Menu
The Colour of Love
Have a client thinking of transforming their locks to this bold colour? Bookmark this page before your client’s colour appointment.
Red hair can be created in a wide spectrum of different shades, tones and levels. From rich copper to strawberry blonde, flashes of red to full cherry – and everything in between – there is a shade to suit everyone.
We spoke to Josephine Shears from @Ssshagged for her take on this look.
The essentials you need to know
There are so many shades of red to consider when looking at transforming your hair. “Red hair usually looks great on all skin tones and hair types; however, you may need to do some research to find the perfect shade for your client,” Josephine tells us.
“The first thing to note is that, while red hair is arguably the most striking of all the colours, it also fades much quicker than other shades. This might be perfect for clients who like to switch up their colour regularly, however for clients expecting a longer-lasting effect, suggest a more natural tone to them to ensure less fading.”
Depending on the desired shade, bleaching the hair might be required, however some reds can hold their own with natural hair colours too.
The colour handbook
Pale skin, and green or blue eyes: Fair skin tones go hand in hand with red hair and many with this complexion sport fiery locks naturally.
Natural tones, which will fool even the sharpest hairdresser, range from strawberry blonde to pure copper shades. They bring out blue and green eyes and complement natural freckles perfectly. Pair with a red lip for a striking look which stands out from the crowd but looks effortlessly natural at the same time.
If your client is looking for something more creative, Josephine suggests trying out a mix of sunset colours to create an alternative effect which perfectly complements their pale skin tones.
We love starting with Crazy Color’s Ruby Rouge (£2.65) at the root and blending it into Pulp Riot Fireball (£10.99) in the top third of the hair. Then, mix a small amount of Fireball into Crazy Color Orange (£2.65) and blend into the mid-lengths. For the ends of the hair, work in the Crazy Color Orange. For an elevated look, create a balayage effect with Ruby Rouge throughout the front of the hair to frame the face.
Warm skin tone with brown or dark eyes: Experiment with deeper reds like auburn and cinnamon burgundy.
For darker skin tones with more of a natural tan to them, the contrast with red hair can be enigmatic in its beauty. “Try a deeper red, like cinnamon, to create a warm autumnal effect. Add a balayage to bring out the beauty of this style for your clients,” says Josephine. She also suggests styling hair with a light curl and plenty of salt spray for an easy natural finish which clients can replicate at home.
If your client is looking for something more glamorous, try a high-shine burgundy instead. Next to warmer skin tones, this colour makes eyes pop and skin glow. “It complements a tan perfectly and adds easy drama to your clients’ look,” Josephine says.
Blow-dry hair with big bouncy waves for the ultimate Hollywood vibes.
Darker skin tones with afro hair: Try opulent shades of red like mahogany, vibrant cherry red or copper.
Afro-Caribbean hair looks stunning with a red tone. However, due to its naturally dry texture, it's very important to give it some TLC. “I’d suggest nothing higher than a 20vol and to always use a bond builder/bond-protecting additive in the bleach to look after the condition of the hair,” Josephine tells us. “Apply bleach to the ends to lighten first, and then the roots go on last.”
Keep tones warm to enhance the skin colour, anything too blue-toned or cool will wash out your client. We love this copper caramel style below. The coloured hair has been blended into the roots for easy management and to frame her face, bringing out her freckles and eye colour.
“For certain reds, you don’t need to lift the hair past a level 7/8,” says Josephine. “Reds with a warm undertone sit nicely on hair which isn’t lifted as much.” This cherry red below is a great example of lifting the natural colour just enough to create a rich and vibrant red without causing as much damage.
Alternatively, if your client wants to refrain from any bleach processing, using a semi-permanent red dye will add a subtle hint of colour which comes out in the sun. It will also cause less permanent damage and will keep hair looking healthy and curls defined.
How to care for your red hair
“Caring for red hair properly is super important,” Josephine tells us. “Red pigments don’t stay as well as their colour opposites so need a little more love than usual. They do, however, wash out easier than blues and greens, so that’s a relief.” To keep colour topped up, clients can use a coloured shampoo like Crazy Color shampoo in red (£4.50). Alternatively, you can mix any semi-permanent shade into uncoloured shampoo and conditioner to keep colours looking bright at home
It’s very important with coloured hair to use a sulphate free, colour-safe shampoo. We love L’Oréal Professional Vitamino Color Shampoo (£16.90). It keeps hair soft and healthy and colour locked in. Follow with Fanola After Colour Care Conditioner (£9.95) to moisturise and lock in the colour.
We also highly recommend using a mask 1-2 times a week as hair which is hydrated holds colour better than hair which is dry and damaged. We love Schwarzkopf pH 4.5 color freeze which balances the pH of hair, freezing the colour pigment inside. Balancing the hair’s pH also means it needs to be washed less, which extends the life of colours.
