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Updated on: 09 March,2021 07:46 AM IST  |  Mumbai
Dalreen Ramos |

With Disney’s Cruella set to release this summer, the protagonist’s iconic two-toned hairdo is making a comeback. Experts tell you how to get it right

Meet me halfway

Colour only the bottom-half of your hair in contrasting shades, like actor Adah Sharma, as a less damaging alternative. Pic/Instagram

Cruella de Vil may be a fictional character but she is hard to forget. Her hair? Even harder. With one part black and the other white, the villain set the trend for two-toned hair before celebrities did. And with the Disney rolling out comedy crime flick Cruella this summer, there’s enough motivation to give it a go yourself. But before you do, here’s what experts have to say.


Emma Stone plays Cruella de Vil in the upcoming film
Emma Stone plays Cruella de Vil in the upcoming film


“During the lockdown, people were so tired of having their hair coloured in a single shade that now, everyone wants to be outrageous with colour,” Sarika Motiani of the Khar salon, Smashh, maintains. If you are up for drawing eyeballs then black and blonde is the way to go, but if you are searching for something subtler then she suggests playing around with a combination of brown and red. However, Motiani cautions against opting for blonde on an entire part. “Not many people can pull of blonde in our country. It yellows quickly because of humidity, and then you have to keep toning it to make it silver, which only those with time on their hands can do,” she states.


The two-toned style may be harder to pull off on curly hair. Pics/Youtube
The two-toned style may be harder to pull off on curly hair. Pics/Youtube

A safer option, she adds, is to only go two-tone in the front. “Also, I’d say this style works best for shoulder-length hair like Stone in the film because it’ll stand out more and reflect texture and movement.”

Pooja Singh, national creative director – hair, Lakme Salon, says that the two colours you pick should complement your skin tone. But most importantly, you should be comfortable with the colours you choose and have the confidence to carry them.


Pooja Singh

“Since most Indians have natural black or brown hair, one needs to start by pre-lightening the natural base colour to the lightest level possible to achieve a two-toned hair colour. If your skin tone is fair, then opt for ash tones and subdued blonde shades, and if you have a darker skin tone, deep reds, coppers and bronze will look lovely,” she shares. Singh also mentions that lighter colours like blondes will fade in a few washes, so a colour refresher is required after 20 washes or two months.

Billie Eilish’s neon touch is another easy way to incorporate the two-tone style, according to Motiani. Pic/AFP
Billie Eilish’s neon touch is another easy way to incorporate the two-tone style, according to Motiani. Pic/AFP

High maintenance
The product formulation and reaction of the dye on either part will vary. So, city-based trichologist Dr Neha Marathe, says you need to consider the following:  

>> Pre-colour: Proceed only if you don’t have hair fall or brittle hair. “Oxidative damage to your hair and scalp is possible when colour and bleach touch the root, leading to hair fall and dandruff. Always do a sensitivity test; check if the colour suits your skin,” she advises.

Sarika Motiani
Sarika Motiani

>> Post-colour: Choose colour protecting shampoos and conditioners that contain more protein and vitamins that will nourish your hair. “Curly and wavy hair is more prone to dryness,” she says. 

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