Shadow Root Hair Is the Prettiest Low-Maintenance Trend

If you haven't made it to a salon since the pandemic started, fear not, as your overgrown roots are actually trending. That's right—a shadow root is one of the coolest hair colors you can get this spring. 

Okay, so it's a little more elegant than months-old grow-out, but it is way less upkeep than your usual hair color. Basically, a shadow root, also called a root smudge, is when your stylist goes back over your highlights or fresh color with a shade closer to your natural shade. This not only gives your hair a cooler “lived-in” feel, it extends the life of your color by fading into your natural roots, instead of leaving a harsh demarcation line. 

Lauren Grummel, a hairstylist in New York, loves this technique for both its ability to extend your grow-out, as well as adding pretty dimension. While a shadow root can be done on pretty much any shade, she particularly likes to do it on her blond-haired clients. “I love it for its subtle contrast,” she says. “Ask for brighter ends, with dimension through the midlength and less blond through the roots, and always brighter pieces around your face.” 

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