The Best Red Hair Color Ideas to Try Right Now 

Red hair color has never been hotter, and all the celebrities who recently dyed their hair the fiery shade prove it. This year alone, Megan Fox, Chrissy Teigen, Julia Fox, and Emily Ratajkowski have debuted their own takes on the hue, so we—and professional hairstylists—have a feeling the hair color trend is just getting started.

Shvonne Perkins, master colorist and lead educator at Madison Reed, agrees, adding that red hair mania isn’t going anyway any time soon. As for why the fiery shade is having such a moment? “We needed to see someone break the mold, and so many more celebrities and influencers have,” Perkins says. “We’ve lived in a world for a long time of brunettes versus blondes in print ads and film. Over the past five years we’ve seen many more nuanced variations of these shades, and it’s made people less afraid.”

Feeling inspired? You’re in the right place. We asked hair experts all about their favorite red hair colors, how to choose your best shade, and what it takes to maintain the look. Here’s what they had to say.

Which shade of red hair works best for me?

There is a shade of red for everyone, and Perkins says that gold and copper are universally flattering. “However, you’ll want to be more mindful of tones when you’re playing with truer reds, staying on cooler blue-based reds for ash-friendly tones,” she says.

One trick to help you figure out your best tones? “If you like violet lipsticks, blue eyeliners, and blackest-black mascara, you’ll likely look great in blue- and violet-based reds,” Perkins says. “If you tend to gravitate toward rosier looks with golden tones, brown to neutral shades and orange hues in red lips, then a more copper-toned red will likely work better for you.”

That said, choosing which red hair color works best for you comes down to how much maintenance you’re willing to put up with. 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 likely why salons are noticing a surge in requests for more red-tinted browns, which are a much more low-maintenance ways to wear red 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.”

How often should I visit the salon for touch-ups?

If you decide to go the professional route, how often you touch up your hair depends on the specific type of treatment you receive. “If you’re talking permanent color, root touch-ups usually happen every four to six weeks, but it doesn’t need to be that soon unless you’re keeping up on gray coverage,” says Perkins. “It’s really toner that you’re likely to be keeping up with, which is likely touched up every eight weeks if you’re following steady at-home maintenance.”