Ombre hair color is the look of the year, making its way from stylish celebrity circles to become a cutting edge and contemporary mainstream trend.

If you’ve not seen it yet, don’t worry, there is still plenty of time to jump on board with this latest look.

Ombre is basically a fancy term for hair that is graduated in color, most commonly from brown at the roots to blonde at the tips.

The hair world borrowed the term ‘ombre’ from the French word meaning shaded or shading, which is a pretty accurate description of this style.

Some people have described ombre hair as ‘looking like you have massive regrowth’, whereas others prefer to see it as a new way to do sun-kissed hair – it really depends on the difference in color between the brown and blonde, and whether the colors blend together or stand out against each other.

The benefits of ombre hair color

Aside from being massively in trend right now, one of the best things about ombre hair is that it is super low-maintenance.

Think about it – you won’t have to get your roots touched up, or get your color redone – all you might need to do is add more blonde (or whichever color you’re doing this look with) to the ends of your hair as and when you get your hair trimmed.

It’s also super economical as once the ombre tone has been achieved, you can leave it 4-6 months before you color your hair again. Just make sure you use a deep conditioning treatment once a week to keep the ends of your hair in tip-top condition, as the bleach used to achieve the color will dry out hair and could cause damage if you don’t look after your locks properly.

How is the ombre look achieved?

Ombre is sometimes also referred to as ‘balayage’, which is a French freehand coloring technique where the dye is literally painted onto certain strands of the hair.

Some colorists will use a backing board and foils, others will separate layers of the hair using cotton wool and some will pull strands of the hair forward in front of the face before freehand painting the hair to create the ombre look.

What hair colors work with ombre color?

The real appeal in ombre locks is the fact that it can work on almost any cut, from a pixie crop right through to waist-length locks.

Alexa Chung is often credited with kick-starting the whole trend and she only has shoulder-length tresses, although ombre toned hair looks particularly good on long hair styled in curls or waves, as you can see the variations of color throughout the hair.

You can’t really see these variations if the hair is up and so this trend will work best if you style your hair down and loose around your shoulders.

Many, many celebs have been rocking the ombre look – Drew Barrymore, Kristen Wiig, Whitney Port, Lauren Conrad, Rachel Bilson, Jessica Biel and Ashlee Simpson to name a few. It seems that the A-list can’t get enough of this new trend and as we’ve seen ombre hair all over the catwalks too, it’s a look that is most definitely here to stay.

Whether you covet the ginger beauty of a fair skinned Irish maiden to the bold crimson locks of a big screen villainess, red heads are a sorority of a select few that command attention and admiration.

Red hair color is a polarizing subject to which you will find strong opinion on both sides of the line. Whether you love it, or it is not for you, red heads have a vibe and appeal all their own.

Adding red into your hair color palette offers a variety of options regardless of the level (lightness or darkness) of hair you currently have. You can choose the deep burgundy shades, auburns, and chestnuts that flatter the darker levels, to the kiss of copper or strawberry found in blondes and virtually any level in between.

Which red shade is right for me?

The cooler, crimson and wine shades will best work on those with a darker hair color level desire. These allow the brown undertones to balance out the coolness and keep the cool reds from appearing too pink or magenta. As you scale upward in lightness, opt for more of the coppers and copper-golds as either your tone or true color selection.

Although reds work with most skin tones as they add richness and a healthy glow–the paler skin tones are more forgiving. If you have a lot of gold or yellow in your skin–watch adding too much of a gold or yellow based red as it will enhance the yellow in your skin and may make you appear like you are not feeling well (but hey, that is what makeup is for right?) If you have a more olive complexion, it will be easier for you to pull off the darker and cooler shades.

When reds start to fade…

Okay, let’s address the elephant in the room–reds fade. They can fade faster if you put them over porous hair, lightened hair, use hot tools and blow dryers, or use poor hair products. Reds, like blondes, are a commitment all their own and also need to have a game plan up front.

Like brunettes, many red formulas offer semi/demi permanent options that will allow you the ability to tone and richen up your hair in between retouches. These also cost money, so factor them into your color budget.

Hint: Often you can find color enhancing shampoos that have a subtle toning pigment in the formula you can use as your red color fades.

Which hair styles suit red hair?

When considering your style, your options remain pretty open with red shades. From the long and demure to the short and funky, reds work in tandem with your style as opposed to dominating it. Red hair color will simply take your look to the next level.

To add spice to your already spicy color, add a few highlights or balayage to give more distinction and illusion of movement to your color. It is also fun to pick a red base shade and add a few red/blonde highlights and deeper red lowlights. If you look close enough, you will see that most natural redheads are a combination of many shades of red and gold.

Go for and join the red hair revolution!

While only a small fraction of the United States population consists of redheads (2% give or take), this does not diminish the bold statement that this look can make.

Take it from Hollywood and stars like Lucille Ball, Cynthia Nixon, Isla Fisher, and Julia Roberts (none of which were born redheads FYI), going red can make an impact on how you look and feel. Who knows, maybe by becoming a redhead you may begin a path to your own star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame!

