What is shadow root hair?

A shadow root is a hairstyling technique where the colorist adds a shade closer to the natural hair color at the roots, creating a seamless transition to blend with the lighter hair ends. This technique not only gives hair a "lived-in" appearance but also helps minimize the contrast between natural roots and dyed hair, extending the time between color touch-ups. Shadow roots are low-maintenance and can be used on various hair colors, such as blonde, brunette, or colored hair, to achieve a more subtle and natural-looking grow-out. The shade applied to the roots is typically one to two levels darker than the highlights or the base color, with a gradual, blended effect from roots to ends.