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How to Experiment With This Season's Hottest Hair Color Trend: Red Hair

Photo credit: Michael Stillwell
Photo credit: Michael Stillwell

For years now, whenever a celebrity has undergone a drastic hair change, it has generally meant two things: they've either gotten a bob or they've gone blonde. But this year, we've seen a subtle move away from that. Not only are certain members of the fashion set ditching their highlights in favor of their natural tones, but there's also been a simmering trend of going red. Kendall Jenner did it, and then perhaps less drastically, Sydney Sweeney went strawberry blonde.

In the past, red hair was exceedingly difficult to achieve, and so you only really saw it as a coloring option for people who were opting to make this a permanent signature style. But those days? They are gone. There's a new way to do red now, starting with the tone and ending with the maintenance. We talked to colorist and hair color correction artist Angela Hazelton about the new trend: how to get it, how to keep it—and why you should consider red hair as your next beauty experiment.

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We’re seeing red hair trend more and more—what makes today's tones and hues of red different than what we have seen in the past?

In the past, the general perception of red hair was that it didn’t look natural. It was associated with either fire engine red, eggplant, or orange. But truthfully with reds, strawberry blondes, and warm brunettes, the options are endless. I believe there is a shade of red for everyone.

Reds and strawberries are shinier and reflect light, unlike ash-toned hair. They also enhance the golden undertones in one’s complexion. For my tried and true blonde clients, who don’t want to fully commit to red hair, I suggest apricot or strawberry glosses. These are an easy way of changing up color without fully committing to red hair. Similarly, with my brunette clientele, I gloss the hair to enhance the red tones and even add red or coppery highlights. Again, these glosses are semi-permanent and gradually wash out, so they offer the opportunity to try out a new shade without irreversibly changing the hair color.

It seems like strawberry blonde or red hair is now the way to really change up the look these days as opposed to going blonder or brunette. Why do you think we are seeing this?

People are in the mood for a big change! They want something bold that is attention-grabbing, sexy, and feminine. Everyone spent the past two years wearing sweats and not blowing out their hair, so we’re ready to bring glamour and some edginess back into our lives.

When it comes to maintenance, what does red hair take; from the truest and most pigmented of reds, to softer strawberries?

Red hair tends to need more maintenance than blonde or brunette hair colors. All hair color oxidizes and loses its luster over time, but this is more apparent with red hair. With red hair, there is a constant chase to regain the sheen and vibrancy that it once had when it was freshly colored. The best way to maintain red hair color is to gloss the hair in between color appointments. If you have the time and don’t mind stopping by the salon, a gloss (or toner) will restore the red color and give the hair shine.

You may start to see the color fading somewhere between 4 and 6 weeks—depending on how often you wash your hair and how much you expose your hair to the sun—and that usually means it’s time to come in for a gloss. For clients that can’t make it into the salon in between appointments, I recommend purchasing either a tinted shampoo or conditioner. Color tinted shampoos and conditioners act similarly to a gloss and redeposit color onto the hair. I do not, however, recommend using these every single wash since this will accumulate too much color buildup.

Any no-nos when considering dyeing one’s hair?

Before any big color change, I always suggest having a detailed consultation with your colorist before your actual appointment. It’s better to understand the expected maintenance, the effect that processing will have on your hair in order to achieve your goal hair color, and if your ideal color is even achievable in advance.

How are we going to see red evolve over the trend cycle? Does it fall into place with the move towards warmer brunettes with subtle dimension?

Red hair is much easier to maintain in the fall and winter. Less sun exposure means less fading, so I see the red hair trend enhancing through the fall and winter months.

Some clients who have thought about making their hair dark may begin the process of going strawberry or red before fully committing to brunette. Seasonal change is something we all look forward to and I do envision lots of warm, rich, glossy brunettes in the future.

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