Define Hair & Skin in Ellicott City, MD A woman with lived-in color, long wavy blonde hair, and blue eyes, wearing a black top and layered necklaces, stands in front of a blurred background with indistinct text.
“Lived-in color” has become a trending term on social media, but what exactly is meant by lived-in color? Simply put, it’s a hair coloring technique that uses color at the root area to blend highlight lines into a soft gradation. Some stylists refer to this technique as “root smudging” or “root melting” because they are melting away the bright lines that often come with fresh highlights. This gives a much more natural “lived in” look which mimics the way a child’s hair has highlights.

Once the chosen root smudge has been applied the stylist may also choose to incorporate a secondary or tertiary color to further the desired result. This creates a natural, well-blended gradient that grows out beautifully.

Some may ask, “What is the difference between lived-in color and balayage?” Balayage is simply one lightening technique used to create a placement or pattern of the highlights. Balayage is a French term meaning “to paint or sweep” and is typically applied to the hair without use of foils to insulate it. It creates a softer lift and thus is more subtle than for example, foil placed highlights. Using foils gives maximum lift and then artists use the root tap/smudge/melt to soften the foil line so it grows out more gracefully. Both are techniques that can be used to achieve similar results but done in different ways. Lived-in color is typically done with foils to insulate the highlights, and then toned with various shades to create a soft gradient. Both techniques offer the benefit of growing out gracefully.

Define Hair & Skin in Ellicott City, MD A person with long, wavy brown hair, enhanced by a subtle lived-in color, is shown in profile. The hair appears to be healthy and shiny against the blurred background.
Some people assume that root melting is used mainly with blonde guests. However, it’s a great way for darker haired clients to achieve the look of lighter, sun kissed ends, all while keeping their dark dimension. Root melting is also an effective way to achieve gray coverage on guests with highlighted hair. It offers full coverage benefits and while giving highlights a more natural look.

Since so many of us struggle with finding time in our busy schedules, lived-in color offers a bit more flexibility in time between color appointments, while still delivering amazing results. Lived-in color is a versatile technique that anyone can incorporate into their style.

Ask your Define artist if this technique is right for you on your next visit!