Root Shadowing Is The New Hair Color Trend You’ve Got To Try
Ok, besties... Let’s talk about root shadowing. It's the latest trend in hair color that’s so crazy low maintenance, we can’t calm down. We're talking serious hair goals. For the longest time, the idea of letting our darker roots grow out almost seemed forbidden, and for the past decade or so it just hasn’t been ~cool~ to let your roots grow rogue. Grown out roots were once considered a hair color faux pas that either needed to be fixed ASAP or avoided altogether with touch ups with your colorist booked like clockwork.
But just like many of our favorite hair trends from the past year, root shadowing celebrates perfectly imperfect hair by making the look of grown out roots absolutely gorgeous and totally acceptable. Is it easy to pull off? Yup. Is it low maintenance? You bet. Does it work for all hair types? Yes! Are we obsessed? Oh, 100 percent. Here’s everything you need to know about root shadowing from celebrity hair colorist, Nikki Ferrara.
About the Expert:
Nikki Ferrara is a celebrity hair colorist in New York City. Her clients include Ellie Kemper, Olivia Wilde, and Mila Kunis. After years working at esteemed salons, including Oscar Blandi and Sally Hershberger, Ferrara opened her own bespoke salon, Nikki Ferrara Hair.
What Is Root Shadowing?
Think of root shadowing as a way to set your color up for successful, seamless regrowth that’s free of harsh lines and loaded up with dimension and shine. “Root shadowing is a technique used when a hair colorist applies a darker gloss to already pre-lightened highlights at your roots,” says Ferrara. “It’s typically a shade or two lighter than your natural hair color, which is what gives your hair that grown out look.” Root shadowing is typically placed at your roots and extends a few inches into your strands, which still leaves your ends brighter and lighter.
How Is Root Shadowing Different From Normal Regrowth?
The key here is that root shadowing isn’t just a happy side effect of grown out strands.The color is actually thoughtfully placed by your colorist to create the look of a seamless blend with the rest of your existing hair color whether it be highlights, balayage, or a full head of color. Plus, the fact that a root shadow doesn’t veer too far off from your natural root color is what helps make the process of regrowth an easy transition. “Root shadows work for anyone from medium and dark brunette to blonde. What I like is that it makes your natural hair appear a 1/2 a shade lighter than it actually is without doing a single process color,” according to Ferrara.
What Makes Root Shadowing So Low Maintenance?
Get ready for this: Root shadowing typically only requires touch ups every two to three months (yup, our jaws just hit the floor too). It’s true! So if you feel like you've been practically living in your colorist’s chair every few weeks, you’ll love being able to give you both some space. “It takes a while for root shadowing to fade. Because root shadowing starts to fade at around week eight, around week 12 is when you’ll really start to notice your roots, which means you’re really only having your hair done every three months,” says Ferarra.
Even better, once it is time for a touch up, the look of your growth won’t be nearly as harsh, according to Ferrara. Want to make your long-lasting look color last even longer? Ferrara recommends using a co-wash, like R & CO Analog Cleansing Foam Conditioner. “It’s super gentle for clients who need to wash their hair all the time,” she adds.
Bring These Pics to Your Next Color Appointment
Need some inspo? We did a deep dive and found loads of root shadow looks we love. Here are five that made us stop and stare.
1. The Bright Blonde Root Shadow
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When it comes to gorgeous color, Khloé Kardashian owns the floor. We’ve spotted shadow roots all over her looks on IG and we’ve got major heart eye emojis for all of them. “I tend to keep root shadows more on the neutral to a tiny bit of ash tone,” says Ferrara. These bright blonde strands paired with cool ash-toned roots make the perfect pairing.
2. The Creamy Blend Root Shadow
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This multidimensional blonde color screams low-maintenance. We spot a gorgeous warm-toned shadow root here that’ll blend seamlessly and grow out beautifully for months to come. To keep your blonde its brightest, try a color-saving shampoo like R & Co. SUNSET BLVD Daily Blonde Shampoo.
3. The Violet Root Shadow
Everything about this violet-blonde transition makes us ache for a major color change. Shadow roots like these pop on a lighter base and are the perfect way to test drive pastel colors like blues, pinks, greens, and purples without diving all the way in.
4. The Textured Blend Root Shadow
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The best part about embracing gorgeous, natural curls like these? It makes playing with color all the more fun. If you’ve got naturally dark roots, blending dark with light adds loads of depth and dimension and keeps need for touch-ups at a bare minimum.
5. The Cool-Toned Root Shadow
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If your natural color is super dark, this ultra-cool blonde color blended with muted ash-toned roots is a stunning take on root shadowing that’s loaded with effortless glam. Style this look with loose, beachy waves to amplify movement and shine. We love FOXYBAE’s Blush Curling Wand to skill this look like a pro.
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