If you're bored of your natural hair color and fancy something a bit more daring, why not go red? There are so many different shades of red hair dye available, you're bound to find one you love, whether you want a subtle change or want your hair to scream "look at me!".
How do I choose the right shade of red hair dye?
When you're looking to buy your dye, you'll first want to think about what shade to try. From strawberry blonde to maroon, there's a shade of red hair dye out there that's perfect for you, so first of all you need to think about just how bright you want to go. You may just want a subtle change, in which case if you're blonde you could choose some pale, strawberry blonde streaks. If you're a brunette, some rich coppery tones could add depth and texture.
Figuring out your skin tone
Whether you want subtle or dramatic results, you firstly need to look at your skin tone to figure out whether you need a cool or warm shade of red. One of the easiest ways to figure this out is to gather up an item of silver and gold jewellery and hold it up next to your skin. If the silver really sings, then you have a cool skin tone. You should stay away from coppery and yellow-based reds but could really pull off some intense shades if you're feeling brave.
If it's gold that really stands out against your skin, then you know that you're warm-toned and can find the best red hair dye to really complement your coloring. It's best to go for rich, warm red shades like auburn or reds with a more golden base.
The right base color for red hair dye
An important factor to consider when choosing your dye is that the actual end result is dependant on your base hair color. It's all very well buying your fantastically bright red hair dye, but on top of dark hair, the result won't be anywhere near as striking as you might hope. Although adding red to brunette hair will give it an amazing sheen, especially when it catches the light, if you feel more adventurous and want to choose a striking red shade that will make you stand out, you will need to lighten your hair first.
Bear in mind that lightening hair will always create some damage by the very nature of the process, so be prepared to lavish your newly red locks with some good quality conditioner.
Upkeep of red hair color
Another thing to consider when reaching for the bottle is that the molecules in red hair dye are particularly small, allowing them to pass in and out of the hair shaft more easily than other colors. Unfortunately this means that red dye washes our fairly easily, so if you want to keep your strong red color, you will need quite frequent top-ups of color. It's certainly not a low-maintenance color!
At home or in the salon?
I've always been a fan of having a go at home, but if you're at all nervous about home coloring, especially if you plan to change your color by more than two shades lighter/darker, it may be wise to consider visiting a salon where you can consult with a professional about the best shade of red hair for you. As always, if you're dying your hair at home, do a patch and strand test first and cover your hairline with Vaseline to avoid staining.
Red's a fantastic, head-turning color, so hopefully these tips will prove useful if you're hunting for your perfect red hair dye.
