An ink jet recording method records a color image on a recording medium while performing a main scan operation by using a first recording head having a plurality of ink eject orifices for ejecting an ink of a first color and a second recording head having a plurality of ink eject orifices for ejecting an ink of a second color. The method includes the steps of dividing a record area of each of the first and second recording heads into a plurality of blocks, and performing a main scan operation a plurality of number of times for the same area of the recording medium by using different blocks of the plurality of blocks of each of the first and second recording heads, thereby sequentially recording a plurality of thinned images of the first color and a plurality of thinned images of the second color. Different thinning mask patterns are used for the blocks of each recording head and the thinning mask pattern for each block is maintained constant during recording on the recording medium.