If you love being blonde but want to experiment with red, copper, or auburnâor the other way aroundâstrawberry hair color just might be the perfect shade for you.
The trendy shade is ideal for indecisive beauty lovers, too. By combining the best of both color families, strawberry hair color allows you to embrace your inner redhead and blonde self at the same time.
As for what it looks like? âStrawberry hair color is a delicate blend of warm red and soft blonde tones, creating a sun-kissed, peachy hue,” Chase Kusero, celebrity hairstylist and cofounder of IGK Hair Care, tells Glamour. âItâs different from traditional red, auburn, or ginger as it leans more golden and lighter, rather than deep or fiery.â
It’s also the lightest version of red you can get, adds Christine Bellemare, co-founder, owner, and lead stylist at Maven A Collect. âItâs within the blonde family, but still reflects some copper and auburn tones.â
Despite how light the color is, however, it works with a variety of skin tones and palettes. âIt’s a really fun hair color that can be nicely customized to your skin tone,â says Jenna Perry, celebrity hairstylist and R+Co collective member. âYou can really enhance your natural features with it.â
That being said, it does require upkeep since red pigments tend to fade more quickly. âItâs a high-maintenance hair color,â Perry says. âYou really have to take care of it with the right shampoo and conditioner.â
Ahead, see everything you need to know about experimenting with strawberry hair colorâfrom finding your best shade to how to care for the colorâbefore you hit the salon.
What is strawberry hair color?
âStrawberry hair is a soft, warm shade that blends golden blonde with hints of red, offering a lighter and subtler alternative to vibrant red, deep auburn, or bright ginger,â says says Jennifer Korab, celebrity hairstylist, colorist, educator, and founder of Renaissance Salon & Spa.
It’s also the lightest shade of red, adds Lauren Mildice, a colorist specialist at Maxine Salon. âThis actually makes it it more of a peachy or golden copper color. Think of a watered down strawberry drink,â she says. “It brings a warm watercolor-like effect over the blonde hair.â
As for why everyone’s so obsessed with the shade? âBlondes naturally turn warm, so adding a coppery pink hue helps to style it up a bit and embrace the warmth your hair is already fading to,â Mildice says. âIt’s also a nice subtle change if you’re not looking for anything drastic because it eventually fades out.â
How to find the best shade for your skin tone
“Strawberry hair color is a youthful, glowing hue that can be customized to complement fair, medium, olive, or dark skin by adjusting the balance of red and blonde,” says Korab. So no matter what, don’t fret: You’re sure to find a look that works for you.
âIf you have a rosy undertone to your skin I would recommend deepening the roots so you don’t feel washed out,â says Mildice. âIf you have cooler skin, add more more golden and copper hues within to your strawberry blonde mixture. If you have a warmer complexion, I suggest using more pinkish undertones.â
For a quick guide, here’s what Kusero recommends: âIf you have fair skin, opt for lighter, peachy strawberry shades with soft golden highlights. Medium skin, go for a rich, coppery strawberry shade with a warm undertone. If you have deep skin, embrace a bold, golden strawberry hue with deeper red or bronze undertones to complement darker tones.”
Strawberry hair maintenance
The extent of strawberry hair upkeep depends on your natural hair color. âIf you have naturally light hair, this color can be pretty easily maintained with glosses depending on how strawberry blonde you want to be,â says Bellemare. âYou can maintain it at home using various leave-in color-depositing conditioners.â If your hair is dark, however, there is some more commitment. âYou are going to have to continue to lift your natural color every four weeks at minimum.â
Red hair also tends to fade more quickly than other shades, so color-protecting hair care is even more essential than usual. âThe right shampoo and conditioner are key to maintain this type of color,â says Perry. âI always recommend the R+Co GEMSTONE Color Shampoo and Conditioner, especially for a shade like this.â
In terms of toning and at-home refreshes, Kusero recommends using IGKâs Color Depositing Masks to refresh tones weekly and Mixed Feelings Leave-In Purple Toning Drops help balance brassy tones. âAlso, protect hair with IGK Good Behavior Spirulina Protein Smoothing Spray to reduce heat damage,â he says.
Feeling inspired? I know I am. Ahead, see 22 trending strawberry hair color ideas. Get ready to embrace your inner blonde redhead.
