexity and contrast. 

@jadetoblack in Aquamarine, Phantom Green, Cosmic Sunshine, Poison, and Virgin Pink

Finally, why not try making waves and your friends green with envy via this Phantom Green and Frosé combo.  Block forest green colors are contrasted with a single digit in Frosé with a wavy Phantom Green line pattern. 

@jadetoblack in Phantom Green and Frosé

Want to inspire someone else with your artistic flair? Paint a colorful picture for the rest of the Fox Fam by tagging us @arcticfoxhaircolor. 

@bigfatjenna in Electric Paradise

It’s our favorite time of year as the nights get darker and the spirits begin to stir for Halloween. Yeahhh, it’s time for the Fox Fam to get a little spooky! 👻 🧛💀

We’re jumping in with Halloween costume inspo for our Foxes! Bonfire colors, bat-inspired looks, gothic shades. We’ve got everything you need to bring your hair out to party and get your scare on. All aboard our hair inspiration Ghost Train for a tour of our fave seasonal shades. As always, use this inspo as a springboard for your own insane costume creations! We know you’ll deliver (you always do). 

Light it up with Porange

Bright orange is THE color of the season - no respected Halloween costume inspo list can be complete without at least one vibrant orange color in the mix, are we right!?

We’ve had fun playing with some boss shades inspired by bonfires and carved pumpkins. Trust us, orange hair will turn heads on Halloween. 

If you want a look with equal parts delight and fright, our pro tip is to go for Porange. That’s right, Fox Fam, she’s back on the shelves for a limited time, so stock up while you can! She’s a powerful potion with a knockout punch AND she lights up in a neon glow when you wander under UV light, adding more fun to the mix.  

If you want to go further, faster, and louder, Porange and Electric Paradise, another UV light color, combine for a truly ELECTRIC mix that adds extra magic to your Halloween spell. 

@lizzvargashair in Electric Paradise and Porange 

Now, for the IT costume of the season…enter Sunset Orange! Apply her on medium blonde hair and oops! Now you’re floating too!

@evebombshell in Sunset Orange 

Join the underwater world and take the mermaid trend to the streets with Ginger Flare. She’s part of your world now, babe. 

A Classic Halloween in Transylvania or Sterling 

Ready for your goth era? Channel Wednesday, or project full-on Dracula with our black and silver shades. Dark hues capture the spirit of black cats, witches beside bubbling cauldrons, and all things spooky. Can you feel that dark Halloween energy simmering? 

@morganmckain in Transylvania

If you want to take it up a notch, Transylvania mixed with a bit of Poison…and snap snap! You’re a homicidal maniac too!

If you’re not up for going quite that dark this Halloween, try a silvery look from Sterling. 

You can use Sterling all on its own to set a frightful Halloween tone, or combine Transylvania and Sterling for a dramatic, gothic appearance. This hair color combo shines with dark clothing, blacks, grays, and silvers making it a great overall choice for your darkest look yet. 

@chris0712 in Transylvania and Sterling 

Perfectly Purple AF 

Feeling feisty? Step into the “best sellers” section on the color wheel this Halloween with a deep, vibrant purple hue. 

This palette spikes heart rates and elevates feline, witch, troll, or clown outfits from ‘awww cute’ to ‘ohhh snap’.  

If you want to go all cosplay for Halloween, we’ve seen everyone's favorite purple used to perfectly emulate one of Marvel’s most badass characters; Gamora from Guardians of the Galaxy. 

And of course, we can’t forget the mixes! Purple AF is one of our most versatile shades - and for good reason! Get a deep cobalt blue with a half and half ratio of Purple AF and Poseidon, and if you want to go even more pigmented, throw in some Aquamarine!

Get a deep burgundy by mixing in Purple AF with some Wrath or Poison.

Yeahhh… Purple AF is THAT girl for spooky season.

@143joannagc in Purple AF 

Mean in Green 

Green hair is soooo right for this time of year. And it’s a certified Halloween costume superpower. 

