How To Get The Look At Home

The fashion world is a constant whirlwind of trends and ideas. One trend that’s stolen our hearts (and heads) lately is blonde hair with dark roots.

It’s a super sassy look that has been spotted on celebrities like Taylor Swift, Gigi Hadid and Selena Gomez.

Dark roots and blonde hair gives the illusion of thicker, longer hair while still maintaining a natural look. But how do you get this grunge goddess style? And will it suit you?

We’ve put together some tips for you to achieve this style at home!

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Why Blonde with Dark Roots is So Popular

This awesome trend has been all over our Instagram and Pinterest recently, and we’re obsessed!

Hair with blonde tips and darker roots is an effortless, grown-out style that looks like a natural vibe rather than something you did on purpose.

It’s also known as root stretch, root melt and shadow root!

Blonde hair with dark roots isn’t just trendy—it’s practical. By keeping your natural root color intact or slightly enhanced, you avoid the high maintenance of constant bleaching. Plus, the contrast adds depth and makes blonde hair look thicker and more textured.

“Dark roots can make blonde hair look more intentional and less like a grow-out phase,” says celebrity colorist Aura Friedman. “It’s all about blending the shades to create a seamless transition.”

It looks incredible with all kinds of blonde shades and tones – from beige blonde, caramel blonde, platinum blonde, honey blonde and black and even dirty blonde!

It’s a great hairstyle for growing out ombre, balayage and highlights too.

Check out the latest looks for ideas and inspiration.

How To Blend Dark Roots With Blonde Hair

Brown hair dyes tend to come up darker so be careful which one you choose. Always consult the color chart on the box to match it to your natural color.

If your hair is brunette, grey or darker – add some richness or tone to your hair with chocolate brown, chestnut or dark ash brown hair dye.

Step two: Apply it to your roots

Here you’ll need a hairdresser tint brush to get the application just right.

Using vertical strokes, apply the hair dye from your roots down.

The idea is to blend the color into the blonde so make some sweeping strokes a bit longer than others.

Dab the brush at your roots to fully saturate them. This is where the color should be darkest.

If you’re doing your roots for the first time, take a light touch and don’t go crazy.

You can always add more dye later if the results are too subtle. But you can’t remove it as easily!

Pro Tip: For a temporary fix, root touch-up sprays like Rita Hazan Root Concealer can give you the look without the commitment.

Step 3: Leave to develop

Leave the hair dye to develop according to the instructions on the pack.

Don’t throw the hair dye that’s left over away just in case you need to add more.

Check on the color in the mirror to make sure you don’t go too dark, light, or even orange!

Step 4: Wash your hair.

Rinse your hair dye out with a good shampoo until the water runs clear and condition as usual.

Step 5: Style and admire!

Take a look. Is there good coverage at the roots? Does the blur look natural? If you need more darkness up top, repeat step 2 to 4.

Watch and learn: How the pros do it.

Here’s a great video tutorial that guides you through how to apply a root shadow.

Blonde hair with dark roots FAQs

Does blonde hair look better with dark roots?

Back in the day, grown out roots were a sign that you weren’t properly maintaining your blonde barnet. No time for the salon? Stick on a hat!

Nowadays, it’s all the rage. The au natural look is what the hair fashion world is all about right now and having some ‘root regrowth’ in your hair just makes it look more relaxed and natural.

Having warmer, darker roots also stops blonde shades from washing you out too much, particularly for those with cooler tones and more ash blonde locks.

But ultimately, you need to decide what works best for your skin tone, eye color and personal style.

What is a shadow root on blonde hair?

This is a term used to describe the natural color of your roots or regrowth.

It’s called a “shadow” because the hair at your scalp is dark.

The most popular hairstyles these days involve long locks with plenty of volume. A shadow root adds an extra dimension and helps the appearance of volume from the root to tip.

If going from brunette to blonde requires more upkeep than you can handle, this style could be perfect for you.

What is color melting?

This is a new trend that has been surfacing in salons all over the world, but what exactly is it?

Well, hair color melting is essentially when you use two or more different shades together in order to create depth within your overall hue.

These two shades can be either contrasting or complementary hues depending on what the end result is that you’re looking for.

The shades are seamlessly blended with one another from root to tip without causing an unnaturally harsh contrast.

It’s also a really helpful technique if you want to add dimension and depth to your current hair color.

Is blonde hair with dark roots the same as ombre?

Ombre is a version of this style, with a difference.

Ombre style is where a band of lighter blonde around the end of your hair and a darker, more natural color on top.

Shadow root, sombre, root blur and root smudge are all variations of this look too.

Can I get blonde hair with dark roots at home?

It’s easy to get this look at home if you’re already blonde – dyed or otherwise.

You may think the best way is to let your roots grow out and let your natural color show through.

But this really will look like you haven’t got time to go to the salon!

Far better is to use hair dye to create the blonde hair dark roots shadow root effect. This will make it appear softer, smudgier and a more deliberate style.

How do I care for blonde hair with dark roots?

Although dark roots blonde hair is a low maintenance look, the health of your hair still needs looking after. Particularly the blonde ends which will be drier and more brittle.

The secret is to make sure you look after your color with products that are made specifically for colored hair. They’ll contain ingredients that are not so harsh on your hair which will help your color last longer and restore it’s natural lusciousness. 

If your hair is showing signs of red or orange brassiness, you can keep it cool in between colors with a good blue shampoo for brown hair. These are toning shampoos that eliminate unwanted brassiness.

And use a good deep conditioner once a week to restore your hair’s moisture and elasticity.

Parting Words

Blonde hair with dark roots is the ultimate combination of edgy and effortless, and yes, you can absolutely achieve it at home.

With the right tools, a little patience, and these expert-backed tips, your hair will look salon-fresh without the hefty price tag.

Ready to try the trend? Grab your bleach, root dye, and toner, and let your inner stylist shine!

Found your perfect shade? We’d love to see it! Tag us on Instagram @coloredhaircare or Facebook and share your hair color stories. Looking for more hair care tips? Check out How to Look After Colored Hair: 11 Expert Secrets For Long-Lasting Color.

Our Research & Review Process

To ensure our recommendations are as comprehensive and reliable as possible, we’ve undertaken an extensive research effort.

We cite scientific evidence and journals, collect real user reviews and gather impartial perspectives from hair stylists, users, and experts in the field.

Additionally, we conduct hands-on testing by using products and applying hair dyes not only on our own locks but also on real human hair extensions and hair pieces of different hair type, textures and lengths.

This rigorous approach allows us to provide you with insights into which products genuinely live up to their promises.

As always – please consult with a professional hair colorist or stylist for advice on how to color your own hair at home. It’s different for everyone!