Want to become a redhead. Here are some dos and don'ts before hitting the bottle.
Just like with any hair color, it’s important to take note of your skin tone to determine which shade will enhance your features. “Fair skin tones look best with golden, strawberry, and coppery shades,” says Caselle. “Wines, burgundies, and eggplant shades will result in a washed out look. Medium-skin tones look great in medium copper or auburn as violet reds will make you look jaundiced. And darker or olive skin tones should stick with caramel-auburn shades or a chili pepper brown. Going too light will also result in a washed out look.”
“When coloring white or gray hair red, it is necessary to use a color that allows enough coverage,” warns celebrity stylist Ray Salazar of Beverly Hills-based Nelson J Salon. “Adding too much red pigment results in pink-colored hair. Make sure you go for a natural-looking hair color that happens to have a boost of red in it.
If you’re ready to take the plunge, you may want to consider getting this bold makeover during the fall/winter months to avoid excess upkeeps during the steamy months. Not only will you save money on managing your color, but it will also prevent your hair from being exposed to chemicals frequently. “Changing to red in the summer is tricky,” says Grellar. “Between the sun, beach, and pool times red comes out very fast. I usually advise my red heads to come in for roots every 6-8 weeks, but especially in the summer one should ask for a gloss every four weeks.”
If you’re naturally a blonde and feeling hesitant about going to the dark side, you may want to consider a rich rose gold, a color that’s currently on-trend and warms up your lighter locks with a touch of red. Keep in mind that rose gold is one that only a colorist can perfect for your mane, so do not try this at home!
If you’re a box dye kind of gal, now it’s the time to drop the bottle. Stylists agree that red is one of the trickiest colors to apply at home and attempting to doing so can potentially lead to a major color disaster, which will only result in you heading to the salon anyway. Save time, frustration, and money by splurging on a professional dye job instead. And when you do visit your stylist, it’s always important to bring plenty of photos to ensure you’re getting the exact color you want. “Before taking the plunge, go and try on some wigs to see what different tones look like on you,” suggest Caselle. Selfies, anyone?
“Red is a very high maintenance color because it fades and dulls out extremely fast if not taken care of correctly,” says Salazar. “Invest in the right shampoos and conditioners, as well as styling products, so that you can preserve the beautiful red hue.” Stylists suggest using a sulfate-free shampoo and a conditioner specifically for color-treated hair once a week to keep your color vibrant.
“If you aren’t sure (about going red), I advise a gloss instead,” says Grellar. “That way you’re dating the red color, but you don’t have to marry it. If the client then wants to make the change to permanent, I advise the client to keep the hair color for more than 6 months. I have found that red requires a lot of maintenance to get the color to stay put. And when a client decides to (suddenly) change it, then it can be damaging to get all the red out in one try.”
If your hair is naturally dark, do note that going red is not as simple as getting your tresses dyed. Stylists say there’s a good chance your mane will need to be lightened before the red is applied to ensure you’re getting the exact color you want. “For clients with white hair, in particular, I always do a fill in first,” says Grellar. “Filling is a process that helps put pigment back to hair, which will support the red.” In addition, opting for a more fiery hue may require bleaching your mane first.
“Do not go red if your skin pigment is already reddish to begin with,” says Salazar. “It can make your face appear redder.”
After the intense treatment it takes to become a gorgeous redhead, give your hair some much needed love with moisturizing products to keep your tresses soft and smooth. Stylists also recommend rinsing your hair with cold water to seal in the cuticle, making the color last longer. Don’t forget to use dark towels to prevent staining your whites while drying. Lastly, flaunt your new look! "In the end red is fun and will defiantly get a lot of attention," says Grellar. "If you’re ready to grab attention in 2014 red is the color for you."