Dark Red Is the Ultimate Cozy Chic Fall Hair Color—30 Ways to Try It

Pairs perfectly with a sweater.

Maya Allen

and

Amanda Edelman

Published on October 08, 2025 06:15AM

Lola Tung with her dark red hair. — @lola.tung/instagram

Red hair seems like it’s so tough to pull off, but the truth is, it’s totally attainable. While most of us might think of bright, fire-engine hues, red can run the gamut from having dark brown undertones to auburn highlights. In other words, there’s a range.

This is fortunate for us, because not only do we love dark red hair colors, but the sheer variety of shades means there’s something for every skin tone. This shade is super complementary and usually comes down to personal preference.

Meet the Experts

Chelsey Pickthorn is a stylist and colorist with offices in New York and California.
Angelica Triana is a hairstylist who specializes in natural color, vivid colors, color corrections, and creative cuts.

We rounded up a handful of our favorite shades, in case you’re thinking about a deep yet subtle hair change. Keep scrolling for all the dark red hair inspiration, including maintenance tips from the pros.

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Natural Dark Red

Lola Tung with her red hair. — Getty Images

Lola Tung’s natural red hair is extremely enviable. And it’s not just a summer thing! This shade has always been pretty.

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Rich Chesnut Red

Sophie Turner with long red-brown hair — @sophiet/Instagram

We love Sophie Turner’s take on red, which veers darker. “Dark red hair is different from copper and other red tones as it is on the deeper side of the spectrum,” stylist Chelsey Pickthorn says. “Depending on what your natural color is, generally deeper reds show more in the light and have a reflection that reads red. Many times the undertones are red-orange or red-violet.”

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Pop Star Red

Dua Lipa’s pop star red head era will always be famous—and took more than 10 hours to achieve. (Sure, she eventually went back to brunette. But we think it was worth it.)

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Reddish-Brown Ends

Halle Bailey’s deep red hue is concentrated on the ends of her hair for a dip-dyed effect. Before you schedule an appointment, know that red is “the hardest color to keep up and the hardest to get rid of,” Pickthorn says. This is due to the amount of pigment, and the special mixing that goes into creating your perfect hue.

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Gradient Red Stripes

FKA Twigs with gradient red hair — @fkatwigs/Instagram

FKA Twigs’ takes red in an avant-garde direction, with gradient red stripes paired with darker, almost jet-black hair. Colorist Angelica Triana notes that every hair type needs different amounts of saturation, so make sure to discuss the finer details with your chosen stylist before committing to a look like this one.

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All-Over Red

Isla Fisher with muted red hair — Getty Images

We love Isla Fisher’s all-over reddish-brown shade, which has just a touch of highlight framing her face. Keep in mind that, while celebrities are good starting points when it comes to inspiration, Pickthorn says it’s important to go with what works for you. Your shade should reflect your unique qualities, taking hair texture, base color, and natural undertones into consideration.

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Classic Scarlet

Emma Roberts with red hair — Getty Images

Emma Roberts’ hue straddles the line between blonde-red and brown-red, but the pop of bright red lip really picks up the shade.

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Rich Red Curls

Dark Red Hair Colors Rihanna — Getty Images

We’re forever living for Rihanna’s hair transformations. These auburn ringlets she wore at the 2010 American Music Awards looked absolutely stunning with her matching gown.

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Deep Red Braids

Dark Red Hair Colors Braids Keke Palmer — @keke/Instagram

Braids are always a good idea—but Keke Palmer proved that burgundy braids are even better. Feed-in braids pulled back into a high ponytail make such an effortlessly gorgeous protective style.

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Reddish-Brown Waves

Sadie Sink with her long copper hair. — Getty Images

Sadie Sink’s hair is always a source of inspiration when it comes to getting a deep red hue, but we’re not all lucky enough to have her natural pigment. Depending on what the base is, this can be a high-maintenance color. Six to 10 weeks between touch-ups is usually recommended.

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Deep Hue

Dark Red Hair Colors Auburn Lana Del Rey — Getty Images

We loved Lana Del Rey’s brunette ‘do with hints of auburn, which she wore at the 2012 Met Gala. We don’t know what’s better: her romantic curls or her sultry berry-stained lips. Good thing we don’t have to choose.

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Wine-Toned Curls

These ruby-red curls are on another level. Dark red hair totally suits these springy ringlets. Plus, a touch of warmth will go a long way.

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Vibrant Red-Brown Color

Dark Red Hair Colors Ali Larter — Getty Images

The cool red tone of Ali Larter’s locks is so eye-catching. With a color that pops as much as this, a simple middle part is a perfect choice.

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Red Velvet Hair

Dark Red Hair Colors — @overtonecolor/Instagram

Hairstylist Frances Brittnie Garcia, who goes by both Frances and Brittnie, used Overtone and Pravana for this incredible red velvet melt.

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Red Undertones

Dark Red Hair Colors Drew Barrymore — Getty Images

Drew Barrymore always has luscious hair, and these face-framing, dark feathered curls are a favorite moment of ours.

