The Best Red Hair-Color Ideas for Every Skin Tone

By Kaleigh Fasanella, Allure

If you're contemplating whether you can pull off red hair, go ahead and stop right there. You heard it here: It doesn't matter if you're the fairest of fair or melanin rich — there's a fiery hue out there that will work for you. Still skeptical? Look to A-listers like Emma Stone, Blake Lively, and our girl RiRi, all of whom have managed to slay the scarlet hair game. What's more, we tapped a few hair gurus to help set the record straight once and for all. Find the shade made for you, ahead.

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Fair (Sparkling Ginger)

On natural redheads like Emma Stone, renowned colorist Guy Tang loves incorporating gold tones to enhance the eye color and add more depth to the look as a whole. He also notes that vibrant shades of red offer pale complexions a more lively appearance, which we can definitely attest to considering Stone looks lit from within with this shimmering hue. Speaking of, colorist Jenna Perry would call this a "sparkly" red, which she says is the best for fair skin.

Fair (Dark Strawberry)

"Jessica Chastain’s natural-looking strawberry hue compliments her skin tone and light eyes," says Perry of the 40-year-old actress's cooler, strawberry-blonde shade. Colorist Aura Friedman also adds that this kind of color works well on pale skin tones with more pink throughout, as the strawberry or pink tones actually aid in drawing the pink out of the complexion, offering a more neutral, even-toned effect. We can definitely see why Chastain has rarely strayed from this shade over the years — it's her signature.
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Light-Medium (Golden Copper)

On light-medium skin with gold or yellow undertones á la Blake Lively, colorist Aura Freidamn recommends golden, coppery shades like we see here to brighten the complexion and bring out the warmth in the skin. Perry also adds that medium skin tones work best when there's more dimension throughout, meaning incorporating several different hues rather than just one all-over color. "I love giving my light-medium skin tone clients blends of copper reds — it's not only good for fall but all year round," muses Tang. As you can see, Lively was absolutely glowing with this sparkling sepia shade, so if you have a similar skin color, might I suggest bringing this photo in next time you're due to see your colorist?

Light-Medium (Bright Auburn)

"A red that's auburn with a balance of warm and cool will work for medium skin with both warm and cool undertones," says Freidman. She also explains that people with medium skin tones are lucky, as they have the widest range of red and red tones they can work with. "Paprika and auburn highlights are ideal for medium skin tones," adds Perry, also sharing that she prefers a darker root to create a more natural, yet vibrant effect. The takeaway: If you're on the light-medium side of the spectrum, it can't hurt to experiment with different shades of red, especially an eccentric hue like we see here on Bella. (Neon green ends optional.)
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Tan (Cherry Coke)

"Tan skin tones look great with cherry red or vibrant crimson, [as] it enhances one's natural glow," explains Tang. Here, Demi Lovato shows off a subtle cherry coke shade that deepens her eyes for a more intense look, while also making her her skin appear healthy and natural. If you're on the tanner side but aren't ready to go for a full-on bright (or even neon) cherry, this color makes for an ideal happy medium.

Tan (Subtle Scarlet)

Cherry or muted scarlet hues are a foolproof go-to for tanner complexions with olive undertones, which Ariana Grande has here in this throwback photo. Friedman loves this shade on the former Victoriousstar, though explains that it's important to not go too purple and ensure there's still a brightness to the strands for the most flattering effect. Now how do we convince Grande to go back to this color?
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Deep Tan (Fire Engine Red)

"For darker skin tones, I’d stay away from gold. Gold hues on darker skin can look very DIY but not in a good way," says Perry. Instead, take a cue from Rihanna and opt for a red with blue undertones — fire engined red, if you dare — as Friedman explains this will enhance the gold in the skin and ultimately be very complementary. Perry also adds that she fancies shades of berry, burgundy, and wine, like merlot, for darker skin tones, so there's quite a bit of wiggle room in terms of what red you can go.

Deep Tan (Electric Orange)

Blac Chyna's in-your-face orange-y red hue washes her out, but not in the unflattering way you're thinking of. Friedman explains that this shade makes her skin tone look noticeably cooler, so if that's the aesthetic you're aiming for — rather than say, a warm golden like Rihanna — this could be the perfect color for you. As Friedman muses, it all comes down to perception and what you personally feel works best on you.
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Deep (Burnt Orange}

"[Anyone] can rock red hair, it just has to be well thought out," says Perry. "With skin tone being the main factor, eye color and the person's style and lifestyle is important to factor in too." She continued, explaining that Teyana Taylor is a prime example of this, as her hue is playful and works well with her overall look. "I'm really into this bright orange-y, almost coral color," says Friedman. "She has a lot of cool blue undertones in her skin so the orange is complementing that quite well," she added. Case in point: Don't be afraid to play with more unique, out-of-the-box reds, because they could end up being your ultimate shade.

Deep (Blackberry)

"The violet in this red is enhancing her golden tones," says Friedman of Keke Palmer's deep maroon braids. Perry also added that berry tones like this make darker skin tones, as well as the hair itself, glow. "It creates an illusion of the sun shining down on the hair," she explained, which we will say, Palmer seems to have going on here. Her hue airs on the purple side, for sure, but still has enough warmth in it that it maintains an ultra-flattering balance.
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Deep (Violet Red)

For girls with very dark skin tones like the lovely Lupita Nyong'o, Perry recommends a reddish purple, much like the semi-permanent hue Nyong'o debuted at the 2014 Met Gala. "I'd stick with a purple-y red like plum or merlot," she said. It brings extra life to the skin and creates and all-around ~lit look. (Though, IMHO, Nyong'o could slay in any shade of red without a problem.)

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