With Victoria Beckham bringing old-school ombré back into the spotlight, salon founder, session stylist and Remi Cachet Expert, Adam Reed shares his thoughts on the trend
“The original ombré look was often about creating quite a noticeable contrast between the dark and light,” explains Adam. “It was a statement, and I think that’s what makes seeing it again so interesting.
“I think we’re seeing a growing appreciation for some of those more recognisable hair movements of the past, but with a different attitude towards how we wear them.
For a while, colour has been incredibly blended, subtle and almost invisible. What’s interesting about this return to ombré is that we’re allowing ourselves to see a little more contrast again.”
What should colourists consider when recreating Victoria Beckham’s ombré look?
“For me, modern ombré is all about the transition. I’d keep that beautiful contrast between the darker roots and lighter lengths, but introduce more softness and dimension through the middle of the hair,” shares Adam.
“Rather than having one very obvious point where the colour changes, I’d work with different tones and strategically placed lighter pieces to create a more fluid graduation.”
To keep the look modern, Adam also suggests thinking carefully about the tone.
“Victoria’s warm, golden lengths are a lovely reference, but that warmth could be personalised into honey, beige, caramel or something cooler depending on the individual.”
How can the ombré colour technique be adapted to different clients?
According to Adam, the wonderful thing about ombré is that it can be completely personalised. “It’s not about age, face shape or even necessarily your starting hair colour,” he says.
“For somebody with naturally darker hair, maintaining depth at the roots can create a beautiful foundation for lighter lengths. It also means you aren’t constantly chasing regrowth.
“The important thing is where you introduce the lighter colour. Placement around the face, the proportion of dark to light and the tone of the blonde can completely change how the finished hair feels. For brunettes, introducing warmer tones can also add richness and dimension, with Remi Cachet’s new Cocoa shade offering a beautiful, glossy brunette option.
“For me, great colour should work with the haircut, the individual’s natural colouring and, most importantly, their personality.”
Keeping ombré hair colour healthy and luxurious
“Condition is incredibly important too,” highlights Adam. “When you’re creating this amount of contrast, the lighter lengths need to look beautifully healthy, with shine and movement. Otherwise, the colour can start to feel disconnected from the haircut.
“The modern interpretation isn’t about removing the contrast – it’s about making the contrast feel more luxurious.”
How can extensions be used to create ombré hair?
“One of the things I love about working with extensions is that they have become another creative colour tool for me,” shares Adam.
“We can introduce beautiful dimensional colour through carefully selected extension shades, adding lighter pieces, depth or warmth without necessarily having to chemically lighten all of the natural hair. The new Cocoa shade is a great option for introducing rich, warm brunette tones, adding depth and dimension to a blend.
“With an ombré look, that can be particularly interesting because we can build the graduation through the lengths while also adding density, bulk and substance where needed. The key is making sure the additional hair is beautifully integrated into the natural hair, both through the colour and the haircut.
“For me, it’s about invisible enhancement. You shouldn’t be looking at the extensions; you should simply be looking at beautiful hair.”
Discussing the resurgence of ombré hair through a wider lens, Adam shares his view that hair trends should be a starting point rather than a set of rules.
“What I love about this return to ombré is that it reminds us we can revisit something familiar without having to recreate it exactly as it was.
“Keep the contrast, soften the transition, personalise the tone and make healthy, beautiful hair the priority. Sometimes looking forward means taking a little inspiration from where we’ve been.”