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Reddish Spiral Curls

Dark Red Hair Colors Tyra Banks — Getty Images

Tyra Banks has served lots of iconic hair moments over the years, but there’s something about this color and those spiral curls that makes a perfect match.

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Fire-Red With Black Undertones

Dark Red Hair Colors Bob Lily Collins — Getty Images

Emily is *not* in Paris anymore. Is it just me, or is the contrast between Lily Collins’s fiery bob and her dark brows everything? The soft bend in her waves adds texture to this cool style.

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Classic Reddish Brown

Dark Red Hair Color Zoey Deutch — Getty Images

Zoey Deutch’s sleek bob—by hairstylist Tracey Cunningham—emulates old-Hollywood glamour. But we can’t take our eyes off her eye-popping deep auburn hue.

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Red Velvet Bob

Dark Red Hair Colors Kehlani — Getty Images

Kehlani found the perfect shade of red velvet. Her tousled bob is another win in our book.

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Toned Down Red

Dark Red Hair Colors Julianne Moore — Getty Images

Julianne Moore stunned on the 2013 SAG Awards red carpet in this sleek, side-swept look. Known for creating iconic hair colors, stylist Serge Normant works on the likes of Moore and Julia Roberts. Moore regularly rocks a toned-down dark red color we’ll be emulating ASAP.

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Deep Red Curls

woman with curly red hair — @marcelcurlsyouon/Instagram

These curls are almost impossibly beautiful. Plus, the dark red color has us even more in love. To keep hair moisturized, apply an at-home treatment mask once a week.

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Merlot Waves

Meghan thee Stallion with her bright red hair. — @theestallion/Instagram

Wild waves and a vibrant red dye job? We’re so in. Thank you for the inspiration as always, Megan Thee Stallion.

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Velvety Waves

Dark Red Hair Colors Madeline Brewer — Getty Images

Madeline Brewer has rocked some seriously covetable velvety red hair. “As long as the color is custom mixed for you personally, most people can pull off a deeper red,” Pickthorn notes.

24of 30

Light Reddish Brown

Dark Red Hair Color Emma Stone — Getty Images

Besides the fact that this tousled bob done by celebrity hairstylist Mara Roszak is one of our all-time favorite cuts on Emma Stone, this hair color she donned at the 72nd annual Golden Globes is picture-perfect. Pickthorn recommends non-natural redheads such as Stone use a custom-mixed color conditioner once a week to help keep vibrancy and rich color around for longer.

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Deep Auburn

Dark Red Hair Colors Auburn Brittany Snow — @brittanysnow/Instagram

Brittany Snow is not a natural redhead, though this look might convince you otherwise. The deep auburn shade is so amazing and really brings out her eyes.

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Toned Down Dark Red

Dark Red Hair Color Ayesha Curry — @ayeshacurry/Instagram

Ayesha Curry has been known to rock many cool styles and shades, but this toned-down take on dark red may be our favorite.

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Sleek and Straight Red-Brown

Dark Red Hair Colors Kaitlyn Dever — Getty Images

Pickthorn likes to encourage people to enhance their natural shade; if they want red and are on the lighter side, she would lead them to color that would not scream artificial. Though Kaitlyn Dever’s hair borders on brunette at first glance, it actually features some incredible red undertones.

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Half Berry, Half Wine

Dark Red Hair Colors Half and Half — @arcticfoxhaircolor/Instagram

Talk about going for it all. This split dye style incorporates the deep berry we love as well as a great fiery red.

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Deep Dark Red

Dark Red Hair Colors Toned Down Zendaya — Getty Images

The best thing about this shade is it doesn’t have to stick to one particular color. Zendaya has tried a toned down, but equally stunning, take on the dark red hair trend.

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Cherry Cola Curls

Sza with her cherry cola hair. — Getty Images

If you want your color to stay as vibrant as Sza’s cherry cola looks, forgo shampoo and conditioner for two days after your dye session and be gentle with you hair. Try using cold water when you do wash your hair (heat will open the hair shaft and could cause you to lose some dye in the shower).

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Source URL: https://www.byrdie.com/dark-red-hair-color-ideas-11825837

Dark Red Is the Ultimate Cozy Chic Fall Hair Color—30 Ways to Try It

Dark Red Is the Ultimate Cozy Chic Fall Hair Color—30 Ways to Try It

Natural Dark Red

Rich Chesnut Red

Pop Star Red

Reddish-Brown Ends

Gradient Red Stripes

All-Over Red

Classic Scarlet

Rich Red Curls

Deep Red Braids

Reddish-Brown Waves

Deep Hue

Wine-Toned Curls

Vibrant Red-Brown Color

Red Velvet Hair

Red Undertones

Reddish Spiral Curls

Fire-Red With Black Undertones

Classic Reddish Brown

Red Velvet Bob

Toned Down Red

Deep Red Curls

Merlot Waves

Velvety Waves

Light Reddish Brown

Deep Auburn

Toned Down Dark Red

Sleek and Straight Red-Brown

Half Berry, Half Wine

Deep Dark Red

Cherry Cola Curls

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