I Think I Want To Try Ombre Hair…Or Maybe Something Like It?

I’m not in LOVE with my hair right now. I know…shocking huh? A girl who’s not happy with her hair…I’m so original

My hair is probably the longest it’s been in my life. And given I’ve pretty much always had long hair, that’s saying a lot.

Don’t get me wrong, I love my long hair and definitely want to keep the length. It’s just I haven’t cut it in quite a while and even though it’s really long, I hardly wear it down.

And by hardly I mean never.

So just last weekend on our way home from LA’s Fashion & Fabric District, I was talking to my friend Erin about wanting to try something different, like maybe the Ombre hair look. For those who don’t know, Ombre hair is a gradual color shift from dark to light usually leaving the roots dark with a graduation of lightening, (or another color), as it works towards the ends.

Chic Factor

If you have dark hair and color it, you can easily achieve this look by skipping a few visits to your hair colorist. Believe me, I’ve had the look in the past…accidentally

High Tea Style

Of course, you can always go to a salon to have it done and that’s probably the best route, especially if you’re not comfortable dying your own hair.

Or, if you’re lucky enough to have a stylist as a friend…voila, I’m super jealous and I hate you!

Just kidding…but kind of not

But what if you’re an experienced at-home hair dyer and want to give it a try on your own? You can do that too! And here’s how.

PS…don’t worry, these instructions are from Toronto-based hair colorist and Clairol’s Spokesperson Luis Pacheco. 

Beauty Moves Me

HOW TO DO OMBRÉ COLOR ON HAIR WITH EXISTING HIGHLIGHTS

1. Use a hair color like Clairol Natural Instincts. It’s a semi-permanent color which means it fades gradually without leaving harsh line at the roots. Determine your natural hair color and choose a color that either matches your natural color or is one shade darker in a neutral to golden shade. If in doubt, go for the golden shade.

2. Apply the color 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 color 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 color and emulsify the ends (approximately the last third of the entire hair length). Let the color sit for about one minute.

5. Wash hair.

6. Dry hair and style as you wish.

Done!

Brennan McKissick 

HOW TO DO OMBRÉ COLOR ON VIRGIN (NOT COLORED), NATURAL BROWN HAIR

PLEASE, PLEASE, PLEASE…be sure not to try this on already-colored hair. Color will not lift color! If you hair has been colored already you should go see a color expert to have the color removed and the Ombre color done professionally.

There…I’ve covered my bases and you’ve been warned

If your hair is not colored or you’ve had the color removed…you’re good to go.

1. Use Clairol Nice ‘n Easy. It’s a permanent hair color. Use a shade that is three or four levels lighter than your natural color 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 color to the sectioned off ends and let sit for approximately 20 minutes.

4. Remove the elastic bands.

5. Spread the color about an inch above the pre-sectioned spot, where the elastic bands used to be. Let the color sit for another 10 minutes.

6. Wash hair.

7. Dry hair, style as you wish and you’re done!

 

Hair Color Ideas

Personally…I’m really lovin’ the pink and blue colors here below.

Fashionista

The Beauty Department

What do you think? Should I give it a try?

I’d love to try the pink and blue colors, but not too many…maybe just a few in the back. I’d love to hear your thoughts.

Yay or nay?

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