Make way for Sombré hair!

Every few months a new hair colouring technique gains popularity. While the Ombré look — with darker roots ending in contrasting lighter colour at the tips — was being sported for a long time, now women are adopting a more subtle version of this look. Sombré, a softer colour style, shows a slighter graduation in terms of colour from roots to ends. Stars like Jessica Alba, Lily Aldridge, Jamie-Lynn Sigler, Rachel Bilson and Olivia Wilde among others have been sporting this look. Sombré is versatile as it works on those with all hair colours, allowing you to stick to your natural shade with only a few subtle lighter lowlights. 

Adds texture to hair
Akshata Hunawar, creative director, Runah Salon says the benefits of the Sombré hair colour, besides having a trendy new look, are many. “It gives you a change from the classic highlights, it reduces your commitment to colour as the darker colour is very close to your natural hair and you can change the colour sooner. It is so popular in fact that almost every other colour job we do at the salon is a version of the Ombré. Further, this colour technique works very well with dark Indian hair as the lightest colour is applied to the ends. In the Sombré, the difference of colour is very subtle and this helps in reducing the contrast seen by placing blonde highlights. It also adds texture and lightness to otherwise thick Indian hair,” explains Akshata.

Colour lasts longer
The main benefit of the Sombré look is that re-growth isn’t that obvious and drastic as the roots are dark, and often left natural and thus logically the colour can go on for longer says Natasha Naegamvala, director, Nalini of Nalini and Yasmin Salon. “We are also advising lots of our clients to get versions of this for the same reasons as mentioned above. There are many permutations and combinations of colour that one can get since it would completely depend on what shades the client wants, and whether they want some colour on the roots or not. Post-colour care is essential, one should condition with a colour safe conditioner, and depending on the choice of colours, the appropriate after-care products. Always choose a family of tones that would best suit you.”

Makes you look younger
Pallavi Sehgal, hair expert, Oriflame India says while Ombré was a hot trend on the runways last year, a more subtle, Sombré has taken over this year. “Celebrities like Elle Fanning, Miley Cyrus, and even Kim Kardashian have been seen rocking platinum Sombré with much elan! The trend is slowly catching up in India as well. For a lot of people, Sombré highlights can make you look years younger and tones down the sharpness of one’s features. As we know, Indian hair is mostly in the darker spectrum of colours, usually ranging in browns to blacks and on the thicker side. I would suggest choosing colours that range into lighter browns ending with soft gold and if you have natural brown hair you could choose shades that go into honey blondes and yellow gold,” says Pallavi.