How to Look Good with Red Hair

I love red hair–I love how it looks, and I love the vibe it can give off.  But so often, I see women wearing the wrong kind of red!  I’ve made this mistake in the past too, and now, I hope to at least steer some people in the direction of their perfect red.

Cool reds and warm reds

It might sound surprising, since most red drugstore dyes are labeled “warm”, but this isn’t exactly correct.  Some reds steer toward “orange” and others steer toward “purple”.  The orangey reds are warm, and the purpley reds are cool.  Some examples of warm reds are below:

http://www.bellasugar.com/Rachel-Evan-Woods-Red-Hair-2562030

http://celebhairstyle.wordpress.com/2008/12/14/red-hair-tips/

http://www.ioffer.com/si/wig%20uk

I usually prefer these warm reds.  They brighten up a lot of complexions and are not exclusively for warm-toned women.  A neutral-toned person could pull them off as well as long as it didn’t go too orange.  Then, there are the cool reds, which I’m not as big a fan of.  However, some people are able to pull them off:

http://www.cosplay.com/showthread.php?t=131844

http://www.sodahead.com/living/what-is-the-sexiest-hair-color-out-there/question-407/

The big difference here is that very few can pull off cool reds–mostly because cool reds rarely, if ever, occur in nature.  Think of the redheads you know, who have naturally red hair.  Usually, it’s coppery and auburn, instead of burgundy or grape.  So when you opt for a cool red, you need to be able to understand that it will not look natural.  If you’re okay with it looking unnatural, then you’re fine.

Another important tip for red hair is to deep condition (as you would with any other hair color) and more importantly, shampoo with a color-protective shampoo.  Many shampoos are safe for color treated hair, but they won’t adequately protect red hair.  Red dye molecules are the smallest, so they come out most easily, and they also fade the slowest.  Once you dye your hair red, the red tint will remain for a long time, but it’s likely that the initial red color will fade very quickly.  A shampoo specifically for reds is even better than a color protecting shampoo.  Professional color protecting shampoos will give you a great long-lasting red. Also, invest in a color-depositing glaze or conditioner.  L’Oreal makes a professional line of color depositing shampoos and conditioners, in more than one shade of red.

All in all, have fun with your red hair!  It’s definitely noticeable and sticks out, so be prepared to be remembered as “the girl with the red hair”.  Be prepared for “ginger” jokes.  If you can handle it, go for it.