How To Get Ombré Hair With At-Home Hair Color

How to Get Ombré Hair Color and Highlights at Home

October 26, 2010

Ombre hair is one of the biggest hair color trends in years, showing up on stars like Rachel Bilson, Drew Barrymore, and Sarah Jessica Parker. But if you can't make it to the salon, here's how to do ombre highlights at home with box color. Stylist Jennifer J shows you how to give yourself ombre highlights, step by step. Watch our video for her secrets on how to get this dark-to-light look at home!

10 Comments

wyldstallyns 1 year 6 days

@Anonymous I agree, I usually love ombre though... Maybe it'd look better if the light part was closer to the bottom?

a zo 1 year 35 weeks

Petebruin/"H", I was right there with you in your comments...until you started talking about tattoos. Your commentary on that point is absurd. Just because you don't care for and/or understand that choice in others does not mean that such a desire is the result of some sort of psychological problem, or resultant of some trauma. You may want to try just being open to the fact that some people will simply prefer a different aesthetic from you, without being so judgmental. Or - better yet - talk to people with tattoos, and realize you're likely not so different after all...without being so automatically dismissive. a.

petebruin 1 year 46 weeks

Anonymous, I cannot argue with you that you hate the look. That is great that you left your opinion. For someone like me, I grew up in Southern CA, and do not have a lot of time to devote to my hair. Growing up here, I can tell you plainly that spending time out in the sun does the same thing. This ombre look is similar to a 70's craze, a very natural look. I have ashy blonde hair, and have always had lighter ends due to sailing hobby. I am more careful now about skin cancer, so do not go bathing in the sun as I used to; I sail with full sunblock, clothing, and hats. I am now very pale, I still love the natural look of ombre hair! Takes me back to younger years! I am a university professor, and work in private practice as well. Believe me, I think it is fabulous that this look has come back in style--fewer dreaded salon visits, with all those caustic chemicals. Now if you want to talk about tattoos...well, friend, I have an entirely different opinion. Why would anybody get a tattoo (unless of course it was a psychological rxn to cancer, sexual abuse, grief, or something equally traumatizing?). Maybe there we can meet. But hair is temporary...especially when we lose it after a cancer diagnosis. Life is too short not to have fun. (It is also too short to worry about wrinkles, IMO.) Thank you so much for this wonderful video, young lady! (I am sorry I did not get your name.) h

2 years 13 weeks

How stupid for a stylist to suggest this or any color at home service.

2 years 21 weeks

I just left nyc........with amazing color I just love it........if you're ever in nyc please check out David at "the hairmovement.com"

2 years 29 weeks

I'm so disappointed because I have been wanting to try this. Most people have dark hair that needs to be lightened on the ends, not the opposite. Please post another video with the reverse instructions for the rest of us (65% of the population is brunette!) Part of the allure of this look is that it's low maintenance and doesn't require the expensive salon visits that highlights do - especially in this economy. If you are dyeing from the roots down, you'll still have to touch-up constantly! It makes more sense to work with your own roots and go lighter from the ends up.

2 years 30 weeks

frenchys- this is funny, i just did that yesterday myself. My hair color is about a 4 and i lightened my hair so that the color ranges from raven at the top to a milk-chocolatey hazelnut at the tips. i used one of those brushes that was in the video and literally painted it on. i only put a little color on a few inches from the root and made it more concentrated at the ends. i left it all on for 25 minutes (instead of the reccommended 35-50; i didn't want to go as light as the girl on the box) and then went back and did a few pieces (the front, some on the sides and the back) for another ten the next week for some variation in the color. it looks super natural! and i have curly hair so it's sort of a tumble of curls. I used L'oreal frost and design in Caramel. Oh and i also used a toothbrush for some smaller sections.