How to Enhance Natural Red Hair
Want to know how to enhance natural red hair? Same, bestie. Oh no, wait: you want ME to tell YOU how to do it? Well, OK, that’s a little bit more complicated, because although I’ve tried what feels like a vast quantity of red-enhancing products over the years, I’ve yet to find one that’s perfect. A few years ago, I’d have had absolutely no hesitation in recommending Superdrug Colour Effects Conditioner in Rich Red or Warm Copper Gold, which was hands down the cheapest AND best product for enhancing red hair. Unfortunately, however, Superdrug recently changed the formula of this product, and I’m sad to report that it’s nowhere near as good as it used to be – in fact, it does’t really do much for my hair at all these days. This makes me sad. So:
How to enhance natural red hair?
Good question.
Like many natural redheads, my ginger hair started off a bright, vibrant ginger, which has gradually faded over the years to the point I’m at now, where it’s more of a strawberry blonde. This also makes me sad: not because there’s anything wrong with strawberry blonde hair, but simply because I loved my vibrant red. Despite the teasing (and occasional bullying) a lot of redheads get, I’ve never wanted to dye my red hair: I’ve always loved being a redhead, and I’m not ready to give it up yet. (And probably not ever, to be honest.)
Because the options for redheads are so limited, however, I feel like I’m basically on a never-ending search for products to enhance my natural colour, without changing it completely. And here’s the best one I’ve found so far…
How to enhance natural ginger hair in the shower
This colour boosting effect was achieved in around five minutes, using this product, which cost me just £10 from Amazon [BUY IT HERE].
As you can see from the video, the bottle is pretty small, and that’s because this is a product you simply add to your existing shampoo and/or conditioner, in order to create an instant ‘toning’ effect. Just how much of it you use it up to you, obviously, but it stands to reason that the more you add, the more obvious the effects will be. I’m basically just looking to boost my colour while still keeping it natural, so I just use a few drops (or ‘pumps’, rather – the product comes in a pump dispenser, and the instructions advise one to two pumps for a ‘subtle’ effect, and 3-4 for an ‘intense’ one…), but it works so well that I reckon you’d easily be able to get a much brighter red by adding a bit more.
Some things to note about this product:
* It’s a toner, not a dye, so it’s not permanent, and it will wash out.
* It’s not designed to cover greys.
* Although you can mix it with either shampoo or conditioner (or both, if you like), I find it works best with conditioner, purely because it’s on the hair for longer.
* There’s no peroxide or ammonia, so you can use it as often as you want without damaging your hair.
* I find it slightly tricky to mix while I’m actually in the shower, because I’m trying to juggle two different bottles and not let it spill everywhere. For the best results, I’d advise pre-mixing it with your conditioner before you get into the shower, and just having it ready to use.
* IT WILL STAIN EVERYTHING. Hands, shower, towels, you name it. The good news is that it washes off your hands fairly easy (although you do have to scrub it a bit…), but if you have gloves available, you’re going to want to use them.
Other than that, I have no notes: it’s quick, relatively easy, and it leaves my hair looking more or less as it did when I was younger, before all the fading started. Gotta love the ageing process, huh? So, I’d definitely recommend it, but if this one isn’t for you, read on for some more suggestions of ginger-boosting products that have been tried and tested by yours truly…
Best Products to Enhance Auburn Hair
Just a few of the products I’ve tried over the years…
Henne Colour Henna Tint Cream Copper Golden Blonde
OK, so this one is technically henna, but before you run away screaming, relax, for this is not the type of henna you’re probably used to, which comes in powder form, and takes forever to apply. No, this is cream henna, it’s designed to work in 40 minutes (Although I’d advise leaving it for longer if you want a deeper effect), and it’s a really nice, vibrant ‘ginger’ that looks great on natural red hair. Although henna is a permanent dye, I find that this cream version isn’t: the colour only lasts for about two weeks on my hair, which either good news or bad news, I suppose, depending how much you like it. (One thing to note here is that henna CAN interact badly with chemical dyes, so please read the instructions thoroughly and check with your hairdresser if you’re at all worried about it). [BUY IT HERE]
Joico Color Infuse Redhead Shampoo
This is a shampoo and conditioner duo (You can buy them separately, obviously, but they’ll be more effective if used together), and, like the many other colour depositing products I’ve used over the years, they work by depositing small amounts of colour each time you wash your hair with them.So, it’s super-simple, really: just use them as you’d use any regular shampoo or conditioner, make sure you leave them on for at least three minutes (This goes for the shampoo as well as conditioner), then rinse and style as normal.
