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31 Stunning Black Ombré Hair Ideas You'll Love

 

Who remembers when everywhere you turned, you saw ombré hair? The color technique blew up overnight and has transcended the test of time. If you have black or otherwise very dark hair, consider yourself blessed because so many colors will look amazing coupled with your natural shade.

One of the best things about black ombré hair (or another type of ombré, depending on your natural hair color) is it requires very little upkeep. You don't have to rush to the salon every few weeks because the gradient is designed to look natural as it fades. It's essentially a lazy hair dream. There are several techniques for executing this color transition, so we spoke with experts for tips on exactly how to pull off this look. Get your color mood board started with a scroll through our 31 favorite black ombré hair ideas for all hair types.

Meet the Expert

• Janna Velasquez is a hair stylist at Bomane Salon in Beverly Hills.
• Lorena M. Valdes is a colorist at Maxine Salon in Chicago.

 

Black Ombré

Choosing a Shade: "The best combination for black/dark brown ombré is going from dark at the root to either a red or caramel tone towards the ends with a modern cross-over of balayage-ombré to make it even more low maintenance," Valdes advises.

Maintenance Level: "To bring the ombré back up, every three to six months for a fresh look—but it could [also] need a gloss every so often depending on the ends," Valdes explains.

Goes Great With: Those with natural black or brunette hair can easily pull off this look. If your hair is a different color naturally, the look will become higher maintenance if you choose to commit to the black roots.

Similar Shades: Brown ombré, brown balayage, purple ombré

Price: You can expect to pay at least $160 and up.

Black and Caramel

Go the classic route and dip-dye your jet-black strands with a caramel-brown hue. I mean, look at how effortlessly gorgeous these wavy styles look—and it looks even better in the fall.

Black and Soft Red

If your hair is naturally black or dark brown, Valdes highly recommends aiming for reds and caramels to "maintain the shine and integrity." And "with more maintenance and time, you could go lighter and cooler," she says.

Black and Chestnut Ombré

This black-to-chestnut brown look, as seen here on actor Gina Rodriguez, is a subtle yet noticeably gorgeous upgrade. It's one of the oldest ombré trends in the book, and it'll always be in style and loved by celebrities, colorists, and models alike.

Black and Golden Chestnut Ombré

For a more sun-kissed look, lighten the ends to a golden chestnut hue. Use a curling iron to add face-framing curls. Velasquez recommends the Davines Alchemic Tonal Shampoos and Conditioners to ensure long-lasting results and enhance your color.

Black and Light Chestnut Ombré

This light chestnut hue gives the perfect natural look for those who want a more subtle take on this trend. It also grows out well, so maintenance is easy and requires less trips to the salon.

Black and Blonde Ombré

Whether you're going for an ashy, sandy, platinum, or vivid blonde hue, this versatile colorway, seen here on actor Sarah Jane Crawford, will surely turn heads. The options are endless when it comes to balayage blonde.

Byrdie Tip

This a nice middle ground if you're not ready to go all the way blonde yet. The style illustrates how stunning these contrasting shades look together.

 

Black and Curly Blonde Ombré

According to Valdes, lightening darker hair to blonde requires more upkeep. "They may touch up their natural color with a dark base, but it will be the complete opposite of low maintenance," she explains. "It will need root touch-ups every four to six weeks."

Black and Burgundy Ombré

Burgundy ombré, seen here on Vanessa Hudgens, looks stunning and very on-trend no matter the season. It's a smooth departure from standard brown or blonde hues that are still versatile and suitable for all hair types.

Byrdie Tip

Vibrant color tends to fade quickly, but you can maintain it by washing the ends with a color-depositing shampoo that helps preserve the shade.

 

Black and Copper Ombré

Copper hues work well on those with warm skin tones. This color blends amazingly with dark hair, adding dimension and movement.

Black and Ginger Ombré

Ginger hues add more of a red tone to your hair than copper. To preserve your ginger shade, make sure you wash with a shampoo made for color-treated hair. One great option that won't break the bank is the sulfate-free Hair Food Color Protect Shampoo.

Black and Gray Ombré

Black and gray just go together. This chic hair color trend blew up a few years ago and isn't going anywhere anytime soon. This elegant transition from black to gray can read silver, ashy, pearly, and more—this one adds a grayish tone to the classic medium brown. It's up to you and the route you want to go. So long are the days when gray was associated with age.

Black and Baby Blue Ombré

Liven up your hair with pastel blue lowlights. It's fun, unexpected, and out-of-the-box, which is what experimenting with hair colors is all about.

Black and Lilac Ombré

Purple pairs so well with black hair. We're into moody beauty choices, and these deep lavender lowlights give off that vibe. A pop of purple on your ends will add an element of surprise to your strands. 

Black and Hot Pink Ombré

For those who want to make a statement, black and pink is a surefire way to turn some heads.

Byrdie Tip

To preserve the color, wash only a few times a week in cold water with a color-protecting shampoo.

