Orange-red hair color refers to shades of red hair that pull more towards orange than true red on the color wheel. It is a vibrant, warm hair color that adds a fiery pop of color to any hairstyle. Orange-red hair dyes are popular options for people with naturally blonde or light brown hair who want to go red without the high-maintenance reputation of true red. This orangey hue of red can appear softer and more subtle than a blue-based vibrant red, while still making a bold color statement.
Common Names for Orange-Red Hair
Orange-red hair color goes by many different names:
| Copper | Copper red is one of the most popular terms for orange-red hair. It refers to the shiny copper penny color. |
| Ginger | Ginger is often used to describe orange-red shades, especially when they border more on orange than red. |
| Strawberry blonde | When the orange-red shade is very light and subtle, it is sometimes called strawberry blonde. |
| Auburn | Auburn refers to darker orange-tinted red shades. |
| Titian | Titian is an old-fashioned term used to describe orangey-red hair, named after famous painter Titian who often painted women with red hair. |
Characteristics of Orange-Red Hair
Orange-red hair has some defining characteristics that set it apart from other shades of red:
– Pulls more towards orange than blue/purple on the color spectrum
– Has warm, golden, coppery undertones
– Often appears softer and more subtle than true red
– Looks especially vibrant and striking on paler skin tones
– Requires warm makeup shades and clothing colors to complement it
Best Skin Tones for Orange-Red Hair
Orange-red hair color looks best on people with fair, pale skin tones with pink, peach, or golden undertones. The high contrast between pale skin and vibrant orange-red hair makes both really stand out. Tan or olive skin tones are not ideal matches for orange-red, as the hair can look somewhat separate from the overall coloring. Very dark brown or black skin would also provide too high of a contrast, overwhelming the orange-red shade. Medium skin tones can sometimes pull off orange-red nicely, if it is not too overpowering. But in general, fair skin is the ideal match.
Hair Color Levels for Orange-Red
Orange-red hair dye comes in a wide range of shades from light coppery strawberry blonde to rich, dark auburn. Lighter levels around 6-7 are great for adding a wash of red to blonde hair. Levels 7-8 start to show more vibrant color while still having a soft look. For richer, bolder orange-red, go for levels 5-7. And if you want a seriously intense auburn, opt for a level 4. It’s best to choose orange-red shades within 2-3 levels of your natural or pre-lightened color to avoid damage from over-processing. A professional colorist can help determine the right level of vibrancy for your hair.
Best Dye Techniques for Orange-Red Hair
There are a few standard techniques colorists use to achieve beautiful orange-red hair:
| Full color | Applying an orange-red shade all over gives the most vibrant, saturated result. |
| Roots to mid-lengths | Concentrating color on just the regrowth and mid-lengths creates a fun ombre effect. |
| Subtle highlights | For a natural-looking color, opt for fine highlights in coppery shades. |
| Gloss | An orange-red gloss adds sheer color over natural hair for a soft wash of color. |
The best application method depends on your natural hair color and the level of vibrancy you want. A hair colorist can recommend options to achieve your ideal coppery hue.
At-Home vs Salon Color for Orange-Red Hair
While at-home box dyes offer accessibility and affordability, visiting a professional salon is best for achieving a flawless orange-red. Here is a comparison:
| At-Home |
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| Salon |
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While at-home dye may work for some, visiting a salon is the best way to achieve a trendy yet natural-looking orange-red shade. An experienced colorist can safely prep and tone hair, then apply a customized copper formula for maximum vibrancy. Investing in professional coloring is especially important if significant lightening is required before going orange-red.
Best Brands for Orange-Red At Home Dyes
If you do opt to dye your hair orange-red at home, these top brands offer the most true-to-tone color results:
– L’Oreal Feria: Offers Power Reds in coppers and auburns
– Revlon Colorsilk: Line includes Medium Auburn and Luminista in Copper
– Garnier Nutrisse: Features spicy red shades like Intense Auburn
– Schwarzkopf Keracolor: Includes Copper Flash permanent dye
– Clairol Natural Instincts: Try Healthy Reds options like Copper Sparkle
Stick to dyes specifically labeled as “red” not “burgundy” or “mahogany” for the most accurate orange-red. And do an allergy test before dyeing hair at home per instructions.
