22 Amazing Dark Ombre Hair Color Ideas

Take inspiration on how to achieve the best hue transition for your hair color.

Reviewed by Madison Dufour, Barber & Cosmetologist
Written by Arshiya Syeda, BA (Literature & Psychology), PG Diploma
Edited by Madhumati Chowdhury, MA (English Literature)
Fact-checked by Pahul Nanra, BA (English Hons)  • 

Pick any of your favorite hair color trends, and it is most probably an ombre style, from a sun-kissed balayage to a vibrant unicorn splash! An ombre can add a pop of color to your dark tresses. The internet as well as the fashion and beauty industry is going nuts over dark ombre hair color ideas. So, what makes this hair color trend so popular? It is low maintenance, and you do not have to color or bleach your entire hair to achieve an ombre style. Also, it looks so smooth and natural! So, if you have dark hair, swipe up and check out our top picks of ombre trends for dark hair. But before that, let’s learn how to perform an ombre!

protip_icon Quick Hair Color Guide: Dark Ombre

How To Choose A Shade: Those with cool undertones should go for cooler shades and warm-tones undertones should opt for warmer hues.

Level Of Maintenance: Medium to high.

Suitable For: All hair types

Looks Best With: Natural or light makeup for natural shades. Bold makeup for pop shades

DIY: How To Get A Dark Ombre

You Will Need

  • Ombre Kit
  • Hair Brush
  • Gloves
  • Hair Ties For Sectioning.
  • Applicator Brush
  • An Old Shirt
  • Vaseline
  • Shampoo
  • Conditioner

Method

  1. Work with hair that hasn’t been washed in a couple of days. This will help the coloring process.
  2. Brush out your hair to get rid of any knots or tangles. Divide your hair into 4 quadrants and secure them with hair ties a little above where you want the fade to begin.
  3. Wear your gloves and put on an old shirt that you wouldn’t mind getting stains on.
  4. Apply the vaseline all along your hairline and on your forehead, ears, and neck.
  5. Following the instructions on the box, mix the colorant and developer.
  6. Apply the mixture onto your hair with the applicator brush. Start with the lower lengths for each section.
  7. Work your way up, one section at a time.
  8. Once you have covered all the sections, leave the dye on for the specified amount of time.
  9. Wash and condition your hair.
protip_icon Trivia
Michelle Obama, Cara Delevingne, Natalie Portman, Margot Robbie, Doetzen Kroes, Chrissy Teigen, Ashley Benson, and Jenna Coleman are some popular celebrities with dark ombre hair.

22 Best Dark Ombre Hair Color Ideas

1. Dark Brown To Blonde Ombre

Dark brown to blonde ombre hair color
Image: Instagram @mustafaserdarbekereci_

If you’re going for a high contrast look, one of the easiest ways to achieve a perfect transition is to start the fade on the higher lengths of the hair. The dark brunette hair on this style fades to a beautiful baby blonde. The undertones in the style are cool, making this the perfect look for women with cool-toned skin.

2. Subtle Chocolate Brown Ombre

Subtle chocolate brown ombre hair color
Image: Instagram @massahairstyler

There are few styles that beat the simple charm that rich chocolate locks have. This style has been painted with a balayage ombre technique. The chocolate highlights begin close to the roots and the artist has incorporated a subtle fade. The style is perfectly textured and is sure to suit most skin types.

3. Dark Gray Ombre

Dark gray ombre hair color idea
Image: Instagram

This ombre starts very close to the roots and begins quite abruptly, emphasizing on the boldness of the style. The dark gray has a subtle transition to a lighter color that takes on lilac tones on the way. The splash of lilac in the mid-lengths of the style helps add movement.

4. Black To Purple Ombre

Black to purple ombre hair color
Image: Instagram

If you have black hair and want an unnatural color that will seamlessly blend out of your natural hair, this is the style for you. The natural black color of the hair transitions to a midnight purple at the mid-lengths of the hair. The color then fades to a vivid eggplant purple near the lower lengths. The cool tones on this style make it ideal for women with cool-toned skin.

5. Mint Green Ombre On Dark Hair

Mint green ombre hair color on dark hair
Image: Instagram @hair_by_olivia_patterson

Green is your best bet if you want to try out a pastel color but have extremely dark hair. The yellow tones of your hair after pre-lightening will only accentuate the dye instead of canceling it out. This is the perfect style for women with olive or neutral skin tones and dark hair.

