It’s Valentine’s Day and what better day than to perfect your red hair colouring skills? Pulp Riot Artist Liz Hewitt loves playing with the red shades and offers her top tips for creating the perfect red for your clients just in time for Valentine’s Day.
“As a hairdresser, red offers so much creativity and clients love it because it’s so versatile; it has an ability to change and adapt to each person. Whether it’s bright pillar box red or a deep wine colour, there is a red that suits everyone,” says Liz.
Top tips for the perfect red
Tackle the fade
The struggle with red hair is mainly the fade. Although it’s improved over the years, red hair is the quickest to fade out of most shades, so it’s really important that clients have the correct aftercare as well as top up pots to use at home.
Consultation is key
To avoid problems with colouring reds, ensure a thorough consultation is carried out to evaluate what depth and tone the client is wanting to achieve. Clients can use the term red or copper, so making sure you’re on the same wavelength is a must.
Chunky sections
When placing different red, pink, and purple shades, make sure your sections are chunkier so the colours don’t mix into one another and get lost.
Avoid base
Try not to add base into red toned colours when using permanent colour, it will dull down the red and make it look muddy.
Red refresh
To refresh over existing reds, using a semi, direct dye, or a demi will make the colour pop a lot more. Overlapping will make it become duller. Pulp Riot Semi-Permanent Fireball is perfect for this.
Look at your client’s skin tone
Make sure to choose the correct tone for your client’s skin tone, either an orange based red for clients who suit warmer tones, or a violet, undertone red for clients who suit a cooler tone.
Speaking of red, check out these copper shades that are trending for 2023. Plus, take a look at these hair looks to get your client's Valentine's Day ready!
With Valentine’s Day, it seems love isn’t just in the air, it’s also in the hair. Red remains one of the most versatile and expressive colour families in the salon, spanning everything from soft warmth to vivid intensity, and can be tailored to suit different skin tones, lifestyles and levels of commitment.
However, the impact of any tone relies on the condition of the hair beneath it. When hair is strong and healthy, colour appears richer, more even, and longer lasting. Supporting the integrity of the hair, both in-salon and at home, is therefore key to maintaining vibrancy between appointments.
Below, Dan Spiller, EMEA Ambassador for JOICO explores how healthy hair supports vibrant, lasting colour, spanning from softer warm tones through to bolder statement shades.
Strawberry Blonde
Strawberry blonde offers a gentle introduction to red. Combining soft copper notes with warm blonde, it creates a light, diffused finish that feels natural and wearable. Because this shade sits between blonde and red, maintaining clarity is key. A smooth, healthy cuticle enhances light reflection and prevents the tone from appearing dull.
Classic Red
Classic red sits in the middle of the spectrum, combining brighter orange undertones with deeper red pigments. This shade requires precise formulation and application to achieve an even, consistent tone. Maintaining the hair’s strength is essential to support the colour and prevent breakage, while a smooth, healthy cuticle helps the pigments reflect light evenly, keeping the red vibrant and dimensional.
With the right aftercare and considered styling, classic red retains its intensity and clarity over time. JOICO Colorful Glow Beyond Anti-Fade Serum enhances vibrancy instantly, adding a noticeable boost of shine while helping to protect against colour-fading UV exposure. Formulated with camellia oil and pomegranate fruit extract, it helps maintain freshness and prolong the richness of the tone, ensuring classic red remains glossy and defined between salon visits.
Fuchsia Violet
At the bold end of the spectrum, fuchsia violet delivers a striking, vibrant pink with noticeable violet tones that add depth and dimension. This statement shade is designed to stand out, perfect for clients looking for high-impact colour that makes an impression. But vivid pigments can fade more quickly, so aftercare is essential.
