Dyeing ombre hair at home can be done in one of two ways: either you dye your roots a dark color which lightens toward the ends, or you dye your roots a lighter color that darkens toward the ends. The only real difference between these two techniques for creating ombre hair at home is what kind of dye you choose. Any woman with any hair color may choose either style. The technique for dyeing ombre hair involves applying most of the dye to your roots, then gently distributing it down to the tips.

The first step to dyeing ombre hair at home is choosing a shade. Ombre is usually most successful when you pick a dye color only a shade or two lighter or darker than your natural color. If you go too light or dark, your hair may look like you need to dye your roots or like you’ve been in the sun too long. Ombre hair should subtly change color from the roots to the ends, in other words, the difference should be almost unnoticeable.

The second step to dyeing ombre hair is wetting your hair down and parting it. Your hair should be completely wet, though not dripping, and you should typically part it down the center. After that, you can mix up your hair dye according to the package directions. Gently brush it onto your roots, extending down to about the tips of your ears. Those with shorter hair should stop adding dye about halfway between the part and the tips of the ears.

The third step involves waiting five to seven minutes for the dye on your roots to do its work. The key to dyeing ombre hair at home is making sure each layer of hair dye sits on your hair for a different length of time. The dye on your roots will stay the longest, while the dye on the ends of your hair will have the shortest time to work. This is what creates the subtle gradation of color.

The fourth step for dyeing ombre hair at home includes brushing dye onto your hair from the base of the last layer to about a third of the way down the length of your hair. Wait about another five to seven minutes. The layer of dye on your roots will continue to work, while the newly added layer just below that will be beginning to change your color.

While you wait, dilute what remains of your dye with just a little water. The mixture should be runny, but not thin. When the waiting time is up, brush the diluted dye onto your hair, starting at the base of the second layer and working it out to the ends. Wait another two or three minutes, wash your hair, and condition it with the conditioner in the hair dye box.