42 Best Ombré Hairstyles for Anyone Who Wants an Effortless 'Do
Say hello to these fabulous looks.
The ombré hair trend may have first risen to popularity in the early 2010s, but now in 2020 there's no sign of the faded hairstyle going anywhere anytime soon. Ombré hairstyles are the perfect beauty statement for anyone who has trouble choosing between hair colors (red hair dyes, anyone?) or prefer lower-maintenance 'dos. Having a no-fuss style is important for Ree Drummond: A trip to the salon is an all-day affair when you live on a ranch. She says that in the country, "the length of one’s hair is directly related to the length of highway it is to the salon in the big city." Ombré allows you to stretch out the time between salon trips—because the lighter color starts past your roots, you avoid getting a harsh line of demarcation as your hair grows out.
Now that you're sold on the perks of ombré, you might be looking at your calendar for the earliest date to schedule your transformation. But wait a minute—you need to know what to ask for first! Ahead you'll discover dozens of ombré hairstyles to inspire your next look. Bookmark the picture so that your colorist will know exactly what you're craving come D-Day (dye day, of course!). And while you're at it, take a look at some other styling ideas too, like the best short haircuts for older women.
Bright-Yet-Subtle Fade
We love Jessica Biel's ombré hairstyle, not only for its dark roots and bright ends but also for the ultra-smooth, extra-subtle fade between the two. The Sinner actress clearly went to a top-notch colorist for this stunning style.
Hints of Chestnut
Leave it to Mandy Moore to stop us dead in our tracks with a hundred-watt smile and a swoon-worthy ombré hairstyle. We love the hints of chestnut color woven into her face-framing strands to help make the faded style a bit less stark.
Almond Latte
How flawless is Jennifer Hudson's almond-tinted bob? Her dark roots look so rich when faded into the creamy rose-gold ends.
Caramel Crop
While we forever adore Chrissy Teigen's long, beachy locks, we loved when she rocked this ever-so-slight ombré crop at the 2020 Grammy's.
Icy Fade
Jessica Alba is one of the queens of ombré in our book. Here, the Honest Beauty founder slays in an icy blonde fade.
High-Shine Espresso Fade
If the most perfect cup of coffee were a hair color, we're certain Ana de Armas's high-shine brunette mane would be it. Just look at that fade from dark espresso to a slightly-lighter blonde roast.
Mahogany Moment
Jennifer Garner is one of the most down-to-earth celebrities on the planet (just look at her Instagram feed if you don't believe us). It's only fitting that the low-key star would opt for a stunning ombré fade that doesn't require lots of work to maintain.
Honey Ends
Ellen Pompeo looks every bit Meredith Grey with this honey-blonde ombré hairstyle. As major fans of Grey's, we might just have to follow suit.
Subtle Highlights
It should be a crime to look this good (see what we did there?). Mariska Hargitay (AKA Law & Order: SVU's lieutenant Olivia Benson) keeps her ombré hairstyle subtle as can be with babylights woven throughout to help blend her ends with the rest of her hair.
Copper Coils
Ashleigh Murray looks fiery and fierce with this black-to-copper ombré hairstyle. Pretty sure her Riverdale alter-ego, Josie McCoy of Josie and the Pussycats, would agree.
Blonde Transition
Not all ombré hairstyles have to go from brown to blond. Here, Taylor Swift makes a case for transitioning between blonde shades, showcasing dirtier, icy blonde up top and brighter, sunny blonde down below.
Mocha Latte
Laverne Cox's rich mocha fade is the ombré hairstyle of our coffee-inspired dreams. Just looking at her black-to-brown-to-blonde mane gives us a boost of energy to—who knows—maybe do the same.
Black-to-Brown
Selena Gomez's subtle ombré hairstyle features black roots faded into chestnut-brown ends. While black and brown might not seem like they go hand in hand, it seems the "Lose You To Love Me" singer proves otherwise.
Grown-Out Roots
Love the look of grown-out roots? Blake Lively's blonde ombré hairstyle puts them on full display.
Two-in-One
Ready to kill to beauty trends with one look? Rachel Bilson's ombré color paired with the season's beloved lob will do the trick.
Reddish Brown Ombré
If you're hoping to think outside the box with your next hair color, consider Martina McBride's reddish brown base faded into sunny-blonde ends. The dimension pairs especially well with green and blue eyes.
Hints of Highlights
Not ready to go full ombré? You can get a taste of the trend with Jamie Chung's face-framing highlights, babylights, and brighter ends.
Ash Blonde Ends
Working on growing out your ends? Adding a bright ombré hue to your ends like Maren Morris will make the process a touch more alluring—especially when working through the awkward length phases.
Blonde Sombré
If your hair color motto is "The subtler, the better," you'll love Christina Applegate's gentle blonde fade. The Dead to Me actress pairs dirty blonde roots with sunny blonde mids and ends for a bright look that could quite possibly pass for natural.
Pst: To maintain the bright blonde color, you'll need to add a purple shampoo into your routine. Try Amika's Bust Your Brass Blonde Purple Shampoo.
Salted Caramel Fade
Leave it to Judy Hale (whoops, Linda Cardellini) to rock a hair color that's just as sweet as her Dead to Me character. The rich, dark base faded into creamy caramel ends is just too delicious to pass up.
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