Think green slime, Frankenstein, Joker from Batman, and viridescent potions. Or vibe with green tresses like one of our fave characters from the underworld - Beetlejuice, Beetlejuice, Beetlejuice (Yeah, we said it 3 times). 

From neon greens, emeralds, to dark forest greens - there’s lots of room for Halloween costume playfulness here. So if you wanna channel Jared Leto’s Joker for instance, an electric green is the way to go. Space Cowgirl hits the spot with electric and neon vibes. 

Or maybe you feel like expressing your inner Beetlejuice. Beej’s hair changes along with his emotions, from a seagreen, to a darker, moodier green. Phantom Green can deliver a delightful deep forest shade that can add a little menace to your Beetlejuice look on October 31st. Or if you prefer to go a little softer and hit Beetlejuice in his sea green hair era, here’s some mixing inspo. Swish Phantom Green with a little Aquamarine to create an emerald or sea green hue. 

Split Dye and Mixes

Multi-color mixes and split color looks can crackle under the Halloween moonlight. We love this orange and black split color as two of the seasons most on trend shades. It’s an epic contrast, and this look gives off boundless dark October energy.  

@yadeemua in Ginger Flare

And if you’re looking to try out a different color placement, spooky season is the perfect time to test it out!

@die4whitney in Transylvania and Virgin Pink

Let out your inner ghoul or play nice when you trick or treat this year, but as always don’t be scared to share your stunning colors with the rest of the Fox Fam by tagging us @arcticfoxhaircolor. 

Update! Update! Update!

Our Fox Fam is out there, making a real difference! You know that our products are all vegan and cruelty-free, but did you know that we donate 15% of our profits to rescues and shelters that help our furry and feathered friends? One of our rescue partners has some exciting news that we are thrilled to share.

If you’ve been following our story for a while, you’ll remember that in March we added a new rescue to our roster: the Judith A Bassett Canid Education and Conservation Center (JABCECC). We talked all about them and their awe-inspiring work here. Basically, they home and care for canids that have been rescued from fur farms, research institutions or the exotic animal pet trade. They also do the important work of educating the public about these amazing creatures.

These rockstars have just sent us a photo of their newest pack member:

She’s a geriatric arctic fox female badly in need of some TLC. Luckily for her, JABCECC managed to get her to them—a trip that took 38 hours! Now that she’s safely tucked up in their quarantine area they can start giving her the vet care that she’s never had.

She’s lived her entire life on a fur farm, where it’s likely that this sweet creature was used as a breeder every season. Obviously, now she’s older and can’t have any more pups, which means she was in danger of being euthanized. Her new home is full of love… but after a lifetime of being mistreated it will take her a long time to adjust❤️‍🩹. She’s finally made it to a good place, and we hope she can relax and feel safe soon.

And JABCECC really is a Good Place. It houses different canids that have been saved and/or rescued and respects all animals and their right to live.

When we first discovered this rescue, we wanted to help them right away. In fact, the money that we donated to them in the spring has already gone towards expanding perimeter fencing! Their plan is to have an area just for our spirit animals, where this lovely grandma and the center’s other arctic fox, Freddy Snowballs, will be able to live their best lives.

Because fences for these nimble jumpers need to be 8 feet tall and made of heavy-duty chain link, they are taking their time to make sure it’s done properly. It’s slow going and costs money, but they’re working towards that goal with the help of donations and their partners (like us!).

It’s so important that we support the paws on the ground making real differences in the lives of animals. And that’s why we love when they share their latest wins. We have our fingers crossed that we get a lot of great updates about their new arrival and even more great news from their longer-term residents. As a part of our Fox Fam, we know you’re as happy as we are knowing that every time you add to your Arctic Fox collection, you’re contributing to these great organizations. Keep up the good work, JABCECC team, we are proud to help support your wonderful work.

These hair dye mixes didn’t go as expected…they turned out even better!

We’ve been mixing up a storm this week and had to jump on here to share with our Fox Fam some of our favorite discoveries. Nothing is more exciting to us than experimenting with hair colors, and the endless color blends and creative applications for our AF hair color range that are just… *chef’s kiss*. Even more exciting is when we go wild and start throwing together colors that shouldn’t work together—but absolutely do.

