Thinking about trying out Ombré hair? That means, for those of you just joining us, a deliberate graduation of colour from the roots (darkest) to ends (lightest). Which is quite handy, really, if you’re trying to cut down on trips to the salon to get your re-growth touched up. It can also be super-pretty in a sort of imperfect, beachy, Surfer Girl way, as Rachel Bilson demonstrates.
But while Rachel—along with fellow Ombré poster children Alexa Chung, Ashlee Simpson-Wentz and Jessica Biel—no doubt had the help of a professional, I’m gonna show you how you can DIY the look in the comfort of your own home. Yes, really. And don’t worry. These instructions come straight from Luis Pacheco, Clairol consulting colourist and owner of Hair on the Avenue in Toronto. You’ve seen his work before, remember?
He’s very subtle, so don’t worry that you’re going to end up looking like this:
Provided you choose the right shade (more deets below), it’s should end up closer to this:
Or this:
(And yes, I realize I posted about Drew as an example of the more subtle Ombré 2.0 we’ve been seeing. Shortly after that she debuted the very high-contrast look above. NOT a fan.)
Anyway! Luis has actually given me TWO how-tos; one for hair that’s already been highlighted and the other for natural, virgin hair.
How to do Ombré colour on hair with existing highlights
Remember Kate from our Clairol Natural Instincts Makeover Challenge?
Her hair was already highlighted, so Luis added colour to darken the roots for an Ombré effect. Here’s a photo of the back of her hair:
Now here’s how to get it:
1. Use Clairol Natural Instincts. It’s a demi-permanent colour. (That means it fades gradually without leaving any harsh line at the roots.) Determine your natural hair colour level and choose a colour that either corresponds to your natural colour level or is one shade darker in a neutral to golden shade. If in doubt, go for the golden shade.
2. Apply the colour to your roots. Part your hair in four sections: from ear to ear and from the middle of your forehead to the middle of the nape of your neck, keeping each section close to your head. Let the colour sit for five minutes.
3. Take each section and run the colour through to mid-length of the hair, starting with the back sections finishing with the two front sections. Wait another five minutes.
4. Add water to dilute the colour and emulsify the ends (approximately the last third of the entire hair length). Let the colour sit for about one minute.
5. Wash hair. That’s it!
How to do Ombré colour on virgin (NOT coloured), natural brown hair
PLEASE listen to Luis when he says not to try this on already-coloured hair. Colour will not lift colour!
1. Use Clairol Nice ‘n Easy. It’s a permanent hair colour. Use a shade that is three or four levels lighter than your natural colour level in a neutral to ash shade.
2. Part your hair in four sections: from ear to ear and from the middle of your forehead to the middle of the nape of your neck, keeping each section close to your head. Using elastic bands, section off the last third of the hair length—the ends of the hair in each section.
3. Apply the colour to the sectioned off ends and let sit for approximately 20 minutes.
4. Remove the elastic bands.
5. Spread the colour about an inch above the pre-sectioned spot, where the elastic bands used to be. Let the colour sit for another 10 minutes.
6. Wash hair. You’re done!
Now tell me…
What do you think of the Ombré trend?
Do you think you might try this at home?
Or is this one trend you hope would hurry up and pass already? (I heard someone call it “the Emperor’s New Hair” and it gave me the LOLz. I definitely agree with that in the case of Drew’s ‘do.)
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hi
I have warm brown hair with red and blonde tones. I wanted to keep this color has abase but go lighter blonde for ombré. what color and brand do you think I should use? because I don’t wanna turn orange.
thanks
HI i was wondering if i have to use more dye in part 5 for virgin hair. or do i just spread whatever dye was already in my hair. and is semi permanent dye ok ?
thanks
Hi,
I asked my hair dresser to ombre my hair, she looked confused, so i said looks a little bit like dip dye, she shut down and said no. showed her some pictures, still said no. So i’m being left to my own devices.
I dont want to dye my roots, because thats they are quite dark, so have read that i can use a lightner and lighten the ends … is this right? I really dont want to mess my hair up! x
Hello, I would like to try this. I havent dyed my hair in a little over a year. So I’m confused as to which technique I should use??