To keep reds vivid, it's crucial to use a good heat protector. Colour which isn’t protected is exposed to all kinds of heat damage, which can reduce the brightness of coloured hair, leaving it dull and faded. We recommend Indola blow-dry spray (£5.50) which uses Pixel technology to also detangle and smoothen hair while blow-drying.
For afro hair, we also recommend KeraCare high-sheen glossifier (£5.35) to revitalise dry, dull hair and add gloss.
Freelance Focus
Freelance Focus, is a one stop resource for anyone working as a freelancer or thinking of going freelance in the hair & beauty industry, which includes a FREE downloadable guide filled with advice, useful insights, experiences and tips (from experienced freelancers) to help you understand the steps needed to make the right choices for you.
Top trending
OFFER
VEGAN
Delivery
Collection
Please login to your account to check stock in your local store.
4 FOR THE PRICE OF 3
VEGAN
Delivery
Collection
Please login to your account to check stock in your local store.
Delivery
Collection
Please login to your account to check stock in your local store.
OFFER
Delivery
Collection
Please login to your account to check stock in your local store.
SAVE 25%
Delivery
Collection
Please login to your account to check stock in your local store.
Delivery
Collection
Please login to your account to check stock in your local store.
OFFER
VEGAN
Delivery
Collection
Please login to your account to check stock in your local store.
BUY 3 FOR THE PRICE OF 2
Back to Posts
Tags
- acne
- advice
- allergy
- apps
- autumn
- awards
- balayage
- barbering
- beauty industry
- blonde
- braids
- bridal
- brows
- business
- capital & i
- career
- christmas
- client loyalty
- color wow
- covid-19
- curls
- eyelash
- facial
- fanola
- festive
- finance
- freelance
- gellux
- hair
- hair care
- hair colour
- hair salon
- hair styles
- hair styling
- hair trends
- hairdressing
- hairstyle
- hairstyles
- halloween
- healthy
- how to
- hygiene
- ideas
- indola
- industry
- inspiration
- interview
- k18
- l’oréal
- lashes
- lockdown
- macadamia
- make up
- makeup
- manicure
- marketing
- mens
- mental health
- microblading
- nail art
- nail industry
- nail inspiration
- nail technician
- nail trends
- nails
- new years
- nioxin
- nxt
- olaplex
- opi
- party
- pedicure
- ponytail
- products
- professional
- professionals
- pulp riot
- redken
- reopening
- retail
- reviews
- revlon
- salon
- salon finance
- salon furniture
- salon management
- salon owner
- salon refit
- salon services
- salon system
- salons
- schwarzkopf
- self care
- self-care
- self-employed
- skills
- skincare
- skincare regime
- skincare steps
- social
- social media
- spa
- spring
- step by step
- style
- styling
- stylist
- summer
- sun damage
- suncream
- sustainable
- tanning
- technique
- the manicure company
- tigi
- tiktok
- time to improve
- tips
- toner
- toning
- top knot
- training
- treatment
- trending products
- trends
- tutorial
- updo
- upskills
- valentines
- vegan
- vegan beauty
- veganuary
- wahl
- waxing
- wedding
- wella
- wellbeing
- wellness
- winter
- winter nails
Latest Posts
- Chantelle: Capital & Me, my self-employed journey & the importance of networking
- Meet Sophie, owner of ‘Sophie’s Lashes & Beauty’ which she has been running now for over 7 years!
- K18 Biomimetic Hair Science vs. Bond Builders
- K18 & Your Salon Services - How to incorporate K18 Services for Ultimate Hair Restoration
- What is K18 and how does it work?
- From Money Worries to Family Drama: What's Stressing Your Skin & Hair the Most?
- Something Old - Something New
- Skin Cycling 101
- Vegan and Cruelty-Free Hair and Beauty: Simple Swaps and Recommendations for Veganuary
- The Greatest Night in British Hairdressing!
Related Posts
Chantelle: Capital & Me, my self-employed journey & the importance of networking
Introducing Chantelle, a talented beautician, hair extension specialist and proud owner of ‘Chantelle’s Beautique’. We sit down with Chantelle as she tells us how she started out in the industry, her top tips for becoming self-employed, struggles she faced and overcame along the way and her favourite products that she can’t live without!
My treatment room is based in my garden at home and I offer a full range of Hair and Beauty treatments specialising in skin care, brows & hair extensions. My clients love my set up and really appreciate the little touches like being able to park with ease and having more of a cosy experience away from the hustle and bustle of a busy salon. As well as running my own business at home, I also enjoy teaching others on their journey starting out in the trade with my own accredited courses at home as another branch of my business called ‘The Hair and Beauty Training Beautique’. You may also see me in your local Capital Hair & Beauty as I also tutor for one of their training providers ‘Face Forward’ offering brow lamination and lash lift and tint courses.