The product is a deep burgundy shade when it comes out of the tube (And, yes, it WILL stain, so make sure you rinse thoroughly, and I’d also avoid using your best white towels with this, just in case…), but the colour it deposits is much more subtle than that, you’ll be glad to know.
I did actually notice a difference from the very first wash with this, but, as you’d expect from products of this nature, it’s the kind of difference you really have to be looking for: so, it’ll boost your colour (And help stop it fading, in the case of dyed hair…) but it won’t – or shouldn’t – radically change it.
Unlike some of the other colour-depositing products I’ve tried, I actually rate this as a shampoo/conditioner, too: as well as making my natural ginger look a little brighter, it also leaves it feeling softer and smoother than usual, so it gets a thumbs-up for that reason, too.
Zotos Quantum Riveting Reds Color Replenishing Shampoo For Natural Red Hair
I noticed a difference after my first application of this: my hair was brighter, redder and just a slightly more intense version of its natural colour. What I would say about this, though – and actually ALL products in this genre that I’ve tried – is that the difference is subtle enough that you shouldn’t be surprised if you’re the only one who notices. I’ve never had anyone ask if if changed my hair colour after using something like this for instance, because I just don’t think that one shade of red looks much different to another to the casual observer. People would obviously notice if I went from red to blonde or black, say, but a more intense version of my usual colour? Nah: it might look different to ME, but to anyone else, it’s no biggie.
Wella Color Fresh Mask
BUY IT HERE
This literally turned my hair orange the first time I used it, but, er, try not to be too put off by that, because when you use it RIGHT (i.e. actually follow the instructions and don’t just decide to freestyle it), it’s actually a really great color.
Have you used any products to enhance natural red hair lately? I’d love to hear about them if so!
Roisin
This is really interesting, Amber! I’m not a natural redhead but I have been colouring my hair red for the last year or so now so I’m very interested in ways to give the colour longevity. I find the same thing about the John Frieda shampoo, I can never see any noticeable difference after using it – although I have been recently having not been able to get the Boots Botanics one. I love that Superdrug stuff too, and when I go into the store I stock up on it! I must try the Henna gloss, too.
Amber
Yeah, I LOVED the John Frieda Color Glaze (so much so that I’m still complaining about it being discontinued about two years after it happened!) but I don’t see any difference with the shampoo and conditioner, and it’s quite expensive if you have long hair (I get through a LOT of conditioner), so I just don’t bother. I’m so annoyed to hear you’ve been having trouble finding the Botanics one too: I have a horrible feeling they’ve discontinued it, and that would be such a shame because it was so good! Boots also used to do an own brand Henna and Horsechestnut deep conditioner which I absolutely loved, too (and which was about £2 or something ridiculously cheap), but I haven’t been able to find it for months now. Don’t even get me started on the new and definitely-not-improved version of the Botanics Soothing Eye Makeup Remover…
(Honestly, I almost feel like writing to them to complain about what they’ve done with the Botanics line, and I hardly ever feel motivated enough to write and complain to companies!)
Ashley
Hey Amber,
My hair is naturally a deep red and I have seen posts on reddit about color glaze. I really want to enhance my hair color by making it a deeper red without dying it. When you use the glaze is it noticeable and does it look fake? Or does it just enhance the reds in your hair. I don’t want to have different color roots if I use a glaze, will this happen?
