How to Ombre Hair
Ombre hair is a coloring effect in which the bottom portion of your hair looks lighter than the top portion. Done haphazardly, the effect can create a stark, unappealing contrast. In order to make the ombre effect look a little more natural, apply the dye in two separate steps, creating a gradient that gets lighter at your tips.
Steps
Preparation
1
Determine what style you want to go for. There are different ways to ombre your hair. Some ombre looks mimic the effect of dark roots showing through a light hair dye, while others take a more purposeful approach by simply dyeing the tips of the hair in a lighter shade.
2
Consider whether you should use bleach or a milder dye. Hair bleach is an effective lightener and can be used on healthy hair that has not been recently colored, but it does dry hair out. If you have dry, brittle hair or damaged hair you should opt for a milder blonde dye that does not use a harsh bleaching product. The effect may not be as effective, but it will be better for your hair in the long run.
Alternatively, you could go to a hair salon and have any existing color stripped from your hair.[1] Allow your hair to recover for a few weeks before attempting to use a bleach lightening kit to ombre your hair.
3
Put on a smock or ratty t-shirt. There is a good chance that you will get bleach or dye onto your clothes during the process. An artist or styling smock should help prevent this, though. If you do not have a smock to throw on, change into an old t-shirt that you can get dirty.
4
Divide your hair into sections. Part your hair down the middle so that it is split half-and-half. Then, divide both halves into as many sections as you feel comfortable with. At the very least, you should divide each half into half again, splitting your hair into quarters. If you are not accustomed to dyeing your hair, though, you could also consider dividing your hair into six or eight smaller sections. Pin or tie each section off to separate it from the rest.
5
Section off the hair getting dyed. The amount of hair you section off will depend on the ombre look you want. Generally, the bottom quarter or third is a good place to start. Braid each section, and use hair elastics to tie off your ends, effectively marking where the bleach and dye will go.
Applying the First Layer
1
Prepare the bleach or dye as directed on the package. It will be easiest if you use a product from a hair bleaching or dyeing kit, since the kit will include everything you need to prepare and apply the color.
2
Apply the color mixture to the tips of your hair. If the kit you purchased includes a brush, use the brush to apply the hair color in the most natural manner possible. Otherwise, you can wear disposable plastic gloves and apply the bleach or dye using your hands. Start at the elastic and work the color in your hair from the band down. Do not apply the color evenly, though, since this will leave your hair looking very unnatural. Instead, allow some of the bleach to reach up to the elastic while stopping short of the elastic in other areas.
Paint using small brush strokes. In order to diffuse the color, rub the bleach or dye into your hair using gloved fingers.
Continue this process until the tips of each section are lightened.
3
Wrap hair foil around your tips. It is not entirely necessary to do so, but wrapping your ends will keep the bleach or dye from getting onto other things and will make the entire process neater and cleaner. Place a small section of colored hair into the foil and wrap it up, first by folding the wrapper over the hair length-wise and then by folding up the bottom end to seal the section off.
4
Keep the coloring product on your hair for 20 minutes or so. The exact amount of time you will need varies depending on how light you want your hair to become. To achieve a copper tone, 20 to 30 minutes will usually suffice. Peek into the foil periodically to check on the progress and remove the foil when your hair lightens to a desirable shade.
5
Wash and dry the ends. After removing the foil, wet your ends. You do not necessarily need to shampoo your hair at this point, but you should at least rinse them with water to dilute the color. Air dry your hair or use a blow dryer on a low setting to get your hair completely dry again.
Applying the Second Layer
1
Section off your hair once more. Divide your hair into its original sections. Tie off the ends with elastic bands again, but this time, position the bands higher up. If you lightened the bottom third of your hair before, try positioning the elastic bands about halfway up.
2
Work the lightening product into your hair with your hands.[2] While wearing disposable plastic gloves, place some of the lightener into the palm of one hand and rub them together to distribute it evenly into both hands. Lightly work it into each tied off tip of your hair. You need to apply the product to the part of your hair already lightened as well as the non-colored portion below the elastic. As before, use short, uneven strokes to achieve a softer, more natural look. Continue until all your tips are coated lightly.
3
Comb the product through the ends. Run a comb through the ends of your hair to blend the bleach or dye into your ends more thoroughly.
4
Foil your ends again. Place small sections of colored ends into a section of hair foil. Wrap each section by folding the foil over your ends lengthwise, then fold up the end to seal the section.
5
Remove the foil after 20 to 30 minutes. Peek beneath the foil periodically to check the progress. Once the newly lightened portion appears to be the same color that your tips looked after the first round, remove the foil. Note that the tips will be much blonder than before.
