In the Red

Whether it’s auburn, strawberry, or burgundy, keep it vibrant with some simple hair care tips

Fiery temperament aside, redheads can’t help but girl crush on the reigning redheads in Hollywood. Leading ladies like Emma Stone, Julianne Moore, and Christina Hendricks have the most uh-mazing covet-worthy sexy locks. That said, going red is tough to pull off, not to mention maintain. So in honor of all the Irish redheads out there, I will tell you about how to get gorgeous red hair:

Why is red hair so hard to color and keep?
Exposure to environmental elements including the sun and chlorine water can contribute to overall hair color fade. Red hair in particular tends to fade the fastest due to smaller color molecules that slip more quickly from the hair cuticles.

Can anyone go red?
Yes, anyone can be inspired by the red palette, but it all depends on what your current hair color is. For women going only one to two shades away from their current hair color, they can easily color at home. If you’re making a more drastic change, such as going from blonde to red, you should consider visiting a salon as it may take more than one trip to achieve your desired look.

I do recommend certain shades of red for certain skin tones
Red shades are warm by nature and therefore work with most skin tones. Women with cool undertones should opt for a bolder red, such as a strawberry or auburn, while women with olive and yellow undertones look great with golden and apricot hues rather than a true red. You can test out how various red shades will match up with your skin tone with Clairol’s Try It On Studio. This digital makeover tool will help take the guesswork out of your hair color results and let you see how different shades look on you before you commit.

What are a few key tips to help my red hair color last longer?

• Use shampoos and conditioners specially formulated to help protect color-treated hair
• Treat your hair to a deep conditioner once a week to help lock in color and replenish moisture
• Apply a heat-protector spray prior to using heat styling tools to help shield your hair
• Reduce exposure to the sun and chlorinated water

My pre-color tips when going red:

• Remember to stay within one to two shades of your current hair color for best results
• Overexposure to heat styling and environmental elements can weaken hair strands, so make sure to condition your hair to help lock in moisture prior to coloring
• If your hair is over-processed from bleaching, I recommend waiting until your natural hair grows in as the red hair color will take better and evenly cover the new growth

Are there any products that are particularly good for redheads?
Color-retentive products are gentle on hair and their moisturizing properties help prevent fading by sealing the color molecule into the porous hair cuticle. I recommend using Garnier Fructis Color Shield Shampo once a week to help seal the cuticle and keep hair shiny.

Is there anything that redheads should avoid to prevent fading: sun, certain products, treatments, etc.?
Redheads, or anyone who colors their hair, should reduce exposure to the sun and chlorinated water as these elements quickly strip hair of its natural oils and speed up hair color fade. If you’re going to be in the sun, always wear a hat; if you’re swimming, condition hair prior to jumping in and always rinse with fresh water afterward.

We read that soaking your hair in tomato juice can help liven up red locks. Any truth to this?
Tomato juice may help enhance and brighten red hues, but may also be drying, so I’d recommend a good deep conditioning treatment afterward. Cranberry juice is also a great way to richen light auburns and dark red hair, but it washes out easily.

xx, Beautyqueen