There’s a lot of love for lilac, violet, lavender and plum in the hair world right now. And, while they look sensational on their own, they’re even more mesmerizing when melted together. Enter purple ombre hair: a look that lets your client work a multitude of hues in one masterpiece, whether they want to take the trend light, bright and pastel or deep, dark and red-tinted.
So how do you create the look for your clients? Keep scrolling for 10 purple ombre hair formulas, plus tips and tricks to maintain violet and lavender shades for longer…
What is a Purple Ombre?
Made for clients who want to work a range of purple hues – or team them with other colours, like blonde or pink – a purple ombre sees shades graduate from dark to light through the roots to ends of hair. So, when the requests roll in for this look, you could be painting blonde roots with violet ends, a lavender and lilac melt, or a dimensional combo of chocolate brown with rich aubergine. Anything goes – as long as purple is in there.
10 Formulas for Purple Ombre Hair
Digital Lavender Ombre Hair
Delicate yet bold, with a veil of lilac reflections and shine you can feel; the Digital Lavender look is a Wella Professionals icon that lets brunette clients play with blonde and pastel tones. To master this mane for your client, first pre-lighten the face frame and mid-lengths of hair with BlondorPlex + 6%, before switching the developer to 9% to get extra lift through the mid-lengths to ends. Then, when you’ve reached the desired underlying tone, glaze with Shinefinity 09/81 + 00/89 + 00/66 + bottle activator. The combination of smokey violet, icy blue and pale platinum tones creates a next-gen purple that’s beyond addictive.
Lavender to Pastel Pink Ombre Hair
Image Credit: @lailapettersenhair
A pastel dream come true, this purple and pink ombre sees tones of lavender cascade into blush on the ends, courtesy of Illumina Color. Hair was pre-lightened with BlondorPlex + 6% first to create a light, bright base. Then you’re seeing 9/60 + Silver Mauve (from the Opal-Essence palette) through the roots, and 10/05 + Titanium Rose (also an Opal-Essence shade) on the lengths. Flawless.
Subtle Purple Ombre Hair
Image Credit: @lailapettersenhair
While the colours are anything but subtle, the graduation in this purple ombre is as soft as it gets. In fact, it’s what we’d call a ‘sombre’ – AKA a subtle ombre. There’s a ‘blink and you’ll miss it’ switch from violet to mauve, which Laila created with our iconic permanent hair colour, Koleston Perfect. On a level nine base, 8/96 + 0/66 + 1.9% was applied from roots to mid-lengths first, then the mid-lengths to ends were given a glow-up using 10/86 + 9/81 + 0/66 + 1.9%. Obsessed is an understatement.
Magenta to Violet Ombre Hair
Image Credit: @fergaldoylehair
Unashamedly bright, this is oil slick hair at its most vivid, created with a stunning blend of shades from the semi-permanent Color Fresh CREATE collection. After hair was lightened with BlondorPlex + 6%, High Magenta was painted from the roots through to the mid-lengths, then melted into Ultra Purple for a vibrant combo that’s guaranteed to turn heads. This is the look to share with clients who love pushing the bold boundaries. If they’re looking for their next big transformation, you’ve just found it.
Lilac to Silver Blonde Ombre Hair
Image Credit: @chris0712
This mega metallic look features a futuristic lilac in the roots and silver blonde through the lengths – a combo you can recreate with shades from the Shinefinity collection. Hair should be lifted to a level nine first, so use BlondorPlex for all-over lightening. It gives you up to nine levels of lift, with up to 97% less breakage*. Then reach for the Shinefinity Violet Booster and mix just a touch with a cool, pale blonde, like 09/61 Iced Platinum, to tone the roots to mids. A grey blonde, such as 09/81 Platinum Opal or 08/98 Silver Pearl will illuminate lengths and ends, while giving your client the kind of reflective shine they can feel.
Purple to Blonde to Blue Ombre Hair
Image Credit: @mgray153
Now this is what we call an eye-catching ombre. Tying in with this year’s Wella Color Blocking trend, it features violet on the roots, blonde on the mid-lengths, and blue through the ends. Try it on your most colour-brave clients by first lightening and toning the hair a platinum blonde. Koleston Perfect Special Blonde 12/96 is a high lift colour that achieves both steps in one. Then, after that formula has been rinsed and neutralized, paint Color Fresh CREATE in Ultra Purple from the roots to the top of the mid-section, and apply New Blue from the bottom of the mid-section through to the ends. Leave the mids bright and blonde for maximum impact.
Dark Blonde to Purple Ombre Hair
Image Credit: @kristiwalshair
It’s not often you see dark blonde tones combined with a pastel ombre mane, but this muted take on the trend is an unexpected hit. Proof that your client doesn’t need a platinum base for purple tones to pop, recreate a lavender haze on your ash blonde or dirty blonde clients for an undone 90s feel. Semi-permanent Color Fresh CREATE in Ultra Purple is the perfect purple for this look, with the Tomorrow Clear additive allowing you to pastelize the shade to hit your client’s hair goals.
