Pose & style reference · Hair colours
Blue hair
Also called: light blue hair, navy hair, sky blue hair, 青髪
In short
Blue hair is an unnatural colour that covers everything from pale ice blue to deep navy. In anime and manga it usually signals a calm, cool, intelligent or reserved character, and pale blue is a classic choice for quiet, emotionally distant designs such as Rei Ayanami from Neon Genesis Evangelion.
Reference photos
Photos are shown from mfan8.com with credit to the photographers and models. Tap a photo to open the full set.
What blue hair signals
Blue is the colour of water, sky and ice, and designers lean on those associations. A blue-haired character is often composed, logical, gentle or aloof, which is why the kuudere type, cool on the outside and caring underneath, is so often blue-haired.
Dark navy can read as nearly black and suggests seriousness, while bright, saturated blue feels sporty and cheerful. Blue also works for water, ice or sky-themed fantasy characters.
Blue sits comfortably next to most outfit colours, which makes it a practical choice for large casts: a blue-haired character can wear a school uniform, armour or a stage costume without the palette clashing.
Shades of blue
| Shade | What it looks like |
|---|---|
| Ice blue | Pale and cool, almost white in highlights |
| Sky blue | Light, clear and friendly |
| Periwinkle | Soft blue leaning lavender |
| Teal | Blue mixed with green, energetic and unusual |
| Cobalt or royal blue | Strong and saturated, confident |
| Navy | Very dark blue, serious and composed |
How to colour blue hair
Blue is cool by nature, so it can look cold and flat if every value is plain blue. Shift shadows toward violet or indigo and lighten highlights toward cyan or white to give the hair depth and shine.
Under warm light, blue hair turns slightly green or grey. In sunset or candlelit scenes, desaturate it and let warm light touch only the edges rather than painting the whole head orange.
Pale blue against pale skin can look washed out; a darker shadow line where the bangs meet the face keeps the features clear.
Blue hair in photos, wigs and dye
Blue reads darker on camera than it looks in person, especially navy. Add a hair light or shoot in open shade with bounce light so the colour stays visible.
Blue dye on hair that is still yellow after lightening tends to turn greenish, so the hair needs to be lifted pale and even first. Blue dyes are also known for fading toward teal or grey. Wigs give a more stable colour for a one-off cosplay.
FAQ
What does blue hair mean in anime?
It typically signals a calm, cool, intelligent or reserved personality, though the colour is used freely.
Why does my blue hair dye look green?
Blue over yellow-toned lightened hair mixes into green. The hair has to be lifted to a pale, even base first.
How do I make blue hair look less flat in art?
Move shadows toward violet and highlights toward cyan or white instead of only making the blue darker or lighter.