6. Ombre Highlights On Dark Hair

Ombre highlights on dark hair
Image: Instagram

The best thing about an ombre is that you can customize it to perfectly frame your face. This is one of the best face-framing ombre styles that we have come across. The dark brunette hair fades to a pale blonde. The artist has begun the fade very close to the roots, near the framing strands.

7. Blue Ombre With Frosted Tips

Blue ombre hair color with frosted tips
Image: Instagram

Blue is one of the most popular choices when it comes to unnatural shades. This amazing style fades from a dark black to a deep midnight blue. The fade begins very close to the roots and the color becomes more vibrant at the mid-lengths of the hair. The lower lengths abruptly fade out to an icy blue-toned platinum. This is one of the coolest styles (pun-intended) we’ve come across.

8. Subtle Ombre Fade On Dark Hair

Subtle ombre fade hair color on dark hair
Image: Instagram

If you are not seeking extreme change but merely want to add some subtle dimension to your hair, this subtle fade is the way to go. The dark brunette locks go half a shade lighter as you move down the length of the hair. This style is sure to look fantastic on anyone, regardless of the skin tone or hair type.

9. Gold Melt On Dark Brown Hair

Gold melt on dark brown hair
Image: Instagram @hairbyjenaann.77

Smooth transitions on hair with high contrast is so hard to achieve, but this hair artist has certainly nailed the look in this style. The dark brunette locks have golden tones that begin very close to the roots. The hair then starts to fade to a beautiful light golden-blonde near the mid-lengths. The colors on this look are slightly cooler than a typical golden fade.

10. Lavender Ombre On Dark Hair

Lavender ombre hair color on dark hair
Image: Instagram

Lavender is a popular choice for women with light hair, but this dark twist on the look has us so completely mesmerized. The almost black natural color fades to a beautiful ashy lavender near the low lengths of the hair. The artist has perfectly toned the style to get rid of the cool tones, giving the look an ashy finish. This style is perfect for women with cool and olive skin tones.

11. Rose Gold Ombre On Dark Hair

Rose gold ombre hair color on dark hair
Image: Instagram

The best thing about rose gold is that it perfectly complements the brassiness that dark hair tends to retain after being lightened. This rose gold look has subtle purple undertones that help cool the look down, making it extremely versatile in the sense that it is sure to suit everyone regardless of the skin tone.

12. Purple Ombre On Dark Hair

Purple ombre hair color on dark hair
Image: Instagram @unfadehairstudio

This balayage style ombre is what most of our dreams are made of. When you are as in love with unnatural colors as we are but have work or school restraining your inner unicorn, a style like this is the perfect compromise. The dark brunette hair has been painted with a lavender-toned purple. The color is woven through the natural brown, creating a sweeping fade.

protip_icon Quick Tip
The purple ombre on dark hair looks great on cool and neutral skin tones.

13. Black Aqua Fade

Black aqua fade hair color
Image: Instagram

Everything below the mid-lengths of this style has been pre-lightened and painted with shades of teal and gray. The pre-existing warmth in the style has also created green undertones, painting a perfect under-water portrait.

14. Sombre On Long Dark Hair

Sombre hair color on long dark hair
Image: Instagram

If you have extremely long and dark hair, you should know that an ombre style is the best way to go. There are few things that look better than the gradual fade you can achieve on long hair. The length of the hair helps you achieve a high contrast look with an extremely smooth fade, like on this style. The dark brunette roots gradually fade to a beautiful golden bronde.

15. Red Violet Ombre On Dark Hair

Red violet ombre hair color on dark hair
Image: Instagram @hair_by_inna

Red violet is one of the best colors to experiment with if you want a subtle yet slightly unnatural color. The color is extremely warm and works so well with dark hair, like in this style. The natural brunette melts into a gorgeous red-violet. This style is sure to look good on women with warm and olive skin tones.

16. Cherry Pink Ombre On Dark Hair

Cherry pink ombre hair color on dark hair
Image: Instagram

If you love pink but don’t want to lighten your hair too much, this is the color for you. The natural brown base fades to a vivid and pigmented pink at the lower lengths of the hair. This shoulder-length style is going to be low on maintenance and you won’t even have to pre-lighten your hair too much to achieve that vivid pink color.

