Should I Dye My Hair Red or Copper? What to Know First

Go copper if you have warm, peachy or golden skin and want a red that looks like it could be natural. Go for a deeper cool red, like burgundy or ruby, if your skin is pink-toned or gets red easily. Either way, red is the fastest-fading hair color there is, so only do it if you're ready to protect it with cooler showers, color-safe products and a gloss every four to six weeks.

Red is also one of the hardest colors to leave. Before you commit, it's worth knowing which red fits you and what the next six months look like.

Copper vs red: what's the difference?

Copper is an orange-based red: think of a new penny, ginger, or strawberry blonde at the lighter end. It sits on the warm side of the color wheel and looks the most natural on most people, because natural redheads are almost always copper.

Red covers a wider range. Some reds are true, vivid fire-engine shades. Others lean toward blue and violet, like burgundy, cherry, garnet and wine. Those are cooler, deeper and usually easier to get on dark hair, because they don't need much lightening to show.

Which red suits my skin tone?

Warm undertones (golden, peachy, olive with warmth, freckles) look amazing in copper, ginger and auburn. Fair warm skin can go light with Reddish Blonde or Light Auburn. Medium warm skin suits Copper Shimmer beautifully. Deep warm skin looks rich with Chocolate Cherry or a dark auburn.

Cool undertones (pink, rosy, blue-ish) tend to look better in blue-based reds. Ruby Fusion, Crushed Garnet and Blowout Burgundy flatter cool fair and medium skin. Midnight Ruby is gorgeous on deep cool skin. If you're unsure of your undertone, run through the checks in our guide to choosing hair color for your skin tone.

If your skin gets red easily

This is the most common red-hair regret. If you have rosacea, broken capillaries, or cheeks that flush easily, a bright copper or orange red next to your face can make that redness look stronger. Your skin and hair start to blend into one warm wash.

The fix is to choose a deeper, cooler red, like burgundy or garnet, which contrasts with the pink in your skin instead of matching it. Or keep the brightest pieces away from your face. Pay attention to your makeup too: red hair changes which lipsticks work. Our post on finding your lipstick shade is useful once you've picked your red.

Why red hair fades so fast

Red dye molecules are larger than most and sit less securely in the hair shaft, so they wash out faster. Many people see a noticeable drop in vibrancy within three to four weeks, especially with hot showers and daily washing. Vivid reds fade fastest; deep burgundies hold up a little longer and fade toward brown rather than pink.

• Wash two or three times a week, not every day, and use cool or lukewarm water.
• Use sulfate-free, color-safe shampoo and conditioner.
• Add a red color-depositing conditioner once a week to top up the pigment.
• Use heat protection and wear a hat in strong sun; UV dulls red quickly.
• Book a gloss or toner every four to six weeks to bring the shine back.

What your starting color means

From dark brown or black, you can get burgundy, cherry or a deep auburn without bleach, since those shades deposit over dark hair. A bright copper or vivid red from dark hair usually needs some lightening first, otherwise the result shows only as a red tint in the sun.

Blonde and light brown hair takes red easily and shows it brightly. Be careful going very bright on blonde, though: the first wash may leave pink stains on towels and the shade can look almost neon for a few days before it settles.

Grey coverage is its own case. Red is one of the trickier shades for covering greys, because the grey strands can come out lighter and pinker than the rest. If you're more than about a quarter grey, ask for a formula with a natural base mixed in, and expect the roots to show sooner than with brown.

Don't forget your brows. Very dark brows under a light copper can look harsh, while a brow gel one shade warmer than your natural color ties the look together. Bright reds look most natural when the brows lean slightly warm rather than ash.

Getting out of red is harder than getting in

Red pigment is stubborn. Once hair has been dyed red, especially with permanent color, it tends to leave a warm, orange cast behind even after it fades. Going from red to blonde typically takes color removal and bleach over more than one session. Going from red to brown is easier but often needs a filler step so the brown doesn't turn muddy or green.

So if you're testing the idea, a semi-permanent copper gloss is the safer first step. It lasts four to eight weeks and fades out with far less commitment than a permanent red.

Preview your red first

Because the right red depends so much on your skin, it's worth seeing a few on your own face. In Lody you can compare Copper Shimmer, Light Auburn, Vivid Red and Blowout Burgundy on the same selfie. Follow the photo tips in our guide to trying hair color on your photo so the comparison is fair.

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