So you want a new shade of burgundy hair color… or was it auburn? Maybe mahogany? There are so many different shades of red hair color… do you know the difference between them all?
There are so many ways to make the color red. Some tints have purple undertones, while others are more on the brown side. Some are natural-looking, and some are crazy colorful.
With all the different types of red hair colors that exist, it’s really quite easy to mix them up.
But as a professional hairstylist, I feel like it’s my duty to make sure that you know what the different shades of red hair dye are… so you can properly choose the best color for your needs.
Or maybe you already know all that but just want some red hair inspiration! This guide can help with that too!
So without further ado, here are the names of the 14 fiercest shades of red hair color… and how to tell the difference between them all!
💡TIP: Pin this article to your Hair Color board on Pinterest so you can always come back when you need some red hair color inspo! 👇🏼👇🏼👇🏼
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Red Hair Color Chart
Let’s kick this post off with a fancy chart that depicts the different names of red hair color. You can even save it on Pinterest so you always have it on hand.
This gives you a general overview… but do keep reading to find out where the different shades come from and how to differentiate them all.
#1: Strawberry Blonde
The first shade we should talk about is also the lightest shade of red hair color. I’m talkin’ about strawberry blonde.
Technically, it’s considered to be blonde hair with red undertones… but it can also be considered to be a very light shade of red. Talk about versatility.
This color can be natural or even replicated in the salon.
To achieve this look, I’d suggest bleaching your hair to a light color and then using a red-based hair toner. But if you don’t want to go that far, you can also find permanent hair colors in this shade.
#2: Burgundy
Burgundy is a beautiful rich shade of reddish-purple that mimics the color of Burgundy wine.
And let’s just say that anything that resembles wine is A-OK to me! 👌🏼
#3: Maroon
Maroon is similar to burgundy but with more reddish-brown tones than purple.
It’s considered to be a light reddish-brown color but tends to have way more red pigment than brown.
#4: Copper
Copper hair is basically meant to look like the copper metal (surprise!) and is composed of red-orange tints.
But here’s the thing… this could look reminiscent of a bad dye job if done incorrectly. On the other hand, copper hair can be one of the richest, most beautiful shades of red hair color out there.
You just really need to make sure it looks more like Hayley Williams-esque hair than a bleach-job-gone-bad.
► TIP: Talk to your stylist about adding lowlights and dimension to give it a more finished look.
#5: Red-Orange
Red-orange hair can be pretty similar to copper hair but way more vibrant and with way more orange. Technically, it should be a shade of bright orange with just a hint of red hair color.
#6: Bright Cherry Red
Cherry red hair dye looks similar to maroon but with more purple undertones and less brown. It should be a dark, purplish shade of red… like the color of cherries.
#7: Natural Red
Did you know that only 2% of the world’s population has natural red hair?
Natural red color can vary from person to person but tends to usually look like the shade above. I will say that I’ve seen it range from dull brownish red to super vibrant dark red… and they’re all beautiful.
#8: Fire-Engine Red
This shade of red hair color should be very bright and vibrant; it should not look natural at all.
The downside is that it’s usually only possible withsemi-permanent color lines, meaning it will wash out over time (although there are a few really good permanent lines out there).
Oh, and in case you were wondering about the name… it should be the same color as a fire truck.
#9: Deep Red
This is one of my personal favorite shades of red hair color.
Deep red is really just a dark, vibrant shade of reddish-brown. It’s usually more on the natural red side of the spectrum but should also be vibrant, bold, and rich.
#10: Mahogany
Mahogany is a rich, dark reddish-brown color with more red pigment than brown. It’s similar to deep red but lighter… and with more brown pigment.
Basically, it should look an awful lot like mahogany wood.
#11: Auburn
Auburn, like mahogany, is a mixture of red and brown hair color.
However, this color should be much lighter and much more natural-looking than mahogany. It should also be more brown than red… and maybe even a little on the orange side.
#12: Crimson Red
Wikipedia defines crimson red as “a strong red color, inclining to purple.” It’s quite similar to cherry red, but with more red than purple.
People often associate it with the color of blood (it can also be called blood red). It’s also worth noting that there’s some pretty heavy underlying symbolismtied to the color.
