Root Smudge: The Hair Dye Hack You Need To Know

Love the feeling of fresh, vibrant color straight from the salon, but hate the multiple appointments it takes to maintain it? A root smudge might just be the answer. It could also save you time and money, as well as extend the life of your hair color. The lived-in color a root smudge creates is especially chic right now, and it might be the perfect new look for you this season.

What Is a Root Smudge? 

According to Paul Edmonds London’s senior color technician, Joe Savine, a root smudge is a coloring technique in which a darker color is brushed onto the roots after the initial highlights, balayage, or overall color is set. To create a seamless root smudge, stylists brush (or “smudge”) this darker color or toner 1 to 3 inches down the hair shaft from the root. 

“The final result appears darker at the root and lighter through mid-lengths and ends — we’d leave out the face-framing pieces to give ‘pop,’” Savine explained on his site. “If you want a more lived-in feel, you’d go for a smudge.” 

Who Should Get a Root Smudge? 

As Savine said, root smudges are an excellent option for those who prefer low-maintenance hair care routines and a laid-back look to their color. This technique also helps ensure you’re not getting the dreaded “staircase” appearance with your highlights — obvious streaks in your hair that resemble a staircase pattern. But getting a natural, well-loved appearance and extending the life of your color aren’t the only reasons this technique might be right for you. 

Angelina Schofield of the Hair Lounge recommends this technique to clients who prefer darker colors by their face and lighter color through their ends. This type of full-spectrum coverage adds dimension and depth to the hair, which can be especially helpful for individuals with lighter features who might get washed out by an all-over blond hue.

How a Root Smudge Is Applied 

As is the case with most complex coloring techniques, root smudges are best done by a hair professional. Ask your stylist for a hair gloss, semi, or demi-permanent color to create a soft, subtle shift between the darker shade of your roots and the lighter color from mid-shaft to ends. Your hairstylist will be able to discuss these options and determine which type of hair color would be the best for you. 

A root smudge is created by lightly tapping the hair gloss or demi-permanent dye directly onto the roots with a coloring brush. From there, the color is slightly blurred and feathered throughout the uppermost part of the hair shaft, depending on how much depth you want. “The whole point is you don’t want to see any lines of demarcation,” Schofield explained on YouTube. “You do not want to see a start and stopping point.”

Making Your Root Smudge Work for You 

If you want the depth and natural look of a root smudge without sacrificing brightness around your face, ask your stylist to apply the root smudge to the middle and back of your hair only. Schofield demonstrated this technique in her video, sectioning off about 1 inch of hair from temple to temple that will maintain its lighter appearance. (However, remember that opting for this technique might require a touch-up appointment sooner than an all-over smudge.)

Other popular shadowing techniques include root melts and a root shadow. While these coloring techniques are similar to a smudge, the overall results vary slightly. A root melt takes the subtlety of a root smudge and blends it further down the hair shaft for a darker overall appearance on the crown. A root shadow uses a significantly darker color on the roots than on the ends, creating a starker contrast and a bolder but less natural look. 

Before you step back into the salon, consider where you’d like the darkest part of your color to end. Knowing whether you want a cool or warm undertone will help guide your stylist in the right direction when selecting your root color. And, of course, finding similar inspiration photos is another great way to ensure you get the exact color you want so you can keep rocking that fresh-from-the-salon look for longer.