Best hair dyes for red and ginger hair

My earlier post about how to dye hair red or ginger was really popular and I’m often asked which are the best red hair dyes for dying your hair red at home so I’ve scoured the high street to create a list of the dyes available.

Choosing a shade of red hair dye is as simple as a) deciding if you want to go red or ginger / orange and b) working out your base hair colour.

Which shade of red hair dye should I choose?

1. You need to work out your base hair colour shade. This is your natural colour before you dye it:

shades 10-7 = blonde
shades 8-6 = ginger / redhead
shades 6-3 = brunette / brown hair
shades 2-1 = black hair

For example, my natural red hair has lots of brown so my base colour is 7.

Should I dye my hair red or ginger?

You have two choices – either add copper tones (to dye it ginger) or red tones (to dye it red).

Please note I am NOT a hairdresser so please read the instructions and check with a professional before using any dyes if you’re unsure, this is just to help see what shades are available across different brands.

You can also then choose your hair colour by picking a shade according to your base colour. I’ve listed them by base colours below to help you choose the right shade of red hair dye for you.

Choosing a hair dye for ginger hair / redhead

Your natural hair colour is bleached, light blonde or strawberry blonde (shade 10-9) and you want to dye your hair bright orange / ginger

Proper Copper  – Bleach London: semi permanent, lasts 2-10 washes
Orangehair – Colorista Washout semi-permanent

Your natural hair colour is bleached, light blonde or strawberry blonde (shade 10-9)  and you want to dye your hair bright red

9.2 Pillarbox Red – Live Ultra Brights
Real Red – Schwarzkopf Live Intense Colour
Ronde – Colorista Paint Copper
Red – Pick and Mix Colour Semi Permanent

Your natural hair colour is blonde, strawberry blonde or light ginger (shade 9-8) and you want to dye your hair red or ginger

8.34 Rich Copper Gold – Superdrug Radiance
8.45 Fire Red – Superdrug Radiance
8 Born Red – Nice ‘n Easy

Your natural hair colour is a dark blonde or ginger (shade 7) and you want to dye your hair ginger or red

7.8 Paprika Power – L’Oreal Preference Infinia

7.64 Intense Copper – Garnier Nutrisse Ultra Colour
7.6 Spice Power – L’Oreal Preference Infinia

7.5 Ravishing Red – Superdrug Colour Vibrance

7.4 Intense Red – Superdrug Colour Vibrance
7.40 Intense Copper – Garnier Olia
7.4 Mango Intense Copper – L’Oreal Preference Infinia
7.4 Mango Copper Burst – Superdrug Colour Vibrance

Your natural colour is dark ginger or brunette (shade 6) and you want a deep red or ginger shade:

6.88 Intense Red – L’Oreal Color Expert

6.7 Scarlett Power – L’Oreal Preference Infinia

6.6 Fiery Red – Garnier Nutrisse
6.6 Intense Red – Garnier Olia (Perm)
6.6 Intense Red – Garnier Nutrisse

6.46 Light Copper Red – L’Oreal Excellence Creme
6.45 Amber – L’Oreal Casting Creme Gloss
6.45 Intense Copper Auburn – L’Oreal Preference

6 Born Red – Nice ‘n Easy

Your natural hair colour is dark brunette / brown (shade 5) and you want to add red or ginger tones.

5.65 Berry Red – L’Oreal Casting Creme Gloss
5.62 Vibrant Red– Garnier Nutrisse
5.6 Hot Chilli Red – L’Oreal Preference Infinia

Your natural colour is dark brown or black (shade 4,3,2) and you want to add a deep red or ginger tone.

4.6 Deep Red – Garnier Olia
4.6 Deep Red – Garnier Nutrisse
4.6 Pure Ruby Power – L’Oreal Preference Infinia

3.6 Deep Reddish Brown – Garnier Nutrisse Creme

2.6 Dark Cherry – Garnier Nutrisse Ultra Color

Have you tried any of these? Let me know!  Any favourites?

Roberto Cavalli peacock eye make up

When I saw this look created by top make up artist Pat McGrath I fell in love.  A beautiful peacock look with gold, green and shimmery purple eyes for the Roberto Cavalli Autumn/winter 2012 catwalk shows. I recreated the look using my Urban Decay Book of Shadows II which I recently bought from duty free but any bright colours can be used.

Get the look

• Cover the eyelids up with Urban Decay primer to help fix the shadow and deepen the colour.
• Apply a green eyeshadow all over the eyelid and underneath your lower lash line in the centre only. I used Urban Decay Flipside.
• Apply a purple eyeshadow from the inner corner of the eye to about half way along the socket line, and slightly onto the lid. Look at your eye in a mirror from different angles and apply more towards the nose. I used Urban decay Ecstasy.
• Apply a dab of gold eyeshadow to the inner corner of the eye.  I used Urban Decay Half Baked.
• Now you need to darken the outer corner of the eyelid with a darker brown. I used Urban Decay Twice Baked and blended this into the green.
• Sweep the dark brown round under the lower lash line up to the green.
• I finished with a swipe of Avon Super Shock gel liner on the upper lashline but this is optional.
• Curl your lashes and apply a volumising black mascara.
• Go out and play, peacock girl!