Meet Sophie, owner of ‘Sophie’s Lashes & Beauty’ which she has been running now for over 7 years!
Sophie gained a wealth of experience working in the industry from her background working in prestigious 5 hotel & spa and salon settings which lead her up to starting a business of her own. We talk about all things beauty and the curved tweezers that she can’t live without!
Hi Sophie, tell us a little bit about your journey and how you go into the industry and what lead up to starting out on your own?
I gained a lot of knowledge from working in different settings from working with a big teams in a 5 star hotels and spas to smaller beauty salon environments. I gained so much knowledge from working in both settings and although it was hard work and long hours.
I started out by working in a few different 5 star hotels with spas and a salons where I gained all my knowledges and experiences from each one to put together for my own business! It was hard work and long hours all the practice paid off. It was actually one of my clients I saw regularly in the salon I worked at that said I should set up on my own and gave me the confidence to go self-employed and I’ve not looked back since!
K18 Biomimetic Hair Science vs. Bond Builders
As professionals in the hairdressing industry, we're well aware of the constant innovation occurring in our field. Our clients love to dramatically alter their look with the ever-changing trends and we do everything we can to prioritise the health of their hair. Bond-building treatments have long been a staple in salons to address this need. However, allow us to present the latest advancement: biomimetic hair science and K18!
Understanding the Future of Haircare: From Bond Builders to Biomimetic Hair Science
For centuries, the haircare industry relied on cosmetic chemistry to conceal damage. Historical solutions like oils and conditioners were designed to sit on the surface of the hair, providing a temporary fix by improving its appearance and manageability. However, these solutions fell short of addressing hair's health at its core.
K18 & Your Salon Services - How to incorporate K18 Services for Ultimate Hair Restoration
Learn how to leverage K18 products in your salon services to reverse damage, fortify hair and enhance salon results all whilst boosting your salon profits. Discover our step-by-step instructions for every treatment, from lightening to styling in our handy salon go-to guide!
What is K18 and how does it work?
Following the natural structure of hair, the biologically active peptide is considered natural. Unlike traditional bonding agents, it is not rinsed away by water or shampoo, making K18 a genuine and enduring remedy for damaged hair. Healthy hair originates in the salon, and K18 believes its influence starts at the salon chair and radiates outward. While K18 is suitable for all hair types and services, the most significant improvements are seen in damaged hair.
From Money Worries to Family Drama: What's Stressing Your Skin & Hair the Most?
Have you ever noticed how closely linked your mind and body are? It's like they're always communicating, even when we're not tuned in.
And when stress creeps in, it's not just your mind that feels the burden – your skin and hair can take a hit too. Stress, whether it's a short-term or a long-term problem, can be detrimental to your body's health.
In fact, a recent survey by the UK’s largest independent supplier to hair and beauty professionals, Capital Hair and Beauty, revealed nearly half (42%) of the nation believe that stress has had a negative impact on their skin and hair health!
Last year, Brits faced their fair share of hair and skin woes.Topping the list was the recurring issue of dry skin, affecting a significant 29% of the population. Not too far behind was hair thinning/loss, troubling over a fifth (22%) of us, while acne and breakouts are also a cause for concern, affecting 19% of survey respondents. And let's not forget about skin inflammation (12%) and eczema (11%).
Something Old - Something New
Does the bob ever go out of style? Short answer: No. The reason for the evergreen appeal of the bob is because, depending on the length, it’s a look that can suit any face shape or hair texture. Right now, it can be anything from a short and swingy French girl bob, a luxurious long bob, or a razor-cut curly bob. For Tori Kiff, it’s about keeping things fresh with the addition of a fringe.
“I love updating a classic curly bob with a fringe, especially as so many of my curly clients seem to think it’s a style they shouldn’t have. I’ve managed to show so many clients that it’s all down to fear and that actually, a curly bob is so flattering and easy to style; I advise them to use their fingers to curl their fringes or to use a brush when styling,” shares Tori.
Of course, the most modern way to wear a bob is the Bixie, a hybrid of the bob and pixie; think classic bob updated with a fringe or micro bangs, or you could play with the Butterfly Bob. RUSH Creative Director Andy Heasman’s a fan.
Skin Cycling 101
If you ever spend time on social media, then you'll definitely have heard about skin cycling, or skin fasting. During the pandemic, this three-step regime rose to popularity as many of us had more time to spend on pursuing our 'perfect' skin. Read on to find out the what and why of skin cycling and how you can build it into your beauty therapy menu.