Ombre hair colouring has become very popular in the past few years. This trendy hair colour style is achieved by fading your hair from dark to light to create a variety of different hairstyles without committing to an entirely new colouring process.
Generally, a stylist applies this technique at a salon because of its complexity. But if you’ve been considering getting an ombre, you likely have many questions. Fortunately, Cutters His & Hers Hairdressing is here to answer those questions and help you choose the right ombre colour for your hair.
Ombre hair colouring is a colour effect that involves gradually blending from one colour to another from the roots to the ends of your hair. Generally, the most notable transition begins at the midsections of your hair. Ombre comes from the French word for “shadow” or “shade,” and it’s a popular style for both long hair and short hair.
This technique is commonly confused with balayage, but there’s a big difference in these two styles’ applications and overall look. For example, ombre is achieved by placing a lightener, while balayage applies colour directly to the surface of your hair.
The most common hair colour ombre shades are usually shades of browns and other darker colours transitioning into lighter shades of brown or blonde. However, ombres can be applied to any colour, including reds, blues, and purples.
While it’s more common to see these colours transition from dark to light, the reserve has been rising in popularity lately, creating new and unique colour combinations.
Of course, while most hair can achieve an ombre, several factors can influence the difficulty and outcome of your new look. For example, ombre is more easily achievable on virgin hair that does not have artificial colouring. However, if you have artificial colouring, your stylist may need to lift out the artificial colour to make sure your hair can be toned effectively.
There are many benefits of choosing an ombre hairstyle. These styles are perfect if you’re looking for low maintenance colour option. With an ombre style, you can leave your natural colour near your roots so that you won’t need touch-ups for regrowth as often. Instead, touch-ups can be performed every few months to annually, depending on your hair growth, to bring the ombre up higher to compensate for that growth.
Should you choose an artificial colour that is different from your natural hair colour, you may need to touch up your roots every six to eight weeks.
Ombre hairstyles are also a fantastic way to try new colours. Since an ombre colours the ends of your hair, these styles can help you choose new hair colours and styles in the future.
There are two types of ombre hairstyles: sombre and colour melting. Sombre is a more subtle ombre that highlights the contrast between two tones but in a softer, less striking way. Colour melting is a more advanced technique that uses three or more shades. These shades are blended into each other using a hair colour brush, resulting in a transition where one colour appears to melt into another. As a result, this technique created a soft blended effect.
There are so many gorgeous ombre hair colour ideas to try, but don’t worry – there’s no need to get overwhelmed. We’ve put together some of the best ombre hair colours, so you can find the one that works best for you.
Dark brown hair has a lot of ombre colouring options, but one of the most popular is a dark brown to caramel ombre. This trendy colour choice adds a shiny, sunny, warm look to your ombre. Like the caramel look, but don’t have dark brown hair? That’s alright because a caramel transition works great with most shades of brown.
Black to silver ombres deliver a smoky look that’s sure to turn heads. This look is very fashionable, and you’ve likely seen it on the heads of several celebrities in recent years. Not only does black to silver colouring work well, but the reverse works great, too, especially if your roots are naturally grey.
This unique ombre hairstyle has the same idea as the black to silver ombre colour, but with far more striking contrast. While the reverse also works, it is worth knowing that, since the icy white is not a natural colour, you will still need to touch up your roots more often.
Want to colour your hair a punky colour? If your natural hair colour is darker, an ombre transitioning to a light mint green is a perfect way to dip your toes into these fun, trendy colours. Plus, the transition from dark to light adds a beautiful, striking contrast.
Red to strawberry blonde ombres give a sun-kissed, summer look. This is an excellent choice for natural red-heads and people who are already considering going red but want to add some extra colour to their new look.
Lavender and deep purples are other popular punky colours for all hairstyles, and ombres are no different. We find the black to lavender purple ombre both unique and gorgeous. While black is a more popular colour to blend into lavender, this ombre style works with many other colours, including brown, red, and blond.
Want a more complex ombre with multiple colours? A dark to purple pink ombre may be the choice for you. This colour starts with black or dark brown hair before fading into purple and pink colours. While a bit more work to maintain, the reverse also adds a striking contrast that you’re sure to love.
If you are a natural blonde or interested in going blonde, consider a blonde to pink ombre for a punky, fun colour combination. Pink is a popular choice for punky ombres, and, when paired with blonde, there are several shade choices to choose from that look great.
Depending on the technique you use, hair dyeing can get expensive, so it’s no wonder that many salon-goers want to know how much an ombre costs. Unfortunately, there’s no one-size-fits-all answer because ombre costs depend on several factors, including:
At the end of the day, it’s best to speak with one of our stylists about the look you’d like to achieve to get an accurate cost estimate.
Ombre hair is one of the most requested hair colouring techniques at salons, and there are several steps you can take to make your ombre last longer. Here are a few ways you make your new colour last:
Additionally, any time your hair is coloured, ombre or otherwise, the colouring will alter the pH balance of your scalp. Because of this, you should always seek advice from your hairstylist to see if there are any additional steps you should take to protect the health of your hair and scalp.
Ombre colouring is a fantastic and popular choice for adding colour to your hair without the high maintenance of other colour techniques. Want to see more inspiration for ombre styles and other hairstyles? Be sure to check out our Instagram or gallery pages.
Are you looking for professional ombre hair services? Make an appointment online or contact our Brandon Park, Forest Hill, or Waverley Gardens salons directly to schedule.