I recently talked about the reverse ombre and why it’s a bad idea. But there is another way to do it that looks good and isn’t so much maintenance.

Instead of painting the highlights on to gradually go from light roots to dark ends, you can do your highlights on top like normal, and do a single process underneath. By going a few shades darker underneath, you are actually creating a very natural look. Naturally the sun wouldn’t lighten that hair, because it’s not ever reaching it. If you have layers, even long layers, the darker underneath part will peek through the lighter parts, making a similar “reverse ombre” effect. There is actually very minimal damage with color like this, because you don’t have to do highlights underneath, and that saves your ends from a lot of grief! I had my hair like this for several years. I would do a 7N or 8N underneath, and do highlights on top every few months to keep it bright.

Here are a few pictures!

You guys, I don’t know why I just don’t enjoy J-Simps’ company. Her hair is a good example of what I’m talking about though.

Gwyneth Paltrow’s is my favorite!

Nicole always has great hair. Not because she has naturally great hair, but because she has a great stylist.

Way back in beauty school, we called this look The Shadowbox. We did a more severe look like Christina Aguilera though. Back in 2002, I loved the platinum blonde with red or black underneath. You couldn’t pay me to do it now. Ha.

Would you try this look?

Courtney sent over this pic after following our ombre tutorial. She looks great and I love how the highlights give her some extra warmth.

Great job Courtney, thanks for the photo!

Photo credit to aubs photography

It’s been a while since we’ve posted a tutorial on here! This is one we shot a few weeks ago with my friends Abbie (model) and Samuel (producer). Thanks for all your help, you two!

As I said in the video, this video isn’t so you’ll do your own color, PLEASE do not do your own color…this video is to help you know how to explain to your colorist what you want! I’m sure many of them already know how to do it, but if they don’t, here it is! (it’s also for some of you colorists who asked me how it’s done).

There are a few different ways to get this look, but this is the way I do it. I know other colorists who free hand the bleach onto wet ends. The water sends the bleach up the hair shaft. That’s a really nice effect too.

And now it’s time for an Ombre Cheer:

Let’s Go Ombre! Ombre Let’s Go!

Photography: Jake

Photo

I love that this is called Ombre Hair (first it was called Bayalage). I have been trying to get this look for over a century and I am finally accepting that I really need to have highlights in the very front section so that I don’t look washed out. I keep the ombre in the back though, just to hold tight to my dreams of having hair like these ladies above. I think these are two of my favorite ombre pictures ever. This technique of coloring has to be my favorite of all time. Isn’t it gorgeous? I wish it worked better on lighter blonds like myself!

Celebrities who do this look well: Sarah Jessica Parker, Rachel Bilson, Giselle  and Nicole Richie.