The Shadow Hair Trend Is the Latest Low-Maintenance Way to Create Gorgeous Dimension

When you think of getting highlights, you probably imagine your colorist adding lighter, brighter pieces to give your hue more oomph. But a new trend growing in popularity on Instagram proves that achieving incredible dimension isn't just about the lighter strands. Creating natural-looking shadows in the hair with a technique called shadow toning is a stunning way to give your color depth while making the transition from your natural shade much more seamless.

"Shadow hair is a new hair-color trend that mimics the ombré of yesteryear," explains Nikki Ferrara, colorist at Serge Normant at John Frieda in New York City. "This works really well for someone who likes the idea of highlighted hair but hates the idea of being in the salon every four to six weeks. You can go as long as four to six months without retouching your roots with this trend."

So, how does it work? "I use shadow toning along with babylights and balayage to give a soft, organic root," says U.K.-based colorist Josie Wright, who did the shadow-hair look below. "At the shampoo bowl, a customized formula of semipermanent tints is applied at the root area, leaving out the hairline to maintain brightness. I let this develop for 10 to 15 minutes and apply a toner to the mids and ends, which has been formulated to meet the client's blonde needs."

Ferrara says to choose a toner — or in some cases, a gloss — that's the same shade as your natural hair or, "my personal favorite is to go a half-shade deeper than the natural hair color." That's left to process until the desired color is achieved and then it's rinsed out. "This gives a grown-out, more natural vibe to the highlights."

The #shadowtone hashtag, first spotted by Refinery29, brings up mostly shades of blonde, many of which have been created by California colorist Robyn Sweeney, whose work can be seen below. However, the shadow-hair look can work on any color. "It's a really good way of lifting a darker base lighter and keeping it looking natural. The babylights in foil create maximum lift on darker hair, and the shadow tone ensures it looks natural and can be formulated to complement all skin tones," Wright tells Allure. "Shadow tone teamed with some face-framing babylights is my go-to technique for a natural beach-blonde look."

"You can still have the lightness that everyone wants higher up but without the maintenance that faces you with a traditional highlight," Wright says, explaining how low-maintenance shadow hair can be. "The regrowth is natural and ultrasoft — no harsh lines."

More hair color trends:

• The "Strandlights" Technique Is the New Way to Get Natural-Looking Highlights

• Colorist Proves Using a Frosting Cap for Highlights Doesn't Have to Be a '90s Nightmare

• "Iced Caramel Latte Hair" Is the Best New Way to Wear Balayage

Now check out 100 years of hair color:

Follow Marci on Instagram and Twitter, or subscribe to Allure's newsletter for daily beauty stories delivered right to your inbox.