While cool-toned hair colors have ruled the hair world over the past few years, we’re still obsessed with fiery, warm-toned hues. If you’re looking to heat things up for 2021, you’ll love fire ombre, a red hair color trend we predict you’ll be seeing everywhere in the new year: fire ombre.
If you’re wondering how to get fire ombre hair, we tapped Alfredo Valero, Redken artist, for everything you need to know about the trend. Keep scrolling to discover what fire ombre is, maintenance tips to keep your hue in tip-top shape, and some of our favorite ways to try the look.
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What is fire ombre hair?
Unlike the traditional ombre technique, which can be completed by blending one shade into another from dark to light, fire ombre is all about blending shades of orange, red, yellow. The result is a red-hot ombre that’s reminiscent of a blazing fire. Fire red ombre hair exists to make a statement. Because there's no one-color-fits-all when it comes to this blazing hue, it’s entirely customizable. How subtle or flaming you want it to be is your choice!
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How To Get Fire Ombre Hair
Before you start the fire, there are a few things to think about.
“Your stylist will take your skin tone, eye color, and natural hair color into consideration before starting,” explains Valero. This will help to ensure that this eye-catching color suits your appearance without looking too drastic.
“I like fire ombre hair when it’s paired with cool blonde colors like platinum or beige,” says Valero.
If you are naturally blonde, it’ll be easier to achieve fire ombre hair because your mane won’t require any pre-lightening first. The contrast between your natural light hair and the eye-catching fire red ombre at the tips will be quite dramatic, especially if your hair is very blonde. This look radiates warmth and confidence.
If you are a brunette or have darker hair, fire ombre hair can still be yours—but it may require some pre-lightening for the color to stand out. It’s important to note that pre-lightening (or bleach) can cause damage, but your colorist will work to improve the look and feel of your strands before you leave the salon. Your stylist will also be able to talk you through the process and discuss the best way to get the look you’re after. With that, you’ll be setting things alight!
Color Extend Magnetics Sulfate-Free Shampoo for Color-Treated Hair
A gentle cleansing shampoo to care for colored hair.
Color Extend Magnetics Conditioner for Color-Treated Hair
A moisturizing conditioner for colored hair.
Color Extend Magnetics Mega Mask for Color-Treated Hair
A mask for vibrant and long-lasting color protection.
How do you care for fire ombre hair?
With high-maintenance shades like red, orange, and yellow, you’ll need a line-up of hair care products formulated for color-treated hair as well as a regular touch-up schedule at the salon.
“To properly maintain your fire ombre hair, it’s essential to go every month and a half to the salon in order to refresh the color and restore the luminosity to the tips,” Valero advises.
When it comes to your hair routine, start with a shampoo and conditioner formulated to preserve your salon color. We recommend Redken Color Extend Magnetics Shampoo and Conditioner. This sulfate-free system treats color-treated hair from the root to the core to the tip while sealing in your salon hue.
Valero also recommends using a hair mask like Redken Color Extend Magnetics Mega Mask once a week. This two-in-one hair mask is both a care extender and treatment for color-treated hair.
If you’re ready to give fire ombre hair a go, keep scrolling for 14 inspiration photos you can bring to the salon.
The Best Fire Ombre Hair Ideas To Try Now
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Fire Ombre With Platinum
Like we said before, the contrast between platinum blonde and fire ombre is one of our favorite ways to wear the shade. If you’re a salon blonde, keep your hue looking its best with a shampoo and conditioner like L'Oréal Professionnel Blondifier Illuminating Shampoo and Conditioner. This system cleanses and conditions to illuminate the multidimensional shine of blonde hair.
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Auburn And Copper
If you want to keep your fire ombre as neutral as possible, ask your colorist for a soft blend of auburn and copper shades. We promise—this look won’t disappoint!
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Fire Ombre With Mid-Length Hair
If you think you need waist-length strands to pull off fire ombre, think again! This trend looks just as striking on mid-length strands.
