The fashion world is a constant whirlwind of trends and ideas. One trend that’s stolen our hearts (and heads) lately is blonde hair with dark roots.
It’s a super sassy look that has been spotted on celebrities like Taylor Swift, Gigi Hadid and Selena Gomez.
Dark roots and blonde hair gives the illusion of thicker, longer hair while still maintaining a natural look. But how do you get this grunge goddess style? And will it suit you?
We’ve put together some tips for you to achieve this style at home!
Table of Contents
- What is blonde hair with dark roots?
- Does blonde hair look better with dark roots?
- What is a shadow root on blonde hair?
- What is colour melting?
- Is blonde hair with dark roots the same as ombre?
- Blonde hair with dark roots is best for
- Can I get blonde hair with dark roots at home?
- How do you blend dark roots with blonde hair?
- Watch and learn: How the pros do it.
- Pros and cons of blonde with dark roots.
- How do I care for blonde hair with dark roots?
What is blonde hair with dark roots?
This awesome trend has been all over our Instagram and Pinterest recently, and we’re obsessed!
Hair with blonde tips and darker roots is an effortless, grown-out style that looks like a natural vibe rather than something you did on purpose.
It’s also known as root stretch, root melt and shadow root!
This on-trend idea is a great alternative to ombre or balayage highlights because it’s low maintenance, modern looking, easy to style using heat tools (if you want), and looks good on most skin tones.
The new edgy hair trend involves having blonde ends to your brown or black hair. OR brown roots blonde hair!
If your hair is blonde, when your roots start to peek through because of lightening or time, you often see dark regrowth.
It looks incredible with all kinds of blonde shades and tones – from beige blonde, caramel blonde, platinum blonde, honey blonde and black and even dirty blonde!
It’s a great hairstyle for growing out ombre, balayage and highlights too.
Check out the latest looks for ideas and inspiration.
Does blonde hair look better with dark roots?
Back in the day, grown out roots were a sign that you weren’t properly maintaining your blonde barnet. No time for the salon? Stick on a hat!
Nowadays, it’s all the rage. The au natural look is what the hair fashion world is all about right now and having some ‘root regrowth’ in your hair just makes it look more relaxed and natural.
Having warmer, darker roots also stops blonde shades from washing you out too much, particularly for those with cooler tones and more ash blonde locks.
But ultimately, you need to decide what works best for your skin tone, eye colour and personal style.
What is a shadow root on blonde hair?
This is a term used to describe the natural colour of your roots or regrowth.
It’s called a “shadow” because the hair at your scalp is dark.
The most popular hairstyles these days involve long locks with plenty of volume. A shadow root adds an extra dimension and helps the appearance of volume from the root to tip.
If going from brunette to blonde requires more upkeep than you can handle, this style could be perfect for you.
What is colour melting?
This is a new trend that has been surfacing in salons all over the world, but what exactly is it?
Well, hair colour melting is essentially when you use two or more different shades together in order to create depth within your overall hue.
These two shades can be either contrasting or complementary hues depending on what the end result is that you’re looking for.
The shades are seamlessly blended with one another from root to tip without causing an unnaturally harsh contrast.
It’s also a really helpful technique if you want to add dimension and depth to your current hair colour.
Is blonde hair with dark roots the same as ombre?
Ombre is a version of this style, with a difference.
Ombre style is where a band of lighter blonde around the end of your hair and a darker, more natural colour on top.
Shadow root, sombre, root blur and root smudge are all variations of this look too.
Blonde hair with dark roots is best for
- Growing out highlights
- Making hair appear thicker
- Low maintenance look
- Adding depth and dimension
- Lightening up dark hair
Can I get blonde hair with dark roots at home?
It’s easy to get this look at home if you’re already blonde – dyed or otherwise.
You may think the best way is to let your roots grow out and let your natural colour show through.
But this really will look like you haven’t got time to go to the salon!
Far better is to use hair dye to create the blonde hair dark roots shadow root effect. This will make it appear softer, smudgier and a more deliberate style.
How do you blend dark roots with blonde hair?
Step one: Choose your hair dye
To achieve this look, we’ll need to dye your hair darker at the roots. Simple!
The best idea is to choose a hair dye colour close to your natural colour.
There are hair dyes specifically for root touch-ups but don’t be limited by them. Far better to get the colour right and you’ll have more choice with regular box dyes.
If you’re naturally blonde or light brown, go a shade or two darker to create that dark/light contrast.
Brown hair dyes tend to come up darker so be careful which one you choose. Always consult the colour chart on the box to match it to your natural colour.
If your hair is brunette, grey or darker – add some richness or tone to your hair with chocolate brown, chestnut or dark ash brown hair dye.
Step two: Apply it to your roots
Here you’ll need a hairdresser tint brush to get the application just right.
Using vertical strokes, apply the hair dye from your roots down.
The idea is to blend the colour into the blonde so make some sweeping strokes a bit longer than others.
Dab the brush at your roots to fully saturate them. This is where the colour should be darkest.
If you’re doing your roots for the first time, take a light touch and don’t go crazy.
You can always add more dye later if the results are too subtle. But you can’t remove it as easily!
Step 3: Leave to develop
Leave the hair dye to develop according to the instructions on the pack.
Don’t throw the hair dye that’s left over away just in case you need to add more.
Check on the colour in the mirror to make sure you don’t go too dark, light, or even orange!
Step 4: Wash your hair.
Rinse your hair dye out with a good shampoo until the water runs clear and condition as usual.
Step 5: Style and admire!
Take a look. Is there good coverage at the roots? Does the blur look natural? If you need more darkness up top, repeat step 2 to 4.
Watch and learn: How the pros do it.
Pros and cons of blonde with dark roots.
Pros
An effortless, understated look
Easy to maintain
The best style for growing out other blonde colours like highlights and streaks.
Gives hair volume
Hides grey hair
Cons
Needs regular root touch-ups
Can be tricky to blend dark and blonde colours at first
Can turn brassy
How do I care for blonde hair with dark roots?
Although dark roots blonde hair is a low maintenance look, the health of your hair still needs looking after. Particularly the blonde ends which will be drier and more brittle.
The secret is to make sure you look after your colour with products that are made specifically for coloured hair. They’ll contain ingredients that are not so harsh on your hair which will help your colour last longer and restore it’s natural lusciousness.
If your hair is showing signs of red or orange brassiness, you can keep it cool in between colours with a good blue shampoo for brown hair. These are toning shampoos that eliminate unwanted brassiness.
And use a good deep conditioner once a week to restore your hair’s moisture and elasticity.
