Dying Your Hair Red? Here Is Your Cheat Sheet

Red hair is trending this week, as there has been an influx of people asking for #PumpkinSpiceHair. For 11 months of the year you'd call this red or auburn, but in pumpkin season you can class anything slightly coppery as 'PSL hair.'

Tempted to go 'pumpkin spice?' Luckily it's a myth that red and auburn hair look best on fair skin. Anyone call pull of a red 'do as long as they have the right colourist in their corner to help them find the perfect shade.

While Julianne Moore's deep auburn shade looks dreamy on her, it's not for everyone. On the flip side: a few choice auburn highlights might help up the ante on a fairer shade of strawberry blonde, to take your look from lacklustre to full on fiery. You didn't think Emma Stone was born with that rich shade of red, did you?

To find out what you need to know before going red, plus how to maintain your shade once you've dived into the red sea, we spoke to John Freida colourist Corinne Danchaud-Adams and Mel Smith, senior colourist at HARI’s salons.

What do you need to know before dying your hair red?

Corinne: 'If you’re 'red set' on red hair, make every effort to get your hair in the best condition possible before having it coloured. Working with healthy hair allows for a much better outcome. The desired colour will not only be easier to achieve, but it will also last longer.'

Mel: 'Find images of colours you like, always come armed with pictures so the colourist knows your vision. Don't come in with freshly washed hair, that's too porous - you need some of the natural oils to protect it. Be sure to leave at least one day between shampooing and colouring.'

Which shade of red will suit my skin tone?

Corinne: 'Consider your base colour and skin tone and work with your colourist to select the most flattering shade options for you. Darker base colours and skin tones can carry darker, deeper reds, while more fair skin tones should avoid extreme red shades, unless you are going for a very bold look.'

What’s the best way to go from blonde to red hair?

Corinne: 'If your base colour is blonde, strawberry and coppery reds will look the most natural, as seen on Emma Stone, Amy Adams, Christina Hendricks and Laura Prepon: all of whom are natural blondes.'

How long does it take to get a natural-looking red?

Corinne: 'It’s a good idea to schedule a few appointments and change your colour a little more each time. This will not only help prevent unnecessary damage to your hair, but will also help you ease into the change, and figure out if you really like it.'

What’s the best way to keep your auburn or red shade looking fresh between dye jobs?

Corinne: 'Red hair is high maintenance, so be prepared to put in the work, time and money to keep your red hair looking as fiery and fresh as you want it. In addition to regular colour appointments, you should plan on using a sulfate-free shampoo. But don’t assume that ‘sulfate free’ means ‘danger free’ for your colour. Most shampoos, even those for colour-treated hair, cause colour fade in as few as ten washes – especially for red hair. The reason is scientific: red colour molecules are extremely small and can slide right out of a raised cuticle. The last thing you want to see is red dyes going down the drain when you’re shampooing! The last thing you want to see is red dyes going down the drain when you’re shampooing!

Which products would you recommend for keeping red hair in great condition?

'Color Wow Color Security Shampoo (£16.50) is clinically proven to be as gentle as water and to keep your color its brightest, by keeping the cuticle as tight as can be.

Color Wow Root Cover Up in Red (£21.99) is a perfect answer for dealing with regrowth to help keep your colour looking natural in between salon appointments.'

Mel: 'I always give my client a take home vegetable colour to help keep the colour rich and vibrant. Red is the hardest colour to keep true so always use a sulphate free and colour shampoos and conditioner. The more unnatural the red shade, the quicker it fades so you need a colour correcting products to lock in colour.'

Now for that shade inspo: Check out our favourite red and auburn hair pin-ups so you can print off and take to your salon.