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Fire Ombre On Black Hair
If you love the idea of fire ombre but can’t quite bring yourself to deal with the damage of lifting color from your entire head, don’t worry! Rest assured, there’s a take on fire ombre that’s perfectly suited for your natural mane.
For black fire ombre, your colorist will maintain your dark base tone while lightening your mid-lengths and ends. The bottom half of your strands will transition through red, orange, and yellow. The best part? When your ombre begins to grow out, there won’t be any roots to show.
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Fire Ombre With Magenta
For those who want to throw another vibrant color into the mix, we love the way that fire ombre looks blended with magenta roots.
Flame Ombre
Flame-inspired ombre is perhaps the most classic version of this style, one that leans heavily on neon red with deep amber undertones. Starting with the darkest colors at the roots, your colorist will then transition your mane into shades of orange and warm yellow.
Fiery Mermaid Ombre
Mermaid hair is always on-trend, but those aquatic blues and greens couldn’t be farther from the smoky tones of fiery mermaid hair. Using the same idea of a gradient with a totally different color scheme, this steamy look creates drama with shades of orange and yellow. Unlike flame ombre, fiery mermaid doesn’t lean quite as heavily on red tones. If this is a fire, it’s just a little one.
Dark Auburn Fire Ombre
Once you’ve tried dark auburn hair, it’s hard to fall in love with anything else. This deep red brown shade combines the best of both copper and chocolate, flattering every kind of complexion.
Dark Red Fire Ombre
If you’re a redhead who’s been seeking a way to spice up your ‘do, dark red fire ombre is an excellent choice. Working with your natural base shade, your colorist will add hints of bright red and tangerine throughout your mid-lengths and ends. This is what we like to refer to as instant bombshell hair!
Dark Brown Fire Ombre
Brunettes, don’t feel left out! There’s a fire ombre that fits you, too. If you’re looking for a brunette shade with nuance, dark brown fire ombre is about to be a lifesaver. Instead of adding significant amounts of gold to your hair, a good colorist should focus on creating medium red throughout your mid-lengths. For an extra touch, a hint of gold on your ends will look lovely.
Neon Red Fire Ombre
There’s one motto we always share with friends who can’t quite decide if they’re ready for a statement hair color: Why not? Neon hair isn’t for everybody, but we stand by it as the ultimate choice for ladies who adore standing out from a crowd.
Pink and Gold Fire Ombre
If you’re looking for a way to combine pastel hair colors with the fire ombre trend, we’ve got you covered. There’s a lighter, brighter take on the rose gold that we love, and it begins with dusty mauve roots. Instead of fading the color into a bright yellow, your colorist will use the opportunity to build a luxe gold shade at your ends.
Copper Fire Ombre
Copper is one of our favorite hair colors because of the way it rides the line between brown and red. It’s dynamic and sultry without being too in-your-face. So, it only follows that a version of fire ombre that’s based in copper shades would be equally gorgeous.
For this color, your colorist will begin with chestnut roots that become true copper. Then, they’ll taper into golden blonde. There’s not much true red in this style, but there are plenty of hints at the shade. We love this look for fair, medium, and dark skin tones. Everyone looks beautiful as a copper queen.
Sunset Hair
Every few years, a color comes along that truly startles the hair industry out of complacency. Sunset hair is one of those shades, cycling through electrifying purple, red, orange, and gold to mimic the shades of a tropical sundown. We love this shade on extra-long manes, so the colorist can have the space to play and create the most artful composition of colors.
Interested in trying fire ombre hair? Use our salon locator to book an appointment with a stylist near you.
Color Extend Magnetics Sulfate-Free Shampoo for Color-Treated Hair
A gentle cleansing shampoo to care for colored hair.
Color Extend Magnetics Conditioner for Color-Treated Hair
A moisturizing conditioner for colored hair.
Color Extend Magnetics Mega Mask for Color-Treated Hair
A mask for vibrant and long-lasting color protection.
Blondifier Illuminating Shampoo
A nourishing shampoo to illuminate and restore blonde hair.
Blondifier Illuminating Conditioner
A nourishing conditioner to illuminate and restore blonde hair.