17. Smooth Dirty Brown Ombre On Dark Hair

Smooth dirty brown ombre hair color on dark hair
Image: Instagram

We love our dirty browns and this subtle ombre is definitely on our list of favorites. The dark brunette hair starts to fade below the crown. The rich brunette then takes on a cooler dirty brown color, which has been highlighted with subtle dark blonde streaks that add dimension and movement.

18. Auburn Ombre On Dark Hair

Auburn ombre hair color on dark hair
Image: Instagram @meraki_hair

Dark hair is loaded with warm tones, and so, this warm, brassy styles is one of the easiest looks to achieve. In this style, the dark brunette hair has been expertly blended out to a brassy auburn and we are in love with the result!

19. Warm Caramel Ombre On Dark Hair

Warm caramel ombre hair color on dark hair
Image: Instagram

If you are looking for some highlights with a subtle fade, a balayage ombre is the way to go. For this style, the artist has incorporated fine highlights all around the hair with heavy lights near the framing bits of the face. The lights also grow heavy at the lower lengths of the style. This kind of a highlighted ombre is perfect for women with fine hair looking to add texture.

20. Colorful Ombre On Dark Hair

Colorful ombre hair color on dark hair
Image: Instagram

If you love the unicorn hair trend and have been dying for some multi-colored locks, this colorful ombre might be just the style for you. The dark brunette locks fade to shades of purple and blue. The colors are vivid and have been painted on to create a beautiful sweeping effect.

21. Honey Balayage

Honey balayage
Image: Shutterstock

Honey balayage hair color involves warm, golden tones that mimic the hues of honey. This hair color creates a multidimensional look, with lighter pieces framing the face and scattered throughout the hair. Depending on the level of warmth and depth, the tones used can range from pale golden blonde to darker caramel tints.

22. Copper Ombre Hair

Copper ombre hair
Image: IStock

Copper ombre hair color combines the vibrant and rich hues of copper with the graduated, blended effect of the ombre technique. Using color-safe products to retain the richness of the copper tones and doing touch-ups on a regular basis to keep the shading effect as the hair grows are common maintenance procedures for copper ombre hair.

Infographic: 10 Best Dark Ombre Hair Color Ideas

Ombre hair can give your dark locks a beautiful texture, and you needn’t dye or bleach your entire head of hair to obtain it! It requires little maintenance and is sure to make you fall in love with your natural hair color as well. Scroll down to see our best ideas for dark ombre hair colors.

10 best dark ombre hair color ideas (infographic)

Illustration: StyleCraze Design Team

Get the high-quality PDF version of this infographic.

Download Infographic in PDF version

An ombre hairstyle can give your dark hair a pop of color. In addition, it is low-maintenance, and an ombre style doesn’t necessitate dyeing or bleaching your entire head of hair. It also seems to be very natural and smooth! However, as ombre is a coloring style instead of a color, there are so many possibilities that making a decision could be challenging. The decision-making process will be a lot easier if you ask yourself if you want a solid or a subtle ombre, what colors you want to work with, and take into consideration your natural hair color and skin tone while choosing a style. The dark ombre hair color ideas shared on this post can be a starting point for you to get inspired.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can ombre be from light to dark?

Yes, ombre can be from light to dark. Usually, it is a mix of shades from light to dark.

Which ombre color is right for black hair?

Bright burgundy ombre best suits black hair and gives a stylish look.

What is reverse ombre hair?

It is a hair coloring technique with a lighter tone on the top and dark color towards the end of the hair.

What’s the difference between ombre and gradient?

The gradient is a mixture of different colors from light to dark, while ombre is a mix of hues of the same color from lightest to darkest.

Key Takeaways

  • Ombre hair color is a popular hair coloring technique that involves a gradual transition from one color to another.
  • There are many types of dark ombre hair colors, such as dark brown to blonde, subtle chocolate brown, dark gray, black to purple, mint green, ombre highlights, blue with frosted tips, among others.
  • It’s a low maintenance hairstyle that does not require coloring or bleaching the entire hair.
  • The DIY process of getting a dark ombre involves the use of an ombre kit, hair brush, gloves, hair ties, applicator brush, vaseline, shampoo, and conditioner.
Dark Ombre Hair Color Ideas

Image: Stable Diffusion/StyleCraze Design Team

Learn how to create an ombre hair look at home with this easy DIY video tutorial! Follow the step-by-step guide to get the perfect look.

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