6
Wash your hair. This time, use water and shampoo. Use a shampoo formulated for hair coloring to avoid washing out or fading the coloring too much. If you used bleach, you should also condition your hair to bring back some of the moisture that was just lost.
7
Dry your hair. To avoid further damage to your hair, air dry your hair or dry it with a blow dryer on a low heat. Style as desired.
via: wikihow
Consider whether you should use bleach or a milder dye. Hair bleach is an effective lightener and can be used on healthy hair that has not been recently colored, but it does dry hair out. If you have dry, brittle hair or damaged hair you should opt for a milder blonde dye that does not use a harsh bleaching product. The effect may not be as effective, but it will be better for your hair in the long run.
Alternatively, you could go to a hair salon and have any existing color stripped from your hair.[1] Allow your hair to recover for a few weeks before attempting to use a bleach lightening kit to ombre your hair.
3
Put on a smock or ratty t-shirt. There is a good chance that you will get bleach or dye onto your clothes during the process. An artist or styling smock should help prevent this, though. If you do not have a smock to throw on, change into an old t-shirt that you can get dirty.
4
Divide your hair into sections. Part your hair down the middle so that it is split half-and-half. Then, divide both halves into as many sections as you feel comfortable with. At the very least, you should divide each half into half again, splitting your hair into quarters. If you are not accustomed to dyeing your hair, though, you could also consider dividing your hair into six or eight smaller sections. Pin or tie each section off to separate it from the rest.
5
Section off the hair getting dyed. The amount of hair you section off will depend on the ombre look you want. Generally, the bottom quarter or third is a good place to start. Braid each section, and use hair elastics to tie off your ends, effectively marking where the bleach and dye will go.
Applying the First Layer
1
Prepare the bleach or dye as directed on the package. It will be easiest if you use a product from a hair bleaching or dyeing kit, since the kit will include everything you need to prepare and apply the color.
2
Apply the color mixture to the tips of your hair. If the kit you purchased includes a brush, use the brush to apply the hair color in the most natural manner possible. Otherwise, you can wear disposable plastic gloves and apply the bleach or dye using your hands. Start at the elastic and work the color in your hair from the band down. Do not apply the color evenly, though, since this will leave your hair looking very unnatural. Instead, allow some of the bleach to reach up to the elastic while stopping short of the elastic in other areas.
Paint using small brush strokes. In order to diffuse the color, rub the bleach or dye into your hair using gloved fingers.
Continue this process until the tips of each section are lightened.
3
Wrap hair foil around your tips. It is not entirely necessary to do so, but wrapping your ends will keep the bleach or dye from getting onto other things and will make the entire process neater and cleaner. Place a small section of colored hair into the foil and wrap it up, first by folding the wrapper over the hair length-wise and then by folding up the bottom end to seal the section off.
4
Keep the coloring product on your hair for 20 minutes or so. The exact amount of time you will need varies depending on how light you want your hair to become. To achieve a copper tone, 20 to 30 minutes will usually suffice. Peek into the foil periodically to check on the progress and remove the foil when your hair lightens to a desirable shade.
5
Wash and dry the ends. After removing the foil, wet your ends. You do not necessarily need to shampoo your hair at this point, but you should at least rinse them with water to dilute the color. Air dry your hair or use a blow dryer on a low setting to get your hair completely dry again.
Applying the Second Layer
1
Section off your hair once more. Divide your hair into its original sections. Tie off the ends with elastic bands again, but this time, position the bands higher up. If you lightened the bottom third of your hair before, try positioning the elastic bands about halfway up.
2
Work the lightening product into your hair with your hands.[2] While wearing disposable plastic gloves, place some of the lightener into the palm of one hand and rub them together to distribute it evenly into both hands. Lightly work it into each tied off tip of your hair. You need to apply the product to the part of your hair already lightened as well as the non-colored portion below the elastic. As before, use short, uneven strokes to achieve a softer, more natural look. Continue until all your tips are coated lightly.
3
Comb the product through the ends. Run a comb through the ends of your hair to blend the bleach or dye into your ends more thoroughly.
4
Foil your ends again. Place small sections of colored ends into a section of hair foil. Wrap each section by folding the foil over your ends lengthwise, then fold up the end to seal the section.
5
Remove the foil after 20 to 30 minutes. Peek beneath the foil periodically to check the progress. Once the newly lightened portion appears to be the same color that your tips looked after the first round, remove the foil. Note that the tips will be much blonder than before.
6
Wash your hair. This time, use water and shampoo. Use a shampoo formulated for hair coloring to avoid washing out or fading the coloring too much. If you used bleach, you should also condition your hair to bring back some of the moisture that was just lost.
7
Dry your hair. To avoid further damage to your hair, air dry your hair or dry it with a blow dryer on a low heat. Style as desired.
via: wikihow