Here are some traffic-stopping new hues that we’ve created with some seriously unexpected color pairings. If you’ve been collecting our color range at home but you’re not quite sure they work together, you might be in for a pleasant surprise. Read on and have a look at some of the surprising ways our AF Hair Colors come together to shake up the rainbow. 

Why are AF dyes so great for mixing?

AF’s range of colors is truly full of endless possibilities - the bolds, brights, and pastels show up incredibly on their own. But if you’re looking for something new, or want to add a surprising twist to your usual color routine, you can totally mix away to your heart’s content! You’d be surprised at the stunning shades you can create. 👀 

Sometimes you might need a little inspiration when it comes to cooking up a new look, we’re here to save the day with all the inspo - ratios and swatches included! Ready to dive in? Let’s get into the mixes you wouldn’t think would work, but omg do they! 

✨AF Pro Tip✨ Once you’ve found a great hair color, you can stick with it and keep it intense with regular dyeing, or switch it up for something totally new! AF dyes are hydrating and deep conditioning, so coloring your hair as many times as you want is completely safe. 

Mixes you wouldn’t think work but do

First up on our list of surprising mixes is this velvety hue. 60% Blue Jean Baby to 40% Sterling gives the blue a serious depth. This swatch shows the results on a platinum base, but you’ll get a similar result on a medium blonde, and a gorgeous tint on light brown.

Electric Paradise with a drop of Wrath gives us this 5-alarm siren of a color that is hard to predict from two colors on the same slice of the color wheel. It’s bold and bright, but it still gives ‘sexy’. Again, a platinum base here yields this exact color, but up to a medium blonde will see the same color and a light brown will still get a tint.

Ginger Flare, Space Cowgirl, and Frosé on a medium blonde base bring a fiery edge to your locks, in what might be our most unexpected blend yet. How can you get it? The mix to get this one just right is 70% Ginger Flare,15% Space Cowgirl, and 15% Frosé.

Arctic Mist Diluter, Poison, and Girl’s Night make a bubblegum pink that will stand out no matter where you show it off. What’s extra fun about this cotton candy hue is that adjusting the mix is a snap. So this swatch (on platinum) is about 80% Arctic Mist, 10% Poison and 10% Girl’s Night, but if you find it’s a bit dark just add in more Arctic Mist!

Space Cowgirl and Virgin Pink in a 50:50 ratio brings out a cinnabar hue in the final mix, and on a platinum base it gives a va-va-voom effect that can really pack a punch. 

Space Cowgirl and Periwinkle join forces to create an unexpectedly dark, leafy, earthy green. A simple 50:50 mix will get this result on a platinum base. 

For a dreamy twist on a calming green hue, add 75% Neverland and 25% Transylvania in your fave mixing bowls and adjust away! If you want darker, drop in more Transylvania… if you like it on the lighter side of the spectrum, use less. This color feels very ‘underwater fantasy’ to us. FYI this swatch is on a platinum base but you’ll still get a lovely deep teal tint on darker colors.

Basic rules of mixing

If you’re going to use this post as the match to your potion-making fire, make sure to follow a couple of basic rules:

1. Don’t go overboard with the colors, at least at first! Mix one or two to start with, otherwise the colors start to all trend towards brown.
2. Use the right tools! We always recommend (and use) our tint bowls to make sure we’re treating our dyes right and keeping the blends precise. If you want to keep your Foxology manicure intact, use these reusable gloves as well.
3. Remember that some colors can cancel out certain shades. As always, take a look at our color wheel post for some ideas on how to mix and match using the right colors.

You don’t know until you try

Mix it up, baby! Splash your fave shades into your best mixing bowl and stir away. And let us know what you discover! As always—share your hair change journey with the Fox Fam, tag Arctic Fox, @arcticfoxhaircolor and let us see what you create.

