Looking to spice up your hairstyle and hair care routine? Instead of just going into the hairdressers for an average roots touch up, get rid of boring hair by getting ombré hair. A hot popular trend especially for women that started somewhere between 2014 and 2013, ombré is one of the cutest things a human can do to their hair. Ombré hair is not just highlighted, but a chic way of doing your hair which is characterized by the smooth transition of a natural hair color into another hair color that can be natural or a bright color. Your choice.
People rave about their ombré hair cuts because of the fun edge it gives their hair. The best thing about ombré hair is that if you end up not liking it, it does not take that much time to grow it out. Ombré hair also looks great on both curly or straight hair and with all-natural hair colors, shades, and tones; from brunettes to blondes to black hair to ginger-red hair. Whether your hair type is fine and soft, or Bob Marley inspired, ombré hair is the perfect temporary coloring trend to follow.
What Colour Would You Choose?
Getting ombré hair can be a quick fix if you are looking to spice up your hair care routine. Ombré hair also pairs perfectly with the same color ombré or Sally Hansen (Sally’s) nails if you want to look especially put-together.
So you want to ombré your hair, what color do you choose when there are so many colours to choose from? Tumblr and Pinterest pictures are a great source of inspiration to help in deciding what numbers are the most appealing and which you have a preference for.
This way, when you go to the salon, you will be able to show the hairdresser just what you want. If you are still having a hard time deciding which ombré is right for you, check out this quiz! Below are some fun colors and hair trends that are perfect for ombré. Check out the fun colors and ideas as inspiration for your next trip to the salon.
Fun Ombré Hair Colors
What do Demi Lovato, Shay Mitchell, Kim Kardashian, Khloe Kardashian and Kylie Jenner have in common? They have all had ombré hair! These celebrities rocked their ombré hair and provide us with fun ideas of how to replicate their box look. Whether you want to ombré your hair a natural color (blonde, brown, black, etc.) or colorful palate (mint green, bright red, silver, etc.), the list below will help reinforce your choice or change your mind on what color is perfect for you.
Red Ombré Hair Styles
Red ombré is a fashion-forward choice. There are so many different reds to choose from that range from being extremely subtle to be pretty bold. Tie this look together with some matching ombre nails.
Strawberry pink ombré hair has to be one of the cutest choices that are for the young girl at heart. Both light and dark pink look great with brown and blonde hair, but if you are a redhead, stray away from any kind of pink because it will severely clash.
Burgundy ombré is a great fall look for your hair when layers and boots are being worn and the air becomes chilled. This red looks best with caramel brown and mahogany brown colored hair that have reddish undertones. When paired with blonde and black hair, the burgundy ombré has a strikingly trendy look.
The Auburn ombre looks great with all colors. It has an especially warm feel to it and gives your hair a subtle edge. Proceed with caution if your hair is blonde though. There are some blonde colors (platinum especially) that have the potential to not look good with an auburn ombré.
Want your hair to look fire with a red ombré? Your hair can also look like literal fire by having an ombré with 3 colors; hair color, orange, and red. Few have attempted this drastic hair change, but when done well, it can look pretty amazing. This tri-coloured ombré looks best with blonde hair because of the natural delineation of light to dark colors.
Rose and blush ombré is perhaps the lushest and high end looking when paired with platinum blonde hair. If you have brown or black hair, be forewarned that you may have to bleach your hair to get this color. It will be worth it in the end because your hair will look incredibly classy and trendy.
Bright cherry red ombré is great for all colors, except red and ginger hair. This is a great color for the spring and summer. The only precaution that you have to take is that it might clash with some clothes. If you are like me and wear black 95% of the time, then you will be fine. This bold ombré will make a statement for sure, the statement “I am a super cool, fun, and fashion-forward person!”
Blue Ombré Hair Styles
Blues and greens make beautiful ombrés when paired with any natural hair color. In particular, girls with dark black Asian hair look especially great with blue ombré because of the high contrast of their dark, black hair with the bright blue ombré. With such a wide selection of beautiful blues and greens, here are some of our favorites handpicked to inspire you!
Want to be a mean, green ombré machine? Consider getting a clover green ombré to make a fashion statement with your hair. This color is extremely compatible with all-natural hair colors, giving them each an individual look and flavor. Leave your hair looking down-to-earth and fresh with this rich green.
Love Kylie Jenner’s mint ombré look? Whether you are a fan of the Kardashian’s or not, pale mint makes a stunning ombré in any hair color or style. Mint ombré is a unique choice that not many people have the guts to pull off. Be one of the few and take a chance with this breathtaking color!
Teal and turquoise ombre are beautiful because of the way it gives your hair a mermaid effect, especially if you have long locks. This color looks great with those with honey brown hair, black hair, or light blonde hair. Teal and turquoise ombré screams summer and will be a fun way to change up your hair routine.
