How to Go from Brown Hair to Red Hair

If you’re a brunette, you’ve find yourself thinking about trading your chestnut locks in for red hair at one point or another. But perhaps you haven’t made the switch yet because you’re worried red hair won’t look quite right on you. If that’s the case, we’ve got good news: It turns out there’s an ideal red for every skin tone. Keep reading to find your perfect match—and learn how to take your brown hair to the red side.

How to Determine Your Perfect Red Shade

Red shades are either copper, blue, or purple-based—but there’s a whole lot more to it than just picking your favorite undertone. When it comes to taking your hair from natural earthy tones to those resembling fire, the first thing you want to do is think about your skin tone so that you can pair it with its perfectly complementary shade of red. Here are some basic color tips to follow:

If you have light skin…anything from strawberry and copper to a bright orange-red will look fab. When you have light skin, you want to avoid super-deep hues because they can look too harsh and may cause you to look paler than you may want.

If you have medium skin…the more pigments your skin has, the more highly pigmented shades of red you can rock. Just remember that warmer shades will look better than cooler ones because they’ll be able to really brighten up your features. When selecting your perfect shade, think along the lines of golden red, deep copper, and gorgeous auburn hues.

If you have dark skin…the darker your skin, the more you can don blue and purple-based red tints. That means berry and wine-hued dyes will be showstoppers on you.

What to Keep in Mind When Going Red

If the color you choose is lighter or more vibrant than your current hue, you will need to have your hair lifted (a.k.a. lightened) first. The darker your starting color, the more lifting you’ll require. In that case, visiting a professional colorist will probably be your best bet to get the gorgeous red results you want.

How to Go from Brown to Red at Home

Just making a subtle change? Try one of the following at-home hair color kits from L’Oréal Paris that are available in a variety of shades from reddish blonde to copper to deep burgundy: L’Oréal Paris Superior Preference, L’Oréal Paris Féria, and L’Oréal Paris Excellence Creme.  

How to Take Care of Your New Red Hue

Anytime you make a hair color change, it’s important to switch up your hair care routine in an effort to help preserve the color and keep your hair feeling soft and looking shiny. Keep this tips in mind after you’ve gone red!

1. Use a color-safe shampoo and conditioner. A good place to start is by switching to a color-safe shampoo and conditioner, like the L’Oréal Paris Hair Expert Color Vibrancy Intensive Shampoo and L’Oréal Paris Hair Expert Color Vibrancy Intensive Conditioner. They’re formulated with an antioxidant + UV filter and ceramide to help preserve color and mend damaged, processed fibers. Apply the shampoo to wet hair, massaging it into a lather, then rinse. Follow up by applying the conditioner, leaving it on for one to three minutes before rinsing.

2. Add a hair mask to your weekly routine. Once or twice a week, swap out your conditioner for a mask designed for colored hair, like the L’Oréal Paris Hair Expert Color Vibrancy Intensive Ultra Recovery Mask and apply it after shampooing with the L’Oréal Paris Hair Expert Color Vibrancy Intensive Shampoo, leaving it on for three to five minutes before rinsing.

3. Embrace your natural texture. Step away from the heat tools and rock the beautiful texture you were born with—this is just as pretty—if not more so—than a blowout! Seriously, whether you’ve got straight strands or wavy or curly ones, a fiery red hue will power up any look. Apply an egg-sized dollop of the L’Oréal Paris Advanced Hairstyle AIR DRY IT Ruffled Body Mousse to wet hair before letting your locks do their thing!