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With so many reddish shades garnering viral status, choosing the one that resonates with you is hard. Whether you like subtle transformation or are rooting for a highly pigmented hue, there’s a “red” for your mane. Celebrity hairstylist Kiyah Wright told PopSugar — “Red hair is that color everybody wants to try.”
The stellar options range from magenta, burgundy, and cherry to auburn, copper, and crimson. The two colors leading the trend boards are auburn and copper. While there are a lot of similarities between these free-spirited head-turning colors, they offer distinct transformations. Let’s decode the difference – auburn vs copper hair color.
A certified colorist, Fabian Tamayo Garcia, explained – “The main difference between auburn and copper hair is that auburn tends to have brown and deep red undertones while copper is a less intense shade of orange that has subtle golden undertones.” While copper hair pops more and appears brighter, auburn hair dye falls under the medium to dark brunette category.
Auburn vs copper hair color
Auburn and copper are both red hair colors, but with distinct characteristics in terms of tone, saturation, and overall appearance. Auburn hair typically has a brown or golden base tone, which gives it a warm, rich appearance. The reddish tint in auburn hair dye is often more subtle and nuanced, with a hint of golden or honey tones that add depth and dimension. It can appear dark or muted in low light, but also exudes beautiful, sun-kissed quality in brighter light.
On the other hand, copper hair has a more vibrant red tone that’s often intensely saturated. Due to its cooler, pinkish base tone, it can appear orange or pinkish, especially in bright light. This bold and striking semi-permanent hair dye makes it an excellent choice for those looking for a hue that stands out. In terms of skin tone, auburn brown hair looks great on people with fair skin and cool undertones, while copper hair complements olive or darker skin tones.
Auburn and copper hairstyles
The good thing about choosing auburn or copper hair is that both look fiery on all hair types. The intensity and saturation of red in these shades add natural-looking depth to the strands. Let’s narrow down the best ways of getting auburn brown hair and copper-hued tresses.
Highlights
If you are new to hair coloring, highlights are strands of hair colored in a lighter shade than the natural hair color. It remains the most preferred style when it comes to coloring hair with a dramatically vibrant hue (like, red!). Dark auburn highlights can even leave people questioning if it’s your natural hair color, while copper highlights create a glossy and elegant look.
Balayage
Simply put, highlights going down from the midlength of your hair are called balayage. It is mostly a gradient of two shades of the same color. One can get auburn brown hair or copper balayage by free-hand painting using a semi-permanent color. This adroit technique provides a fiery finish without drastically changing the appearance. Plus, it’s low maintenance compared to highlights.
Ombre
Blend light and dark tints of auburn or copper to achieve a classy ombre. In this coloring technique, a darker hue is gradually lightened along the length. It differs from balayage as it is more of a horizontal placement focusing on lightening the hair strands from the mid-length. In most cases, the separation between the two colors is visible, and the upper part is the natural hair color followed by a complementing hue.
Maintaining auburn and copper hair
Who doesn’t want their copper and auburn hair dye to last long? While getting eye-popping colors is a dream, maintaining them for a longer time is a fuss. Thus, it is important to be well-versed in the upkeep of colored hair without spending too much time and money.
- Choose a dark shade — Since red color, especially auburn hair dye, tends to fade fast, it's a good idea to choose a darker hue than what you want.
- Delay your first shampoo after hair coloring — Give your hair time to absorb color pigments. Instead of shampooing too soon, wait 48 hours to let the dye deposit and work its magic.
- Opt for sulfate-free products — Use only sulfate-free hair care products on your colored tresses. Avoid products that compromise your hair color’s sheen and longevity.
- Make hair mask your BFF — Keep moisture intact to maintain the sheen and vibrancy of your colored strands. Indulge in the goodness of a deep-conditioning hair mask to keep the mane healthy and hydrated.
- Use color-depositing shampoo — Save your copper and auburn brown hair from damage, dullness, and ugly undertones using color-depositing shampoo and conditioner.
- Keep hair color fresh — Feed your colored hair with regular root touch-ups. This helps extend the life of color and expertly covers the grown-out strands.
- Avoid heat styling — Using heat styling products like straighteners and curling irons depletes the color pigments. Not only does it lead to color fading, but it also damages the tresses, causing breakage and dead ends.
Take our Hair Quiz for personalized product recommendations, and maintain your gorgeous hair color for longer.
FAQs
Q1. Which skin tone is best for auburn hair?
Auburn brown hair color is one of the most versatile shades of red. It complements fair skin and neutralizes its pinkish tones.
Q2. Is auburn darker than brown?
Auburn is the deeper hue of red with a slightly blue undertone. It falls somewhere between medium to dark brown category.
Q3. Is auburn hair hard to maintain?
Auburn is a shade of red. Thus, it is prone to fading fast. To keep the color fresh, opting for frequent root touch-ups, choosing a sulfate-free hair mask, and applying color-depositing shampoos are recommended.
Q4. Will dying my hair auburn damage it?
While coloring poses a mild to moderate risk of hair damage, it entirely depends on the product and technique used.
Q5. Which eye color goes best with auburn hair?
Auburn brown hair works well with green eyes. This is because red sits opposite to green on the color wheel.
References :
https://www.popsugar.com/beauty/red-hair-color-ideas-45857515https://www.instagram.com/p/Cx1hmm5rKL9/?utm_source=ig_web_copy_link
How we reviewed this article:
Our experts continually monitor the fashion and beauty space, and we update our articles when new information becomes available.
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Current Version
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Apr 25, 2024
Written By -
Upasana Kakati is a lifestyle writer with 7+ years of experience in writing in the beauty and haircare industry.
Edited By -
Saima Ahmed with 8+ yrs of experience, specializes in crafting engaging content focused on Hair care, lifestyle, and beauty.