A deep aqua or navy ombré can either be very subtle or very distinctive depending on your hair color. Both are beautiful. Blondes with navy ombrés communicate a chic and sophisticated hairstyle, while brunettes and those with black hair have a subtle elegance to their hair. Either way, no matter what color your hair, your hair will look breathtaking.
Purple Ombré Styles
Purple ombrés come in a variety of shades that range from pastel lavender to bright magenta. All of these shades leave your hair looking lush and trendy. To help with your decision-making process, here are some of my favorite shades of purple ombré hair!
A pastel lavender ombré is a super cute choice. When choosing this ombré you are signing your hair up to achieve luxury, cool look that screams style. Similar to a blush ombré, this will give you a sophisticated edge to all of your outfits. Even jeans and a hoodie will look fabulous when paired with this ombré hair.
A different color ombré that you could dye your hair is a pretty plum purple. Plum ombré looks exquisite with darker hair colors like dark brown or black. I love this color ombré because it is so different and classy looking without overdoing it.
A violet ombré is a brighter purple option that is a show stopper! This ombré paired with blonde hair is the most stunning combination. The rich violet that contrasts with a light blonde will create visual interest and texture to your hair. Try this fun ombré and it will become your favorite accessory in no time.
Blonde Ombré Hair Styles
Blonde ombré hairstyles are universally appealing to those with red, black, and brown hair. The only trouble is if you have blonde hair, it is hard to choose the right blonde that is noticeably different from your base blonde hair color. Here are some blonde shades that look great with all hair colors.
Chalk white and silver ombré is compatible with every hair color imaginable. What doesn’t match white? This sleek ombré will not clash with any of your outfits and it will match anything you wear! What’s not to love? This elegant ombré will knock everyone’s socks off, including your own.
A platinum blonde ombré is similar to the silver ombré but has more depth to it. This is particularly striking with brown hair. With brown hair, this ombré can look like a natural lightening of hair if the fade is done well enough. Tie this look together with some matching nails to look extra fierce.
Honey-coloured dipped tips have been one of the most popular ombré styles since ombré was a thing. Multiple celebrities have had their hair ombréd their hair this way because of how beautifully understated and natural it looks. Join the bandwagon by asking your hairdresser to replicate this stylish look for you.
Ombré Brown to Blonde Styles
Brown to Blonde ombré are among the most popular and wanted ombré hairstyles because of how chic and natural looking it is… Just by looking at the red carpet, we can see fashion icons like Miley Cyrus and Selena Gomez rocking these looks. Because of its popularity, there are a plethora of variations. Chocolate brown hair that slowly fades into an ash blonde color is a beautiful look that requires bleaching.
What is Bleaching?
Bleaching is the process of completely stripping hair of any natural color to create a blank canvas. This may damage your hair’s natural keratin, but it will not look as dirty it sounds. Brown to Blonde ombré is especially cute in a braid as it shows the natural delineation of hair colors. Trying a reverse ombré of this color combination, brown ombré on blonde hair is also super cool looking. Trying any variation of this will propel you into the world of being a fashionista. Here are some of our favorite looks:
Can Short Ombré Hair Work?
When it comes to deciding whether or not to ombré your hair, the length of your hair doesn’t matter. Long or short, ombré hair always looks good. Miley Cyrus is currently rocking short ombré hair as she is growing out her roots.
If you have short hair and want longer hair, try Remy or Weft extension clip/clips or Kanekalon. This way you can create a synthetic ombré hairstyle that you can take out whenever you want! You can get these extensions to make your hair medium shoulder-length hair or longer. You can also sew a synthetic Malaysian weave in if it works well with your hair type. Try these cute ideas to get the ombré hair of your dreams, no matter the length!
Ombré Hair Short Styles
When you ombré your short do, there are a variety of ombré short hairstyles that look super cute and trendy! Here are some for you to try!
Tight micro braiding or putting jumbo braids in your short ombré hair into long locks is a great way to show off your fashion-forward ombré! You can find these extensions online and can buy them according to the thickness and texture of your hair. They may take a while to put in, but once they are locked in, these require little upkeep.
A bob haircut is a perfect way to display your ombré hair. Whether your ombré is blue, red, white, or green, a bob haircut will leave it looking pristine! Celebrities like Kylie Jenner, Jennifer Gardner, and Miley Cyrus have all shown off a gorgeous ombré bob. Be the next beauty to rock this short ombré hairstyle!
Putting your ombré locks into a bun is another great hairstyle for short-haired beauties. Simply loop your hair into a quick messy bun and voila! This may be difficult if you have layered hair, but for the majority, this works and looks pretty well! It is especially pretty if you have bangs. If you have difficulty finding the right way to put your hair up, check out some of our favorite updos for short hair here!
