The ombre hair trend, with its versatile applications and styles, is definitely here to stay. Now you don't need multiple expensive trips to a colorist to get it. Whether you want rainbow tresses or something more subtle, here's how to get DIY ombre hair in just five easy steps.



Choose Which Color You Want
Don't just pick up a box of hair dye and run with it. Think about colors and shades you've used in the past that looked great on you, and move forward from there for inspiration. Remember, you're doing this at home, so there's no need to do eight different shades of blue or green. Two to three shades close to your natural hue can look beautiful as well.

Buy Your Hair Dye
While you can use regular box dye to get the job done, there are also quite a few DIY ombre hair kits on the market that are easy to use, inexpensive, and which provide great results. The Revlon Color Effect Ombre, $10, in Chestnut comes with a special comb to ensure that you hit all the right spots and create a seamless finish for your new ombre look.

Lighten Your Ends
If your hair is dark, you'll need to lighten your ends first so that you'll get the most out of the dye that you're using. Be careful when you do this, as leaving a lightening mixture or bleach can make hair more prone to damage. The Clairol Born Blonde kit, $12, in Maxi will help you get the right shade on the ends before you apply the main color. Make sure you leave it in for at least half an hour for the best results.

Apply the Dye and Let the Color Develop
Gently work the dye into the ends of your hair using the brush. It's okay to be a little uneven here, but just remember that you'll want to apply less dye further up your hair than at the roots. You can wash the dye out after 20-40 minutes depending on the brand. Keep an old t-shirt or a throwaway towel handy to prevent staining everything in your bathroom with dye.

If you've skipped lightening your hair and are just opting for a darker DIY ombre hair style just at the tips of your hair, make sure you don't get any of the dye on your scalp, as this will affect the final look.

Rinse and Style
Whether you lightened your hair first or opted to brush a bit of darker color into the ends, at this point you can rinse your hair, apply a good hair masque or conditioner, and then gently style it. DIY ombre hair looks great in soft, beachy waves.

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