There is just something sexy about the richness of a brown hair color. Brunettes show their confidence by staying true to their natural shades, but will turn it up and be playful with underlying vibrant hues that give a prismatic interest when hit by sun light.

From your milk chocolates to your chestnuts; brown hair brings a timeless sense of feminine beauty to your choice in color.

Brunettes offer a casual commitment to change unlike some of the other color options available to you. Since they will hover in the safety of the middle ranges of the color spectrum, you can simply go up or down a few levels to alter your hair color palette. This also allows for those who may have a tendency to change every season (or with the arrival of your new fashion magazine in the mail.)

The benefits of going brunette

Brunettes have a solid balance of color so they are not as likely to wash out a fair complexion as perhaps a lighter blonde or darker color selection may do. Think of milk chocolate. Think of coffee with a splash of cream. Think of caramel. Think of all the delicious options available to you in choosing to go brown.

Brown hair also benefits from the personalization that only highlights can offer. Brunettes work wonderfully in tandem with both highlights and lowlights which also offer greater options for seasonal adjustments. Rich chocolates and tobacco shades benefit by subtle latte shades of lightening or by adding the depth of some random pieces of cinnamon for warmth.

The possibilities are endless. Or if you so desire, personalize your hair by adding both highlights and lowlights strategically placed to show off your style and personality!

Brown hair can be easily maintained by occasional color baths of semi/demi permanent dye to refresh the ends in between touch ups. Most brunette colors do have complementary formulation options that will help you keep your brunette rich and luxurious. There are also many color enhancing shampoo options to aid in the upkeep.

What style goes best with brown hair?

As there is no definite rule for any color to style match, you cannot go wrong with long brunette hair with soft, long layers. (This is not to say that a rich brown pixie cut will be any less sultry.)

Think of the beauty of Eva Medez, Brooke Burke, or Vanessa Hudgens.

If you want a color that will flatter most any skin type, has a palatable degree of maintenance, and a timeless appeal, check out the options that brown hair has in store for you. Some may say brunettes play it safe with hair color – I think they are playing it sexy.

They say gentlemen prefer them, they are the life of the party, and that it is the most coveted of hair colors – of course I am talking about blondes.

From the arousing allure of the glamour days of Hollywood (think Marilyn Monroe), to the outrageous fashion flair of Lady Gaga, blondes make a definite statement, and that statement is one of the most fun and glamorous looks available.

Blondes have historically combined the flirty girlishness of “the girl next door” with the hypnotic magnetism of the big screen vixens. Scan your eyes across the top of any crowd of people and the shades that catch the eye are frequently the blondes. There is something powerful and empowering about those who choose to venture down this hair color avenue. Since blondes will flatter most any skin tone and hair style, it is more of a technical and cost factor that needs to be considered before hitting the bottle and brush!

Which blonde shade is for me?

Although falling at the extreme end of the color spectrum, there are still so many hues and tones available for those who desire blonde locks. From the cooler champagnes, to the warmer strawberry shades, blondes do offer a variety of selections that can adapt to almost any skin tone.

Blondes add brightness and vibrancy to those whose skin tones could use a little pick-me-up. Whether through the strategic application of a few highlights around the face for a healthy glimmer, to a spray of foils in the crown to give a summery lifeguard-like glow, almost anyone can benefit from a bit of blonding. To the beach or to the bleach, the choices are up to you!

What are the downsides to going blonde?

Blonde hair color is a commitment. The lighter you go, the more noticeable the regrowth. For those who totally color or bleach their hair, you will see regrowth in a matter of days as opposed to weeks. You must also be aware that the chemicals required to lighten hair are much more caustic than those that just deposit pigment.

Beware of overlapping, over processing, and overdoing it. I have seen the hair of the abusers turn to an indescribable substance that no longer resembles hair. (In the industry we call it getting a “chemical hair cut.”) So if you are not a pro, respect your abilities (or lack thereof.)

Blondes can also require “toning.” This is a process where a shade of color is applied over the existing lightened hair to either neutralize brassiness, add a cooler tone, add shine and richness, or simply tweak the color to the desired shade. The downside, it is an extra service that requires money.

The upside, it can refresh your color in between retouches. This however is not a substitute for tending to your scalp regrowth. I don’t care what the fashion magazines try to tell you, “roots” are not hip, and you will become the girl others make fun of in line at the grocery if you neglect your blonde. Only celebrities can pull off the rooted look (even then, not so much!)

Go forth and go blonde

From the honeys to the wheats, from the icy to the warm, blondes offer a wide variety of color that adds interest, sex-appeal, and charm. You must remember though if you want the perfect finish, you must give attention to your blonde hair color. It is best to have a plan ahead of time as to what you are willing to invest in time and dime.

Consider the following:

– How much money can you afford?
– What technique (or techniques) will be used and what do they cost?
– How often must you attend to your hair?
– What products are best used to maintain the tonality?
– What will become of your hairs condition?

The options are endless and the menu of services is vast. No matter if it is inspired by icon Farrah Fawcett, to the edgy pale blonde of Christina Aguilera, blonde hair color can help you make your own bold statement as you stroll down the runway or down your own sidewalk!