While blondes and brunettes often steal the spotlight, red hair has taken center stage as one of the most sought-after colours this year. It offers a spectrum of shades, from vibrant crimsons to natural curly reds, deep auburns to sun-kissed reds, ensuring there’s a perfect red hue for everyone.
However, there’s a unique aspect to red hair that demands attention – its tendency to fade faster due to the large molecules in red dye, making maintenance crucial, especially for those with curly red hair. To combat this, using colour-depositing shampoo, conditioner, and other products becomes essential for sealing the hair cuticle and preserving its health.
The beauty of curly red hair is undeniable, and the extra effort it requires is undoubtedly worthwhile. In this foolproof guide, we’ll walk you through the process of achieving and maintaining stunning curly red hair. Discover essential tips and tricks to consider before embracing this fiery hue, along with some recommended products.
How to Attain Curly Red Hair
Before choosing the perfect red hair colour for your curls, understanding your skin tone and undertone is paramount. Undertones come in three categories: cool, neutral, and warm. Cool undertones exhibit hints of blue, green, and violet, while warm tones present as red, orange, golden, or yellow. Neutrals lie somewhere in between.
Determining your undertone can be done through your veins’ examination or by observing how sunlight affects your skin. Cool undertones show blue and purple when viewed in direct light, neutrals display blue and green, while warm tones manifest green and olive hues. If you tan easily, you likely have warm undertones, while easy sunburn indicates cooler tones.
For cool undertones, opt for shades like pinks, peaches, gingers, cool coppers, and deep reds. Neutrals can embrace any red shade, including burgundy, violet, and toffee highlights. Warm undertones complement coppers and bright reds.
Once you’ve identified your ideal red hue, it’s time to select your preferred method for achieving curly red hair: box dye or a salon visit for permanent, semi-permanent, or temporary colour. Permanent dye involves an oxidizer (usually hydrogen peroxide) and ammonia, making it best suited for salon application due to its potency.
Semi-permanent and temporary colours allow your natural curly red hair to shine with a twist, as they don’t require mixing like permanent dyes. They last approximately six weeks before fading but necessitate more frequent reapplication due to fading with shampoo and sun exposure.
When it comes to choosing between box dye and professional salon colour, the choice is yours. However, be aware that their formulas differ significantly. Box dyes offer pre-made formulas for all hair types, while salon hair colour is customized for each client. Box dyes contain fixed chemical compositions, which can be too harsh for certain hair types, potentially leading to over-processed or damaged hair.
Caring for Curly Red Hair
Regardless of your chosen dye method, caring for your curly red hair is as crucial as the initial colouring step. Given its tendency to fade, investing in quality products is paramount. Opt for a sulfate-free shampoo. Complement this with a deeply hydrating conditioner like Rizos Curls Deep Conditioner, designed to repair, renew, and strengthen dry, damaged, and frizzy hair.
To preserve your hair colour, reduce the frequency of washing your hair each week. If you can’t forgo frequent washing, consider switching to a co-wash, such as Bouclème Curl Cleanser.
Moisturising curly red hair is essential, and you can achieve this with a deep moisturising conditioner or treatment like Rizos Curls Vitamin C Repair Mask. This treatment strengthens, adds shine, and leaves your hair touchably softer. For added hydration between washes, explore the benefits of a hair oil like the Bouclème Revive 5 Hair Oil (UV Protection).
The Best Red Hair Colours for Curly Hair
Now that you’ve identified your undertone, chosen your hair dye method, and learned how to care for your curly red locks, you may wonder which red hue suits you best:
- Cinnamon Brown: Ideal for those cautiously venturing into red, this rich brown with cinnamon undertones complements a wide range of complexions.
- Burnt Honey Red: Featuring heavy orange tints, this gorgeous red pairs well with a conditioning hair mask like Flora & Curl Rose Water & Honey Molasses Moisture Mask to maintain hydration and vibrancy.
- Pumpkin Spice Ginger: Warm undertones shine with this traditional ginger shade, now enhanced with more neutral orange tones.
- Red Hot: A statement-making glossy red that turns heads with its iconic vibrancy.
- Sunset Red: Combining copper and warm brunette hues, this sunset red offers depth and vibrancy suitable for all skin tones.
- Eggplant Red: With violet undertones, this shade is perfect for darker complexions, and maintenance includes using a purple shampoo and conditioner.
Embrace the allure of curly red hair by choosing the shade that complements your undertone, caring for it diligently, and flaunting your fiery locks with confidence.