 

Black and Auburn Ombré

Bella Thorne's black and auburn ombré is edgy and totally versatile. We love how she paired the look with coral lipstick and winged eyeliner. To protect hair from dryness and frizz after coloring, Velasquez recommends the Davines Nourishing OI Hair Milk and Oil.

Black and Emerald Green Ombré

Black and green is bold, yet with a deep emerald shade it can also feel a little more subtle than pink. It is important to know, however, that green hair color doesn't wash out easily. To get rid of the green, you'll likely either need to color your entire hair black or chop it off.

Black and Honey Ombré

This black-and-honey moment is a warmer take on the black-and-blonde ombré trend. Lightening your hair generally requires bleach, so make sure you invest in a good conditioner to keep your ends healthy.

Black to Two-Toned Ombré

Cardi B gets in on the rainbow trend with this out-of-this-world, two-toned look. On naturally dark hair, rainbow ombré will require bleach, followed by the colors. "My absolutely favorite is to do it as a bleach and tone to clean out the hair from roots to ends, then adding the fashion colors over top," Valdes says.

Reverse Black Ombré

You can also try out this trend in reverse, with blonde at the roots and a black ombré at the ends. Depending on your natural hair color, this look may require more trips to the salon to keep your roots from growing out. Alternatively, this is an easier way to try black ombré hair if you're a natural blonde.

Black and Neon Green Ombré

Leave it to Billie Eilish to put her own cool spin on the black ombré trend. She does a bit of the reverse look, with neon green at the crown transitioning to black at the ends.

Black Ombré Locs

Megan Thee Stallion showed off her long ombré locs, which are black at the crown and transition to copper ends. Locs are considered a protective hairstyle, but you should note that the ends can get dry and damaged, especially if you color them. Use a product like Lion Locs to protect the ends from drying out and help control frizz.

Silver Ombré Curls

Silver is making a comeback in a big way, and it's not just for the older crowd. This shimmery gray color draws attention to the face-framing curls. If you have naturally black hair, maintenance will be a breeze for this style.

Oil Slick

Oil-slick hair is all over Instagram, as it's a more subtle take on the rainbow hair trend. Black roots transition to a jewel-toned ombré, which shimmers in the light like an oil slick. Work in a shine-boosting serum, such as the Color Wow Pop + Lock Frizz Control + Glossing Serum, to make your colors really stand out.

Black to Platinum Ombré

Dark roots transition to a white blonde in this chic ombré look. You can choose an ashy, golden, or platinum shade depending on your skin tone and the effect you want.

Cornrowed Ombré

Ombré pairs perfectly with braids, especially if you don't want to commit to dying your actual hair. As seen on actor Alexandra Shipp on the red carpet, she cornrowed her dark hair and wove faux blonde locks into the mix, creating a subtle ombré peek-a-boo effect at the ends.

Black and Platinum Blonde Ombré

If you're looking to spruce up your dyed hair mood board, look no further than the K-pop scene. In 2022, Blackpink's Jisoo rocked the black-to-blonde ombré do, often straightening her hair, which really showed off the stark contrast.

Black and Streaky Brown Ombré

Streaky auburn ends can really make a difference on dark hair, as shown on actor Claire Foy. Her red carpet hairstyle blends so naturally into one another that'd you think she was born with it.

Black and Purple Ombré

Black hair and deep purple hues are a match made in heaven, similar to that of red. In 2017, Justine Skye embraced the vibrant pop of color on her jet-black hair—though to achieve a color as bright as hers, you'll need to enlist a professional to bleach it first.

Black and Beyoncé Blonde Ombré

Beyoncé's signature blonde hair was clearly the inspiration for Laverne Cox's red carpet glam back in 2018. She left very little room for her natural black roots to show, giving the natural "grown-out" finish.

Black and Vibrant Auburn Ombré

Consider Miriam Leone's hair a sign to go red with your ombré. Here, it takes on a well-blended balayage.

Black and Subtly Golden Ombré

Tefi Pessoa is the queen of ombré, which has been her signature look for years. As seen above, she lets her dyed strands grow out, with most of her hair dominated by her natural dark brown color. The end result is a more understated—but still very visible—gradient.

FAQ

What are the best ombré colors for black hair?

If you want a natural look, consider chestnut, honey, auburn, or light brown hues. For a more dramatic look, have fun with platinum, green, pink, or blue.

How can you keep your black ombré hair looking healthy?

If your hair is bleached at the ends, make sure you use a good conditioner and a heat protectant before styling to prevent split ends. If your ends have color on them, avoid using clarifying shampoos, which can strip the color and stick to color-safe shampoo and conditioner.

What is a reverse ombré ?

A reverse ombré is light at the roots and gets gradually darker, while a regular ombré has dark roots and lighter ends. Depending on your natural hair color, a reverse ombré may require more upkeep to prevent grow-out at your roots. 

What's the difference between ombré and balayage?

"Ombré technique is a bit bolder," Velasquez told Byrdie in reference to ombré's cousin, balayage. "I tend to approach ombrés in foils using a teasing technique to ensure a really nice melt from dark to light, embracing more of a dramatic feel from roots to ends."