@aambriaa in Phantom Green

Going green without bleaching

Welcome back, Fox Fam! We went dark last week, and the results we’re seeing are dangerously head-turning. One color, in particular, seems to be popping up as a common theme in your potions and mixes. Abundance, renewal, harmony, stability. Yes, that’s right, it is easy being green! The ultimate down-to-earth color can represent all of those wonderful things. Aside from being hella powerful, it’s damn easy on the eyes.

If a change is in the cards for you but you’re going to give the lightening step a skip this time, then you have come to the right corner. FACT: Aside from being a great transitional hue and an absolute gem of a color, green can bring lush living color to even unbleached hair. It’s true! 

Due to our expertise with the color wheel and the fact that you fashion-forward Foxes are excellent sharers, we’re seeing A LOT of creativity on our radar right now. So we’re taking this week as an opportunity to share some of the amazing green-based mixes that have been tried, tested, and adored. This week we give some great color inspo for our emerald-inclined babes, PLUS the exact ratios you need to get the mix just right.

If you’re already green…

…but if you want to darken the shade for fall, we went over two ways to darken your color last week. You can go back and read it here if you happened to skip last week’s blog, or here’s a recap:

One way to double down on green is to level up on intensity. Do this by blending in a darker level of green with your current color mix. For example, if you’re already rocking Neverland, punch it up with some Phantom Green to move from a brighter to a darker shade.

The other way we covered was more subtle and involves a look at our famously helpful color wheel blog post. This involves finding your current color on the wheel and then drawing a line to the opposite side of the wheel! If you’re Iris Green, a couple of drops of Wrath will help you darken just the green hues.

Go green with these custom blends

One thing that we love about our AF hair dyes is that they are so inventive! They bring out the magic-potion-blending witches and warlocks in all of us. Here are a couple of must-try green mixes that have been discovered by more than a few alchemists, and look really great on unbleached hair.

Olive — not just for martinis anymore🍸! Get the ultimate down-to-earth green by using Phantom Green, Cosmic Sunshine, Sunset Orange, and Transylvania. Watch our reel for the mix ratios, and enjoy responsibly ;) 

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A post shared by Arctic Fox Hair Color (@arcticfoxhaircolor)

Aquamarine & Space Cowgirl get together for a green-shifted teal mix. To make this color yours, start with a heavy base of Space Cowgirl and slowly add in drops of Aquamarine until you reach your desired shade.

#AFprotip Aquamarine is a VERY pigmented shade. So go slow on the mixing, or Space Cowgirl may get overpowered.

This swatch shows the strong result of this blend on bleached hair, so keep in mind that depending on your base shade, you’ll get a slightly different outcome.

Phantom Green and Aquamarine are a green team dream. 2:1 Phantom Green to Aquamarine is the magic formula, but remember that Aquamarine packs a punch, so start with your Phantom Green and add in the Aquamarine bit by bit so you don’t overdo it. This sample square is done on bleached hair, so depending on your base color, you’ll get a different (but still fabulous) outcome.

Diamonds, move over: emeralds are a girl’s best friend this fall. For the ultimate jewel tone, his mix is simply equal parts Phantom Green and Aquamarine, with a drop or two of Transylvania mixed in. If you want to be inspired, watch Stella Cini color-shifting into an emerald.

This swatch shows a dark outcome, even on bleached hair, so your hair color will be a little different, depending on your base level.

Green’s great and the options are endless

Now that we’ve shown you how to get shades of green that work better for you, make sure you’re using the mixing and application tools and techniques that will get you the best results (patch & strand test always!) Our Lime AF tint bowl and brushes make going green easy to do.

Don’t forget that blends and mixes are a fun way to get new shades, but they don’t need to be a whole-head change-up! Color combos that slay with green are always a fun way to express your inner color-fiend, or you can simply add in some DIY lowlights to your cut and flirt with some new styles to show them off.

@charliewakeman in Aquamarine and Phantom Green

Here are some of you showing off the glam that green gave ya, so don’t be shy to try it on for yourselves!

We hope we’ve given you the nudge you needed to go green this fall, and we want to see how it turns out! Share your hair change journey with the Fox Fam by tagging @arcticfoxhaircolor and share!