How to DIY a Cherry Red Hair Color

It’s officially cherry season — and no, we’re not talking about the fruit, we’re talking about a bold, black cherry red hair color. We’ve seen auburn hair dominate for the past few seasons, but cherry cola hair color is taking over for the upcoming months. It’s a commitment no doubt but it’s also such a stunning and attention-grabbing way to upgrade your look that we can’t help but be obsessed with it. Keep reading to learn how to go cherry red at home, along with tips for caring for your new color.

What Colors Make Up Cherry Red Hair?

In case you couldn’t already tell, chocolate cherry red hair is inspired by the juicy red fruit it’s named after. There are different variations of the trend, but generally, this intense red hair color features a vibrant base with deep red and purple tones mixed throughout. It’s a statement-making hair color that’s meant for the trendsetter.

How to Get a Cherry Red Hair Color

Before you jump into dyeing your hair, there’s an important decision to be made: Are you going to DIY a cherry red color or leave the process up to a pro? It’s not a bad idea to see a professional when making a major change, like cherry red hair, because it may require bleaching and even multiple sessions to make your new shade a reality. Another thing to consider, especially for brunettes, is that if you’ve colored your hair prior, that shade may need to be removed to account for the red dye. If you do hit up the salon, bring pictures of the exact cherry red shade you’re imagining.

As we mentioned, there are different variations of the trend, so it’s important to let your stylist know what you’re picturing in your head. A qualified colorist will help provide their expertise and let you know how many sessions it may take to achieve your desired result. If you’re starting with a dark base color, you’ll likely need to bleach your strands prior to achieve a cherry red hue. L’Oréal Paris Féria Hyper Platinum Advanced Lightening System Bleach is a great at-home kit to help you lighten your base up to eight levels at home. If you haven’t bleached your hair before, it’s not a bad idea to leave it to a professional, you can also consult the L’Oréal Paris Hair Color Concierge for help and guidance. If you want to test the waters before fully committing to cherry red hair, you can use L’Oréal Paris Colorista Hair Makeup Temporary 1-Day Hair Color Spray in Red to give yourself a temporary cherry red hair color that lasts until your next shampoo. When you're ready to remove it, just wash your hair, and you’ll be back to your starting hair color — and ready to make a permanent switch if you desire.

Once you have made the decision to dive in, and you plan to DIY, try L’Oréal Paris Féria Multi-Faceted Shimmering Permanent Hair Color in Brilliant Bordeaux or Cherry Crush. Both are vibrant ruby red shades that provide a lasting shimmering color. Along with following the instructions included in the packaging, here are three tips to consider if you’re going cherry red at home. 

1. Wear Clothes That Can Get Stained 

DIY hair color can get messy so wear dark clothes that you don’t care about ruining. Remember, it’s very hard to remove hair color stains from clothing so you don’t want to risk it. Brunettes may want to take extra care to avoid staining their clothes, as dark colors tend to show stains more easily than lighter colors.

2. Section Hair 

When attempting DIY cherry cola hair color, the last thing you want is to miss a section of hair. By brushing your hair and evenly sectioning it off before applying the dye, you take the necessary steps to ensure this doesn’t happen. 

3. Protect Your Skin 

Like we mentioned, DIY hair dye can be messy, it can also stain. If you accidentally get some on your forehead, know that it will stain your skin. To avoid this, apply a light layer of petroleum jelly to the skin around the hair line. If you get dye on the petroleum jelly, you’ll be able to easily wipe it off. Petroleum jelly can also be used to remove stains from your skin if you do accidentally get any on you. Be careful not to get any in your eyes, as chocolate cherry hair dye can be very difficult to remove from the eyes.

How to Care for Cherry Red Hair

It’s no secret that black cherry red hair requires quite a bit of upkeep. Here are three top tips for keeping your cherry hair color looking its best. If you’re looking for a low-maintenance alternative to classic red, consider a black cherry shade

1. Use Color-Safe Shampoo and Conditioner

It’s time to wave goodbye to your regular hair care regimen because your standard shampoo and conditioner will need to be swapped out for a system that is safe for color-treated hair, including those with a cherry cola hair color. Apply the pre-shampoo treatment to damp hair and leave it on for 10 minutes, then rinse and follow up with the shampoo and conditioner. Try L’Oréal Paris EverPure Bond Strengthening Pre-Shampoo Treatment, L’Oréal Paris EverPure Sulfate-Free Color Care Bond Strengthening Shampoo and L’Oréal Paris EverPure Sulfate-Free Bond Strengthening Conditioner. This bonding treatment is great for color-treated hair because it’s gentle on color while strengthening the hair and reinforcing weak hair bonds caused by hair color, bleach and hot tools.

Editor’s tip: If you heat style your hair, make sure to apply heat protectant like L’Oréal Paris EverPure Sulfate-Free Weightless Blow Dry Primer, Heat Protectant. Not only does it keep the hair smooth, but it protects against temperatures up to 450 degrees and smells like chocolate cherry. Plus, the sweet scent will linger in your hair all day long.

2. Incorporate an At-Home Glossing Treatment

Red hair color is notorious for fading, but you don’t have to accept that as your fate when you have the right products. L’Oréal Paris Le Color Gloss One Step In-Shower Toning Gloss in Clear is an at-home treatment that tones the hair while it deep conditions to enhance shine. Use it once a week to keep your red hair looking its best, especially if it has black cherry undertones.

3. Schedule Time for Touch-Ups

Root regrowth is inevitable when you color your hair, but it doesn’t have to be a concern if you conceal roots appropriately. If you notice gray or grown-out roots and don’t have time for a total fix, opt for a temporary one like a root touch-up spray. Spritz L’Oréal Paris Magic Root Cover Up in Vibrant Red directly onto regrowth and lightly through the rest of your hair to blend in the color — cherry cola hair color will last until you wash your hair.

Next: Copper Hair Color Is Trending — How to Get The Look

Photo Credit: Stephanie IG@/stephthehairartist, Photo Design: Sarah Duvivier