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Red hair is one of the most popular hair colors people want to get when dying their tresses, and we understand why.
Given red hair’s head-turning, fiery pop of color, it’s hard to resist coloring and styling your hair with it.
Additionally, cool or warm-toned red dyes are readily available, so finding the right shade that looks good on you is easy as 1, 2, 3.
However, not all red hair dyes are made the same. While some products can provide saturated color payoff, others don’t.
Luckily, we’ve listed the best red hair dyes you can try today. Read on for a list of the top red hair color products for vivid red hair.
- Deposits vibrant color
- Long-lasting color
- Easy to use
- Offers rich, long-lasting color
- Keeps hair soft and shiny
- Conditions and moisturizes hair
- Deposits highly saturated pigment
- Keeps your hair shiny and smooth
- Provides a finish with a multi-dimensional look
How to Choose the Best Red Hair Dye
When choosing hair dyes, there are considerations that you should make. Here are some factors you should consider to find the perfect red hair dye that will work best for you!
Starting Color
Are you starting with untreated, virgin black hair? Or do you already have light bleached hair? Are you willing to bleach your hair for a brighter red color payoff?
Your starting hair color is crucial when choosing red hair dye. Some dyes require bleached hair to achieve a vivid, saturated color payoff. However, others can also show up, although faintly, on dark, unbleached hair.
Color Shade
There are many tones and shades of red hair dye on the market. Many brands offer a selection of reds that you can choose from. Do you prefer a cooler burgundy or a warmer, bright auburn?
Permanent, Semi-Permanent, or Temporary?
When choosing red hair dye, you should also consider how long you want the dye to stay on.
Generally, there are three types of hair coloring products based on how long the color stays on your hair: permanent, semi-permanent, and temporary.
Permanent hair color stays the longest on your locks. These dyes usually need developers to lift the pigment from your original hair and open your hair’s cuticles so the dye deposits color inside the strands.
Meanwhile, semi-permanent hair dye stays on your hair for around six to eight weeks. This type of dye only coats the strands with pigment instead of entering the strands, so it fades away the more you wash your hair.
Temporary hair dyes only stay on for a short time, usually after one wash for most hair and a little longer for low-porosity hair. Unlike semi-permanent dyes, this type of dye is water soluble so it washes off quickly in the shower.
9 Best Red Hair Dyes for Gorgeous, Vivid Red Locks
Many hair-dye enthusiasts swear by this red hair dye for its vibrant color and nourishing ingredients.
Key benefits: Deposits vibrant color; long-lasting; easy to use
Features:
- Has a creamy formula that’s non-messy and easy to apply
- Highly pigmented formula that deposits vibrant color, even on dark bases
- Infused with highly nourishing ingredients like avocado oil, shea oil, and olive oil
Make your hair pop with Garnier’s Nutrisse Ultra Color Permanent Hair Dye!
Looking for the best permanent hair dye that’s red? The process doesn’t have to be intimidating with Garnier’s Nutrisse permanent hair dye in the shade Light Intense Auburn.
It has a creamy formula that’s easy to apply and not as messy as many liquid dyes on the market.
Garnier’s red hair dye is also known for its highly pigmented formula that deposits a vibrant red color.
On top of that, it’s formulated with added nourishing ingredients, including avocado oil, shea oil, and olive oil. Apart from keeping your hair moisturized, these ingredients also help protect your hair from possible damage.
This semi-permanent red hair dye has gained a following for being highly pigmented and being gentle on your hair and scalp.
Key benefits: Deposits a saturated red, conditions and protects hair during the dyeing process
Features:
- Has a highly pigmented formula
- Color lasts for four weeks
- Vegan, cruelty-free, and free from most irritants and harsh chemicals
Achieve a vibrant bright red hair look with Arctic Fox’s Semi-permanent Hair Dye!
Some of the best red semi-permanent hair dyes you can find today are made by Arctic Fox. The hair dye brand offers two red shades: Poison and Wrath.
If you prefer a true red shade, go for Wrath, but for those who prefer a warmer tone, Poison is the one for you.
Arctic Fox’s hair dyes are well known for their high saturation on your hair, and it’s gained a good social media following because of this.
