One of the biggest beauty-trend surprises of 2023 has been what I like to call the Ombrénaissance: the triumphant return of ombré hair color. And I do mean triumphant — it has come back better than ever, with more nuance and smooth gradients than previous ombré upswings. Just look at celebrities like Kendall Jenner, Kaia Gerber, and Rita Ora. Perfected technique has allowed for both seamlessly subtle and well-blended bold takes on the look, and from the looks of it, Penélope Cruz is partaking in the latter with gusto.
After wearing her hair a nearly black shade of dark brown for a while, Cruz’s hair has been jam-packed with caramel highlights since this past summer. But just how variegated it is from roots to ends didn’t become truly apparent until she attended the Gotham Awards in New York City on Monday, November 27. She wore a crocheted, floor-length Chanel dress which, unlike her hair, was the same color from top to bottom.
Going by just the deeply parted swoop atop Cruz’s hair, you might initially think her take on ombré is a low-key one, with shades of dark and medium brown. However, the underside of her length is splashed with honey-blonde tones, creating a distinct difference between the darkest hue at her roots and the lightest toward her ends.
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