Short Purple Ombre Hair
Image Credit: @cetroni.wella
Who says you can’t do ombre on short hair? Christopher Cetroni has nailed it, painting a bold purple through the nape section and roots of hair, while taking the already-blonde ends cool and bright. If you want to recreate the look, consider using Blondor Soft Blonde Cream for the lightener, which offers up to seven levels of lift while being gentle on the scalp (great for close-to-root lifting). Then, you’ve got a whole host of Wella Professionals purples at your fingertips to tone the roots, back and sides. Color Fresh CREATE in Ultra Purple is a failsafe for semi-permanent colour, delivering major pigment that fades true to tone.
Purple-Tinted Red Ombre Hair
Image Credit: @raffaele_damelio_parrucchieri
If your client prefers a little red with their violet, try a mahogany mane like this. It features just a hint of purple, with red reflections that take your client’s ombre to a new dimension. Brunettes and existing redheads will love this look, which you can recreate by first lightening the mid-lengths and ends of dark hair with BlondorPlex. Then, tone from root to tip with all the shine-boosting intensity of Koleston Perfect 55/66 + 0/65.
Platinum Blonde to Pink Purple Ombre Hair
Image Credit: @nikkiclifford_hair
What. A. Show-stopper. If your client is all about high contrast, they’re bound to be hooked on this platinum blonde to purple ombre look. For tones this vivid, pre-lighten the full length of hair with BlondorPlex + 6% for the base first. Then, after applying a platinum to the roots and mid-lengths, treat the mid-lengths and ends to a mermaid-inspired blend of Color Fresh CREATE in Pure Violet + Tomorrow Clear + High Magenta. The combo of platinum, pink and purple seriously pops.
How to Maintain Purple Ombre Hair
Whether pastel or pigment-packed, help your client’s purple ombre hair last longer by sharing these tips…
1. Start with a Bolder Shade
You can actually help your client maintain their purple hair before they leave the salon, simply by dialing up the brightness of their desired shade. So, if they want a pastel lilac, ask them if they’d be willing to kick off their look with hair that’s just a touch brighter. That way, it will take their purple ombre longer to fade, and they’ll still reach their dream hue.
2. Use the Right Hair Care
Make sure your client knows just how important colour-friendly shampoos and conditioners are. If they skip them, they could end up with too-harsh formulas that speed up the fading of purple hues. At Wella Professionals, we offer a range of salon-grade products to keep coloured locks intact for longer – and they can even be tailored to suit their hair’s condition. Here are our go-to picks…
For shine and vibrancy, try: INVIGO Color Brilliance Color Protection Shampoo and Vibrant Color Conditioner. Brimming with lime caviar for added luster, the shampoo is pH-optimized to help close the cuticle after colouring, so those purple pigments are locked in for longer.
For added nourishment, try: ColorMotion+ Color Protection Shampoo, Moisturizing Color Reflection Conditioner and Structure+ Mask. They’re packed with antioxidants, so pollutants in the air and found in hard water are kept at bay from one wash to the next. This combination also gives your client up to eight weeks of colour protection*, while preserving smoothness and shine.
For intense damage repair, try: Ultimate Repair Shampoo and Ultimate Repair Conditioner. They feature a skincare-inspired blend of AHA and Omega-9 to transform even the most stressed-out strands, replenishing from the inside out. Combine with Miracle Hair Rescue – our most innovative leave-in treatment – to repair damage in just 90 seconds**, leaving hair 12x smoother*** with 99% less breakage****.
Bonus: All of the shampoos above – and all Wella Professionals shampoos – feature Metal Purifier. This means they neutralize the effects of metals in the hair, often found in hard water, to minimize damage and give extra protection against shade fade.
3. Touch Up the Tone at Home
Finally, for when your client’s purple shade starts to look a little faded, remind them they can top up the tone at home with a colour-depositing treatment. The Color Fresh Mask in Lilac Frost (for pastels) or Purple (for bolds) has them covered, delivering a boost of pigment in a flash. All they have to do is apply it to clean, damp hair, evenly distribute with a wide tooth comb, then rinse out after 10 minutes.
Top tip: Lilac Frost is also a great alternative to a purple shampoo, helping to eliminate brassy tones in blondes and brondes (brown blondes) for a beautifully balanced finish.
Now you’ve got plenty of purple ombre inspiration, go ahead and create your own melting masterpieces. Don’t forget to share them with us on Instagram by tagging us @WellaHairUKI and @WellaEducation.
* When using Structure+ Mask.
** When using ULTIMATE REPAIR Miracle Hair Rescue.
*** Vs. non-conditioning shampoo.
**** When using ULTIMATE REPAIR Miracle Hair Rescue. Instrumental test versus non-conditioning shampoo.
