To go red or not to go red? If that’s been rattling around your head lately, you’re in good company. Copper, auburn, cherry cola, burgundy: our chairs have been FULL of red requests this season. Your Pinterest board probably is too. (Ours definitely is.)
And we get it. Red is warm, it’s bold, and it looks good on way more people than you’d think. But it’s also the fastest-fading color we do. So before you book, here’s what to ask for, which shade fits your life, and the seven habits that’ll keep your red looking fresh for weeks longer.
Why Red, Why Now
Blame the witches. With Practical Magic 2 in theaters, Nicole Kidman’s Gillian Owens hair is back in the conversation, and our owner Kristina Maccaro broke down the look for WWD.
“There are two different Gillian reds,” Kristina explained. The 1998 original is a deep, dimensional auburn with copper and cinnamon woven through it. The sequel’s color is the grown-up version. “It’s more of a gold copper blond,” she said. “[Kidman’s] a natural redhead who’s been blond for years, so that color is basically sitting where her hair already wants to be. That’s the whole trick. It’s also why the exact same formula won’t look like that on someone whose natural color is brunette or blond.”
Translation: the same red looks different on everyone. Which brings us to…
5 Reds Worth Getting, Ranked by Commitment
001. Strawberry Blonde: Low Commitment
A soft, golden-pink red that works best on lighter natural colors. It sits close to where your hair already wants to be, so it grows out gently and fades gracefully. Perfect for red-curious first-timers.
002. Cinnamon / Auburn: Low to Medium
Warm, rich and dimensional, the Gillian ’98 energy. On natural brunettes it’s one of the easiest reds to live with, because a little regrowth just reads as depth.
003. Cherry Cola / Burgundy: Medium
Deep, cool-leaning reds that look gorgeous on brunettes and rosier skin tones. No heavy lightening required, but they shift warmer as they fade, so plan on glosses.
004. True Copper: Medium to High
The bright, lit-from-within orange-red everyone’s screenshotting. On darker hair it usually means lifting first, and it needs regular glosses to stay vivid.
005. Vivid Red: High Commitment
Fire-engine, can’t-miss-it red. Stunning, and the highest-maintenance of the bunch. You’ll be on a tight gloss schedule, and your towels will know about it.
What to Ask For
Bring photos, not a formula. A celebrity screenshot is a great starting point, but as Kristina said, the same formula lands differently depending on your natural color. Show us what you love, and we’ll map out how to get there.
Talk undertones. Cooler, blue-based reds (cherry, burgundy) tend to flatter rosier skin. Warmer, gold-based reds (copper, strawberry, cinnamon) glow on golden and olive skin. Not sure which you are? That’s literally what the consultation is for.
Spill your hair history. Box dye, henna, old highlights: all of it changes how red takes. Honesty = fewer surprises.
Be real about maintenance. Tell us how often you’re actually coming in. We’ll build a red that fits your life, not just your mood board.
Ask for dimension. The best reds are never one flat color. A little depth at the root, richness through the lengths and brightness around the face grows out SO much softer.
7 Habits That Keep Your Red for Weeks Longer
You sat hours in our chair for your red. Here’s how to protect it.
001. Wait two full days before your first shampoo.
48 hours. No shampoo, no pool, no sauna, no sweaty gym session either.
002. Hot water opens the cuticle and red escapes.
Warm to wash, cold to rinse. More shine too.
003. Lower your hot tools and always use protection.
Turn the heat down and use a real heat protectant every time. FYI: oil is not a heat protectant.
004. Book a gloss while your hair still looks copper.
Wait until it’s gold and you’re looking at a full color again.
005. Sun, chlorine and salt water are your mortal enemies.
Rinse before you swim. Wear a hat when you can.
006. Use dark towels and old sheets. Bleeding is normal.
That’s excess pigment releasing. It settles after the first week.
007. Expect burgundy to red to copper, then gold.
You won’t fade lighter. You’ll fade warmer.
Leaving this here in case you missed our post where we yapped about this stuff…
Ready to Go Red?
Whether you’re after Gillian’s ’98 auburn, her gold-copper glow today, or a cherry cola that’s all your own, we’ll help you find your red AND keep it. Book a consultation, and follow along on Instagram for more red inspo.
The Red Kit
Everything you’ll need to protect and maintain your new red:
- KEVIN.MURPHY’s EVERLASTING.COLOUR Shampoo + Conditioner – color-safe, sulfate-free, + gentle enough to keep the pigment in
- Verb’s Glossy Shine Spray + Heat Protection Spray – because oil doesn’t count as heat protection
- IGK’s Color Depositing Mask – to stretch the time between glosses
- Redken’s Acidic Color Gloss Activated Glass Gloss Treatment – for insane shine at home
- Bumble + Bumble’s Hairdresser’s Invisible Oil Heat/UV Protective Primer – sunscreen, but for your red
- dpHue’s Apple Cider Vinegar Hair Rinse – gently clarifying for post-pool and beach days
- Kitsch’s Microfiber Hair Towel – bleeding happens, and your white towels will thank you
- L’Oréal’s AirLight Pro Hair Dryer – our current favorite
- Everything on our Amazon
- Everything on our Salon Interactive
Quick transparency note, ’cause we’re all about keeping it real AF: some links above are affiliate links. That means if you buy through them, we get a little thank-you in return. But the price and the product are exactly the same for you. We’d only ever recommend something we’ve used, loved, and would shove into your hands in person.
Save the inspo. Screenshot the cheat sheet. Bring us the board. And when you’re ready to make it real, you know where to find us.
Love Lane Salon · 190 C. Columbus Drive, Jersey City · Call Us · Text Us · Email Us · Book With Us
