Ombre hairstyles are a hot new trend that’s cropping up in magazines, on runways, and probably even among your circle of friends. It’s a low-maintenance color option that allows your hair to grow out naturally without having to worry about unsightly roots.
The style offers an endless world of color possibilities, from a soft and natural color to bold and vivid. You can find popular ombre hairstyles designed to suit almost any hair style and skin tone just in one salon visit.
The Hottest Ombre Hairstyles
Ombre hair color ideas and hairstyles have been around for several years now. But despite that fact, they’re still faddish and in great demand.
Initially created as a method to add natural highlights to the hair, this coloring technique has transformed to a variety of color options: blonde highlights, reverse lowlights, bright and multicolor balayage, a balayage with ombre or face-framing peekaboo highlights. Find your inspiration below:
Ombre Waves
hairbyoguz
You can add a whole new dimension to any ombre hairstyle by adding waves or loose curls into the equation. This copper blonde ombre look is easy to accomplish with steam rollers or large-barrel curling iron.
Tousled Ombre Bob
erinstonerstylist
Ombre hair adds some depth to such classic short hairstyles while also helping by softening your face and neckline. You can wear your bob with a middle part or a side part, depending on which facial features you want to accentuate. Make sure the stylist makes the seamless blend from the darker color at the roots to the light shade of silver ombre at the ends.
Straight Ombre Long Bob
sarahhair_manedxb
A longer version of the traditional bob allows for even more dramatic color changes between your roots and your tips. Straighten your bob ombre hair with a mini flat iron for a flawless, professional-looking straight hair finish. Keep it a bit longer than the chin-length but shorter than the collarbone level. This brown ombre hair color is less striking and bright than blonde ombre hair solutions, but it gives such a sophisticated fleur to this simple long bob in a natural hair color.
Ombre Hair Top Knot
@kaitcurnow
Creating an updo with ombre hair shading allows you to show off the full spectrum of blonde ombre tones and colors that run through your long hair. You can draw attention to your top knot design by using a tendril of loose hair to secure it in place. This works as either a full or half-updo on ashy blonde ombre with dark brown roots.
Ombre Hair Braid
kirstyannehair
Ombre coloring can bring the classic French braid look to a whole new level. A gradual change in color creates depth and makes each section of your braid stand out against its backdrop. French braid hottest hair trends can also add extra volume to thin or limp hair.
Ombre Half-Braid
@hairby_carolinebenson
Instead of going for a full braid on top of your blonde ombre hair color ideas, you can opt for a casual half-braid to show off your multifaceted hair color technique. Curl the ends of your cool toned ombre hair for even more shape, texture, and beachy vibes.
Back-Tied Ombre
@colored_byvee
The vibrant shades of this pink ombre hair enchanting look is a bit more complicated to achieve than a traditional ombre hair color, but with a little hard work, you’ll be rewarded with an all-natural dark roots hair colour with a pink hair knot. Pink ombre color just like most other bright ombre hair ideas look cool on any hair type and hair length if it’s matched with the tone of your skin.
Balayage Ombre Tips
traceyhairstyles
If you don’t want anyone to know that you’ve dyed your hair, you can go for balayage ombre hair tips in a subtle color. Your bright blonde ombre hair will look like you just spent a few days sunbathing on the beach. You can consult with your stylist to find the right lighter shades of highlights that work with your hair color and your skin tone.
Multicolored Tips
colored_byvee
You don’t have to limit yourself to just one hair dye when creating ombre bright look. You can fade your locks into multiple different colors to add even more texture to your hairstyle. Thus, even blondes can benefit from low-maintenance ombre hair. Either opt for several natural shades, or go all out and try blues, purples, and other colors on top of your dirty blonde.
Tri-toned Ombre Hair
@hair_by_brittanyetie
While many ombre styles fade between two tones, adding a third in between can create a more even color gradation as your hair fades from one color to the next. You should aim for a color that’s somewhere in between your dirty blonde roots color and your tip hair dye to rock such a reverse ombre effect.
