The Shadow Root Trend: Perfect Low-Maintenance Blend with Whole Lotta Benefits

The brand new shadow root coloring technique has entered the hair world, turning it upside down and showing that the color renaissance has happened. If you follow hair trends, you remember the tortuous path of recovering from the dark roots trend, where flawless results would wash away in less than a week. Then, the Hairy Godmother gave us balayage with its long-lasting results and smooth blend. And you know what? That was only the beginning. The color technique you’re going to meet today is absolutely different from anything else you could ever do in the salon. Forget about unattractive grown-out roots; smooth blurred transition between your roots and tips is here to perfect your color experiments. Dive in to get to know how you can benefit from going for shadowed roots!

What Is Shadow Root Hair?

The shadow root hair technique is similar to the good old ‘dark roots, light ends’ and different from that at the same time: it has no sharp contrast. Instead, it results in absolutely smooth and flawless blurred transition between shades. When creating the transition, colorists stretch the dye along the whole length, leaving the roots untouched. In this way, the hair at the roots and near this area remains as it is, and then connects the lighter ends with the roots through a pleasant gradient. Shadow root hair is an innovational color option for those who aren’t ready for commitment but still want to go for something new. Source: chrisjones_hair via Instagram

Shadow Root Hair Technique

It’s very important to find a colorist who knows how to shadow root the hair the right way, as the technique requires working with a certain method. First of all, the stylist applies the color to the midshaft and tips only, leaving the roots as they are. Then comes the fateful detail: the root color and the added shade should form a single whole, blending smoothly and softly with one another. Obviously, it’s better to stay away from the idea of getting a shadow root at home and leave the perfect smudge to professionals if you’re a newbie. The best thing is, with such a well-blended technique, you can create any look you want: from natural and effortless to bold and outrageous. Modern hairstylists, including celebrity colorists, love to diversify the coloring method, applying the dye to the roots for exceptional blend and fabulous finish. Besides, more and more stylists insist on their clients going for this technique because it:

• adds liveliness and dimension to the hair;
• provides a low-maintenance hair look that won’t require updates for up to three months;
• allows you to grow out your natural hair color while still having a well-balanced look;
• involves less damage since you don’t need to dye your roots;
• turns your hair into a canvas for endless color experiments;
• gives a totally trendy, hip look that follows the latest fashion;
• looks radiant on all lengths

Source: sheffpavelstylist via Instagram

Shadow Root Hair Looks To Try

Now, how about some inspiration? If you have no idea what your next color transformation will be, we’ve collected the most creative and special ideas that make heads turn and minds go crazy!

Highlighted Sandy Blonde With Shadow Roots

A lightweight sandy blonde shade that gently transits from dirty blonde roots to soft beige tint is here to show you how naturalness can meet dimension in blonde shadow root looks. Source: chrisjones_hair via Instagram

Shadow Roots Into Brown Balayage

With a shadow root balayage, you can find the happy medium between the most natural shades by sweeping a transparent blonde hue into your rich brown base. Source: sheffpavelstylist via Instagram

Brownish Toned Shadow Roots

This blonde with shadow root seems to have taken the popular dark-to-light graduation to the next level: it’s hard to see where the brownie ends and champagne begins. Source: kristin_ess via Instagram

Ash Blonde With Shadow Roots

You will see your favorite ash-blonde become more profound and seductive once you try achieving it through the root shadow technique that melts everything organically. Source: frances_hairartist via Instagram

Dirty Blonde With Shadow Roots

Shadow root blonde may come into your life in many different ways. And if you want it to be natural, pick a dirty blonde as a base: this shade of blonde goes ravishingly with deeper tones. Source: a.shtyrts via Instagram

Blonde Babylights And Shadow Root

If you can’t help but experiment with different coloring techniques, a shadow root is what can make your color play complete. Here, babylights enliven the whole length, while the shadowing gives it a beautiful gradient as a finish. Source: frances_hairartist via Instagram

Root Melt With Warm Lights

Although the primary is cool-toned, the overall look is somehow warm. Call it magic, call it true, but a couple of warmish sun-kissed streaks with nicely cold blended roots are enough to reach the perfect balance between the tones. Source: frances_hairartist via Instagram

Ginger Red Hair

Today, there’s no need to be jealous about natural redheads, as you can rock an even trendier shade with dimensional movement running from deep roots to lustrous tips Source: ashley.m.stylist via Instagram

Deep Red

If you’re into contrastive colors, why don’t you make the contrast look harmonic rather than drastic? This deep, wine-like red shade looks unbelievably tasteful and rich with the blurred touch of black hitting the roots. Source: makeupbyfrances via Instagram

Chestnut Brown

Getting back to naturally-looking color jobs, this idea shows how you can create a real masterpiece by mixing two similar shades. Make sure that the added shade is just a tone lighter than your roots, and you will get the most of the technique. Source: sheffpavelstylist via Instagram

Colored Roots Trend

The shadow root universe has prepared something more for you - the colored roots trend that involves the same technique with a different color approach. If you love vibrant looks that stand out in the crowd, you should become friends with colored roots!

Reddish Roots

Platinum blonde with shadow root colored red: who would’ve thought that would be a genius idea? What makes the look so special is an even blend of two absolutely remote shades. Source: makeupbyfrances via Instagram

The Beetle Flower

When you are about to make your color play as distinctive as possible, vivid roots come in. Needless to say, this purple shadow root knows what the spotlight is. Source: makeupbyfrances via Instagram

Blue Toned Roots To White

Here, the root smudge adds a lot of character to the snow-like blonde, adding even more depth and dynamics to the static cool tone. Source: makeupbyfrances via Instagram

Blue & Pink

You can go creative and apply a bright shade not only to the roots but also to the tips, finishing the look with a lighter hue at the mid-shafts. And don’t forget about pastels; they will always be in style. Source: makeupbyfrances via Instagram

Tropical Sunset With Blue Black Roots

Words are powerless when it comes to such dramatic, saturated, and simply unbearable color combinations. The colors are all different, yet, they build the ideal balance with this smooth transition, which is just the icing on the cake. Source: makeupbyfrances via Instagram No wonder that the shadow root technique is all the rage all around the globe: there’s no a woman who won’t love a perfectly smudged gradient embellishing her head. Apart from the amazing visual side, the color idea has a lot of benefits such as versatility and low-maintenance nature. Now that you know why it’s so special, as well as how different it can be, it’s time to think of brand new changes!

FAQ: Shadow Root