Is Copper Hair Right for You? Tips for Finding Your Perfect Shade

If you’re on the hunt for a new hair color to try and feel like embracing something bolder than your usual hue, going red is always a great choice. There are plenty of shades to choose from, but copper hair stands out as one of the chicest variations. This fiery hue blends vivid orange tones with softer brunette hues for a dimensional color that feels vibrant, but not over-the-top.

The key to pulling off copper hair is choosing a shade that complements your skin tone. The right match can light up your features and add richness to your strands. Ahead, we’ll walk you through how to find your best copper hair color and share our top tips for keeping your color vibrant, shiny, and healthy-looking.

What Color Is Copper Hair?

A typical copper hair color is a warm, orange-leaning shade in the red hair family. It generally features a blend of orange, golden, and bronze tones, but may also include hints of strawberry blonde, auburn, or even chestnut. What sets it apart from other red shades is its overall tone: Copper hair is bright and luminous, much in the way that a shiny new penny is.

While natural copper hair does exist, it’s relatively rare—most redheads fall somewhere on a spectrum of lighter ginger or deeper auburn. As such, this luminous hue is typically achieved in the salon or with an at-home copper hair dye.

Who Can Wear Copper Hair?

Because it features a mix of red, orange, gold, and brunette tones, copper hair is highly versatile. To get your most flattering match, you’ll want to select a shade that complements your skin tone. Ahead, we’ll break down some options to consider.

Fair skin

The contrast of vibrant copper hair against light skin makes for a look that pops. For this skin tone, a true copper red hair color is an excellent pick—look for something with a strong golden-orange overtone. If you’d like something subtler, strawberry blonde, light auburn, and ginger are also great options to consider.

Medium or olive skin

If you have medium skin, you’ll likely find that slightly more muted takes on copper suit your coloring well. We’re especially fond of how a rich, mid-toned auburn helps bring out the natural warmth in medium skin tones.

Deep skin

For those with deep skin, the key to making copper work is finding a hue that doesn’t feel overly bright when contrasted with your features. Copper brown is a great pick—it boasts stronger brown undertones to create a look that’s vibrant, but balanced. Cinnamon brown is another great pick to try. This copper-esque color pairs reddish overtones with a rich, chocolatey brown base for a subtler take on red hair.

How To Ask Your Colorist for Copper Hair

If you choose to get copper hair in a salon, start by being clear about the look you want. Copper spans a wide spectrum of shades, so bringing inspiration photos helps your colorist understand the exact result you have in mind. A visual reference eliminates guesswork and makes sure you’re both envisioning the same shade.

Because copper is highly customizable, a colorist can fine-tune the undertones and depth to complement your skin tone, undertone, and eye color. You can also use language—with cues about how warm or vibrant you envision the shade to be—to help guide your service. The more specific you are during your consultation, the easier it will be for your colorist to craft a copper hue that flatters you best.

How To Get Copper-Colored Hair at Home

If you tend to prefer the DIY approach, rest assured that you can get vibrant hair at home with copper boxed dye. The key, as it usually is, is finding the right shade. For a vibrant yet natural-looking copper, we love the L’Oréal Paris Excellence Creme Universal Nudes Ammonia-Free Permanent Hair Color in Natural Copper. The luminous shade features a seamless blend of red, gold, and mahogany tones to create a dimensional color that flatters a wide range of skin tones. Plus, the ammonia-free formula is enriched with a pro-keratin complex and caring agents to protect your hair while it colors for a gorgeous-looking end result.

Keep in mind that if you’re starting with medium brown or darker hair, you’ll need to bleach your hair first to achieve your desired result. You can lighten your hair up to eight levels in a single session with the L’Oréal Paris Féria Hyper Platinum Advanced Lightening System Bleach, our most advanced hair lightening system. If you need a refresher on how to lighten your hair at home without incurring unnecessary damage, check out our article How To Bleach Your Hair At Home and Keep Your Blonde Bright.

4 Copper Hair Color Ideas We Love

As we mentioned, there’s more than one way to wear copper hair. Keep scrolling for some of our favorite variations on the fiery look.

1. Copper auburn

This reddish brown shade features more auburn tones than orange tones. It’s still vibrant and rich, just a bit more subdued than a classic copper hue. It looks pretty on all skin tones, especially those with warm undertones. To DIY the chic look, pick up a box of the L’Oréal Paris Superior Preference Fade-Defying Shine Permanent Hair Color in Light Auburn.