Thanks, Ashley
Liz Tea Bee
My hair isn’t nearly as red-red as yours. It was when I was little. Of course, then I hated it and wanted to be blond like my brother and sister. As I’ve gotten older it’s gotten sandier which bums me out.
I used the John Freida glaze even though it made my hair tangly and I recently found a shampoo, conditioner and glaze by the chain Ulta (we get alimited Boots products through Target and we don’t have Superdrug) and I’ve been soooo happy with the results. The combination of the three has reddened up the blond around my face without looking like I did it with an orange magic marker.
I’ve had more success with semi-permanant dyes but I can’t actually do them on myself. My hair is really thick and it take two boxes worth so I really need a friends help. I usually end up doing it once a summer and most people don’t comment on the difference. (Last time the girls I was baby-stting for were very excited that my hair was suddenly “Weasley red” when I explained to them that my hair had always been red they scoffed.)
I haven’t tried henna but I do occasionally go and look at the Just For Red Heads site and think about it.
It’s amazing how being a redhead becomes such a major part of one’s identity, isn’t it?
Amber
I’ve noticed that there does seem to be much more of this kind of product available in the US than in the UK… I’m forever coming across products which sound perfect, only to find that they’re just not to be found over here, or that I’d have to pay a fortune in shipping/import duties, which I don’t want to do because I don’t want to get attached to something that’s always going to be hard to get a hold off. (This is actually why I started doing the henna gloss – I figure the stuff I’m using now will be discontinued sooner or later, and at least I know henna will always be around!)
Sarah
Hi, love this article. My hair is ‘sort of red’ which I have been enhancing to a nice coppery gold shade with either the Superdrug wash in wash out in warm copper gold or the Everything for Redheads colour depositing shampoo in Copper. I used to use L’Oreals casting in Butterscotch which was perfect……….until they discontinued it!!!
I am really interested in the henna glaze idea though,as I was looking for something a little more permanent. Can you tell me which Henna you used – there seem to be so many in so many shades out there.
Amber
I use pure henna – has to be body art quality with absolutely nothing added to it. I know you can buy pre-mixed stuff (and can also add other ingredients to regular henna to get different shades: I might do a bit of research on this to see if there’s something that will tone down the orange-ness of it a little), but I’ve only ever used pure henna, which I get from eBay. I should probably also say here that I’ve only ever bought it once – because you only need to use a little bit of it, it lasts for ages! – so I’m definitely no expert!
Lindsey
Hearing that Hey, Dollface! is making a comeback has made my Friday. Thanks Amber!!!
Amber
Haha, I’m glad you’re happy – I’ve been trying to find time for it for months now, but something else always seems to come up! I won’t be able to update it anything like as regularly as the other sites, but I do have a few new products I’ve been meaning to write about!
Liz in Paris
I’m also delighted that Dollface is coming back! I was a bit mystified as to why there’d been no updates since March yet the site was still up. Looking forward to it!
Amber
It’s really funny – the main reason I stopped updating was because no one ever commented on it, so I assumed no one was reading! The type of posts I write for it are also really time consuming, though, and it’s quite hard to find time to update four sites every day, so something had to give!
Erika
Way back I used to dye my hair to give it more of a reddish color, but now that I am older and wiser, I want to stay away from the chemical dyes! I use henna in my hair from time to time but it is such a pain! I have an unopened container that I have been waiting for the right time to use, and I think I will now after the henna gloss suggestion. Makes it sound so much easier!!!
Amber
Oh, I think it’ll definitely be easier: I’ve never done a “proper” henna dye, because it just sounds so time-consuming and messy, but this only takes me 15 minutes (not including the time it takes for the henna to activate, obviously, but because I don’t add any ingredients to it that’s pretty simple, too – I just leave it overnight and it’s ready to use in the morning), and I’ve so far managed to avoid making too much mess with it, which is a miracle for me. If you’ve used henna before, it’ll be a breeze!
