24 Best Ombre Hair Colors For Short Hair

It is all about experimentation and stunning looks with this edgy coloring technique.

Reviewed by Monica Dickenson, Certified Trichologist
Written by Anjali Sayee, BTech
Edited by Madhumati Chowdhury, MA (English Literature)
Fact-checked by Bhumika Daga, MA (English)  • 

Dark at the roots, descending to light at the ends – Ombrés never go out of style, especially on badass short haircuts, like a bob. And currently, short hair ombre is one of the widely popular hair color trends out there.

But if you need some inspiration to pick the right ombré hair color for short hair, you have come to the right place. The right colored ombré can accentuate your eye color and skin tone and even enhance your natural hair color and texture. You can also opt for pop shock colors like vibrant or pastel shades of pink, blue, purple, green, and red. Or you may select softer, natural shades like brown, blonde, auburn, and gray.

So swipe up and get to cherry-picking your new hair color for that fierce bob!

protip_icon Before You Get Started
  • A color that looks fantastic on somebody else may not appear the same on you. Therefore, it is beneficial to select shades that flatter your skin tone.
  • It is recommended not to go for a DIY approach. Get help from a professional hairstylist to achieve the right level of dark-to-light hues throughout your hair.
  • If you have never changed your hair color, it is best not to go more than two or three shades lighter than your natural color.
  • Use color-safe shampoo to prevent your hair color from fading too quickly.

24 Best Ombre Hair Colors

1. Peacock Ombre

Peacock Ombre
Image: Shutterstock

The perfect combination of deep roots transitioning to soft sea-green creating vibrant blends of turquoise, teal, and blue. It’s impossible to resist this ombre. The soft and seamless way the colors blend gives the impression that they were meant to be together!

2. Phoenix Ombre

Phoenix Ombre
Image: Shutterstock

This is perfect for those who want to try an edgy ombre color but are too worried to color their entire hair. Try a statement ombre where you only color the front of your hair in bold phoenix shades. The color combination features the seductive tones of pink, purple, orange, and yellow. And you can color the rest of your hair in a bright pink ombre that goes well with dark brown natural hair.

3. Silver Ombre

Silver-ombre hair color for short hair
Image: IStock

Silver is one hot color! It goes well with cool-toned skin. If you have a warm undertone, add in some gold or blonde highlights. If you really want your silver ombre to pop, you can also throw in some lilac highlights.

Sejal Kumar, a YouTuber, shared her personal experience of getting a subtle silver and lilac ombre hair color. She talks about her complete hair journey and happily reports about the results, “I was basically there for some eight hours and the end result was this, which I really really loved. I had not thought that this kind of color would look nice on my skin, I didn’t think a gray color would suit Indian skin tone at all.” She also offers a point to remember, “If you do get a color which is blended from the top till the end, you have to keep refreshing it for it to look good (i).”

4. Smokey Purple Ombre

Smokey purple ombre hair color for short hair
Image: Shutterstock

Smokey purple goes well with warm-toned skin. Check out other pastel shades of purple that have a cooler tone if you have cool-toned skin. Go for dark smokey purple shadow roots on the top half of your hair and color the rest of your hair a pastel lilac shade.

5. Powder Blue Ombre

Powder blue ombre hair color for short hair
Image: IStock

Blue hair has been around for ages. It is classy, stylish, and vibrant. This look starts out intense and becomes light towards the end. If you want powder blue hair, but it does not go with your skin tone, opt for an ombre like this one.

6. Lilac Hair

Lilac ombre hair color for short hair
Image: Shutterstock

Lilac hair is all over my Insta-feed right now. It’s a lovely, wild color that makes you feel free. It works best with medium and fair skin tones. A big craze right now is a lilac ombre with the roots done up in an intense lilac shade that gets lighter as you reach the ends.


protip_icon Quick Tip
It is recommended to have a blonde base before applying any lilac hair color (like silver). A blonde base helps reflect the lilac beautifully and enhances the short hair look.

7. Blonde Balayage Ombre

Blonde balayage ombre hair color for short hair
Image: Shutterstock

Balayage is a free-hand coloring technique. It makes the added color blend seamlessly into your natural hair color. This subtle blonde ombre balayage is perfect for beachy summers.

8. Gray Ombre

Gray ombre hair color for short hair
Image: Shutterstock

Steamy gray ombres are a hit this year. Gray is a mature yet chic color. It tends to stand out during fall and works with the Christmas theme too. The darker roots of this hair look help frame your face beautifully.

9. Red-Blonde Ombre

Red-blonde ombre hair color for short hair
Image: Shutterstock

Red and gold are warm-toned hues that bring the mythical phoenix to mind. These colors add shine and volume to your locks. They also bring depth to your tresses. I love how the red blends in with the golden blonde to create this glossy ginger look that is perfect for fall.

10. Rose Ombre

Rose ombre hair color for short hair
Image: Shutterstock

Rose gold is like that popular kid at school that everyone loves! You can almost feel the warmth of this pink-gold combo emanating from the picture. Experiment with different hair styling techniques on this gorgeous ombre, such as some chic blown-out curls to add dimension to your locks.

11. Titian Ombre

Titian ombre hair color for short hair
Image: IStock

Titian is a beautiful reddish-brown hair shade with an orange tint. It is often confused with auburn. Pair your titian ombre with some subtle strawberry blonde highlights. This is a warm combination that will suit people with warm undertones.

12. Gradual Blonde

Gradual blonde ombre hair color for short hair
Image: Shutterstock

If you have dark locks, your ultimate makeover would be going to the light side (like a Jedi, get it?). Instead of an immediate transition to blonde, opt for a gradual blonde ombre. It is a safe way to see how blonde hair would look on you without any dire consequences.

