20 Breathtaking Purple Ombre Hair Color Ideas

There is no bigger hair craze than purple hair! It is no surprise considering its many hues, such as lavender, violet, plum, and lilac, to name a few. And if you cannot decide which of these shades to choose, a purple ombre hairstyle allows you to experiment with multiple shades. By some chance, if you have been living under a rock and do not know what a purple ombre looks like, we recommend googling it. Or you could scroll down and pick your favorite from our top 20 purple ombre color trends. Here’s how you can achieve a purple ombre hairdo right from home!

Quick Hair Color Guide: Purple Ombre

How To Choose A Shade: Opt for deep purple shades or slightly blue hues and vivid violets for cool undertones, and brighter shades of purple with pink hints if you have warm undertones.

Level Of Maintenance: High

Suitable For: Fair-medium skin tones and all hair types

Looks Best With: Soft pastel eyeshadow and nude lipstick

How To Get Purple Ombre Hair At Home

If you have dark hair, you will need to pre-lighten your hair before you can dye it purple. Here’s a step-by-step tutorial that will tell you how to go about bleaching and coloring your hair, without needing the help of a hair stylist, to achieve the purple ombre look.

You Will Need

• A Bleaching Kit
• Hairbrush/Comb
• An Old Shirt that you would not mind getting stains on
• Gloves
• Vaseline
• Clips for sectioning
• Shampoo
• Conditioner
• Purple hair dye
• 3 plastic bowls
• An applicator brush

Lightening

1. Ensure that you are working with hair that has not been washed in a couple of days.
2. Brush out any tangles from your hair and clip away the crown section. Be sure to focus on brushing the hair and not the scalp as you don’t want to cause irritation.
3. Put on your old shirt, wear your gloves, and apply the Vaselineall along your hairline and also on your ears, neck, and forehead.
4. Following the instructions provided with the bleaching kit, mix the developer and bleach in a plastic bowl.
5. Apply the bleach to the lower layers of your hair. Work in sections to ensure that each strand is covered.
6. Once you are done with the lower layers, undo the crown section and repeat the process with the top layers of your hair.
7. Make sure every section is covered.
8. Wait for the recommended amount of time (be sure to follow the times provided on the lightening kit).
9. Rinse thoroughly and shampoo.

Note: You might have to repeat the bleaching process a couple of times to achieve the desired lightness. Please don’t attempt to do this all in one day. While coloring your hair at home may seem fun, it is best to consult with a licensed cosmetologist and hair colorist to achieve your desired look.

Coloring

1. Ensure that you are working with freshly washed and dried hair that has not been conditioned.
2. Brush out any tangles from your hair and clip away the crown section.
3. Put on your old shirt, wear your gloves, and apply the Vaseline all along your hairline and also on your ears, neck, and forehead.
4. Take two plastic bowls, one with the purple dye of your choice, and another with the same dye diluted with conditioner. (Pravana, Pulp Riot, Crazy Color, Arctic Fox, and Manic Panic are some good hair dye brands to choose from.)
5. Starting with the lower layers, apply the fully pigmented dye onto the higher parts of your lightened hair. If you have light hair to begin with, drag the dye down from your roots.
6. As you make your way down, start fading out the purple dye with the diluted color.
7. Ensure that you use the color heavily at the start (closer to your roots) of each section and sparingly near the end (at the tips).
8. Once you’re finished with the lower layers, repeat the process with the top layers of your hair. Your work here needs to be meticulous as these are the parts that everyone will notice first.
9. Leave the color on for the recommended amount of time (30 minutes to an hour), and then wash your hair with a color protecting shampoo and conditioner. It might be a good idea to invest in a good purple shampoo and conditioner to maintain your hair’s color for longer.

20 Breathtaking Purple Ombre Hair Color Ideas

1. Purple Magic

This ombre is a unique blend of colors. The natural brown hair color changes to purple hues at mid-length of the strands. The purple starts off with subtle pink undertones and quickly picks up strong blue undertones. The result is truly magical.

2. Midnight Ombre

There is no better combination than black and purple, and this style has done the duo complete justice. The natural black has been painted with the darkest purple with such proficient blending, it is hard to tell where the purple ends and the black begins.

