What to Know Before Trying the Copper Hair Colour Trend
Considering Trying the Copper Hair Trend? Here's Everything You Need to Know
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If you're one to lose a few hours scrolling through photos of beautiful hair colours on Instagram or transformation videos on TikTok, join the club. I did the same for approximately six months trying to decide whether to take the plunge and get my hair dyed one of the biggest hair colour trends right now: copper. But it wasn't just the photos that kept me busy, I researched the process, aftercare, and upkeep as if it was major surgery. It's no secret that dyeing your hair a completely different hue to your natural shade can be daunting. Exciting but definitely daunting — there's a lot to consider.
Not only do you need to take into account the price of getting your hair dyed, you also need to consider the maintenance, the perfect shade for your skin tone, and potentially even how to adapt your makeup choices to suit your new hue.
Of course, there is no right or wrong when it comes to deciding on a new hair colour, but if you're nervous about taking the copper hair plunge, you've come to the right place. We asked the experts (a colourist, makeup artist, and tanning extraordinaire) to give us the lowdown on how to nail the hair copper hair colour trend. Read on for the ultimate guide not just to going copper, but for everything that happens next.
First and Foremost, Consult Your Hair Colourist
When I approached Jack Howard, colourist and balayage expert at Paul Edmonds Salon, with the idea that I wanted to go copper, I went to my consultation armed with 10-plus photos I'd saved on Instagram of what I thought were the same hue. "You're showing me completely different hair colours here," he told me when I scrolled through the images. Oops.
Although photos are a great guide, he gave me a quick colour education and told me it's all down to expectations, commitment, and skin tone. We discussed what would and wouldn't work for me based on skin tone and my desired outcome. This, my friends, is what a great colourist does. I left my consultation exactly how one should, knowing exactly what I should expect and bursting with excitement for my new fiery hue.
Choose the Right Copper Tone For You
Your first question is most definitely: Will I look good with copper hair? The answer, according to Howard, is yes — and it may come down to tweaking the shade to complement your unique eye colour and skin tone combination.
"Due to copper being a warm tone, I believe that pale skin with eyes that aren't too blue work beautifully for the titian-strawberry coppers. Additionally, I love it on light skin tones with golden undertones and medium skin tones and I think richer coppers suit deep-dark skin tones best." However, Howard said that, really, you can choose any colour you like.
How Easy Is It to Dye Your Hair Copper?
"If you have virgin hair (natural and uncoloured) it's 100 percent easier to go copper, as the whole process is much simpler as you only need a tint," Howard explains. "If you have previously coloured your hair darker or blonder, it will be a lengthy process and will definitely require a consultation with your colourist beforehand. It all depends on how long you want to spend in the salon, as the further away you go from your natural colour, the more often you'll be visiting," he adds.
If you're nervous about going fully, totally, 100-percent copper, you can always dip your toe in the trend with a few strategically placed slivers or an all-over glaze. "Copper glazes and copper pieces are great for someone who doesn't want to go fully copper but may want experiment to see if it suits them," says Howard. "Glazes and pieces also mean lower commitment, so they're suitable for people who may not want to spend a lot of time in the salon."
Consider Your Budget Before Going Copper
Every major hair colour change comes at a cost if you see a professional (which we always advise for big colour changes as opposed to DIY). "All-over colour requires maintenance and root touch-ups every four to six weeks," says Howard. If visiting the salon this often is not feasible, Howard recommends a soft copper glaze over a blonde balayage as an alternative option. He explained that copper hair looks best when it is lively and fresh, so if you're not 100 percent committed, he wouldn't suggest an all-over copper colour.
How to Maintain Your Copper Hair Colour
When it comes to maintenance, "healthy hair means healthy colour," says Howard. "If you don't use a colour-safe shampoo or a heat protector when you're styling your hair, or if you use the highest temperature on styling tools, then your hair colour will fade." Making sure to care for your hair between appointments is essential, particularly from daily aggressors such as hard water, pollution, and sun exposure. In Howard's experience, copper tones don't fade faster than other colours, but the aftercare is crucial.