13. Lob Ombre

Lob ombre hair color for short hair
Image: IStock

The lob is taking over the world. Actresses like Jennifer Lawrence and Emma Stone have popularized this chic hairstyle. If you have a lob, one sure way to spice it up is with a natural colored ombre. Get a chocolate brown ombre to add depth and dimension to your locks.

14. Driftwood Blend

Driftwood blend ombre hair color for short hair
Image: IStock

Driftwood looks stunning. It is brown at the top and blonde as you peel away layers. A driftwood ombre will add dimension to your locks with a touch of contrast. Choose smokey shades to infuse a mysterious vibe to your look.

15. Rose Brown Ombre With A Blonde Shine

Rose brown ombre with a blonde shine hair color for short hair
Image: Shutterstock

Rose brown is making brunettes all over the world go crazy. It’s a stunning color inspired by the rose gold shade. Add a subtle golden touch to your rose brown ombre to make it glossy. Style it in some curls and go slay!

16. White Ombre

White ombre hair color for short hair
Image: IStock

White hair is the latest trend in blonde hair colors. Keep an inch of your roots dark to add depth to your ombre. This white-washed blonde ombre first merges with the dark roots to look ashy but becomes stark white at the end.

17. Dirty Blonde Ombre

Dirty blonde ombre hair color for short hair
Image: IStock

Light with a golden touch or deep like a mystery – dirty blonde is a versatile shade that is making women everywhere happy. A dirty blonde ombre is just what you need to spice up your locks this autumn. It is a shade that will suit cool- and warm-toned skin.

18. Deep Blue Balayage

Deep blue balayage ombre hair color for short hair
Image: IStock

If you have naturally black hair, try out this ombre. It’s grungy and young! If your hair is dull, this a great way to liven it up. This deep blue shade looks great with the autumn and summer color palettes.

19. Cherry Ombre

Cherry ombre hair color for short hair
Image: Shutterstock

There’s a reason the best things in life are described as the “cherry on top.” Opt for a cherry ombre to spice up your hair. This color is playful and deep. It suits fair skin, but you can find shades to suit your skin tone and undertone as well.

20. Candy Cane Ombre

Candy cane ombre hair color for short hair
Image: Shutterstock

Think of a color that best describes femininity—you probably thought of candy pink and pastel lavender. Well, you can now get your hair looking extra attractive and delicious with this combo. Try this funky wavy candy cane ombre blend, which is a bubbly blend of both these colors, and you will love it!

21. Turquoise Ombre

Turquoise ombre hair color for short hair
Image: IStock

Blue is such a beautiful and calm color. It makes me wonder why the phrase “Monday blues” has such a negative connotation. This blue ombre reminds me of the waves calmly crashing against the shore.

protip_icon Quick Tip
There are different varieties of turquoise ombre to experiment your short hair with such as purple and turquoise ombre, gunmetal turquoise ombre, and turquoise green ombre.

22. Denim Blue Ombre

Denim blue ombre hair color for short hair
Image: IStock

Denim has been around for ages and is a classic. Color experts have taken it a step further, allowing us to take this denim obsession to our hair. Isn’t this denim ombre absolutely to die for?

23. Lived-In Blonde Ombré

Lived-in ombre for short hair
Image: Shutterstock

A beautiful look that gives a laid-back, natural vibe with a chic touch. Unlike regular ombré, it’s meant to look grown-out and effortless, requiring less maintenance. With darker roots gracefully fading into lighter tips, it’s a stylish way to embrace a natural-looking, fashionable hair color.

24. Honey Bronde Ombre

Honey bronde ombre for short hair
Image: Shutterstock

A classic combination that never goes out of style. With a beautiful honey color at the top slowly melting into sandy blonde locks, this hair color is perfect for those who don’t want to experiment with vibrant hues like green, blue, or purple. Whether you have a pixie or a good old bob, this color will take your hair game up a notch and turn heads wherever you go.

Infographic: Top 6 Best Ombre Hair Color Ideas For Short Hair

Ombre is a popular choice for short hair as it adds depth, dimension, and a pop of color to your style. From vibrant shades to subtle hues, there is a wide range of options to suit your taste and skin tone. Whether you prefer bold and edgy colors or soft and elegant blends, check out the infographic below for the 6 best ombre hair colors for short hair and get ready for your next hair transformation.

top 10 best ombre hair color ideas for short hair (infographic)

Illustration: StyleCraze Design Team

Get the high-quality PDF version of this infographic.

Download Infographic in PDF version

The ombre trend made waves a few years ago and has since refused to budge from the list of the top trends. It is fascinating how ombre, which is already a unique experimental style, has been further experimented with over the years to suit individual personalities. Do you know what it means? You can also play around with colors and the ombre effect to develop a version that is distinctly you. So, what are you waiting for? Visit your nearest hair salon at the earliest to start planning for your unique ombre style. Do remember to also discuss appropriate hair care for your newly made-over hair with your stylist to ensure it lasts long.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is ombre or balayage better for short hair?

Balayage is a better hair dye technique for short hair if you want more depth and dimension. In addition, it is an effective alternative to ombre. However, you can opt for ombre if you want a more natural gradient style.

Where do you start ombre on short hair?

You can start ombre on short hair near the jawline.

Is ombre better than highlights?

Yes, ombre is a better option than traditional highlights, as it gives a more natural look and needs low maintenance. Certified trichologist Monica Dickenson says, “ An ombre is a great option for someone who likes to change their hair color a couple of times a year”.

Key Takeaways

  • Ombre hair colors never go out of style, and they look beautiful on short hair.
  • The right colored ombre can enhance your natural hair color and texture.
  • You can pick an ombre shade from silver to denim blue to style your locks.


Check out this video to find out the top 7 best ombre colors for short hair! Get inspired and find the perfect look for you!

Personal Experience: Source

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