The 2021 film “Cruella” is a fashion explosion. A sort of spin-off of “The Hundred and One Dalmatians,” this movie explored the origin story of Cruella De Vil, the glamorous heiress who is infamous for chasing the Dalmatians for their fur. But before she was evil, she was already a fashion icon and “Cruella” spoiled its viewers with an eyegasm of iconic fashion pieces only Cruella can pull off (the burning dress will forever be burned in our brains).
One of the most memorable fashion statements pulled off by Cruella is her black and white hair. While Estella (Cruella before her transformation) and her red hair are gorgeous, audiences were more drawn to the white and black hairstyle worn well by the fashionista.
Despite the divided opinion on “Cruella” as a film, there’s no denying that its stylish statements, particularly the black and white hair, encouraged viewers to take a page out of her book. The split dye hair is a current trend, but what happens when you make it white and black?
What is a Black and White Hair Look Called?
As mentioned above, this look falls under the “split dyed hair” or “half dyed hair” category. Split-dyed hair looks use two contrasting colors to add style to your locks. It’s a fun look that gets anyone noticed — just like Cruella.
With a split dyed hair look, you can play with many shades. Most people experiment with vibrant shades like pink and purple. In terms of the black and white hair look, you can dye one part of your hair pure black with no tones and ice white on the other. If you’re feeling a little different, dye one side deep gray and the other chalk white.
The best thing about the split dyed look is you can use any shade combination. There are no rules when it comes to creating your unique look. It’s a versatile fashion statement. Whether you want to look edgy like Cruella or go subtle, this hairstyle gives what you need without being too overwhelming.
Should I Do a Split Dye?
“Will the black and white hair look suit me? What if it’s an Emma Stone ‘Cruella’ exclusive?” you may ask.
The good news is this look will work on anyone. It’s a good excuse to get creative and play around with your hair. You can try out different styles you’ve never worn before, like ombre waves, braids or the brave curls Cruella wears so well. With the black and white hair look, you can also try something more subtle like black hair with white highlights or black hair with white underneath.
The black and white hairstyle works well with cooler undertones. If you have a warm complexion, use blonde colors as an accent color and deep browns as the base color. On the other hand, if your hair is neutral, anything will work for you.
How Do You Dye Your Hair Black and White?
If you want to rock the black and white hair look, a visit to your local salon does the trick. Salon professionals offer great recommendations, especially if you’re unsure of how you want your new style to look.
However, before you visit the salon to get your hair done, consider doing the following preparations:
- Research on the style you want
- Get a quote
- Before your appointment, deep condition your hair
- Bring a reference photo to show the stylist what you want
By doing these before your appointment, you’re making things easier for your stylist and yourself.
How Do You Dye Your Hair Split at Home?
If you don’t have the budget or time for a professional’s touch, you can always dye your hair at home. As long as you have the right materials and know-how, you can dye your hair in two colors.
To split color your hair the right way, however, you need to prepare.
Prepare the Things You Need
There’s nothing worse than starting to dye your hair only to realize halfway that you’re missing an important tool. To avoid panicking, prepare your workspace with all of the necessities, which includes the following:
- Hairbrush and a dye brush
- Gloves
- A towel you don’t mind staining
- Hair dye (bleach, if necessary)
- Mirror
- Timer
Once you have all of your supplies, clear a space for your hair dye project — unless you want the dye to get all over your belongings. After cleaning an area and setting up your supplies, you can start dyeing.
Part Your Hair
Just because you part your hair a certain way, it doesn’t mean this is the part that works well with your split dye look. Always consider how you want the results to look.
If you want an even distribution of colors, part your hair in the middle. But if you favor one color over the other, part your hair to the side. Remember, choose how you part your hair before you begin because once your color your hair, switching it up is not an option.
Coloring Your Hair
Avoid washing your hair before you color it to achieve the best results. Your hair must be free of conditioners when you dye it since the dye won’t stick well to your locks. In general, dyeing on wet hair will also prevent the hair color from sticking, so avoid wetting your hair beforehand (unless the instructions on the box say so).
Once you’ve prepared your hair, split it into sections to evenly distribute the colors. If you don’t have a dye brush, use gloves to work the dye into your hair, starting at the root and massing it to the tips.
Keep applying the color until you’ve saturated both halves of your head in color. If you’re not fully coloring the halves, keep applying the color until you’ve reached the level of saturation you want.
Black and White Hair Aftercare
Once you’ve colored your hair black and white, you’ll want to maintain these vibrant colors. There’s nothing more annoying than losing the color of your hair a week after your big dye job.
Some of the things you can do to maintain your new hairstyle are:
- Wash your hair with cold water
- Use sulfate-free conditioner and shampoo
- Use heat protectant spray before using hot tools
- Use leave-in treatments to protect your hair color
If you’re bored with your current hair color or want to shake things up, take a page out of Cruella’s book. Neon green is not an option; black and white hair is the key to the future. Go for her iconic black and white hair look today.