3. Purple Sombre

This hairstyle is serious dreams. The cool and rich purple is heavy at the roots and fades out to an ashy lavender. The color transition is so subtle, you don’t even notice it unless you compare the shade at the roots to the tips.

4. Displaced Purple

Talk about movement. This beautiful ombre starts off with deep eggplant roots that fade to a lavender. The splash of blue-violet at the mid-lengths help add movement and dimension to the style. If your hair lacks luster, there is no way you can go wrong with this purple ombre hair style.

5. Plum Blend

These colors are so rich, we can almost taste, smell, and hear them. Not to mention that the blending on this style is true perfection. The natural deep chocolate seamlessly transitions into a berry-plum shade. A style like this is so versatile, it is sure to look great through every season.

Quick Tip

You can also go for other red shades like magenta, sangria, amaranth, or fuschia to add a beautiful pop of color to your purple hair.

6. Molten Lilac

To say that we are in love with this hairstyle would be a major understatement. The plum base of this style has subtle amethyst undertones. The transition through the mid-lengths takes on stronger but pastel violet tones and the tips end in a beautiful lilac.

7. Purple Infinity

Braids and colored hair were made for each other. This look incorporates a quick fade at the mid-lengths. The transition starts off with a deep purple that blends the brown and purple-fuschsia. This ombre is sure to suit all hair types and textures, as well as all skin tones.

8. Gothic Fairytale

This is one of the best and most put-together alternative fashion looks we’ve seen, and it would not be complete without the hair. The gothic block roots fade to a deep purple, which quickly fades out to a soft lilac. If you’ve been wanting to let out the goth in you, this purple-ombre look might have been tailor-made for you.

9. Dusty Lavender

The ashy tones on this lavender have us swooning. The dark black roots on this style fade to a pigmented lavender that picks up subtle ashy tones as it fades out. The ashy tones add texture and dimension, making this style perfect for people with fine hair.

10. Soft Purple Silk

This is definitely the smoothest purple ombre that we’ve laid our eyes on. The black roots take on cool tones as it transitions to a gray, and then a beautiful soft violet. The artist seems to have incorporated gray tones to create movement and dimension in this look.

11. Smoke On The Water

You can never go wrong with subtlety. The extended shadow root on this look makes it one of the best purple sombre styles that we’ve come across. The subtle lilac transitions to a platinum blonde as you shift your gaze from the roots to the tips. If you love cool tones and want you to keep your hair light, this is the ideal purple ombre hairstyle for you.

12. Deep Purple

How does the color of an eggplant manage to look this beautiful? The deep shade seamlessly blends out of the black and into a lighter and more vivid purple. The color is smooth and vibrant and is sure to suit all hair types and textures.

13. Purple Haze

This has to be one of our favorite textured looks. The purple shadow root has gray undertones that fade to silver undertones as the purple fades out. The texture of this style makes it look like a big, beautiful, fluffy cloud.

14. Electric Amethyst

We love the blend of color in this style. While there are two prominent colors that pop, the deep amethyst and fuchsia-purple, the artist has also incorporated shades of deep violet at the crown to add texture and dimension. This style is great for fine and lightly textured hair.

15. Deep Plum Passion

If you don’t want to stray too far from your natural hair color, this might be the style for you. The deep brown roots fade out to take on vibrant plum tones to create a stunning visual. The style is easy to achieve, subtle, and sure to suit all skin tones and hair types.

16. Velvet Mercury

Colors this vivid need to be banned for being too gorgeous to handle. Dark purple roots fade out to a vibrant purple that quickly fades to a lilac at the lower lengths of the hair. If you like purple hair that pops, you are sure to fall in love with this hairstyle.

17. Violet Night

The sheen on this style though! The natural black roots start to take on deep violet tones at the mid-lengths of the gorgeously long locks. As you move further down the length of the hair, the color shifts to a lighter but more vibrant shade. This look is definitely one of our favorite cool-toned purple ombre hairstyles.

