26 Rich Red Hair Colors for Your Fall Mood Board

As the leaves turn crimson and the fall breeze grows crisp, it might feel like time for a change in your look, too, particularly when it comes to your hair color. If you’re yearning to infuse your lengths with an added dose of warmth that channels the season, you might consider the current go-to hue: red.

From the runway to the red carpet, celebrities have embraced this passionate shade. Stars like Megan Fox and Lucy Boynton have proved that red hair is the ultimate fall accessory. But it's not just about the star-studded appeal—red hair in the fall offers practical benefits, too. As temperatures drop, fiery locks can add a radiant warmth to your overall look, complementing cozy scarves and autumn wardrobes. 

So, why is red hair trending? The answer lies in its timeless appeal and vast shade range. “There are so many shades of red, which makes it the perfect hue for fall,” says celebrity stylist Dimitris Giannetos. “Whether you opt for a fiery auburn, a sultry copper, or a deep burgundy, there’s a color that will suit you.”

If you’re wondering if the world of red hair is for you, we’re here to help you decide. We reached out to a few experts to share everything you need to know about red hair, along with some of their favorite looks.

Meet the expert

Best Red Hair Colors for Different Skin Tones

The spectrum of red is broad, so knowing what color will work for you can be challenging. Our experts advise seeking professional advice, but there are a few general tips that can help with your decision.

For dark skin tones, deep, rich coppers and violets have a way of bringing a beautiful glow to light, say the experts. “Darker skin tones can also pull off quite the range of vivid reds. The main thing here is making sure the style you go for complements the vivid red,” says Brown. “One look I love to see on darker skin tones are dimensional reds. Whether the dimension is created with different reds, or even using the red to create pockets of dimension while keeping the natural color in there as a lowlight. This is exceptionally beautiful on individuals who have curls and coils.”

“When it comes to medium skin tones, your options are pretty endless,” says Brown. “As long as you don't have a lot of underlying red in your complexion, you can literally run the gambit on reds. Try any and everything.” 

For medium-to-light skin tones, Brown recommends rich coppers or more vivid and vibrant reds. However, if you have a lot of red in your natural skin tone, or if you suffer from something like rosacea, the stylist says vivid reds can sometimes make this more obvious. 

“For skin tones that are on the fairer side, you'll want to stick with soft copper or ginger reds, or even rich strawberry tones that have some depth to them,” says Brown. “If you're not a fan of copper or strawberry, you can still dive into more pigmented reds if you have fair skin, you'll just want to stick to the more neutral reds.”

How to Maintain Red Hair

All the experts agree that dyed red hair is prone to fade and requires regular maintenance. “Red hair fades fast, so using a sulfate-free shampoo and conditioner is a must,” says Michael. “I would also recommend using a color depositing glaze at home to maintain the color and keep it vibrant.”

If you have straight hair, Brown recommends Redkens Color Extend Magnetics Sulphate-Free Shampoo, and for waves, curls and coils, she recommends Mizani Press Agent Smoothing, Frizz Control Blow Dry Styling Serum. “Both of these lines are sulfate-free and color-safe, so you aren't stripping the red from your hair," says the stylist.

Using heat protection is also a must if you want your red hair to stay damage-free and healthy. “Whether you have straight, wavy, curly, or coily hair, avoid putting heat on your red every day — try to space it out,” says Brown. “When you do use heat, be sure to use heat protection like Mizani Style Shifter Society Heat Screen, which protects from up to 450°F of heat styling. I also like to use the Sam Villa Sleekr Iron, this is a must for reds. The flat iron has ceramic plates that are coated with tourmaline, which provides even heat distribution across the plates. This results in extra shine and smoothness, while being gentle on the hair."

How Often to Touch-Up Red Hair

According to our experts, how often you’ll need to touch up your color really depends on the type of red you choose. “Some of the softer coppers, red coppers and copper browns have a tendency to last a little longer than vivid bright reds. The best practice is to set up an appointment six weeks after your color to check if the red needs a light refresh," Brown says. "If you have fine, straight hair and shampoo daily, you may need your red touched up more frequently than someone who has medium-density curly hair, and shampoos once or twice a week."

