Red hair colours are regaining popularity just in time for summer! Red hair colours in fiery shades are very exciting. While more muted shades echo the fallen leaves, they look great. Red hair colour trends come in many forms, from deep aubergines to electric oranges.

Every hair-dye enthusiast should at least try red hair once to experience the difference. You never know what you might find! This hair colour might be your new favorite.

This article will cover the fascinating history and colour of red hair. It also includes a comprehensive red hair colour dictionary which explains all the various red hair colours.

History and facts about red hair

Red hair colours are in vogue these days. There’s always a red hair shade that is popular during different seasons. But in history, red hair wasn’t always a good thing.

The MC1R genetic mutation that causes natural red hair was first discovered in central Asia. This mutation also leads to skin pigmentation, sun sensitivity, freckles, and pale skin. This mutation causes the body to produce more pheomelanin, a pigment that is redder than eumelanin. It is less common and more brownish-toned.

Although this mutation occurred over 70,000 years ago, another mutation in the gene occurred 30,000 year ago in Europe. There are multiple genetic sources for red hair, as well as a variety of alterations to the MC1R-gene. Because of their skin’s ability more easily to make vitamin D, those with pale hair and skin were able to survive in darker regions with less sun. This is likely why this trait is more prevalent in the northern regions.

Natural red hair is extremely common today in Ireland, Scotland and the coast regions of Scandinavia. It is very likely that red hair was first dominant in Norway, and then it arrived in the early Celtic population due to Viking conquests of the 8th-11th century.

Red hair is a recessive trait. This means that even if you are genetically predisposed, there is little chance of getting it. Red haired people were often victims of superstitious beliefs. They were often associated with hated biblical figures such as Judas Iscariot or Cain, and were accused of witchcraft or just considered unlucky or lascivious.

While children with red hair are often bullied, attitudes have mostly changed. Red hair is a popular choice because it’s portrayed as fiery, hot, exciting, sexy and unpredictable.

 

Red Hair Colour Dictionary: All About Red Hair Shades

There are many shades of red hair, so here’s a list of all possible options that you can think of taking on one of them.

 

The Warm Red Hair Shades

Red hair colours with a lot of orange and yellow in them are considered warm shades. Red hair as it looks natural can work very well for people with pale or cool skin. However, the darker shades of red work best against those with skin that is warmer.

 

Bright Copper Red Hair

Copper hair is the most popular red hair colour. It’s the first colour to come to mind when you think of natural redheads. However, this colour rarely happens naturally and may require professional hair colouring. It is a warm, bright red with lots of orange – think Merida in the movie Brave. This colour works well for people with fair skin.

 

Ginger Red Hair

Ginger hair actually looks closer to the natural colour of people’s hair, as it has a warm tone that is somewhere between blonde, red, and brown. Although the contrast of red hair colour looks great against cool skin, it can bring out unfavorable red undertones in sensitive skin.

 

Crimson copper hair

This is a bright deeper shade of red and it is still quite dark as compared to bright copper. This shade is a warm-toned colour, but it’s neutral enough to suit most skin tones. It can also be used to enhance the sky-blue eyes.

 

Ginger Auburn Hair

This auburn shade is composed of a light golden tone and a touch of copper. It’s similar to light brownish-red hair. This natural shade is ideal for people who just want to transition into red hair colours.

 

Medium Auburn Hair

Medium auburn is a lighter brown look, with hints of red and lots and lots of gold. It is great for brunettes who want to gradually transition to red hair colours. This colour is great for all skin tones and looks especially good with green eyes.

 

Golden Ginger Hair

This shade is slightly enhanced gold-coloured than ginger auburn, but is great for blondes who want to go red. It contrasts well with tan skin and is warm and spicy.

 

Dark Auburn Hair

 

This is the most dark of all the warm brown-red colours. This gorgeous combination combines chocolate brown and hints of coppery to create a stunning look that is suitable for all skin tones. This is a great way to add warmth to darker hair, especially for autumn.

 

Electric Orange Hair

Warm red hair colours do not have to be natural. They can also look very bright and in your face, such as a bright yellow-orange. It’s almost like having ginger hair on crack. It is loud and bright just perfect for the summer holiday and electric orange hair is best done by professionals.

 

Strawberry Blonde Hair

This light strawberry blonde colour is very well-known. It has a subtle hint of red, but not too much orange. Strawberry blonde hair colour, unlike light auburn is more vibrant and less muted. It is a wonderful complement to cool, fair skin. Sometimes, it’s also called rose gold hair.

 

Fire Engine Red Hair

Although most vibrant red hair colours tend to be cool, this near-neutral red is not nearly as natural as the rest. It is slightly warmer than other reds with greater contrast and it still stands out prominently.

 

The Coolest Red Hair Shades

Cool red hair tends to be more purple than orange and is therefore less natural. Cool red hair will look more natural if there is more brown hues it has. Moreover, the more purple hues it has, the more noticeable and striking it will be.

 

Mahogany Red Hair

 

It is a rich, reddish tone with a lot of brown and not too dark. This is the coolest version of auburn hair. It’s a great way to gradually switch to cool red hair colours for brunettes.

 

Cherry Brown Hair

This cherry brown shade is more reddish brown tones, but it is still fairly neutral. This is a great way to go traditional red slowly and measured for those with dark brown hair.

 

Russian Red Hair

This kind of red hair looks a lot like the MAC lipstick. It has a subtle blue undertone, which puts it in the realms of anime-style hair. This bold red hair colour is not natural. You will be standing out with this colour with a bold attitude to complement it.

 

Rose Quartz Hair

This is the cool-toned sister of rose gold hair. It has the same precious jewel effect as rose gold hair but is cooler. This is a soft, pink-tinted, metallic blonde that is beautiful and soft.

 

Dark Cherry Red Hair

true red hair

It is similar to a darker than Russian red hair. This is because it is a deep, dark red with cool tones. This is as striking as other vivid reds but is more sophisticated.

 

Burgundy Hair

 

Burgundy hair is perfect for autumn. It’s a slightly darker shade than mahogany, but has more purple highlights. This rich brown hue has a red-blue tint which makes it look lusher and more delicious.

 

Black Cherry Hair

 

Although black cherry hair is a level darker than dark cherry, it still has some cool vibe. This is a dark and sexy colour for those who love retro style.

 

Eggplant red hair

 

Although eggplant hair was a classic style from the mid 2000s, it still looks chic and original nowadays. It has a purple-tinged reddish look that can flatter both cool and neutral skin tones. It looks especially stunning when balanced with lighter violet streaks.

 

Magenta Hair

This is a bright and vivid shade of red that falls somewhere between purple and red, much like an enhanced eggplant. This striking colour blends well with cool red shades, but it also works with warmer red tones.