Whether on the head of your favorite celeb or in a popular TikTok filter, copper hair color is seemingly everywhere these days. And it’s easy to see why: Copper red hair is ultra-wearable and can be customized to flatter virtually any skin tone. But with that said, those with curly hair may be a bit hesitant to plunge into the red-hot trend for fear of compromising their curl pattern: The twists and turns inherent in curly hair mean it’s more fragile than straighter hair types and requires extra care.
We teamed up with Kendra Alia from SalonCentric’s It Takes A Pro education team to give us some pointers on how to try copper hair (or any other hue, for that matter) while preserving the integrity of your ringlets. Scroll on for her top tips on getting it right.
Stay Within a Few Levels of Your Base
Lighter or more drastic color changes often require more intense bleaching, which can essentially “relax” your curls into a looser pattern. When lightening your hair to achieve a copper hair color, pick a shade within a few levels of your base. This can help reduce the need for longer or multiple processing steps and, in turn, help keep your curl pattern intact.
If you’re starting with dark brown to black hair, consider cowboy copper highlights, as seen on Alia’s client above. The warm hue, which is inspired by dark Western leather boots, is three shades lighter than her natural espresso base. It’s the perfect way to impactfully transform dark hair without excess bleaching.
Go for a Lived-in Color
When coloring curly hair, the technique is equally as important as the chosen hue. As such, Alia prefers a lived-in approach to cowboy copper hair color to help minimize maintenance. Otherwise, frequent touch-ups can lead to the dreaded overprocessing.
If you aren’t familiar, lived-in hair color simply refers to a coloring method that creates a softer color transition and less noticeable regrowth line. It generally involves blending color at the roots and applying subtle highlights, lowlights, or babylights throughout the hair to mimic a natural sun-kissed effect. The grow-out is typically seamless, so you can keep upkeep to a minimum or let your hair gradually transition out of the color with regular trims.
When asking your stylist for a lived-in color, Alia says to use words like blended, dimensional, and natural to help your stylist pick up on what you want.
Try a Curly Face Frame
Alia loves applying a copper face-framing highlight to brighten curly hair and draw focus to her client's features.
“This is where we take most of [the] copper color, and we raise it up,” Alia says. Her aim is to create a lifted, light effect with balanced variations of copper tones.
One of the best things about a face frame is that you only have to color a small portion of your hair. If you’re a color newbie, a face-framing highlight is an ideal way to switch up your style while preserving the look and feel of your curls.
Invest in the Right Products
Too often, Alia sees her clients go home and accidentally wash their hair color away. While it may not literally wash right out, your shampoo may contribute to fading. This can happen if you rely on your usual curl products instead of swapping them out for ones designed for color-treated hair.
“Definitely be informed about what good brands and products to use when you have colored curls,” she cautions. We suggest picking up a system that cares for salon color and compromised curls simultaneously, like Redken Acidic Bonding Curls. Head over to our full review of the collection to learn how to use it in your routine.
Find a Skilled Pro
Misusing hair color is a surefire way to damage natural hair. If you’re toying with the idea of copper hair, don’t try to DIY it and put your curls at risk. Instead, head to a professional to help keep your pattern intact.
Alia expands: “The best thing to do is to make sure that your stylist is very educated on coloring curls.” Do your research to guarantee that whoever touches your spirals understands how to properly approach and care for them. Before booking an appointment with a colorist, peruse their social media feeds to get a feel for the type of hair they typically work with and if they can bring copper hair color to life. When in doubt, schedule a consultation first so they can assess your hair’s needs and answer any questions you may have.
Ready to try lived-in copper on your curls? Use our salon locator to book an appointment with a colorist near you.
Next Up: The 45 Best Curly Hair Color Ideas to Inspire Your Next Appointment
Header photo credit: SalonCentric