26 Examples of Red Hair Colors

Dimensional Copper

“Amy Adams' look is a beautiful example of the range of copper that works well for a fair skin tone,” says Brown. “I love the bits of brightness, they add dimension and make the overall look pop. To try out this color, ask for rich copper with some balayage golden copper pieces around the face.”

Chocolate Auburn

“I love the dimensions and warm chocolate colors of this hairstyle," says Giannetos of Priyanka Chopra Jonas' look. “To achieve the same color, ask for a chocolate brown base with a warm, deep auburn balayage.”

Classic Red

Sharon Osbourne is rocking a classic red color. This shade is bound to turn many heads, so be prepared to attract attention. To keep the color vibrant, use a color-protecting shampoo like Lime Crime Color Protecting Shampoo.

Bold Copper

Zendaya's bold cut and bright red copper high- and lowlights make for an instant winner.

Pumpkin Spice

“This color is absolutely stunning on Lindsay Lonhan. I would describe it as a pumpkin-spice dream,” says Giannetos. “This color may be hard to maintain, so I would recommend using a color-safe shampoo to help hold the color on wash days. I love the Rita Hazan True Color Shampoo.”

Polished Copper

Sophie Tuner's gorgeous copper shade makes a sleek pony look super elegant. “This sleek, polished look is perfect for day or evening, dressed up or down, and never goes out of style,” says Michael. To get the smooth, slick finish, Giannetos recommends using a styling cream like Dae 3 in 1 Cactus Fruit Styling Cream.

Strawberry Copper

“To get Emma Stone's soft, romantic look, ask for a light copper tone with a hint of strawberry blonde, to give you a soft dimension,” says Brown. “This is one of those coppers that tends to fade into a beautiful strawberry blonde. Most people typically love how the color transitions as it fades, they feel like they get a two-for-one with the journey of their color.”

Honey Copper

“This honey, coppery red, with hints of apricot, is a perfect fall color that any complexion can wear,” says Michael of Blake Lively's strawberry-tinged hue. To achieve the loose waves, use the VOLOOM Triple Play Dryer Brush to add volume while twisting each section. “This type of brush makes styling your hair effortless, as it’s a brush and dryer all in one!” 

Layered and Bouncy

For this look that Michael created on a client, you’ll want lots of long, sexy layers to create great bounce and movement in the hair. “Allow it to look lived-in and not structured. Your hair should be healthy and shiny, so taking care of it with the right salon-quality shampoos and conditioners will keep that healthy glow. Also, make sure to stay away from styling products that will weigh down your hair or leave a dull coating. Shine is key here,” says Michael.

Brushed-Out

"Debra Messing's brushed-out Hollywood waves will never go out of style,” says Giannetos. “To achieve this style, I recommend using the Kim Kimble Multi Barrel Curling Iron to create luscious defined curls. To extend the life of your color, always use color-safe shampoo and conditioner. I personally recommend the Lime Crime Unicorn Color Shampoo and Conditioner."

Rich Copper-Gold

“Julianne Moore's rich copper-gold is one of my favorite understated colors. When the light hits it, the reflective properties of the copper give the hair a beautiful richness and shine,” says Brown.

Fiery Red

“This is a look I had the pleasure of doing myself on the gorgeous Megan Fox. It's a fiery red cut into a blunt bob, with a little bit of added texture,” says Giannetos. “For this look, I used the Lime Crime Unicorn Hair Dye in Flaming Red, mixed with Valentine.”

Light Golden Copper

“Jessica Chastain’s style is a light golden copper tone. It’s one true shade from roots to ends, as the color stays the same at all angles,” says Michael. "To get the look, blow-dry your hair with a heavy side part. Take your flat iron and iron your hair in sections to keep it sleek and smooth.”

Red Braids

If you’re not quite ready to dye your hair red but want to experiment with color, braided extensions like Amandla Stenberg's are a great starting point. “Braids are a nice way to take a color for a test drive without fully committing," Brown says.

Light Auburn

Meredith Duxbury's rich tone is perfect for the fall season. “To achieve this hair color, I used L’Oreal hair dye in the shade 7LA light auburn,' sayas Giannetos

Rich, Golden Auburn

This is a stunning, classic style, with a rich golden auburn color and subtle apricot highlights. “At first glance, I can't help but notice how silky, healthy and shiny Julianne Moore's hair is,” says Giannetos. “I am almost certain she used a hair mask before doing this style. A mask that will give off the brilliant shine and luster is the Dae Stargloss Shine Treatment.”