Ombré Short Hair Colors
What ombré looks best with short hair? Glad you asked! Don’t let your short hair be the determinant of your ombré choice. But if you have to ask, here are the colors that we love with short haircuts.
For the modest, but trendy, ombré connoisseur, a nice grey or silver or silver ombré is a perfect choice! On short hair, this color gives volume and length because of the white-based color. A grey ombré also has a chic and edgy vibe to it because of the stark contrast of the color and your hair. Let this ombré be the next fashion trend you follow.
If you are feeling like taking walks on the wild side and are feeling a bit crazy, choosing to have rainbow ombré is the colorful and bold choice for you. This hair is a statement that is pulled off best with blonde hair but don’t let that stop you. Rainbow ombré will add an element of depth to your hair and will be a conversation starter. Never let your hair be boring with this colorful short hair ombré!
Feeling bold, but not too bold? Want something different, but not too different? Then pastels are the right ombré choice for you! A pastel ombré is a cute and playful way to change up your hair routine without dying your hair every color of the rainbow. This trendy hairdo will be your next favorite accessory.
DIY Ombré Hair
Want ombré hair without breaking the bank? A DIY ombré hair is probably the cheapest option out there because you do not need to hire a professional to do the job. That is unless your best friend is a hairdresser and is willing to give you the hookup for free. There are many ways of going about the process of dying your hair. A popular way is by putting lemon juice on the ends of your hair right before going out in the sun.
How Much Does It Take?
This only takes 20 to 26 minutes to do, but you will most likely have to do it multiple times to achieve a noticeable, natural ombré.
The easiest, and cheapest, way is the Kool-Aid method. This only works if you want to ombré your hair a bright color like red, blue, green, etc., although, the girl in the following tutorial uses yellow Kool-Aid to get a more natural ombré. We recommend that when you decide what color ombré to do with Kool-Aid, you test it out on a strand of hair first. Do this to prevent your hair from getting messed up if you end up not liking the color since this is a permanent ombré dye. This home styling ombré technique does not harm your skin and is mostly dip dying.
For this DIY ombré you will need:
- 4+ packets of Kool Aid
- A plastic cup
- Boiling water
- Elastic rubber bands
- Time
Here is a short Youtube tutorial that walks you through the easy steps of how to DIY ombré with Kool-Aid!
Use Actual Hair Dye
If you are looking for a less permanent and more quality looking DIY ombré, the best way to dye your head of hair is by using actual hair dye. This way will be easy if you have already treated and dyed your hair at home and have already developed helpful techniques. This way will not cost you a pretty penny, especially if you buy the dye on sale. If you do buy on sale, double-check that your hair dye has not gone bad.
Another helpful tip for choosing the right hair dye for you is to go online and check reviews of the brands and products that you are most drawn to. This will ensure that the dye you buy will not look bad and will leave you feeling satisfied. We also recommend buying your boxed hair dye in bulk if you are planning more future at-home DIY dyes.
You can find these dyes at Walmart and Superdrug’s website, or any other drugstore/supermarket, in kits, but you do not have to use a kit to achieve optimum outcomes. A good dye that we recommend is Feria L’oreal because it is low in price and a good brand.
Here is what you will need:
- Hair dye (duh)
- Aluminium foil
- Plastic gloves
- Tape (not a make or break)
- Comb
- Time
This is a super easy and well explained DIY!
Here are some helpful tips to remember when executing this at home hair care DIY:
- You will probably only get one use out of each box of hair dye, so by two or more depending on how thick your hair is.
- Buy a box of dye that matches your natural hair color in case you make a mistake.
- Put on a shirt or sweatshirt that you don’t mind getting hair color on.
- If your hair is naturally kinky, straighten it out as much as possible when dying so that you do not need to ombré your hair more than once.
- Don’t worry about your baby hairs.
- Start by lightly adding dye towards the top (but leave a halo of your natural hair color) and then blending it more inch by inch until you reach the bottom tips of your hair.
- Stay still while the dye is being set into your hair.
- Use shampoo (Loreal, Garnier, etc.) afterwards for a shiny finish.
- When you are done, review your hair to find a place that may need fixing or a touch-up.
What About Balayage?
What is balayage? Balayage is the technique in which you get the style of an ombré. Typically balayage will leave some darker strands at the bottom parts of the hair to add dimension and depth to one’s hair.
This look is popular in America, Australia, and the UK and can be found in many Brazilian magazines. It is fashion-forward and looks a little more natural than a full ombré because of the leftover dark pieces. Although the differences between a balayage and an ombré are minimal, the outcome differences are noticeable. If you are wanting more of a balayage look, check out this easy at-home DIY!
Conclusion
Well, there you go! Now you know everything that you need to know about ombré hair! From fun colors to fabulous styles, to DIYs, you now are an expert on everything ombré. If we missed something that you want to know more about, be sure to leave a comment. Happy ombré-ing!