The best thing about cutting, coloring, and styling your hair is that there are no rules! You can slay a bright blue pixie one season and fiery red lob the next. Though there aren’t any official tenets for hair styles, that doesn’t mean many of us don’t follow several unspoken rules. We often let the seasons determine how we want to cut and color our hair. Summertime is perfect for bright hair hues, pastel colors look great in spring, while many people prefer to go darker for fall.
If you’re thinking about transitioning your summer hair color to fall but aren’t entirely ready to get rid of your sunny locks, we’ve got the perfect compromise for you: shadow hair. This new hair color technique perfectly combines the dark shades of fall hair with summer-like hues for a final look that is equal parts stunning and low maintenance. Sound like shadow hair is perfect for you? Keep reading for everything you need to know before you head to the salon.
What is shadow hair?
Shadow hair is what you get when your stylist perfectly combines the shadow roots, ombre, and balayage hair coloring techniques. Much like ombre hair, the shadow hair technique creates a gradient effect beginning with darkness at the roots but keeping the ends light. While you can create an ombre effect with any hair color, your colorist will keep the dark roots close to your natural color so that your roots will flawlessly blend in as they grow out. Your colorist will finish your look several strategically placed balayage highlights and lowlights to help create depth.
What is shadow hair?
Shadow hair is what you get when your stylist perfectly combines the shadow roots, ombre, and balayage hair coloring techniques. Much like ombre hair, the shadow hair technique creates a gradient effect beginning with darkness at the roots but keeping the ends light. While you can create an ombre effect with any hair color, your colorist will keep the dark roots close to your natural color so that your roots will flawlessly blend in as they grow out. Your colorist will finish your look several strategically placed balayage highlights and lowlights to help create depth.
What kind of maintenance does shadow hair require?
Unlike fantasy colors, shadow hair is relatively easy to maintain. That doesn’t mean you won’t have to change up your hair care routine, however.
To ensure your hue remains as flawless as possible, the most significant change you should make to your hair care routine is swapping your regular shampoo and conditioner for a duo formulated to protect your color. From the L'Oréal portfolio of products, we recommend Pureology’s Hydrate Shampoo and Conditioner.
Because the color closest to your roots will be very similar to your natural hair color, you should be able to stretch the time between color touch-ups several weeks or even months. While you may not have to head back to the salon to touch-up your hair color frequently, you should maintain your regular haircut schedule to ensure your hair looks and feels its best. If you’re not sure how often you should head back to the salon, your stylist will be able to suggest the best schedule for a follow-up appointment.
Your colorist will most likely use bleach to lift color from your hair and create the best base for your highlight shade, we recommend incorporating a hydrating deep conditioning mask into your weekly routine to combat the drying and damaging effects of bleach. Give Pureology’s Hydrate Superfood Treatment a try!
What is the best way to wear shadow hair?
The great thing about shadow hair is that it’s so close to your natural hair color, it’ll look stunning however your style it. In our opinion, however, it looks best on long hairstyles so that you can see the full, majestic ombre effect.
Not sure which length is perfect for you? You can’t ever go wrong with an on-trend lob.
Interested in customized advice about your perfect fall hair color? Use our salon locator to book an appointment with a stylist near you.
Hydrate Shampoo
A deeply hydrating, color-preserving shampoo for normal to thick dry, color-treated hair.
Hydrate Conditioner
A hydrating, softening conditioner for medium to thick dry, color-treated hair.
Hydrate Superfood Treatment Mask
A nourishing hair mask that hydrates, softens, and protects the vibrancy of color-treated hair.