Best Professional Hair Color Brands for Orange-Red
Salon hair color brands that specialize in reds offer the most options for custom-blending the perfect orangey copper:
– Redken – Shades EQ Gloss is ideal for red hue glossing
– Matrix – Socolor Cult line has true vibrant reds
– Wella Color Charm – Offers various intensities from soft copper to bold auburn
– Schwarzkopf Igora Royal – Features pre-blended red shades
– Goldwell Elumen – Specializes in fade-resistant red colors
Professional stylists may mix shades from these salon-quality brands to create a custom orange-red that matches your skin tone and desired vibrancy level.
How to Maintain Orange-Red Hair Color
Once you achieve the perfect copper hair color, maintaining that fiery hue involves:
– Washing less frequently with sulfate-free shampoo
– Using cool water and limiting sun exposure
– Deep conditioning weekly to lock in color
– Avoiding chlorine by wearing a swim cap
– Using an in-shower color depositing treatment
– Getting a gloss or root touch up every 4-6 weeks
– Using only color-safe hair products
Vibrant orange-red fades faster than natural hair colors, so proactive color maintenance is a must. See your colorist for a gloss or full refresh when you notice your color looking faded or dull.
How to Transition Hair to Orange-Red
Getting to orange-red hair color requires gradual steps over multiple salon visits. Here are tips for transitioning safely:
– Book a consultation to determine your natural level and ideal copper shade
– Lighten hair in stages to avoid damage; tone regularly
– Try coppery highlights or ombre first to test out the hue
– Use a demi-permanent red shade for a trial run before permanent color
– Ask your colorist to customize your copper color balance
– Schedule glosses every 4-6 weeks to perfect the color over time
– Use color-safe shampoo and deep conditioners at home
– Gradually shift your makeup and wardrobe to complement new color
With patience and proper hair health maintenance, you can transition to gorgeous orange-red locks!
How to Go from Blonde to Orange-Red
For blonde hair to reach a rich coppery red shade, significant lightening is required. Here are tips for blonde to orange-red hair color transitions:
– Determine your goal shade – strawberry, auburn, copper, etc.
– Have a professional colorist lighten hair to pale yellow-orange base
– Use Olaplex or bonding treatments to limit lightening damage
– Tone hair to cancel brassiness before applying orange-red
– Opt for a demi-permanent shade first, then permanent if desired
– Fill hair with red-orange base color all over before glossing
– Maintain tone at home with a color-depositing shampoo and conditioner
– Get professional glossing services every 4-6 weeks
The key is having patience over multiple sessions to reach the ideal orange-red shade from blonde. Rushing the process risks damage or a color disaster.
How to Go from Brunette to Orange-Red
For brunettes, going copper requires less drastic lightening than blonde, but still needs care. Follow these tips:
– Determine your ideal red-orange level based on current hair color
– Have hair lightened in stages up to 2-3 levels at a time
– Use bonding treatments or Olaplex to protect hair when lightening
– Fill hair with red-orange demi-permanent color as base
– Apply permanent copper shade formulated for dark hair
– Maintain tone with at-home glossing treatments
– Get professional coloring services regularly to keep color vibrant
– Adjust your look with coppery makeup and clothing
The key for brunettes is having moderate, gradual lightening sessions followed by orange-red coloring. This helps avoid damage while creating a rich, shiny copper tone.
How to Go from Black to Orange-Red
Getting to orange-red hair from jet black or very dark brown is extremely challenging. Here is what’s required:
– Max of 2-3 levels of lightening per session to avoid breakage
– Olaplex or intensive protein treatments during process
– Toning to cancel brassiness between lightening steps
– Multiple rounds of lightening over months to reach pale base
– Filling hair with red-orange demi-permanent before permanent dye
– Using rich “blue” reds to counteract yellow base tones
– Regular glossing services to keep vibrant color locked in
– Avoiding chlorine and sun exposure
This gradual shift of many lightening sessions avoids having to remove all the natural pigment in one traumatic process. But orange-red results on black hair are unpredictable. Be prepared that you may not reach the exact copper shade you want. Maintenance is also very demanding.