2. Copper blonde

This light copper hair color forgoes the standard brownish base in favor of a lighter blonde, making for a bright, sunny hair color that flatters fair complexions beautifully. To get the look, ask your stylist for a warm strawberry blonde hue, or give yourself a makeover at home with the L’Oréal Paris Superior Preference Fade-Defying Shine Permanent Hair Color in Light Reddish Blonde.

3. Vivid copper

If you’re on the hunt for a hair color that’ll stand out in a crowd, vivid copper is a must-try. The vibrant shade features a vibrant orange overtone, with subtle hints of gold woven throughout. It’s bright, it’s bold, and it’s perfect for anyone looking to make a statement with their strands. To get a similar look at home, we recommend snagging a box of the L’Oréal Paris Féria Multi-Faceted Shimmering Permanent Hair Color in Copper Crave.

4. Copper brown

Copper brown toes the line between a warm brown and a fiery red, making it a great pick for anyone looking to experiment with warmer hair without committing to crimson for the long haul. To get the look, ask your colorist for a soft, dark auburn shade, or DIY it with the L’Oréal Paris Superior Preference Fade-Defying Shine Permanent Hair Color in Medium Copper Brown.

How To Care For Copper Hair

Red hair colors are notorious for fading quickly, so you’re going to need to switch up your routine once you commit to a copper hair color. Below, we share a few simple tips to help ensure your color lasts.

1. Switch to a color-safe haircare system

After dyeing your hair, it’s important to use color-safe products, since harsher shampoos and conditioners can strip your color and leave your hair looking dull. You also want products that strengthen your strands, since repeated dyeing and bleaching can lead to damage (such as dryness, breakage, and split ends). To help strengthen your strands and protect your color, swap out your usual shampoo and conditioner for the L’Oréal Paris Everpure Sulfate-Free Bond Repair Shampoo and L’Oréal Paris Everpure Sulfate-Free Bond Repair Conditioner, which are designed specifically for color-treated strands. If your hair feels especially fragile, you can pre-treat your mane with the L’Oréal Paris Everpure Bond Strengthening Pre-Shampoo Treatment. Together, this three-piece bonding system helps rebuild damaged hair bonds to strengthen fragile, color-treated hair from the inside out.

2. Turn down the water temperature

Keeping your color vibrant isn’t just about the products you use. Treat your hair gently by washing with lukewarm water instead of hot. Scalding water can strip your strands of natural oils, leaving hair dry and causing color to fade more quickly. You don’t have to commit to icy showers, but it’s best to aim for lukewarm if you’re hoping to keep your color looking fresh.

3. Try a hair gloss

To help illuminate all of the beautiful tones in your copper hair, we recommend reaching for the L’Oréal Paris EverPure Sulfate-Free Glossing Shampoo and coordinating L’Oréal Paris EverPure Sulfate-Free Glossing Shampoo Conditioner twice per week. The former gently cleanses without stripping your color, while the latter moisturizes and smooths for silky-looking strands. For extra TLC, complete your routine with the L’Oréal Paris EverPure Sulfate-Free Glossing 5-Min Lamination Hair Mask. When used as a system, this powerful trio smooths, nourishes, and seals the hair fiber, delivering up to five days of intense, glass-like shine.

4. Use caution when heat styling

Heat styling can damage your hair and cause color to fade faster. When you do use hot tools, always prep your mane with a quality heat protectant, such as the L’Oréal Paris EverPure Sulfate-Free Moisture 21-in-1 Leave-In Conditioner, to shield your strands. You can also give your hair a break by trying heatless styles, which help preserve both your color and your hair’s health.

5. Get regular touch-ups

Regular touch-ups are essential for keeping copper hair looking fresh and vibrant. As your roots grow in, the contrast between your natural hair color and your copper shade becomes more noticeable, which can make your color look uneven or faded. Scheduling touch-ups on a consistent basis helps maintain a seamless, polished finish and ensures your copper hue stays rich and luminous from root to tip. If you spot regrowth before your scheduled touch-up time, use a root touch-up spray to tide you over until you can color your hair.

FAQs About Copper Hair

Is copper hair auburn?

Copper hair differs from auburn in its brightness and undertones. While auburn tends to be deeper with more brown tones, copper leans brighter with noticeable orange and golden highlights.

Is strawberry blonde the same as auburn?

Strawberry blonde is a lighter variation of copper. It combines soft red and golden tones for a subtler, sun-kissed effect compared with the richer vibrancy of classic copper shades.

What is the rarest hair color?

Natural hair colors vary, but some of the rarest include true red and copper shades. Their unique blend of red and golden tones makes natural copper hair uncommon and highly distinctive.

Next Up: How To Keep Color-Treated Hair Looking Vibrant and Healthy

Photo courtesy of L’Oréal Paris