Copper Hair Color Is Trending — How to Get The Look

Any hair color of the red, auburn, or ginger variety is hot right now. All it takes is a few scrolls on social media to see that this hair color trend has been going strong since last fall — the way red hair color looks good on everyone may explain why. A copper hair color is one of the brightest varieties of red hair you can sport. With notes of orange and red, it’s an eye-catching hue that looks good on everyone, as evidenced by the influx of social media influencers, musicians, celebrities and “normal people” we see sporting it.

So, if you’re ready to live out your copper hair fantasy, you’ve come to the right place. Read on to learn everything you need to know about copper hair color, including hair color ideas, how to DIY the color and how to switch up your hair care routine to care for your new copper color. 

What Is Copper Hair?

Copper hair color is a zingy, warm hue with notes of red, brown, bronze and orange. It resembles the color of a shiny, new penny, and it packs the vibrance of the metal. It’s part of the red hair family, but certainly holds more pop and brightness than your average auburn shade.

How to Ask Your Colorist for Copper Hair

When you have a salon appointment, it’s always a good idea to bring an inspiration picture for your colorist that illustrates exactly what you’re hoping to achieve. From there, you can discuss the different methods for obtaining a copper hair color, and keep in mind that bleaching may be required if you’re starting with a dark base.

How to Get Copper Hair at Home

If you’re a seasoned at-home colorist, DIY the red hair color trend with the L’Oréal Paris Superior Preference Fade-Defying Shine Permanent Hair Color in Intense Red Copper. This at-home hair color kit transforms your hair with shimmering, fade-defying color while preserving its integrity. If you’re aiming for a copper-meets-cherry shade, try the L’Oréal Paris Féria Multi-Faceted Shimmering Permanent Hair Color in Power Copper. 

If you have stubborn grays you want to address while achieving your new shade, try the L’Oréal Paris Excellence Creme Permanent Triple Protection Hair Color in Medium Reddish Blonde, which provides 100 percent gray coverage. Make sure to follow the instructions included with the copper hair dye for the best results. 

4 Copper Hair Color Ideas

To make your copper color entirely custom to your skin tone and preferences, here are a few different versions of copper to consider.

Light Auburn Copper

Get the exact light copper color that influencers on your TikTok feed are sporting with the help of the L’Oréal Paris Superior Preference Fade-Defying Shine Permanent Hair Color in 7LA Lightest Auburn. This light copper color packs vibrance and luminosity, and looks especially flattering on those with fair skin. If you’re tempted to try a copper shade, let this be proof that you can absolutely achieve this gorgeous color at home without breaking the bank.

Auburn Copper

This reddish brown shade features more auburn tones than orange tones. It’s still vibrant and rich, just a bit more subdued than a classic copper hue. It looks pretty on all skin tones, especially those with warm undertones.

Golden Copper

Golden copper includes ribbons of golden blonde color weaved throughout a red and orange base to add brightness and pop to your hair. If you’re aiming for a golden copper result, there’s a good chance you will need to bleach your hair if you don’t have a natural blonde base. 

Brown Copper

Brown copper is a mix of red and orange with a heavy dose of brown tones. This makes the color a hint more subtle than traditional copper, and it’s a great choice for those with a naturally dark base because less bleach (if any) is required to achieve it.

How to Care for Copper Hair

Red, color-treated hair is notorious for fading quickly, so you’re going to need to switch up your routine with products and practices that preserve hair color.  Below, we share a few simple tips to help.

1. Use Shampoo and Conditioner for Color-Treated Hair

After you color your hair, you need to use hair care products that are gentle and formulated to protect your color. You also want something that can strengthen your hair because constant dyeing and bleaching can have serious repercussions — AKA damage, like dryness, hair breakage and split ends. 

Wash your hair with L’Oréal Paris Everpure Bond Strengthening Pre-Shampoo Treatment, L’Oréal Paris Everpure Sulfate-Free Bond Repair Shampoo with Citric Acid and L’Oréal Paris Everpure Sulfate-Free Bond Repair Conditioner with Citric Acid. This three-part bonding system works to rebuild weak hair bonds that result from frequent bleaching, hair coloring, chemical treatments and hot tools usage. With the help of citric acid, the reparative formula penetrates the inner part of your hair follicle (called the cortex), making it stronger from the inside out to repair current damage and prevent it in the future.

Start by applying the pre-shampoo treatment on damp hair, leave it on for five to ten minutes and rinse. Follow up with the shampoo and conditioner as usual. 

2. Turn Down the Water Temperature

Keeping your color vibrant is not only achieved through the products you use. Show your strands some love by lowering the water temperature when you wash your hair. Scalding hot water can strip your hair of essential oils, leaving your hair feeling dry and causing your hair color to fade faster. Instead, wash with lukewarm water.

3. Use Caution When Heat Styling

Heat styling not only can cause damage, like split ends and breakage, but can also cause your hair color to fade faster. While it’s okay to rely on hot tools occasionally, always apply a heat protectant, like the L’Oréal Paris Everpure Sulfate-Free Weightless Blow Dry Primer, Heat Protectant, to shield your hair against heat up to 450 degrees. You can also experiment with heatless hairstyles to give your strands a break from heat altogether. 

4. Stock Up On Hair Gloss

To maintain your copper hair color without stepping foot into the salon every few weeks, pick up an at-home glossing treatment like the L’Oréal Paris Le Color Gloss One Step In-Shower Toning Gloss in Copper. This in-shower treatment is infused with coconut oil to give your mane a healthy and shiny finish while it revitalizes dull, faded and lackluster hair color. Apply it to clean, damp hair and let it sit for five to fifteen minutes (keep an eye on it depending on how bright you want your color to be). Rinse until the water runs clear and you’ll have hair color that looks glossy and expensive.

Next: 22 Dirty Blonde Hair Color Ideas to Spice Up Your Look

Photographer: Stephanie Price, Photo Assistant: Thomas Miller, Digi Tech: Sergio Colon, Art Director: Hannah Packer, Creative Producer: Becca Solovay, Content Director: Shalwah Evans, Visual Designer: Sarah Duvivier, Makeup Artist: Kelly Bellevue, Hair Stylist: Akihisa Yamaguchi, Wardrobe Stylist: Rika Watanabe, Wardrobe Assistant: Fausti, Model: Anastasia Offutt