Midnight Brown to Burgundy
@zoeyh_hair
This gentle change in shading helps darker tones of brown hair to catch the light, showing off warm highlights and undertones. Just a slight transition into burgundy or deep red ombre hair can help to balance out cooler winter shades often found in dark brown natural hair colors. If you have a winter complexion, adding some red to your hair color will help to complement your skin tone.
Espresso to Honey Blonde Spirals
glamseamless
You can add a striking sun-kissed look to any plain brown hairstyle by fading from darker roots into blonde. Warm, rich blonde tones offer the most natural coloring.
Chocolate to Auburn Curls
glowfreiburg
For more subtle contrast, you can fade dark brown hair into shades of auburn to bring out copper undertones. Loose curls help the color to fade naturally and the eye-level bangs can also soften your face and figure. This trick with lighter ends is often used by Jennifer Garner.
Tumbling Deep Brown to Silver
stylingsedeff
Light, silver-blonde tones are a hot new trend in modern hairstyles. You can amp up your ombre coloring by switching out warmer blonde tones for cool metallic silver colors. Dark brown hair transitioning to a steely gray creates an eye-catching style that complements skin with warm undertones.
Butterscotch to Ginger Waves
This popular ombre hairstyle is subtle, yet noticeable. Adding ginger to light brown hair gives it a sun-kissed look, creating a natural-looking color gradation that makes it seem like you just got back from the beach instead of the salon.
Waves of Chocolate to Violet
@pasteldreamhair
Purple ombre hair color brings out all the range of the warm tones in chocolate brown hair, creating a beautiful ombre style that works well when worn in loose curls.
Beachswept Chocolate to Platinum
beautifinder
For a straight-out-of-the-sun style, you can fade chocolate brown hair to a stunning bleach blonde color. This look goes great with darker skin tones.
Golden Brown to Pale Blue Curls
@ccahair
You can cool down the warm tones found in light brown hair by adding pale blue ombre hair coloring to your cut. This bluish-gray ombre hair is a great look for the wintertime and can help to balance out flushed cheeks and ruddy skin brought on by the cold.
Black to Ginger Wedge Cut
This Mandy Moore-inspired gold ombre hair style looks natural, but the sharp contrast in colors makes it a bold yet beautiful choice. A chic wedge cut helps lighter auburn and strawberry blonde tones frame and soften your face, especially if you have round features.
Deep Black to Neon Pink Curls
elliemarie_hairministry
Hot pink and black hair makes an electric combination in this unique dark hair pink ombre hair style. Tumbling waves can help to soften the dark roots look and add some texture to your cut.
Jet Black to Blush Tumbles
christiandomingos
Pastel pink ombre hair colors add a softer, more feminine touch to dark roots than vibrant tones of neon pink. Black to blush ombre hair goes best with tan or olive skin, as blush tones can wash out more pale coloring.
Cool Black to Purple Layers
luke_hairstylist
Purple ombre tones help to bring out the best of winter coloring, especially in people who keep their hair dark. Violet ombre tones and bright purple ombre shades look particularly striking when worn in a long and layered style with soft waves.
Tousled Black and White
This monochromatic color scheme can add edge to your thicker hair style. Black roots fading to white tips makes a bold statement both out on the town and in the workplace. Better yet, this blonde hair ombre style goes perfectly with just about any outfit!
Soft Black to Light Blue Spirals
This frosty blue ombre hair look goes perfectly with warm, pale skin shades, adding depth to otherwise unassuming dark brown and black hair. Loose spirals add even more depth and dimension to this ombre technique hairstyle.
Straight Black to Maroon Long Bob
@saloonderya
Black roots fade into vibrant maroon in this sleek darker shades look. If your hair is naturally unruly, you can use frizz-control hair products and a flattening iron to achieve a neat, shiny dark hair appearance.
Rose Blonde Bob
This twist on platinum blonde has gained popularity in recent years, and it’s no secret as to why. Blush tones mingling with silver and blonde highlights create an elegant yet feminine look that goes well with evening makeup, nude makeup, or no makeup. Rose gold ombre hair is soaked in sophistication.
