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Strawberry Auburn Hair Is the Latest Red Shade We Can’t Get Enough Of 

Red-hot hair isn't slowing down anytime soon. We've seen peach, copper coin, and strawberry brunette trending, and now strawberry auburn hair is the latest twist on the shade that's going to be everywhere. 

According to Lorena M. Valdes, colorist at Chicago's Maxine Salon, the shade is the best way to play with red shades if you're into a softer approach. “The look uses auburn to create a rich feel, while the strawberry highlights have more copper to brighten up the look,” she says. “Balayage has been my favorite technique for this look.”

If you're tempted to go over to the red side (trust me, you won't regret it) but don't want to go as bold as, say, Gigi Hadid at the Met Gala, Valdes recommends easing in with strawberry auburn. “This shade works for anyone interested in playing with warmer colors without fully committing to a fully saturated look,” she says. “Since it utilizes different techniques that give the illusion of a fully saturated color, it gives a softer grow-out.” 

Those techniques include a subtle auburn highlight that goes from roots to end in a foil, and some balayage pieces that are soft at the root and thicker toward the end. Not only does this give you a more natural effect, but it also has a less obvious grow-out so you can spend less time in the salon. 

Valdes notes that for the example above, her model had a medium/light brown that made the perfect base for a more natural strawberry shade: “With darker bases, the color will have more of a pop in contrast but still will have a soft grow-out from the balayage.” No matter what shade you start with, she recommends asking a high-low balayage with a red gloss for a similar look. “Highlights are fantastic too but will need to be touched up sooner,” she adds.

Ready to give it a go? Scroll on for some of our favorite takes on strawberry auburn hair.