InStyle March 11, 2024

InStyle

Hair

8 Red Hair Color Ideas to Inspire Your Next Trip to the Salon

 

Looking to make a statement with your strands? Red hair color is always a good option. And while only a small percentage of people are genetically blessed with the shade naturally, we can change our hair color every other week if we so desire. With that in mind, we're manifesting red hair for ourselves.

However, before you switch up your color, know that maintaining red hair is no joke. "Red is the largest color molecule, so it's the most likely of all colors to fade out of your hair the quickest," explained celebrity hairstylist Sunnie Brook. Brook suggests doing a color refresh every four to six weeks to combat fading, and said to use a low-pH shampoo and conditioner, such as Biolage's Color Last duo, to keep your red looking fresh. When you need a boost of color for a quick refresh, color-depositing masks, such as Garnier's Nutrisse Color Revivers, can save you a trip to the salon. The best part? They take just five minutes to work.

Below, we rounded up 10 of our favorite red hair color ideas to inspire your next trip to the salon. From deep cherry cola to fiery red, we're tempted to try them all.

Dark Red

Celebrity hairstylist Guy Tang said Zendaya's red is the perfect natural dark red tone. "If you want to try a dark red, ask your stylist for a cherry cola red tone or a red-enhanced brunette that is a level four to six," Tang said. "If you are a brunette and want a subtle version of this, ask your stylist to blend highlights of a dark red."

Orange Sapphire

Nobody does bold red hair quite like Bella Thorne. Lorena M. Valdes, a colorist at Maxine Salon in Chicago, said that this is an intense copper-red with ribbons for lowlights and copper-orange for highlights, which creates a multi-dimensional color. "Request all-over color with a balayage, and with highlights and lowlights after to recreate this look."

Burgundy

Turn up the intensity with this bold shade. Celebrity hairstylist Nikki Lee suggests asking for a deep red-brown with copper undertones. "This color really brings out the warm tones in your skin and looks gorgeous in the sunlight," Lee said.

Natural Muted Copper

While Kendall Jenner's red is technically a copper, Tang said it still falls in the red category. "This type of color looks more natural in indoor lighting and vibrant in the sun," he cautioned. If you love it, he said to ask your hairstylist for a natural muted copper. "Emphasize that you want the color to look like you were born with it," Tang added.

Ginger

If your adventure into red hair is a cautious one, stick to lighter shades, like this ginger tone sported by one of our favorite redheads, Emma Stone.

Sunrise Copper

We're obsessed with this sweet red on Sydney Sweeney. "In some light, you will feel like this tone leans more into the golden-blonde family, and in other light, those warm coppery — not to be confused with brassy — tones will give you all the glow that golden hour has to offer, no matter the time of day," said Brook.

Strawberry Copper

This is a lighter version of the copper we all know and love, as it has brighter ribbons of strawberry blonde. Valdes said to ask your color specialist for an all-over bright copper, followed up by a customized highlight or balayage service.

Rose Gold

Celebrity colorist Greg Gilmore likes the idea of having light blonde that is softly toned with an almost iridescent red or warm tone but deeply saturated towards the root. "She still can be considered a redhead but she can also be a less committed red at the same time," said Gilmore. To achieve it, he said to ask for a red root color smudge with softly toned ends, like Sienna Miller's fairy red hair.


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