4 Tips for Creating the Perfect Shadow Root

Most of your clients are still into the natural, low-maintenance look, and creating the perfect shadow root is a great option for these clients. Brush up on your blending skills with these tips from two of the best root melters in the biz.

Products Used

Demi-Permanent Color

DIA Richesse

L'Oréal Professionnel

The Perfect Shadow Root for a Bright Blonde

Celeb stylist Justin Anderson (@justinandersoncolor) has given shadow roots to his fair share of California clients. On this bright blonde, he used the root gloss formula:

• L’Oréal Professionnel DIA Richesse 1/4 9.11 + 1/4 9N + 1/4 Clear + 15-volume developer

Justin taps the color just at the root to blend naturally with the highlights, which will diffuse any line of demarcation from the foil and create a subtler grow out.

He then processes for 15 minutes and shampoos, making sure to hold the ends up as he rinses. Watch Justin’s entire process!

Shadow Root Toning

To make fashion colors look as “natural” as possible, Chris Weber (@chrisweberhair to his 70,000 Instagram followers) tones the roots a shade darker than the rest of the hair so they don’t appear too vibrant. He used this technique on the purple shadow root seen here.

Eliminate Color Bands

Explain to your clients that keeping their natural color at the root or using a soft, semi-permanent root is the way to go. “Never use permanent color on the root,” says Chris. “If your client’s roots grow in lighter, you’ll end up with a band of dark color you’ll need to touch up.”

Vibrant & Organic Color Formula

When your client wants to see a big change that still looks organic, use this tip from Chris: On natural hair, go at least two levels darker at the root. So if your client is a blonde Level 10, use a Level 8 on the root.

Don’t stop now. Here are 7 shadow root formulas we are obsessing over!