Red to Strawberry Blonde Waves
This all-natural look fades from a reddish-brown into a golden strawberry blonde, creating a sun-kissed look for brunettes with copper undertones. Long hair shows off all the hues of this autumn-inspired blonde-yellow-tones-auburn ombre hair.
Tumbling Fire Tones
@hairbykatierose
This Jessica Rabbit-esque reverse ombre look is sure to turn heads with a mix of vibrant reds, oranges, and blonde hair tones. It’s a hot style that goes well with almost any skin color, dark or pale.
Tight Rainbow Ombre Curls
@meganrosecolors
Why settle for just a few colors when you can have them all? Ombre shading can turn your hair into a rainbow of colors, from red or pink all the way to violet. Tight curls or spirals help to meld the colors together in a smooth and gorgeous rainbow ombre hair gradation.
Straight and Sleek Sunset Coloring
@hairbylunabelle
You can use a mixture of purple hair at the roots, pink ombre, orange ombre, and yellow ombre in order to achieve a one-of-a-kind ombre sunset coloring that’s sure to turn heads and resembles those magnificent October sunsets.
Opal Ombre Top Knot
This artistic pastel look gives your hair a multifaceted appearance with ribbons of different gem tones. You can add even more flair by styling your hair in a topknot or by adding loose waves to the ends of your locks.
Choppy Teal Ombre
@artistic.aestheticss
Achieve a waterfall of fire using dark to light teal coloring. Choppy layers give this long hair look a natural flow that makes it look almost as if you’re wearing a veil or water.
Violet Ombre Curls
@aaashleee
Deep violet fades to pale lavender in this unique color combination, creating texture using various shades of purple hair.
Smooth Chocolate to Crimson
This bold look adds some edge to dark brown hair, ending in deep crimson tips that are sure to make a statement wherever you go. Long hair allows for making that magenta ombre transition super gradual and smooth.
Sleek Lavender to Turquoise
For a feminine springtime look, you can fade lavender blonde to a dazzling shade of turquoise. You can achieve this straight hair with a flat iron to draw attention to the gradual shift in color.
Aquamarine to Magenta Locks
Rich blue and bright pink jewel tones make a stunning combination in this ombre style. You can add extra shine and volume by curling the ends of your hair.
Ice Blue Ombre Bob
From dark to light blue, this choppy, layered short hair look goes well with warm skin tones. You can add some curls to your bob to add more volume and give your hair a cascading appearance. This reverse ombre features blue roots and a blonde ombre color.
Long and Straight Neon Purple to Pink
Fade cool purple to hot pink for a fun and flirty look. These vibrant colors are a bit more difficult to maintain than other tones, but with some color-protecting conditioner and a little TLC, you can stand out from the crowd with this unique ombre style.
Ombre Braid with a Hairpiece
Adding jewelry creates a focal point for your overall look, drawing the eye to your hair. The right accessory can turn the average braid into an eye-catching masterpiece.
Mid-Wave Ombre
Not all ombre hairstyles have to fade evenly between colors. Instead of a gradual gradation, you can create a dramatic flair by introducing a new color in the middle of your ombre curls.
Ombre with a Headband
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A headband, tiara, diadem or other headpiece can help you to dress your hair up with minimal pain and effort on your part. A jeweled or floral headband makes the perfect accessory for special occasions, from work functions to weddings, and a simplistic wide tissue headband for more casual and sporty interpretations of your ombre hair ideas.
Half-Ponytail with a Bow
A bow can add a whimsical feel to ombre curls, helping you to keep your hair out of your face while adding feminine charm to your cut.
Ombre Ponytail
You can really make your ponytail pop with ombre hair. The stark color contrast will add a whole new dimension to this otherwise unassuming look. Put your hair up in a loose, wispy ponytail for a casual look, or smooth it back for a more professional appearance.
Blonde to Sapphire Spirals
Blue and blonde are a color match made in heaven, and adding blue highlights and tips to light blonde hair can make both colors truly stand out. Loosely curling the ends of your hair can give the blue color gradation a more natural flow.
