Fall’s “Foxy Red” Hair Color Trend Is Nothing New

Collage: Bella Geraci; Source Images: Getty

As soon as the temperature drops a few degrees, people instinctually crave a pumpkin spice latte—and a warmer hair color. Red to be specific. Mulled wine and coppery tones to be even more specific. I should know; I flip-flop between brown and red hair at the pace of two sugar-highed toddlers on a see-saw. 2024 is no exception, and in fact, one very specific shade of red will be crowing heads everywhere: Foxy red hair.

In fact, Pinterest revealed in its latest trend report that searches for “foxy hair color” are up by a staggering 1,530 percent since last year. It's not the only shade of red that’s having a moment: Searches for “cherry blonde,” “deep cherry red hair,” and “cherry cola red” have all increased exponentially in the past year, too. Though these shades of red are about to be everywhere, only two percent of the world’s population are natural redheads, meaning people are about to flock to colorists across the nation.

Like the fur of the animal for which it’s named (not the synonym for “sexy”), foxy red leans more orange than red. It’s basically a cute new moniker, coined by the Internet: “Foxy red is this year's cowboy copper,” says San Fransisco-based colorist Tylor Johnson. It does have some distinguishing characteristics, though. “It is a true natural copper tone that looks like it could have grown out of your head that way; a perfect mix of a lighter golden brown mixed with copper.” (We recommend repeating this quote to your colorist if you want to try it yourself.)

If it sounds familiar, perhaps that’s because you have spotted content creator Meredith Duxbury—who traded her signature blonde hair for foxy red back in 2023—wearing it on runways left and right. Or maybe you recall when a few years back, a model who went viral for revealing the hair dye responsible for her similar shade of vibrant coppery red. Hell, Hayley Williams has been wearing various iterations of her iconic orange-red hair for nearly 20 years now.

And the foxy new name has slowly but surely taken the already-popular shade of red hair to a new height of ubiquity. Taraji P Henson recently debuted a freshly-cut pixie in a nearly neon shade of copper. And at New York Fashion Week this fall, models with foxy red hair (both real and from wigs) made statements on runways where individuality ruled over uniformity, like LaQuan Smith, Phillip Lim, Bach Mai, Flyling Solo, and more. Even just walking around the streets of New York City on a daily basis, I’m seeing this shade of red hair peeking out of crowds everywhere.

If you want to take on this hair color yourself, there is a catch, though: It’s hard to achieve on most hair colors and even harder to maintain, really all depending on your current hair color situation. Johnson says, “The ideal base color is someone with a dark blonde-to-light brown natural base. If it is darker, it's still achievable, but you will need to lighten the hair… otherwise it won't show up.” I can personally attest that lightening naturally dark hair that's virgin and generally healthy is very doable with the help of a colorist—but hair that's dyed dark or chemically processed at all is another story altogether. For context: I once transitioned from dyed black hair to a foxy-adjacent bright copper; pulling it off without damaging my hair beyond repair took more than a year and numerous visits to a colorist for highlights that totaled upwards of $1,000 dollars. To say the least, it’s a process.

Maintenance can also be time- and budget-intensive to keep the foxy-red color fresh. As Duxbury warns, “The upkeep is not for the faint of heart.” There’s a reason for that: “The molecules in red hair color… are generally larger than that of other hair colors and that makes them less resistant with washing,” explains Johnson. Boston-based colorist Louise Rusk adds, hair that’s been pre-lightened is more porous than untreated hair, meaning it doesn’t hold pigment as well and consistently needs to be “filled” with color.

If frequent visits to the salon are out of the question, I recommend touchups with Good Dye Young’s Dyeposit in Copper, DpHue’s Gloss+ in Copper, or Manic Panic’s Classic High Voltage Hair Dye in Tiger’s Eye (mix it into your usual conditioner). As a lifelong DIY budget colorist myself, I see a colorist to achieve my desired color the first time and then maintain it at home until my roots are very grown out. Oh, yeah—I also advise buying a bulk package of disposable latex gloves for your touchup sessions, lest you stain your hands orange for weeks on end. Maybe have a bottle of bleach spray at arm’s length while showering, too; red pigment stains ceramic just as easily as it does skin.

In the interim, Johnson and Rusk both advise sticking to sulfate-free shampoos to prevent washing too much pigment away while washing (and to shampooing less frequently if you can stand to). You’ll also need the most hydrating deep conditioner you can find to ward off dryness, especially if you had to pre-lighten your hair. Allure editors love Briogeo Don't Despair, Repair Deep Conditioning Mask and Olaplex No.8 Bond Intense Moisture Mask but I personally reach for Aussie’s 3-Minute Miracle Mask for dyed hair because it’s under $10, so I can use it all up without feeling guilty.

All that effort pays off, though, because red hair gives presence to anyone who wears it regardless of the vibrancy, depth, tone, length, or texture. There’s a reason it’s the hair color of choice for the toughest, most daring, and sexiest characters in media (Jessica Rabbit, anyone?). Red hair, especially in a bolder format like foxy red, implies a fearlessness of being perceived and a sense of staunch individuality. Sometimes it even seems to tease, “I am not the one to fuck around with—but you’re welcome to try.”

Good Dye Young Dyeposit in Copper

$12.00, Ulta Beauty

DpHue Glos+ in Copper

$38.00, Dermstore

Manic Panic Classic High Voltage Hair Dye in Tiger’s Eye

$16.00, Amazon

Briogeo Don't Despair, Repair Deep Conditioning Mask

$39.00, Ulta Beauty

Olaplex No.8 Bond Intense Moisture Mask

$30.00, Amazon

Aussie’s 3-Minute Miracle Mask

$7.00, Target

Duxbury knows what I mean; she had blonde hair her “entire life” and yet couldn’t resist the undeniable lure of red. “Red hair was a new personality that I wanted to bring out,” she tells Allure. “It's allowed me to express myself through beauty and fashion in a different and exciting way.” Because it’s so vibrant and doesn’t “go with everything” the way blonde and brunette do, red hair forces you out of creative comfort zone when it comes to putting on clothes and makeup. If you don’t like the way your go-to outfits or beauty looks go with your red hair, you’re forced to either try something new or get comfortable with “clashing.” Either way, you wind up having to see yourself from a somewhat new perspective—that’s something everyone needs every now and then. Foxy, no?

More on hair trends:

• Lowlights on Blonde Hair Are Having a Moment

• 30 Fall Hair Trends That'll Give You Main Character Energy

• 9 Bold Haircut Ideas to Try In 2024

Now, see how red hair has evolved over the past century:

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Originally Appeared on Allure