Hair colour improved bland shoe (3,6)

I believe the answer is:

ash blonde

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'hair' is the definition.
(I have seen 'fair hair' mean 'ash blonde' so perhaps 'hair' could also mean 'ash blonde')

'improved bland shoe' is the wordplay.
'improved' indicates anagramming the letters.
'bland'+'shoe'='blandshoe'
'blandshoe' is an anagram of 'ASH-BLONDE'.

'colour' acts as a link.
This may not be correct. It may be part of another bit of the clue.

Can you help me to learn more?

(Other definitions for ash blonde that I've seen before include "lady with light hair" , "Hair colouring" , "Description of shock" , "silver-haired type" , "fair hair" .)

I've seen this clue in The Daily Express.

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