This product is also quite gentle on the hair despite the intense color it offers. In fact, it comes with ingredients that protect your hair during the treatment and keep your hair moisturized and healthy.
Many rave about this line’s red hair dyes for its bright, smooth, and shiny finish.
Key benefits: Deposits highly saturated pigment, keeps your hair shiny and smooth, provides a finish with a multidimensional look.
Features:
- Provides long-lasting, intense, and vibrant color to the hair
- Offers your locks a shimmer that looks like it has highlights for a multidimensional finish
- Easy to use and mess-free
Trusted by many, L’Oreal Paris’s Feria red hair dyes assure you long-lasting, vibrant hair colors.
Topping the list of the best red hair dyes available in the market right now is L’Oreal Paris’s Feria.
This line has four different red shades that deposit intense red color to your hair with a beautiful shiny finish. It offers a nice range of cool and warm red tones for you to pick the perfect shade.
Apart from the fantastic colors in this line, L’Oreal also offers a non-drip formula so coloring your hair is mess-free.
This red hair dye is suggested by many for its beautiful tone and highly pigmented formula.
Key benefits: Deposits a vivid color; ready-to-use formula
Features:
- Can show up even on dark bases
- Lasts six to eight weeks
- Free from most irritants
- Cruelty-free and vegan
Looking for a product that can make your hair stand out? Try Manic Panic’s Amplified Formula in Vampire Red!
One of the best deep red hair dyes that you can get today is Vampire Red from Manic Panic.
The brand’s “amplified formula” delivers thrice the intensity of pigment that the normal version brings. Additionally, this semi-permanent dye can last on your hair for up to six to eight weeks.
The best thing about this product is that it can appear on dark hair, providing impressive burgundy tones to even virgin hair. The second best thing? It’s ready to use and doesn’t need a developer.
Of course, for color that’s true to what’s advertised, you need bleached hair.
Want to don gorgeous, bright red hair? Try out Manic Panic’s Amplified Formula semi-permanent hair dye.
This semi-permanent hair dye is loved by many for a formula that deposits rich color while conditioning your hair at the same time!
Key benefits: Offers rich, long-lasting color; keeps hair soft and shiny; conditions and moisturizes hair
Features:
- Has a long-lasting, semi-permanent formula
- Contains keratin complex that makes the color more rich and vibrant.
- Easy to apply
Not ready for commitment? Try out Punky Fire’s Semi-Permanent Conditioning Hair Dye!
Arguably the best hair dye for red color is Punky Fire’s offering. While this hair dye is advertised as semi-permanent, it does last a long time on your hair, keeping its vibrant color for up to 36 washes!
Thanks to the added keratin complex, your color payoff is richer and more vibrant.
Another great thing about this hair dye is that it protects your locks as it deposits color. It has added ingredients that keep your hair conditioned and moisturized.
Other shades of red are also offered by the brand, allowing you to pick the best one for your skin tone.
Many people recommend trying out this dye for its salon-level pigment.
Key benefits: Offers rich, saturated red hues, keeps hair protected
Features:
- Provides salon-level pigment formulation
- Keeps hair protected during color treatment
- Affordable and easy to use
Experience luxurious, salon-level hair color and turn heads with Vidal Sassoon’s Pro-Level hair dye!
Stand out with what many deem the best brand to dye hair red: Vidal Sassoon. Using this hair coloring product, you can achieve salon-level hair color at home.
When you use this product, expect your hair to get rich, saturated red hues that will never fail to catch everyone’s attention.
The color payoff of Merlot Vibrant Red is impressive, and it adds a shiny finish, keeping your hair healthy and beautiful. The best part? This hair dye won’t break the bank!
For a brighter shade, opt for Runway Red.
Those who love expressing themselves with hair color often recommend this dye shampoo for its protective properties.
Key benefits: Deposits rich color to your hair, helps strengthen hair, repairs and nourishes hair
Features:
- Comes as a shampoo for ease of use
- Deposits rich color
- Formulated with keratin, silk amino acids, and pro-vitamin B5
Getting vibrant red hair doesn’t have to be a hassle with Celeb Luxury Viral Extreme Red Colorwash!
If you’re looking for the easiest red hair dye to use for gorgeous locks, look no further than Celeb Luzury’s Viral Extreme Red Colorwash. It’s a shampoo, so you don’t have to worry about complex instructions and application.