#13: Raspberry Red
This shade of red should is bright and cheerful, with pinkish undertones. Ultimately, it should look like the color of (you guessed it) fresh-picked raspberries.
#14: Titian
Last but not least… we arrive at titian.
This color is often confused with auburn, but it’s actually composed of a brownish-orange shade that looks “reddish,” whereas auburn actually has red in it. It should be very natural-lookingyet bold and bright.
Like copper, dimensional highlights can be added to give titian hair a more finished look.
Bonus Section
For all you do-it-yourselfers, here are some bomb red hair colors you can try at home! Disclaimer: these range from semi-permanent to permanent… please make sure to read the description before purchasing.
FAQ
What are the different shades of red hair color?
Natural red, copper, raspberry red, auburn, burgundy, mahogany, maroon, crimson red, titian, deep red, cherry red, fire-engine-red, strawberry blonde and orange-red are all popular shades of red hair color.
Is strawberry blonde considered red hair?
Technically, strawberry blonde is just blonde hair with red undertones, but it could really fall in either category. It could either be considered the lightest shade of red hair color or a blonde with red tones.
Who looks good with red hair?
Red hair can look good on anyone with any skin tone. However, it’s super important to find the right shade of red hair color for best results.
Final Thoughts
With all the different shades of red hair color that exist, it’s super easy to get lost. But after reading this post, you should have a foundational knowledge of the different types.
This guide is by no means the end-all-be-all. Hair color is a beautiful form of art; different colors can always be mixed together to create new shades or fun looks.
If you’re not comfortable doing your own hair, work with your hairstylist to formulate the perfect red hair color for you! You’re gonna rock it!
Until next time,
▶︎ YOUR TURN:Are there any other shades of red hair dye that I forgot? What’s your favorite color on this list?Drop your thoughts in the comments section below! 👇🏼👇🏼👇🏼
RELATED:
- The Definitive Guide to DIY Hair Color
- 10 Glamorous Shades of Blonde Hair Color
- 17 Dye Jobs (That Will Make You Green With Envy)
- 21 of the Most Beautiful Hair Colors You’ll Ever See
- How To Use A Hair Toner For Brassiness (Step-By-Step Guide)
💡TIP: If you enjoyed this article, don’t forget to save it to your Hair Color board on Pinterest so you can always reference it when you need to! 👇🏼👇🏼👇🏼
FAQs
14 Different Shades Of Red Hair Color (+The Difference Between Them All)? ›
What are the different shades of red hair color? Natural red, copper, raspberry red, auburn, burgundy, mahogany, maroon, crimson red, titian, deep red, cherry red, fire-engine-red, strawberry blonde and orange-red are all popular shades of red hair color.
How many different colors of red hair are there? ›The 6 Shades of Red Hair: Which Specific Color Are You?
What is the rarest shade of red hair? ›What is the rarest shade of red hair? Natural red is the rarest hair color on the planet, with just 1 to 3% of the population having it.
How do I know what shade of red hair I have? ›For fairer skin tones, Trado suggests opting for a strawberry or copper hue. As for medium/tan tones, a poppy or terra cotta hue will do, and he also recommends that darker skin tones opt for rich auburn or ruby tones.
What's the difference between auburn and ginger? ›Is Auburn the Same as Ginger? No. Auburn and ginger are entirely different shades of red, with the latter boasting a brighter, lighter finish that's perfectly suited to fairer skin tones. The big bonus of auburn is that it suits almost everyone, offering a shade for all skin tones and eye colors.
What are the difference shades of red hair? ›What are the different shades of red hair color? Natural red, copper, raspberry red, auburn, burgundy, mahogany, maroon, crimson red, titian, deep red, cherry red, fire-engine-red, strawberry blonde and orange-red are all popular shades of red hair color.
What is the rarest hair color? ›The rarest natural hair colour is red, which makes up only one to two percent of the global population. You commonly see these hair colours in western and northern areas of Europe, especially Scotland and Ireland.
What is the rarest combination of red hair and eye color? ›There's a little genetic tweak that makes the combination of red hair and blue eyes the rarest of them all.
What color eyes do most redheads have? ›Most (natural) redheads will have brown eyes, followed by hazel or green shades.
