hair color tutorials 17 Best Red Hair Color Ideas For Every Skin Tone

At one point or another, you’ve likely stood in front of a mirror wishing you could switch up your mane in favor of a beautiful, vivid hair color. And if you’re not sure what hue to go for, why not try red! From A-listers to our favorite beauty influencers, everyone seems to be rocking a variation of red hair—which when done right, looks flattering on any skin tone. And with so many shades to choose from, it can be hard to decide which red hair dye will be right for you. But there’s no need to worry, with shades ranging from strawberry blonde to dark raspberry and everything in between, there is a red hair color match for pretty much everyone. Check out these 17 beautiful red hair color ideas in cool, warm, and neutral shades you can try, along with products you can use to recreate these looks at home.

Cool Red Hair Color Ideas

1. Light Auburn

Let a vibrant and rich auburn shade bring your hair color to life this season. This gingery hue is versatile and incredibly flattering on various skin tones. Be sure to ask your colorist to create face-framing highlights using warm pigments of red to help showcase your features. You can also get the look at home using the L’Oréal Paris Excellence Créme Permanent Triple Protection Hair Color in Light Auburn. 

2. Red Mahogany

Not ready to commit to a full head of bright red hair? Not a problem! If you want to spruce up your strands without drawing too much attention, a brownish-red hue is a great way to do it. This deep shade of red will give off a natural-looking color and add depth to your locks. To get the look, use the L’Oréal Paris Féria in Rich Mahogany.  

3. Raspberry Hair 

We can’t talk about cool-toned hair colors without adding raspberry hair into the mix! Inspired by one of our favorite fruits, this raspberry hair color is what red hair dreams are made of. This color is also totally customizable and has notes of purple and red throughout. Grab the L’Oréal Paris Féria Multi-Faceted Shimmering Permanent Hair Color in Fuchsia or L’Oréal Paris Féria in Power Violet to get the look.

4. Burgundy

If a rich, yet, subtle dye job seems up your alley, search no further than deep burgundy hair. This violet-red hybrid looks wonderful against various skin tones. Do it yourself with the L’Oréal Paris Féria in Deep Burgundy. 

5. Brick Red

This brick red shade has a mix of vibrant red and brown tones making it an ideal hue for those looking for a subtler color to try. Ask your stylist to add in some copper highlights to give it a fresh and summery feel. Or DIY the color using the L’Oréal Paris Excellence Créme Permanent Triple Protection Hair Color in Richesse Collection Dark Mahogany Red. 

6. Red Velvet 

Red velvet hair color boasts a gorgeous blend of red, violet, burgundy, and maroon tones that come together for the ultimate level of dimension. This dessert-inspired shade has become a hot commodity because you can customize it to suit different undertones, making it a universal shade that everyone can rock. Get the look using the L’Oréal Paris Féria in Intense Deep Auburn/Red Velvet. 

7. Black Cherry

Inspired by one of our favorite fizzy drinks, black cherry hair features cool, dark tones for a refreshing take on red hair that flatters just about everyone. The super-dark reddish-brown hue blends two rich colors into one gorgeous shade of red hair. Get the look using the L’Oréal Paris Féria in Deep Burgundy. 

Warm Red Hair Color Ideas  

8. Strawberry Blonde

Maybe you want red hair, but you’re not quite ready to part ways with your beloved blonde. That’s where strawberry blonde comes in. Equal parts red and blonde, this hair color looks especially pretty in the summertime. Do it yourself using the L’Oréal Paris Superior Preference Fade-Defying Shine Permanent Hair Color in Light Reddish Blonde. 

9. Bright Copper

Bright copper is a warm and rich tone that has a bit of a zing, like a copper penny. The color features a mix of blonde, golden copper hues and auburn highlights to create a beautiful vibrant mane. Since this color involves a range of expertly blended shades, we’d recommend heading to the salon.

10. Chilli Powder Red

If you love the bright color of this spice, opt for a version of a chili red hue. This shade features a stunning mix of warm and rich golden orange tones throughout the mane. Get the look by using the L’Oréal Paris Superior Preference Fade-Defying Shine Permanent Hair Color in Lightest Auburn.

11. Scarlet

Jazz up your look with a scarlet red hair color. This red hue features hints of orange tones that will give your locks a bright and alluring look. Try it out yourself using the L’Oréal Paris Féria in Medium Auburn/Cherry Crush. 

12. Warm Cinnamon

Mixing red, buttery blonde, and crimson tones to create an overall warm hue can add vibrancy to skin tones without washing them out. This cinnamon hair color also adds dimension to strands for a winning look. Reach for the L’Oréal Paris Excellence Créme Permanent Triple Protection Hair Color in Light Auburn to try out the color.  

Neutral Red Hair Color Ideas

13. Rose Gold 

This metal-inspired hue became popular years ago, and it continues to be a must-have rendition of red. The ultra-trendy shade is part red, pink, and blonde and can be customized to your specific skin tone. Do it yourself using the L’Oréal Paris Féria in Rose Gold. 

Editor’s Tip: For those who are not yet ready to stick with permanent color, grab the L’Oréal Paris Colorista Hair Makeup Temporary 1-Day Hair Color Spray in Rose Gold. This temporary hair dye spray allows you to get bold color without the commitment and it will wash out after one shampoo. 

14. Peachy Red 

Similar to rose gold, this muted reddish-orange hair dye offers a combination of hues that is flattering on just about anyone—it just doesn't have the metallic sheen. We recommend booking an appointment at the salon to get the perfect mix of orange and red tones all across your mane. 

15. Medium Auburn 

Love the look of deep, rich auburn tones? Give medium auburn hair color a try. Imagine a deep shade with tones of red and brown—that's this color. To DIY the shade, reach for the L’Oréal Paris Superior Preference Fade-Defying Shine Permanent Hair Color in Medium Auburn Brown. 

16. Dark Auburn 

Let’s go a little darker! If you love the idea of going red but want to stick close to dark brunette roots, dark auburn will do the trick. The golden red and warm brown combo blends flawlessly for a hair color that suits all skin tones and eye colors. Use the L’Oréal Paris Superior Preference Fade-Defying Shine Permanent Hair Color in Dark Auburn to get the look.

17. Russet

Another reddish-brown shade, this red hair color is for those who prefer to have a more natural-looking red mane. The color can be accented with golden blonde highlights for added dimension. Try it out using the L’Oréal Paris Superior Preference Fade-Defying Shine Permanent Hair Color in Dark Mahogany Brown. 

How To Take Care Of Your New Hue 

Opting for an all-over shade of any color—red included—means you’ll have to put in some maintenance to keep your hue looking fresh. After figuring out which red hair color and style are right for you, make sure to switch out your everyday hair care products to ones specifically formulated for color-treated hair. Use the L’Oréal Paris Elvive Color Vibrancy Protecting Shampoo and the L’Oréal Paris Elvive Color Vibrancy Protecting Conditioner. This system will hydrate, condition, and seal-in color for up to 60 days. 

And to prevent your color from getting dull, use the L’Oréal Paris Le Color Gloss One Step In-Shower Toning Gloss in Auburn or Copper to refresh your hair color and give it a fresh-from-the-salon glossy finish. Formulated with coconut oil, this gloss will leave your hair nourished and feeling soft after one 15 minute in-shower application. 

Photo Credit: Photo: Kyala, @sincerely.kyala

Next: 3 Easy Ways To Jazz Up Your Red Hair