Color trends often involve technique more than just creative formulas. Check out some new tips on classic's like the shadow root and colormelting to use this Winter season.

ELONGATED ROOTS

Once, hair color was “rooted” (solid and naturally dark at the roots) to extend salon visits. Now,  roots are blurred, melted and stretched for subtle variations on two-tone coloring. When transitioning from bright blonde to a softer, low-maintenance color, try “shadow” roots—which are close to the midshaft shade, under 2-inches long and subtly blended. Really, they’re just a blur.

Melts are noticeably darker but they’re still blended to the midshaft. Both are ideal when you want brighter ribbons of color around the face sans frequent root retouches. Stretched roots can be long and extended at irregular intervals.

The upshot: Today’s roots are lived-in and last a long time between salon appointments.

Color by All-Nutrient Pro Artist @jacquelineyvonne_

THE NEW MELTS

Color melting— blending one color into another— isn’t just for overlapping darker and lighter colors, or for merging roots with midshafts. Today, techniques themselves are blended, melted and merged, as balayage and ombré become ombriage, highlights become babylights and smudging and stretching become smutching.

Ok, we made that one up, but so did the innovators of the others.  When you want a shadow root melted into the midlengths and showcased with all-over balayage highlights, you’re free to do it and call it what you want.

The most popular mash-up: Combine stretched roots with a few foil highlights on top.

                                   
                                                                        Traditional colormelt by @hairpaints     

                                  Colormelt with babylights by All-Nutrient Pro Artist @viva.hairbyandrea