Despite being a pigment-depositing shampoo, the color payoff this gives is rich and vibrant. It also has added hair and scalp care ingredients, including keratin, silk amino acids, and vitamin B-5, all of which help nourish and protect your hair.
However, your hair should be bleached for the best results.
With this semi-permanent hair dye, you get to enjoy intense color and a shiny finish without having to suffer through breakage.
Key benefits: Deposits a vibrant color on hair, keeps hair protected and shiny, nourishes and moisturizes hair
Features:
- Formula offers intense color payoff
- Contains deionized water, aloe vera, and citric acid to help keep your hair shiny
- Has natural proteins that help protect and repair your hair
Achieve intense color and shine with Adore’s Semi Permanent Hair Color!
A red hair dye that’s guaranteed safe for all hair types, Adore’s Semi-Permanent Hair Color provides your locks with vibrant pigment that lasts for a decent amount of time.
However, its intense protection and deep conditioning set this hair dye apart.
This red dye contains ingredients like deionized water, aloe vera, and citric acid, helping your hair look shiny and healthy. It also has natural proteins that protect your hair strands and repair them as the dye colors your hair.
The days of sacrificing your hair health for a gorgeous pop of color are over with Adore’s Semi-Permanent Hair Color.
This hair dye became popular for offering bright red hair without the commitment!
Key benefits: Deposits an intense red temporarily; colors quickly and washes out fast
Features:
- Has a temporary formula but deposits vivid color
- Easy-to-use application
- Offers temporary full gray hair coverage when used
Want to try out the redhead look even just for a day? Try out L’Oreal Paris’ Colorista Temporary Hair Color Spray!
If you’re too fickle for commitments and want red hair for only a day, there’s a product just for you.
L’Oreal Paris’ Colorista Temporary Hair Color Spray lets you have outstanding, bright red hair even for a little while.
Although it’s a temporary hair color, the bright red pigment can appear even on dark or black hair.
Additionally, while you can get the color to fade quickly, the pigment can stay on your hair for a few weeks, depending on how often you wash your hair.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I Put Red Hair Dye Over Dark Brown?
Technically, you can, but the results may not be what you expect. Coloring it red won’t quickly make it red or turn out vivid.
If you’re aiming for an intense red, naturally dark hair will need to be bleached first.
How Do I Choose a Red Hair Dye?
The rule of thumb is to choose a lighter shade of red if you have fair skin and cool undertones. If you have darker skin or warm undertones, go for a darker shade of red.
Now, if you have a neutral skin tone, you can easily get away with copper and different shades of red!
Is Red Hair High Maintenance?
Unfortunately, the short answer is yes. Red hair is a high-maintenance color compared to brown, which is easy to maintain.
Do note that the red color on the hair is the hardest to achieve, and at the same time, it’s hard to get rid of this color, too. If you plan to dye your hair red, expect touch-ups between six to eight weeks to keep it lustrous and vibrant.
If you’re concerned about the longevity of your red hair, it may be best to wash it twice a week only and use dry shampoo instead.
Does Red Hair Dye Bleed?
Yes, red hair dye is notorious for bleeding, so it’s something you should keep an eye out for.
One important thing to know about hair dyes is that anything bright, like pink, purple, or red has a harder time penetrating deep into the hair shaft.
This is because bright hair dyes have larger color molecules, which makes it hard for the hair strands to retain the color.
How Do I Make Sure Red Hair Dye Doesn’t Bleed?
One of the best ways to avoid bleeding red hair dye is to avoid washing the hair with warm water. An essential rule in hair coloring is that if you color your hair with bright colors, always and only wash it with cold water.
Why? This is because warm water opens up the hair cuticle, which makes it easy for the color to escape your strands and go down the drain.
Achieve Vibrant Red Hair
Have you always dreamed of getting red hair? With a wide range of shades to choose from in this, you’re assured to find the perfect red you’ve always wanted.
However, remember that not all hair color products are made the same. Some work better than others, depending on multiple factors.
Luckily, you can check out a wide array of red shades before actually choosing the best red hair dye for your hair and skin.
Achieve vibrant red with the best red hair coloring products that you can buy now!
