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Whether you were inspired by all the celebrities going red or simply love to change your hair for the new year, you can’t go wrong with auburn hair color. The shade is the perfect combination of bold, fiery red and low-maintenance brown and brunette, and looks good on pretty much everyone.
“Auburn hair is one of the most universally flattering shades of red, complementing a wide range of skin tones and enhancing everyone’s natural glow,” Christine Bellemare, co-founder, owner and lead stylist at Maven A Collect, tells Glamour. “It’s like an instant complexion upgrade, adding warmth and richness to your look.”
Considering this, it’s no wonder so many stylists and colorists point to 2025 as the unofficial year of red and auburn. “This year is going to be a huge year for auburn hair color,” says celebrity hairstylist Nicholas Taylor, pointing to celebs like Ciara and Megan Thee Stallion as just two beauty icons who have rocked the trending shade as of late. “Auburns are taking the cake as 2025’s number one color trend.”
What is auburn hair?
Ironically, auburn is one of those colors that everyone seems to have a different definition of. “Auburn is a funny color to translate sometimes,” Tina Deeke, colorist at Chicago’s Maxine Salon, tells Glamour. “Some clients perceive it as a cool red; others, a warm copper red. As a colorist, I personally feel like there’s a combination of tones in auburn: cooler red mixed with warm copper.” (Think Phoebe Dynevor’s shade in Bridgerton.)
Indeed, Deeke opts for a mix of hues to achieve her auburns. “With auburn, I always love doing some balayage or foil highlights to create a multicolored auburn red, glossing over with a lighter copper or strawberry for some insane shine,” she says.
The auburn look can also be achieved by adding dimension to brown and brunette hair. “We are seeing reddish brunettes a lot this year,” says Jennifer Korab, celebrity hairstylist and owner of Renaissance Salon & Spa in Hillsborough, New Jersey. “Brunettes are adding highlights of copper to accentuate and create a warm, vibrant look.”
Which shade of auburn works best for me?
If you’re wondering whether auburn works on your skin tone, you’re in luck: Auburn is one of those shades that are so versatile—and customizable—that they work on almost anyone. “This hair color trend looks great on most skin tones and will never go out of style,” Korab says.
That said, choosing which auburn color works best for you comes down to how much maintenance you’re willing to put up with for the sake of your hair color. Auburns and reds are notoriously tricky in terms of upkeep and require touch-ups every six to eight weeks. Plus, salon trips can be costly, with dye-jobs ranging from $75 to $200 (or more) depending on the technique(s) used. That’s why salons are noticing a surge in requests for more red-tinted browns, which are a much more low-maintenance ways to wear auburn (more on that below).
How often should I visit the salon for touch-ups?
“Like all red shades, auburn can be tricky to maintain,” says Bellemare. “To keep its vibrant depth and prevent the color from falling flat, frequent glosses or touch-ups are necessary.” She recommends glossing your hair every four to six weeks to maintain its depth. “The good news? Thanks to its blend of brown and red, auburn tends to fade more gracefully than brighter reds, making it a slightly easier option for those drawn to red hues,” Bellemare continues.
Shvonne Perkins, master colorist at Madison Reed, says the same: “If you’re talking permanent color, root touch-ups happen on average about every four to six weeks, but it doesn’t need to be that soon unless you’re keeping up on gray coverage,” she explains. “It’s really toner that you’re likely to be keeping up with, which is likely touched up about every eight weeks if you’re following steady at-home maintenance.”
Can I DIY auburn hair color at home?
You can absolutely DIY auburn hair color at home, and there are countless semipermanent auburn hair dyes that will allow you to experiment with the shade. “When it comes to reds and shades of them, the more ‘into the cuticle’ you can get will lend itself to longer-lasting tonal payoff,” says Gregory Patterson, celebrity stylist and DIY color and stylist expert for Sally Beauty. “For auburn hair dye for dark hair, I love to use permanent color from the Color Brilliance line by ion, 4R Medium Red Brown Permanent Liquid Hair Color + 5G Light Golden Brown Demi Permanent Creme Hair Color at 20 volume total process time. The higher the volume you use, the brighter and lighter it will become.”
Such is the case for copper hair colors as well. “Some of the best copper shades come from the land of Vidid Hair Colors,” Patterson continues. “Of course, everything will appear brighter on prelifted hair, but you can also overlay these on top of your existing shades as long as you’re at a natural hair color level 6 and above.” To get a more copper-inspired look, Patterson suggests Strawberry Leopard Sundown Semi Permanent Conditioning Hair Color and Fire Semi Permanent Conditioning Hair Color. “I like the squeeze of red here to ground the Sundown shade and give it more depth and staying power,” he says.
How to maintain auburn hair color at home
Feeling inspired? Keep scrolling for the best auburn hair color ideas, according to experts, and get ready to screenshot.
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