Ombré is a French word, which means 'shadow'—it's a process that dyes the hair in a gradation from dark to light. The outcome is usually darker hair from the roots to the mid-shaft and a transition to a lighter color from the mid-shaft through to the ends. With ombré, there is a noticeable color blocking from dark to light, with a smooth transition in between. This technique is meant to look like the hair has been dip-dyed.