Once you’ve locked in the shiny strands, it’s time to perfect this look. Michael recommends using the VOLOOM Pump Up the Volume Hair Volumizing Set to give your hair texture and volume. “First, apply the thermal protection spray — you should always do this before using any hot tool,” he says. “Next, create a center part and reach for the VOLOOM 2.0 Hair Volumizing Iron. Section away the top layer of hair, and then in thin slices, starting at your crown, clamp the plates in the underlayers of hair. These special plates create hidden volume pockets that lift the top layers up and away from the scalp. When finished achieving your desired volume, take a large-barrel curling iron in 1-inch and curl the mid shaft and ends. Use a dry texture spray all over your hair. I personally like VOLOOM’s Very Airy Low Residue Dry Texturizing Spray.”

Face-Framed Bun

“A bun is one of my favorite hairstyles to do, because of how much you can play around with it and spice it up,” says Giannetos of this look he did on Fox. “This look is a favorite of mine simply because of the color and hairstyle. It was so fun and playful to do."

To achieve this, the stylist says to start by sectioning the hair you want to put up into a bun, then clip away the hair that you want to use for the face-framing pieces. "Secure your hair into a ponytail, then apply a styling cream to slick the hair up into your desired bun position. I recommend using Dae 3-in Styling Cream to slick back the hair," he says. "Once the hair is in a ponytail, I would take medium-to-small sections of the hair and wrap it around loosely into a bun, securing each piece with a bobby pin as you go. At the end you should have a nice, messy bun. For the face-framing pieces, you can straighten or curl them depending on preference.”

Vivid Copper

Doja Cat's vivid copper pops! If you want to go for a red as bold as this, it’s important to make sure it suits your personal style, says Brown: “As this color is so bold, it can be contrasting if your personal style does not compliment the color.” To achieve this look, the stylist recommends applying Mizani Style Shifter Society Heat Screen, before using the Sam Villa Artist Series 2-in-1 Marcel Iron and Wand 1” wand to set the hair. “Keep the curls coiled and clip them with the Sam Villa Dry Sectioning Clips. Before you release the curls, let the hair cool down, to ensure you get volume and definition,” says Brown.

Rocket-Red Balayage

“This look is a dark-rooted rocket-red balayage. It shows off shades of red, from vibrant to deep tones. The length is key in highlighting all the tones,” says Michael. To achieve this look, apply Living Proof Smooth Styling Cream to wet hair and blow-dry it smooth. Take large sections of hair and wrap around the CHI Lava Curling Iron barrel. Let cool, and then apply your favorite hairspray all over. To finish, use a paddle brush to smooth and soften the style.

Warm Copper

Sophie Turner's copper red has a rich finish that can warm up any skin tone. “There are a lot of pigmented conditioners on the market that can help to keep a color like this fresh,” says Brown. “Be sure to stick with the professional ones so that when you are ready to adjust your color, you don't have challenges removing it.”

Firey & Vibrant

Rhianna's iconic red hair paired with space buns is the epitome of cool for fall. The fiery hue captures the warmth and vibrancy of the season. The space buns add an element of playfulness and individuality, making it a fun and trendy choice. “This color can be challenging to keep, so be sure to touch base with your stylist at six weeks to determine how often a refresh is needed,” says Brown.

Deep Roots

The deep copper roots on this bright-copper-red shade give Natasha Lyonne's look a lot of dimension. The style itself is all about effortless chic. “Don't try to create perfection when styling this look, focus on keeping things soft, organic and voluminous,” says Brown.

Long with Bangs

“I love Florence Welch's bangs paired with long red hair,” says Giannetos. “Depending on your hair type, bangs can sometimes get greasy fast. To combat this, I would recommend the Kim Kimble Camera Ready Dry Shampoo to keep your bangs lively.” 

If you have short red hair, but you're yearning to recreate these long, luscious fairytale locks, Michael says you can always add extensions like Hidden Crown clip-ins to achieve whatever length you desire.

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