BEAUTY BAR: Nothing Somber about Sombré

Sombré—the subtler, younger sister of ombré—is the “it” girl on college campuses right now. This simple, low-maintenance coloring technique lets you jazz up your ’do while still looking presentable for that corporate internship interview. It transitions effortlessly from lecture hall to workplace to night out on the town, which is key because—let’s face it—wherever you go, there’s your hair.

I recently spotted this Fashionista, who has enhanced her honey locks with a lighter blonde sombré for a lovely, lively effect. The ribbons of platinum curls at the ends add gusto without stopping traffic. On this wintery day, she completed her look with a black down coat—a great contrast to her hair—along with playful mismatched socks, a bracelet stack and silvery rings and earrings.

This Fashionista got her sombré done by her regular hair stylist. You can also do it yourself with home-use hair color. If you do go the DIY route, save yourself the heartache of orange or brassy results by checking on your hair’s progress regularly.

What’s on the BEAUTY BAR: To join the sombré generation, I recommend that you find pictures of sombrés you like and bring them to a stylist you trust. Talk over the options—how much of your hair to color, what colors to use, whether you should add a cut to the mix. Ask what would go best with your skin tone and hair type. Do you want something that’s barely there or a little more pizzazz? When you and your stylist are on the same page, go for it, and be prepared to walk out with a fabulous new look!

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