18. Pastel Ombre

The pastel trend is here to stay, and if you can’t decide whether to get a purple with strong pink undertones or blue ones, this look will let you have the best of both worlds. The deep black roots fade to a pink-toned purple, which then transitions to a beautiful lavender.

19. Purple Dream

If this is not what a unicorn’s mane looks like, nothing in the world makes sense to us anymore. The style starts off with a vibrant purple with blue undertones, which then starts to pick up pink tones towards the tips of the hair.

20. Purple Rain

If it would rain in purple, this world would be a much better place. But the world if not perfect, so we’re going to have to make do with this gorgeous sight instead, and we’re not complaining. The black roots create a shadow-root effect. The base then fades to a two-toned purple with heavy blue undertones at the mid-lengths and pink ones near the tips.

Trivia

Celebrities like Katy Perry, Venus Williams, and Kylie Jenner have all flaunted different shades of this edgy color as a part of their signature style.

Infographic: Top 5 Purple Ombre Hair Color Ideas

Purple ombre hair is the new talk of the town! You can experiment with various hues — lavender, violet, plum, and lilac — to produce enthralling results. But if you are confused about which shade to choose, we have got you covered. The infographic below presents some fun purple ombre hair color ideas that look stunning. Scroll down and pick your favorite!

Illustration: StyleCraze Design Team

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the difference between ombre and balayage?

A balayage is a freehand hair coloring technique while an ombre is a popular gradient hair coloring trend. The balayage technique is commonly used to get the ombre effect on hair.

Is ombre the same as dip dye?

No, an ombre is a gradient coloring trend where dark roots bleed into lighter shades. The dip dye coloring trend is where hair ends alone are colored in contrasting hair colors. It looks like your hair ends were dipped in a bold hair color.

Is it hard to maintain ombre hair?

No, it is not that hard to maintain an ombre hair. It is a low-maintenance and budget-friendly trending style. You may have to get a touch-up once every 6-8 weeks to keep the color fresh.

Does an ombre damage your hair?

Yes, but it damages hair but less than other coloring styles. In an ombre, the top of the hair is mostly untouched or colored very lightly. A lightener is applied mid-way down to the ends of your hair which may cause some damage that can be taken care of with the right hair care routine and products.

How much does it cost to ombre your hair?

The average cost of ombre depends on several factors such as the hair colorist, salon, hair texture, colors, and the hair length. It is around US$100 and US$450.

How often should you wash ombre hair?

Avoid washing ombréd hair more than twice or thrice a week and use hair products suitable for color-treated hair.

How often does an ombre need to be touched up?

If the ombre starts high up on your hair then it should be refreshed once every 4-6 weeks. If the ombre starts mid-way or lower, it can be refreshed every 6-8 weeks.

Learn to indulge in the captivating beauty of purple highlights and balayage ideas for blonde, brunette, and red hair. Check out the following video to unleash the potential to transform your look with these stunning hair color options. Let inspiration strike today!

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Leata A. Williams is the founder of Mane Theory, Inc. She is a L’ Oreal trained licensed cosmetologist who began styling hair at a very young age. Leata’s love for hair came about once she realized the versatility of styles that can be done. With altering her hair, trying many different cuts, colors, and extension techniques, Leata experienced extensive hair…more

Arshiya Syeda is a senior editor at StyleCraze with 7 years of experience. Prior to that, she was a content writer and combined her writing and research skills to write over 200 high-performing articles on hairstyles, hair care, and skin care. She holds a bachelor’s degree in literature and psychology from Osmania University, Hyderabad, and a post-graduate diploma in psychological…more

Asmita De is an associate editor with over three years of experience. She graduated in English Literature from the University of Calcutta. She has collaborated with several digital companies and reputed publishing houses as an editor. Her adeptness in refining content, ensuring clarity, and preserving the essence of the written word has consistently contributed to enhance the quality of published…more

Bhumika is a content writer with 2.5 years of expertise in crafting articles across diverse genres. She graduated from the University of Delhi and completed her post-graduation from Indira Gandhi National Open University, Delhi. Her commitment to her craft is evident through her pursuit of certification courses in various styles of writing to continuously enhance her skills. As a skilled…more