What is the prettiest hair color? ›The contest for the most attractive hair colour is obviously won by the blonde color with 35% of the overall vote, followed by the brunette. The bronze goes to Pippi Longstocking (people 30 and above will understand 👩 ). And the fourth place is for black hair colour.
Is a person with red hair called ginger? ›
“Ginger” is a nickname or term often used for natural redheads. Some redheads find it offensive, while others have embraced the word and may even call themselves gingers.
What is red hair called ginger? ›Red hair, also known as orange hair or ginger hair, is a human hair color found in 1–2% of the world population, appearing with greater frequency (2–6%) among people of Northern or Northwestern European ancestry and lesser frequency in other populations.
Is my hair auburn or chestnut? ›Auburn encompasses the color maroon, but so too do chestnut and burgundy. In contrast with the two, auburn is more red in color, whereas chestnut is more brown, and burgundy is more purple; chestnut hair is also often referred to as "chestnut-brown".
What color is cherry red hair? ›The darkest red is usually referred to as black cherry or cherry coke. This deep black cherry hair color has both dark brown tones and red tones. The red tones are a true red, not a purple red.
What complexion does red hair suit? ›Red hair on medium skin
While a little overpowering on paler skin, bright red hair colours (including coral and fire engine hues) suit medium skin tones well.
Natural red tresses are typically a reddish-brown color. As with any hair hue, there are variations to it based on how light or dark the hair color is. This means you can have natural, light red hair or natural, dark red hair.
What are the three variants of red hair? ›Three alleles in particular, Arg151Cys, Arg160Trp and Asp294His together make up 22% of the MC1R genes and account for 60% of all cases of red hair. In most families MC1R alleles behave as normal recessive mutations, although there are a few individuals with red hair in whom no MC1R variant can be found.
What's the difference between red hair and ginger? ›Gingers are born with orange hair, meaning that someone who dyes their hair red or orange is not a ginger. Redheads have red hair, either from dye or naturally. Redheads can also be born with red hair, but it may fall more on the reddish-brown side than the orange side.
Why is red hair called red instead of orange? ›It stems from root words of those languages like orenge, pomum de orenge, narancia, and naranj. Orange was not used as a word to signify color until the 1540s. The term "redhead" likely comes from the simple need to refer to redheads in English before orange used was to describe the color.
What is the rarest eyes? ›How many eye colors are there, and why your shade is unique to you. At some point, you've probably wondered what the rarest eye color is. The answer is green, according to the American Academy of Ophthalmology (AAO). Only about 2 percent of the world's population sport this shade.
What is the 2nd rarest hair color? ›
TIL The rarest natural hair color in the world is red, with only 1-2% of the world population having natural red hair. Second is blond, with 3%, then brown/brunette, with 11%, and finally black with… You learn something new every day; what did you learn today?
What eye looks best with red hair? ›Redheads look fab in blue and green eyeliner. The bold colors can help instantly brighten up your face and effortlessly complement the rest of your makeup. To get the look in an especially trendy way, use a blue or green eyeliner along your lower lash line for an unexpected pop.
Does everyone with red hair have blue eyes? ›Rarest kind of redhead
Having red hair and blue eyes is the rarest hair/eye color combination possible. The odds of a person having both of those recessive traits is around 0.17%. Instead, most redheads have brown, hazel or green eyes, according to Medical Daily.
Red hair and green eye genes are simply not as common in populations as other hair and eye colors. One study found that the red hair-green eyes genetic combination is one of the rarest, at -0.14 correlation. Having red hair and blue eyes is even rarer.
What ethnicity has red hair? ›While it may seem that only Caucasians have red hair, people from all races and ethnicities have ginger locks. It is more common in areas such as Northern Europe and specific parts of Russia. However, the genetic mutation has also spread throughout parts of South America, Asia, and Africa.
Do redheads have more yellow teeth? ›The skin of a redhead is thinner compared to others and is derived from the ectoderm. Teeth enamel is also derived from the ectoderm and thus is thinner than usual. Since the enamel coating is thin, the inner layer of tooth-dentin is more visible and offers a yellowish appearance.
