How to Look Like a Natural Redhead

Have you ever wished you had natural red hair? You’re not alone! A natural red hair color is one of the most sought after hues, and if you aren’t born with fiery red tresses, you’ve likely spent your fair share of time ogling pictures wondering how you can fake the perfect ginger mane. That’s where we come in. Armed with the right tips, from using a natural-looking red hair dye to switching up your makeup routine, no one will be able to guess you aren’t a natural redhead! Ready to switch up your beauty look? Read on!

TIP #1. USE THE RIGHT HAIR DYE

We hate to break it to you, but natural red hair doesn’t resemble a fire engine red hue. What color is natural red hair? Also referred to as ginger hair, natural red tresses are typically a reddish-brown color. As with any hair hue, there are variations to it based on how light or dark the hair color is. This means you can have natural light red hair or natural dark red hair. The first step to looking like a natural redhead is to use a hair dye that resembles a natural red hair color, whether it's light, medium, or dark in color. Here are our top picks.

For a natural-looking light red hair color…try the L’Oréal Paris Excellence Créme Permanent Triple Protection Hair Color in Medium Reddish Blonde.

For a natural-looking medium red hair color…try the L’Oréal Paris Excellence Créme Permanent Triple Protection Hair Color in Red Penny.

For a natural-looking dark red hair color…try the L’Oréal Paris Superior Preference Fade-Defying Shine Permanent Hair Color in Dark Auburn.

TIP #2. MAINTAIN YOUR COLOR

One of the biggest giveaways that you’re a faux redhead? Your natural hair color peeking through! To keep your “natural” red hair dye looking its best, use a red color-depositing conditioner, which will help your strands stay vibrant. Also, keep a root touchup spray, like the L’Oréal Paris Magic Root Cover Up in Red, on hand to make sure your roots stay hidden in between coloring sessions!

TIP #3. CONSIDER YOUR BROWS

Think twice before you reach for a hair dye to color your brows! With the help of eyebrow makeup, you don’t have to change your brow color to fool people into thinking you’re a natural redhead. In fact, if you look at your red-haired friends, you may even notice that many of them have brows that are brown in hue. You don’t need to dye your brows red or even look for a red eyebrow pencil.

For a natural look, when choosing a brow pencil, opt for a brown shade that has warm undertones, like the L’Oréal Paris Brow Stylist Definer Waterproof Eyebrow Mechanical Pencil in Brunette or the L’Oréal Paris Age Perfect Makeup Brow Magnifying Pencil with Vitamin E in Auburn.

TIP #4. TRY OUT FAKE FRECKLES

Another telltale sign of a natural redhead? Freckles! Before you get in the dumps about not being born with these cutesy spots, you’ll be happy to know you can give yourself fake freckles—with the help of makeup, of course. For a step-by-step tutorial, check out our article on How to Fake Freckles with Makeup.

TIP #5. OPT FOR BROWNS OVER BLACKS

If it’s a natural look you’re after, steer clear of black eyeliners and mascara. These colors can be too harsh on natural redheads, especially since this hair color is usually paired with fair, freckled skin. Instead, stick to brown shades, like the L’Oréal Paris Le Liner Signature Easy-Glide Mechanical Eyeliner, Waterproof in Brown Denim and the L’Oréal Paris Bambi Eye Washable Mascara, Lasting Volume in Black Brown.

Editor’s tip: Finish your makeup look with complementary hues and opt for light makeup shades like peach blushes and coral lips, as these won’t look too harsh against your skin.

OPTIONAL: AVOID THE SELF-TANNER

Our last tip? Skip the self-tanner. This doesn’t apply to every natural red hair color, so we’ve made it optional, but it’s certainly something to consider. Having a fake tan is almost as much fun as being a fake redhead, but when it comes to faking lighter shades of natural red hair, you’ll want to maintain a pale complexion. That’s because, as we mentioned before, those with naturally red strands typically have a fair, freckled complexion. However, if you’re sporting natural-looking dark red hair, there’s a greater likelihood that hair color would be paired with naturally tan skin, and sunless tanner may still be worth adding to your routine. Think about what will look the most natural, and you should be in the clear.

Next up: Continue to fake it ‘til you make it with our article, How to Fake High Cheekbones with Makeup.