New season, new you, new hue. Here at Mama’s A Rolling Stone, that’s our motto when it comes to hair. After all, there’s nothing like a brand new season to inspire you to revamp your beauty regime and try out a fresh new look. Happily, it seems that a slew of stylish starlets agree—lately, Drew Barrymore, Alexa Chung, Ashlee Simpson, Rachel Bilson, and Isabel Lucas have all been spotted sporting dark roots that fade into lighter locks, or, more specifically, ombré hair. Naturally, when so many of our favorite fashionistas start paying attention to one look, we just know we’re on the cusp of a great new trend, which leads us to today’s story. For our latest edition of Beauty Queen, we’re delving headfirst into ombré hair and, thanks to two celebrity hair experts, finding out all the important details on how you can incorporate this effortless new look into your beauty regime.
But first, a little history. Eagle-eyed beauty fans are probably most familiar with ombré hair because of Texan model Erin Wasson, who has been sporting a surfer-chic variation of the look for years. More recently, however, über-cool brands like Alexander Wang and Rag & Bone have used a similarly grunge-meets-glam beauty look in their runway shows. What more is there to say? You’re in very good company! On that note, we present Beauty Queen: Ombré Hair.
First Steps
The best part about the ombré hair trend is its ease and effortlessness; the look is simple to achieve and, most importantly, maintain. There’s only one catch, and it’s not a big deal: length. “The easiest part of the look to achieve is length,” recommends Sacha Quarles, a celebrity hair stylist who has worked with such industry heavyweights as Chanel and was the lead hair stylist on Wall Street 2, where he worked with Carey Mulligan. “Shoulder length, or longer, is ideal.”
What’s Next?
So, you have the long locks. What’s next? According to our experts, there are two possibilities: a salon method, or an at-home method. If you prefer to put your trust in the experts, Sacha says, “For starters, I highly recommend going to an experienced colorist who can do bayliage, or hair painting, an advanced technique that is performed at a rapid pace. Basically, highlights are placed into the crown and the ends of the hair simultaneously, but the ends of the hair are done at least three levels lighter than the crown.”
Prefer to DIY?
If you prefer to DIY, there’s an option for you too. Naomi Mikami, who has worked with celebrities such as Rosario Dawson, Amber Heard, and Emanuelle Chriqui, says, “The best way to achieve this look is by a technique called sun-brushing. This works well for blonds and brunettes.” The idea behind sun-brushing is simple and effective. “Start either darker or warmer at the roots, and then gradually fade to a lighter shade at the ends of a sun-kissed effect. It gives your hair a natural look and is easy to maintain.”
Of course, both techniques require the same simple precaution: “For ombré hair, you must be careful not to leave an obvious line on the ends. Vary the lengths on your end highlights; some shorter, some longer. This keeps it natural,” says Sacha.
Which Products?
Ready to try this look? Naomi has some product recommendations. “I prefer Wella. They have so many color choices, and it’s very easy to find a color palette for almost any hair color.” When you’ve perfected your ombré look, Naomi recommends applying treatments to keep your color healthy. “If you’re getting salon treatments, try Noiraudepro by Milbon USA. It’s a keratin treatment customized to help rebuild the keratin in the hair shaft. Plus, collagen gives strength to your hair. If you are treating your hair at home, try Colure, Milbon USA or René Furterer products. They all have good shampoos and conditioners for chemically-treated hair.”
Mama’s A Rolling Stone would like to thank Naomi Mikami (of the Gavert Atelier Salon in Beverly Hills) and Sacha Quarles for their help.
Images: Firstview, Getty, PCN, Wireimage
