Many brunettes dream of going red without having to use harsh bleaching chemicals. Unfortunately, it is not possible to go from brunette to a vivid red shade without some form of lightening. However, there are ways to achieve red tones on brunette hair with less damage. Here’s an overview of how to go red without bleaching, the pros and cons, and some tips for minimizing damage.
What Level of Red is Possible Without Bleach?
The level of redness you can achieve on brunette hair without bleach depends on your starting shade. For dark brunettes, you may only be able to achieve a subtle coppery tint. Medium brunettes can often reach light auburn shades. However, to get a vivid true red, pale orange, or bright copper color, you need to lighten the underlying pigment first.
Bleach removes pigment and takes your hair lighter so vivid red dye can deposit full saturation. Without lightening, the underlying warmth of your natural brunette hue will subdue the vibrancy of red tones.
Techniques to Go Red Without Bleach
Here are some techniques that can add red tones to brunette hair without bleaching:
Red Hair Gloss
A red hair gloss can enhance warmth and add red hues by depositing a sheer layer of translucent color. This subtle approach works best on light to medium brunette shades. Glosses don’t lighten and come in shades like cherry cola, red velvet, or warm copper.
Color Depositing Conditioner
Color depositing conditioner, or hair makeup, contains semi-permanent red pigments that can stain hair fibers over time. With regular use, the sheer color builds to add red tones. This is a very gradual approach best suited to light brunettes.
Reducing Toner
A demi-permanent toner in a red-violet shade can neutralize some warmth and enhance visible red tones in brunette hair. This subtly shifts the undertone rather than lightens. Ash or platinum toners have the opposite effect, reducing redness in brunette hair.
Permanent Color Softening
Low volumes of permanent color, like a 20 volume developer, will deposit color without significant lifting. Going one shade lighter with a red-based permanent color is the most you can lighten without bleach. This allows some subtle brightening while adding red in one step.
Highlights and Babylights
Face-framing highlights and babylights (subtle strands throughout hair) in coppery shades can provide a natural, sun-kissed red tint on brunettes. Without foiling, the lightening is minimal so bleach isn’t required. An all-over gloss can enhance the effect.
Pros and Cons of Red Without Bleach
Going red without bleaching has some advantages but also drawbacks to consider:
| Pros | Cons |
|---|---|
| Less damage from avoiding bleach | Can’t achieve vivid true reds |
| Lower maintenance | Color fades more quickly |
| Easier to reverse | Red tones may seem “muddy” |
| No drastic color change | Requires many repeat applications |
| Usually less scalp sensitivity | Harder to lift out color entirely |
The minimal lightening achievable without bleach means the red result will be more subtle. However, it also causes less damage and is easier to transition back to brunette when desired. Vibrant copper or cherry reds aren’t possible, but a nice warmth boost is.
Tips for Minimizing Damage
If you do decide some lightening is needed to reach your red hair goals as a brunette, here are tips for limiting damage:
Space out lightening sessions
Doing multiple bleach sessions over several weeks allows the hair to recover between lightening steps. This gradual approach limits the concentration of chemicals your hair has to absorb.
Use Olaplex or a bond-building treatment
Olaplex or bond-building salon treatments can mimic disulfide bonds in hair to prevent damage during lightening. Use during bleaching and as a standalone treatment occasionally.
Choose balayage over foils
With free-hand balayage highlighting, only sections of hair are lightened rather than full foils. This leaves areas of untouched hair intact for better overall condition.
Use a lower volume developer
Lighten with a 20 or 30 volume developer instead of 40 for a slower, gentler lightening process. Monitor frequently so hair isn’t over-processed trying to reach the desired level.
Use a purple shampoo
Purple shampoo helps preserve tone and gloss in bleached blonde hair. Use occasionally between lightening steps and after reaching your red shade.
Deep condition regularly
Nourish and strengthen strands with weekly deep conditioning masks and hair treatments. Focus conditioner mid-lengths to ends to replenish dryness and damage.
Use heat protectant
Minimize damage from hot tools by always using a heat protectant spray before heat styling bleached or color-treated hair. Avoid over-drying with high heat.
Trim regularly
Schedule occasional trims to snip away split ends before they travel up the hair shaft causing breakage. Remove damaged areas while preserving length.
Conclusion
While you can’t go from brunette to vibrant red without bleaching, you can enhance red tones in brown hair without it. Subtle options like glosses, toning, color-depositing conditioners and highlights with lightening foils can all add red without bleach. However, for coppery orange shades or bright reds, lightening is required first. Minimize damage by only using gentle lightening techniques and properly caring for hair between sessions. With patience, you can achieve beautiful red hues as a brunette.