Just looking for some guidance… I have about shoulder length hair now and died my hair black over seven months ago and has grown out (natural roots are ash brown and are about half way grown out). The black had of course faded and now I have somewhat of a negitive ombre look with lighter roots and darker ends. It does not look bad at all but want to go lighter for the summer, maybe caramel ends. My hair is complicated as the black part is grow out from being a hair model about a year and a half ago but have been very easy on dye and heat since it was a toll on my poor hair. I am worried that the colour will lift wierd. BUT what are your suggestions. My hair is naturally wavy, thin but lots of it and takes to colour way too well.
I have brown hair right now that i.bleached last yr to a light blonde to go bright red, then i finally died it all back to brown. Instead of bleaching again to get the lighter ends for ombre, would it work to just use a color stripper to remove the red and brown I used? Would that be more or less stress on my hair than bleaching?
hey! just followed ur directions after reading a toooon of blogs online.. your instructions are great! THANKS!!
hi is it possible to get the ombré look on dark brown hair using copper/mahogany tones thanx Jak x
Hi
I have bleached blonde hair and was wondering if a dye would cover the bleach and would it come out ok. Also what colour would you suggest to use.My own hair colour is a very dark blonde
Thanks Lisa
Hi!
I had auburn hair and have let it fade to a medium brown
with a lot of red still showing in the sun. From the root down about three inches is darker and after that its lighter because I had blonde hair before I went dark. I am going to try this but am wondering if leaving the color on the roots for 5 minutes and then to mid length for another 5 min will be enough time if the color I have says processing tim e is 25 minutes……. Please let me know your thoughts
Hey ive got a little question, can you also use like normal haircolour instead of bleach?
For my clients who want the soft dimension ombre instead of emulsifying your ends:
Color your roots and midshaft through all the hair below your temples. Part your hair where it normally parts, and weave through it horizontally and color those pieces roots to ends. That way you get the shine, and dimension. Even if your hair is colored, your ends are most porous and fade the fastest. Usually about a half shade and will fade a warmer tone, its soft and very natural!
So I’ve never colored my hair before and my hair color is natural brown hair (like what you have this DIY listed for) and I did everything in the steps, but there’s no difference. My hair is practically the same, maybe a tad lighter. My friends said I should have bleached it before. That wasn’t listed though, so I thought it was unnecessary. Should I dye it again? Advice?
Does ombré work on naturally CURLYYYY hair?
Hi my hair is darkish red and i wanna do ombre but i dont wanna bleach it and i cant afford paying to much to get it done professionally, i want the tips to be dark blonde not so blonde can i dye the bottom just a dark blonde color?? please help!
hi I have naturally blonde hair and would just like to do a reverse type ombre sort of like Jessica simpson, so would I just start at step two? with the sectioning of hair and dying the bottom of the ponies? also when you take out the hair tie and blend up a little bit.. do you blend it with a brush or what?
I have gotten these results with lemon juice or hydrogen peroxide to lighten my hair. It only takes a little in a glass that you dip your comb into and then comb into your hair. It is cheaper and without all the chemicals.
I tried ombré-ing my hair last night and the results were non existent. I used a permanent highlighting dye (garnier h3 frost and glow) and left the lightener in my hair for 20 minutes to achieve almost no color difference! It was heart wrenching! I’ve been wanting this for so long and this is the second time I’ve tried it to end up with nothing. I have virgin hair and it’s very dark, thick, and slightly curly. I’m Pakistani. My mother is telling me that because my hair is so stubborn we should get it done at the salon but I’m afraid they will have to bleach it which I won’t allow. Help!
Great advice! I have naturally dark brown hair, and a while back I dyed it fire engine red, which I hated after about two weeks. I went to the salon and had it professionally done, and ended up with a pretty light coppery brownish/blond color. Unfortunately, it started looking pretty ridiculous when my dark roots came in. I used Garnier Nutrisse in “castaña” (I live in Costa Rica, so the colors are different I think, but castaña means brown) and followed your tutorial, and it looks great! There’s not quite as much contrast as some of the above pictures, but it looks incredibly natural! Thanks for the help!
I love ombre hair! I did it last Oct and since then I didn’t have to do any color on my hair! as I wanted give it rest of any coloring treatments (its condition was really bad…). But if you want to have an ombre hair you need to blow them nicely each time – when I don’t do nothing with my hair, just let them dry on the air, I look as a hippie (no offence;) ) but when I blow them nicely or my hairdresser does it, then an effect is stunning!
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