What is special about redheads? ›According to Health Magazine, redheads can produce their own vitamin D when exposed to low levels of light. 4. You may not need as much pain medication. The gene responsible for red hair (MC1R) also releases a hormone that is similar to endorphins which limit the feeling of pain.
What is the least attractive hair color? ›In the present study blondes were not preferred by either sex: a clear preference for brunette hair coloration over blondes and redheads was indicated. In concurrence with both earlier studies, the results of this study indicated red hair as the least preferred hair color.
What hair color is best to look younger? ›Caramel, honey, gold, copper, and strawberry give a healthy brightness that makes us look and feel younger. (Framing your face with lighter shades draws the eye away from any complexion concerns, as well.)
What is the hardest hair color to look good? ›First and foremost, ICY, PLATINUM, GREY OR SILVER is certainly the most difficult hair colour to achieve. This is the most difficult tricky colour on any level. This applies to platinum, icy and white as well as any silvers, greys, or dark slate grey.
What are the variants of red hair? ›
Red hair varies in hue from a deep burgundy or bright copper, or auburn, to burnt orange or red-orange to strawberry blond.
What colors are naturally occurring red hair? ›Red hair varies from deep burgundy to bright copper, auburn, reddish-orange, burnt orange and strawberry blond. Auburn or red hair can be natural. Yes, auburn or red hair can be natural. Red hair is in fashion these days.
Is red hair actually red or orange? ›The term "redhead" likely comes from the simple need to refer to redheads in English before orange used was to describe the color. In other words, humans were describing redheads before they were describing anything as being the color orange. So, it just stuck.
What is the color of a natural redhead? ›Natural red tresses are typically a reddish-brown color. As with any hair hue, there are variations to it based on how light or dark the hair color is. This means you can have natural, light red hair or natural, dark red hair.
What do you call a person with red hair? ›A redhead is a person with red hair. Although sometimes it looks more like orange, “orangehead” isn't a thing. Only about one percent of the entire population is a real redhead. In England, a redhead is “ginger” haired.
Are all redheads genetically related? ›Previous studies had shown that redheads inherit two versions of the MC1R gene that leads to red hair – one from their mum and one from their dad. Although almost everyone with red hair has two copies of the red-haired version of MC1R, not everyone carrying two red-haired versions is a redhead.
What color is chestnut hair? ›Chestnut hair color is a rich brown with red undertones.
This is one of those colors that looks good on virtually everyone, regardless of hair length, texture, or style — plus, it's flattering on all skin tones.
Ireland has the highest per capita percentage of redheads in the world -- anywhere from 10 to 30 percent, according to Eupedia, a website that explores European genetics and ancestry. They are almost equally prevalent in Scotland and other pockets of Celtic pride.
What color eyes do redheads have? ›Most (natural) redheads will have brown eyes, followed by hazel or green shades.
How rare is pure red hair? ›Red hair, occurring in just 1 to 2 percent of the population, is the least common.
What does red hair symbolize? ›
Throughout history, artists from Sandro Botticelli to Dante Gabriel Rossetti have mined the potent symbolism of red hair to alternately suggest promiscuity, sensuality, deviousness, and—above all—otherness for centuries.
Do redheads go GREY? ›Redheads probably won't go grey. That's because the pigment just fades over time. So they will probably go blonde and even white, but not grey.
What is so special about red hair? ›Redheads feel hot and cold temperatures more severely than anyone else. In 2005, the University of Louisville discovered this hidden gift and hypothesised that the redhead gene, MC1R may cause the human temperature-detecting gene to become over-activated, making redheads more sensitive to thermal extremes.
Is there a natural red hair? ›Only 2 percent of the world's 7.7 billion humans have naturally red hair. It's in their genes — specifically the one called MC1R. If your hair is red, your MC1R gene will have a mutation (or possibly several).
Do natural redheads get grey hair? ›One of the many facts about redheads is that their hair will never turn grey. The pigment in their hair that causes it to be red will just fade over time, causing their hair to turn blonde or white, but never grey.
What country does red hair come from? ›Contrary to what many people assume, redheads did not originate in Scandinavia, Scotland or Ireland, but in central Asia. Their coloring is due to a mutation in the MC1R gene that fails to produce sun-protective, skin-darkening eumelanin and instead causes pale skin, freckles and red hair.