Being practically virgin-haired (read: I've never dyed my thick mass of curls), a part of me is secretly envious each time I read a news story about a celebrity changing hair colors like T-shirts. Yeah, Rihanna I'm talking about you. And there is one trend that never seems to get old: ombre.
Hollywood actresses Drew Barrymore's and Rachel Bilson's tousled waves have become synonymous with two-toned locks. And pop stars like Lady Gaga and Ciara continue to flirt with extreme versions. However, there are a few styling basics us everyday girls should keep in mind when going ombre.
Dana Ionata of Sally Hershberger Downtown in New York City shares her tips below on what to discuss with your colorist, which shades work best for your skin tone and how to maintain healthy, colored hair. And scroll down for celebrity inspiration on how to wear this effortless hair color trend.
Ask your hairstylist questions before he or she breaks out the hair dye
When you visit the salon, bring in photographs of ombre you like, as there are softer versus more severe, trendy versions. Be sure to mention how you typically style your hair. For example, if you blow-dry daily, ombre will look super shiny. And if your texture is air-dried, ombre looks amazing, too. Brunettes going ombre can oxidize (chemical process in which hair color changes shades when exposed to oxygen and UV rays), so make sure to ask about the right shampoos to use and about how light the ends will be.
The good news: ombre works on all complexions
Women with light skin tones have more room to play with, as you can go for a more copper color. For medium skin tones, I’d recommend a more neutral to ash ombre, giving contrast to your ends and making your eyes pop. Darker skin should choose cooler ombre as well. I wouldn’t recommend gold, as it will look too monochrome. The point of ombre is to enhance your skin tone, not match it.
With this hair color, upkeep is simple
Some of my clients need gloss every eight weeks to neutralize and touch-up from factors such as washing hair and sunlight. For at-home care, always use color-treated shampoo and conditioner. Even one wash without this can turn your color orange. I’d recommend Clairol Professional Shimmer Lights Shampoo Blonde/Silver to neutralize warm tones. Sally Hershberger Hyper Hydration Super Argan Serum is great to use on your ends, so the style won’t look frizzy and blonds won’t look too yellow. It’s amazing for smoothing texture and making hair look shiny. It can be applied on wet or dry hair and can be left on.
