Expert Tips for Dyeing Your Hair Red/Copper
Dabbling in different hair colours is a great way to experiment with your personal style and uncover a shade you might never have considered before. And what better way to take the plunge than by dyeing your hair red?
Whether you choose auburn, cherry, burgundy, strawberry blonde, or a copper hair colour, going red is a big commitment. So, it never hurts to do a bit of forward planning!
With so many factors to bear in mind, we’ve rounded up our expert tips on how to dye hair red at home so you can get the most out of your new vibrant colour.
What to consider before dyeing your hair red
If you’ve always dreamed of being a redhead but don’t know what to expect – we’ve got you covered. Before reaching for your red or copper hair dye, we’ve formulated a checklist for what you should consider first.
How red you want to go
When we talk about ‘red’ hair dyes, this actually encompasses many shades. First, have a think about how vibrant you want to take your new red hair. Let’s break it down.
- Light red shades: Strawberry blonde, ginger, light auburn and copper hair colours.
- Medium red shades: Brick red, cinnamon red, classic crimson, and true auburn (red and brown blend) hair colours.
- Deep red shades: Dark cherry, ruby, burgundy, wine, and dark auburn hair colours.
Your skin tone and undertone
With a whole spectrum of red shades to choose from, it’s important to think about which hair colour will suit your skin tone and undertone before reaching for your permanent dye.
If you’re trying to gauge ‘what would my hair look like red?’ – well, knowing your undertone is a great place to start.
Your undertone is the subtle hue that sits below your skin tone that tends to dictate which colours complement you best. There are three types of undertones: warm, cool, and neutral.
Neutral undertones tend to suit a variety of shades. As for warm and cool undertones, you’ll find our top red colour picks below.
- Red hair colours for cool skin tones: This type of undertone is well-suited to vivid red hues that lean towards purple or violet undertones – rather than orange. Whether you’re seeking a red hair colour for pink skin tones or deep skin tones, rich plum, cherry, and crimson shades work well. The Garnier GOOD 6.6 Pomegranate Red - Burgundy Red Hair Dye is the perfect example of a glossy, cool-toned red shade.
- Red hair colours for warm skin tones: If you have a warm undertone, you can really lean into copper hair colours along with auburn and strawberry blonde. These golden-orange hues amplify your natural warmth. Our pick for a warm-toned orange-red hybrid is the Garnier Olia Permanent Hair Colour 7.40 Intense Copper.
The health of your hair
Before dyeing your hair red, it’s important to assess the health of your hair. Keep in mind that damaged hair tends to be more porous – which may impact the longevity of your hair colour. If your strands are dry or brittle, we suggest taking the time to nourish your hair with reparative hair care before you use permanent hair dye again.
Your base colour
The base colour you start with before dyeing your hair red or copper is going to affect how well the dye develops. Here are some general guidelines to keep in mind:
- The lighter your base colour, the brighter your red dye will develop.
- If you have a darker base, you’ll need a deeper shade of red dye – and the finish may be a lot subtler and warmer.
- Light virgin hair takes very well to red shades – especially copper hair colours.
- Pre-lightened or bleached hair also lends itself to vibrant red finishes.
The upkeep of red and copper hair colours
Dyeing your hair red demands a certain amount of upkeep. Red hair dye is known for fading faster than other colours, so you’ll need to be conscious of how often you’re washing and heat-styling your tresses – which impacts the longevity of colour.
You can help make your permanent hair dye last by switching to targeted products that extend the life of your colour-treated hair.
Our product pick for how to maintain dyed red hair is the Fructis Colour Last Shampoo and the Fructis Colour Last Conditioner. This range is formulated with acai berry extracts and naturally occurring polyphenols* to support longer lasting**, more radiant hair colour.
*Grape seed polyphenols **Instrumental test: shampoo + conditioner vs. classic shampoo + classic conditioner
How to dye your hair red at home: a step-by-step guide
If you’re new to colouring, we’re going to take you through our steps on how to dye your hair at home using the Garnier GOOD 7.43 Turmeric Copper Hair Dye – a naturally derived, ammonia-free dye that delivers up to eight weeks of intense glossy colour.
- Start with dry hair – we recommend washing it one to two days prior.
- Apply Vaseline along the very top of your forehead (right up to the hairline), as well as to your ears and neck – this will help prevent staining.
- Wear a protective smock to cover your clothes.
- Divide your hair into four sections (more if you have thicker hair) to help with even application.
- Mix the copper hair colour according to the packet instructions.
- Put on the disposable gloves, then apply the creamy, non-drip texture onto your roots and work through to your ends.
- Let your copper hair dye develop as per the instructions.
- Rinse your hair thoroughly until the water runs clear – then follow with the after-colour care.
Things tend to get a bit messy the first time you’re dyeing your hair red at home, so explore our tips on how to get hair dye off your face for a cleaner end result.
