Are you tired of making the trip to the salon every six weeks to touch up your roots? Do you wish your color were easier to maintain? If so, we have the perfect hair solution for you: natural ombré.
This involves growing out your natural roots to the point that they begin to create an ombré effect of sorts (hair that is darker on the top and lighter on the bottom, or vice versa). We sought out color expert Lauren Kocman of Hair By Scott & Co. Spa & Hair Salon in Delray Beach, FL, to fill us in on this new trend.
For Those With Light Hair:
Ask your stylist about getting a base breaker, which will help ease the transition from awkward roots to you-paid-to-have-it-that-way color. “To minimize the maintenance level for my blonde clients, I often recommend a base breaker (we use Goldwell New Blonde Base Lifting Cream), which we apply to the hair to brighten up the base shade,” says. “It’s not a color, but it functions as sort of an ‘in betweener’ because it helps to blend your roots with the lighter color of the mid-lengths of your hair. There is no regrowth and the result is more of a natural blond look.” After a few months of growing out your natural color (you may have to push through a slightly awkward phase at the beginning), you will start to see somewhat of an ombré effect take place—a look that a lot of women are paying big bucks for.
For Those With Darker Hues:
Kocman says there are ways for you to achieve this type of low-maintenance look as well. “Ask your stylist about adding dark pieces (the same shade as your roots) to your mid-lengths to help soften the line of demarcation. This should let you grow out your natural color without seeing such a stark contrast between light and dark.”
Pro Tip:
Another thing to keep in mind as you embark on this ombré journey is styling. Wearing your hair straight can make the “line of demarcation,” as Kocman put it, stand out more. Try adding in some beachy waves with a sea salt spray or creating some volume and bounce by curling hair with a barrel iron. Accessories, like a wide headband, can also help distract from a glaring root line.