The Best Products to Protect Your Copper Hair
Aftercare plays such a vital role in maintaining the best copper hue possible, the main products to consider are colour-safe shampoo and conditioner and a mask (ideally once a week). For shampoo, I've been keeping it fairly simple using Nexxus Colour Assure Shampoo (£14) and Nexxus Colour Assure Conditioner (£15). As for masks, I alternate using Josh Wood Everything Mask (£15) and Bleach London Reincarnation Mask (£17) to keep my hair feeling vibrant and super conditioned. Finally, I always use my absolute favourite Living Proof Restore Repair Leave In Conditioner (£26) and heat protector spray before heat styling, which is a rare for me.
Keep Your Makeup in Mind When Going Copper
One of the biggest shocks after getting a new hair colour was adapting my makeup routine and go-to makeup shades. I naturally gravitate toward copper-, bronze-, and orange-hued makeup (especially on my eyes), and after my colour transformation, I had a hard time using these shades. I asked pleaded with my two favourite makeup artists to impart their wisdom.
When creating a look, makeup artist Amanda Bell considers how the shades she's using will work with both the person's hair colour and the undertones of their skin. For copper hair colour, Bell suggests eye shadows in shades like mink, taupe, stone, emerald, aubergine, teal, midnight blue, and apricot. "Copper hair doesn't mean you have to stick to banal shades," she says. "Pewter and khaki metallic eyeliners look phenomenal with copper hair and create beautiful dimension."
Bell says start with lipstick, then add your blush. That way, you can ensure your blush isn't too overpowering, and she suggested experimenting with creams, gels, and tints for a sheerer coverage.
Lastly, consider your eyebrows. Your colourist may suggest dyeing your brows to more closely match your new hue (do NOT try this at home), or, you may just need to tweak the shades of your brow products, which is what I chose to do. I've been using two brow shades. Sigma Color and Shape Brow Powder in medium (£15) followed by a light brush through of Benefit Precisely, My Brow Eyebrow Pencil (£21.50) in warm Auburn, creating a less harsh finish.
Choosing Lipstick Hues to Complement Copper Hair
Makeup artist Hannah Martin says that going copper is similar to going blonde in that the hair colour hues can make strong makeup shades look even stronger. I've taken this advice as well as Bell's suggestion of using more muted makeup overall and balancing it out with a pop of colour.
I found some of my orange-red lip hues didn't suit me as much with copper hair, so I swapped them for engine reds like Fenty Beauty Stunna Lip Paint in Uncensored (£19) for my go-to look. If you aren't a huge lipstick-lover, however, you can try a sheer formula or a tinted lip balm. Bell suggested Pixi Mattelast Liquid Lip in Caliente Coral (£16) and Pixi Mattelast Liquid Lip in Berry Beauty (£16) mixed together and blotted. Or Pixi GelTint and SilkGloss in BerryTint and SweetGloss (£14) for a sheer finish.
As for makeup shades I've steered away from, I took Bell's advice and avoided harsh, dark, matte shades. I've incorporated multiple hues into my makeup on a daily basis. For blush and bronzer, I use more than one shade to add warmth with peach/neutral bronzes. For eye shadow, I use various softer shades and avoid one intense hue, like matte black or basic brown, instead layering pewter-coloured shimmer over a neutral eye shadow base.
Consider Rethinking Your Tanning Routine
I am a self-tanning enthusiast to say the least. So when I joined the copper hair club, I panicked that I'd have to give up my bottled beauty must-have. But with the right products and sound expert advice from Jules Von Hep, cofounder and creative director of Isle of Paradise, I've found a tan routine that is just right.
For copper hair, Von Hep recommended to "swerve the deeper, more reddish self tans, as there can be a tendency for the whole overall look to appear a touch faux. Instead opt for self-tan a shade up from your usual (especially on your face)." Rather than going all out and applying two layers of tan, Von Hep suggests just applying one coat to ensure a golden hue while still keeping the uniform skin finish.
Tanning Tools
As always, apply moisturiser to the body before applying tan, particularly to your face to ensure the tan is an even finish. Isle of Paradise has been my go-to tan for years now. The colour-corrective technology says goodbye to any orange-toned tanning issues. Combining Isle of Paradise Glow Clear Self-Tanning Mousse (£20), which gives an overall base tan, with Isle of Paradise Self-Tanning Drops (£20), which can be adjusted to the face and rest of the body if needed, is the perfect combo for a golden glow without feeling too tan.
