Ombre vs Sombre, and is This the Look for You?

Ombre: a gradual transition from a darker color at the root to a lighter color at the ends, typically dark brown to caramel or very light blonde. 

Sombre: A more subtle transition, darker brown to a lighter brown, or a darker shade of blonde to a lighter shade of blonde. 

Who is a good candidate for Ombre/Sombre? The ideal hair type for the ombre/sombre hair color would be someone with a good amount of length and lots of layers. Typically, shorter hair does not reflect the look of fading from dark to light, and can sometimes look like it is just roots that have grown out. It can be difficult to achieve the look on hair that has been previously colored, especially hair that has been colored dark. For clients that are already pretty light all over or aren’t looking to go for a dramatic transition, the Sombre look might be more subtle and manageable look. The dark to light transition is noticeable with a Sombre color, however it is achieved by blending colors from the roots to the ends that are only a few shades apart. This is the perfect look for clients who are a honey or caramel blonde already and want lighter ends, or for clients who are looking for a blend of darker to lighter browns. The maintenance for this color technique is very minimal, which makes it ideal for those clients who don’t want to visit the salon for color touch ups very often. The initial process of applying the color does take some time, but once it is achieved a retouch is a much easier process, unless any of the colors are going to be changed. 

Whether you're wanting a drastic change or something more subtle, Ombre or Sombre can be a great option for you to have something fun and outside the box. Before making the decision, it's always a good idea to check with your stylist to make sure that this color process is going to be a good fit for you! Here at Euphoria our stylists have experience with this coloring technique and we love getting to do new things with our clients! 

-Laura 

Welcome to our first post! One of the things we wanted to incorporate in this blog were some questions that we, as stylists, get on a regular basis. It’s important that we keep our clients educated on how to maintain their hair and scalp, which in the long run benefits both the client and the stylist. 

Q: How often should I shampoo my hair?

A: This is probably the number one question I hear from clients, family and friends. The answer to this question is not as simple as you might think, and the reason for that is because everyone’s hair and scalp are completely unique! It all depends on your scalp, as well as the condition and texture of your hair. A person with a normal to oily scalp with hair that shows no signs of breakage or damage may be able to skip a day of shampooing. Another person with dry or damaged hair may be able to go even two or three days between shampoos, because their hair is soaking up the natural oils from the scalp instead of the oils sitting on top of the hair shaft.

A great alternative for those who don’t need to shampoo as often but still want to refresh their hair and scalp is a dry shampoo. This product works by absorbing some of the oils in the scalp and hair to help give a fresh feeling. Here at Euphoria we carry the Hair Refresher by Davines, which is great for all hair types and leaves your hair soft, smelling great, and full of bounce!

So the general answer I give when asked this question is that it all depends on the person and nobody knows your hair and scalp better than you do! 

Hair Refresher Dry Cleansing Mist by Davines

Q: How often should I get a haircut?

A: This is a great question, and it’s extremely important to keep haircuts at the top of the list when thinking of haircare and maintenance. I hear a lot of people say that they are growing their hair out and they don’t want to cut it or don’t want anything taken off, however this is actually counterproductive to trying to grow it out! Hair grows from the scalp, not the ends, and a lot of the reason that people don’t feel like they are seeing any results from growing it out is because the hair is breaking off at the ends. It’s important to keep yourself on a schedule when it comes to your haircuts. On average, a person’s hair can grow anywhere from ¼” to 1/2” a month.  I usually recommend that my clients come in anywhere between 4 and 8 weeks for regular trims. Now similar to the previous question about shampooing, everyone’s hair and scalp are different, which is why I give a wider time frame for trims. If a client is wanting to change their color frequently, or has had previously damaged hair that they don’t want to trim off all at once, I will recommend somewhere between 4 and 5 weeks for trims, along with routine conditioning treatments. Keeping up with regular trims is the number one way to ensure that your hair is in great condition so that it can continue to grow! 

Q: Why should I buy products from your salon and not the grocery or drug store?

A: I get this question a lot, especially when it comes to the pricing of haircare products. The products that are sold in salons are created by teams of well qualified and highly skilled people who know just the right things to put into these products for maximum results. When you are buying store brand products, a lot of the ingredients are what I like to call “fillers,” meaning that they are in there to basically give it texture and smell. A lot of those products contain things like sulfates or alcohols, which can lead to many issues like drying out the hair and scalp, leaving buildup, or fading color. Another thing that I have found is that these products that are sitting on shelves at your local drug store can be sitting there for unknown amounts of time. Surprisingly, hair care products do have a shelf life and can expire and lose their potency after a certain amount of time. Also, it is not uncommon for some of the products to be something other than what is listed on the packaging, meaning that you could be purchasing counterfeit products that do not come directly from the manufacturer.

 Here at Euphoria we believe that less is more and that what better place to find beauty ingredients than right outside your door. Natural and organic products work wonders on the hair, scalp and body. The same way that eating healthy and avoiding processed and artificial foods can give you great results when it comes to how you feel and the shape you are in, is equivalent to using more natural and healthy products for your hair. The new line that we carry, Davines, is a great addition to our selection of hair care products and color. Many of the ingredients are all natural, and the way your hair feels after using these products is a testament to the importance of keeping it simple and natural!

Thank you for reading, and I hope that we have been able to give you all some useful answers to some of the biggest hair care questions! Stay tuned for more updates, and keep your questions coming!

-Laura