How to Go From Red to Orange-Red
Shifting hair color from standard red to more orange-red involves:
– Clarifying hair to remove buildup before re-coloring
– Choosing demi-permanent color to test out shade
– Using a red-gold shade or adding copper gloss
– Increasing warmth with small amounts of gold dye or toner
– Trying a color-depositing shampoo or conditioner
– Boosting vibrancy with weekly rinses of red juice
– Glossing with an orangey-red semi-permanent formula
– Gradually using more coppery permanent dyes
The key is slowly enhancing red’s warmth and copper tones. Don’t over-saturate all at once. Monitor tone regularly and adjust as needed. Orange-red is a vibrant look that requires commitment!
How to Cover Orange-Red Roots
As orange-red hair color grows out, regrowth can look brassy and uneven. Here are tips for covering roots:
– Match new growth shade when you book touch-up
– Focus most vibrancy on mid-lengths and ends
– Weave highlights around hairline to blend tones
– Use a root smudge or shadow root technique
– Try a demi-permanent gloss just on roots
– Use a root concealer spray between salon visits
– Part hair differently to hide growing out color
– Use overtone conditioner on roots to neutralize brassiness
– Consider embracing your natural roots as an ombre
Strategic root color and styling keeps orange-red hair looking fresh between coloring sessions. Time touch-ups based on your tolerance for visible regrowth.
Best Makeup Colors for Orange-Red Hair
The warm, golden tones of orange-red hair look beautiful with coordinating makeup:
| Eyeshadow | Copper, bronze, gold, brown, slate gray, plum |
| Eyeliner | Black, dark brown, slate, bronze |
| Mascara | Black, dark brown |
| Blush | Peach, pinky coral, rose gold |
| Lipstick | Orangey reds, brick red, nude, rose |
| Nail Polish | Warm reds, corals, copper |
Look for makeup with warm undertones that complement (not compete with) your hair. Avoid cool blues and purples. Focus eye makeup on browns for a striking yet natural effect.
Best Clothing Colors for Orange-Red Hair
Certain clothing shades make orange-red hair really stand out. Ideal colors include:
– Rich greens – emerald, forest, olive
– Blues on the warm end of the spectrum – cerulean, teal, navy
– Warm pastels – peach, butter yellow, lilac
– Neutrals like tan, taupe, gold, ivory, black, gray
– Jewel tones – sapphire, garnet, plum, topaz
Avoid wearing cool purples, icy blues, or true red – these compete too much with orange hair. Stick to clothing with warm, golden undertones. Vibrant or neutral colors allow the copper hair to take center stage.
Risks and Downsides of Orange-Red Hair
Before committing to orange-red hair, understand the potential downsides:
– Fading occurs quicker than natural shades
– Can be drying to hair due to lightening needed
– Regrowth is very obvious and requires frequent touch ups
– Color corrective work needed if you want to go back to natural
– May not suit professional environments depending on vibrancy
– Gets “hot” quickly in terms of popularity – can look dated fast
Orange-red is a high maintenance look. Make sure you are ready to keep up with the root touch ups and hydrating hair treatments required. It also may limit options if you want to transition to a radically different color later on.
How to Remove Orange-Red Hair Dye
Removing orange-red hair color to go back to brunette or blonde involves:
– Color removal session to strip permanent dye from hair
– Toning to neutralize remaining orange/red pigment
– Protein treatments to restore hair health after stripping
– Coloring to desired shade after blank canvas achieved
– Regular trims to cut off remaining tinted hair over time
– Avoiding heat styling during removal process
Removing vibrant orange-red hair is possible but takes multiple sessions and diligent aftercare to avoid damage. This level of color correction is best left to professional colorists.
Orange-Red Hair Inspiration
Need inspiration before taking the copper plunge? Here are some famous celebrities rocking beautiful orange-red hair:
– Jessica Chastain’s strawberry blonde waves
– Emma Stone’s ginger bob
– Rihanna’s rich auburn locks
– Ariana Grande’s coppery high ponytail
– Geri Halliwell’s vibrant “Ginger Spice” hair
– Julia Roberts’ firey redhead glamour
– Emma Thompson’s sophisticated titian shade
Seeing celebs like these make orange-red hair look chic can help motivate you to go for this fun, fiery hue!
Conclusion
Orange-red is a lively, attention-grabbing hair color that adds striking warmth to any look. To achieve beautiful results, focus on finding a shade that complements your skin tone and enhances your natural features. While maintaining the color’s vibrancy requires commitment, the confident boost fiery orange-red hair provides is worth the effort. If you’re seeking a bold yet wearable hair change, coppery orange-red is a fantastic