Mahogany to Rich Blue Bob
Transitioning to vibrant blue or aquamarine tones can help to cool warm mahogany hair coloring. This look is ideal for brunettes with warm skin tones and can help to balance out pink or red undertones in the skin or hair.
Choosing the Right Colors for You
It can be difficult to decide what hair color would go best with your skin tone. The easiest way to find the right ombre hair trend color for you is to seek out the expert advice of a stylist. They’ll be able to help you create the perfect ombre coloring by matching both natural and rainbow tones to your overall look.
Warm skin tones are complemented by cooler hair shades, such as ash-brown, ash-blonde, icy-blonde, or silver-blonde. For darker skin in warm tones, you may want to stick to brunette shades and cool red colors. Blondies can try reverse ombre as well. Whether light or dark, cool skin tones look best when paired with rich, warm hair colors.
FAQs
What is an ombre hair color?
The name of the ombre effect comes from the French meaning “shade” or “shadow”. This coloring technique implies a dramatic two-color effect, where the darker shade on top gradually blends into the shades lighter at the ends. You can also see a vice versa positioning of colors – this is called the reverse ombre effect (typically, it’s dark brown ombre or black ombre hair).
Why Choose Ombre Hair?
Ombre hair coloring allows you to level up your hairstyle without totally changing your natural hair color. Also, ombre hair doesn’t need regular touch-ups, since it grows without causing any visual discomfort. Besides, ombre color solutions have almost become a timeless classic, which means they’re going to be on point for many years to come.
Is Ombre Hair Still In Fashion?
Yes, ombre hair is still up there in the top hair color trends of the year along with balayage. Blonde ombre sits in the middle like a timeless classic, while bright artistic solutions are taking over the fashion space too (like purple ombre hair, blue ombre hair, green ombre hair, red ombre hair, etc).
What does ombre do to your hair?
Ombre makes your hair more framed, and your hairstyle complete. If talking about more neutral solutions like light brown ombre hair, caramel brown, or blonde ombre, they also add depth to the hairstyle.
How long does ombre last in your hair?
It depends on your hair and the color of your ombre, but on average, it can go for several months without any touch-ups.
Does ombre hair need bleach?
Yes, if you opt for a traditional ombre with lightened ends (blonde ombre, light brown ombre, silver ombre hair). Also, bleaching will be necessary to get the bright-colored ombre on naturally dark hair.
How long does ombre take to fade?
With a permanent hair dye, you won’t see it starting to fade or changing color slightly after 8-12 weeks, as for the semi-permanent hair colors, they last for 4-12 washes.
Does ombre hair grow out?
Ombre grows out, slowly moving the dyed section further from the roots, but it only completely comes out when it’s cut out.
How much does ombre cost?
Depending on your colorist’s experience, the color you want, and the number of sessions it takes, you’re gonna pay from $60 to $250.
Can I do ombre at home?
The hardest and most important thing about the ombre hair is the color gradation, which should be smooth and gradual. If you’re sure you can reach the desired effect following those YouTube video guides, you can give it a try.
Is ombre low maintenance?
Since the hair growth doesn’t affect the look of the ombre, the only concern should be keeping the color from fading, which is not a tough thing to do.
How do you maintain ombre hair at home?
Just wash it 2-3 times a week, keep your hair (especially the colored section) nourished and moisturized, and use a shampoo for dyed hair (especially for blonde ombre to prevent it from getting greenish or yellowish).
Who is ombre best for?
For those, who can’t make up their mind on whether they wanna be blonde or brunette, for those looking for extra depth, dimension, and minimal maintenance for their long hair or medium hair.
Which is better: balayage or ombre?
Ombre has a horizontal placement, while balayage is more vertical. So, it’s a question of taste and personal preference. Still, balayage is believed to grow out more naturally than ombre.
Does an ombre damage your hair?
Sure it does in the areas where you apply the dye. However, it’s obviously far less damaging to your hair than a full-on dye job.
Does ombre make hair look thicker?
Yes, dark roots with the graduated depth of color make a visual illusion of thicker hair, however, balayage does this job much better due to its rather vertical placement compared to ombre.