Louise
Hair’s a funny thing. When mine’s short like now it’s super duper dark, but if I grow it it’s a dark aurbrun, then I always try to bring the red out more with shampoos etc. At the moment I’m embracing the super duper dark though. You have the most beautiful hair I think, I wish it was mine.
vivalasvegas
Personally, I think your natural hair color is fine. Why mess with perfection?
Vix
Hi Amber, your blog makes me chortle tea through my nose on a regular basis so thanks for that! I dye my hair red (I think you’re SO lucky to be that natural red, I COVET!) and have done for years but since ‘THEY’ stopped doing my favourite semi-perm dye I’ve found I’ve had to resort to permanent and as a result not do it so often, so inbetween times I use the superdrug radiant red ‘conditioner’ as a shampoo-sometimes leave it on for hours. It definitely prolongs the depth of colour big time. Just a thought
x
Amber
I go through phases with using it as a shampoo, but my hair is too greasy to do it all the time unfortunately: leaving it on for longer definitely makes for better colour, though!
Elizabeth
hey, it might be just me but neither Forever Amber or Shoeperwoman are loading at all.
Amber
They both seem to be loading fine for me – are you still having this issue?
Moni
For those who live in or near Germany:
The drugstore chain Rossmann carries this product: http://www.rossmann.de/qualitaetsprodukt/farbglanz-shampoo-rot.html
I’m brunette myself, so I haven’t tried this one yet, but I Amber has gotten a few bottles and should be able to tell if it’s good. 🙂
They also have these shampoos for brown and blond hair, and I’ve used the brown version for a while. It was okay, but I didn’t really like the scent. I have now started to use the “Balea Professional Braun Shampoo” from dm (a different drugstore), which I highly recommend. Unfortunately that one only comes for brunettes and blondes…
ClodyQ
Thats brilliant news,
Bring on the new hey, dollface.:)
I also love that superdrug colour,have a little stockpile just incase……I also suffer from the discontinuation fear, they have sadly discontinued the alabaster shades in bobbi brown….such a shame.
Amber
I know, I was completely gutted when I heard – and I just KNOW the Dainty Doll line probably won’t be around forever either, so it looks like I have to start the search all over again!
Katie
Me too 🙁
Kets
Hi Amber,
I am an Indian and like most Indians prefer Henna to give copper tones (which look brilliant on most dark hair) to my hair. You can buy pure henna for very cheap in almost any Asian grocery store (these are scattered at various places in and around London).
Hope this helps.. 🙂
Kets
ps: Love your blog and style of writing.. am a fan!
Amber
Hi Kets,
I actually discussed henna in the post – pure henna is what I use for the henna gloss which is number 3 on the list! We’re very far from London, unfortunately, but it’s easy to find here in Scotland too: I’m lazy, so I just buy it online!
Henky
Oh I so feel your pain with discontinuing products you love :/ It always seems to happen. I ran out of my body art quality henna stockpile about two months ago, and found that no India shop (we don’t have any ethnic markets here) carries it. I went to a whole mess of herbal/natural pharmacies and couldn’t find any body art quality henna anywhere. I finally found it in a health-store, paid for it through my nose, had to argue with the staff who tried to give me something they swore was henna but was in fact a whole mess of things except henna to find one.single.box of pure henna. Now my roots are showing and I’m dreading the search for new henna again -.-
I agree that the application of henna can be a pain, especially since I prefer to let mine set in for 6-8 hours, but I found it’s quite worth it. I now need to trim my split ends twice a year instead of the usual every other month and it doesn’t seem to wash out as much as any other product/dye I used.
I do, however, occasionally miss having an unnatural and shocking red/fuchsia hair colour, but I keep reminding myself how much my hair grew in the past year or so I’ve been using it.
Rose
Hi Amber
I have red hair too which goes lighter in summer but I kind of like it- I consider it natural highlights
I used to buy the boots cheap shampoo for redheads which smelt gorgeous but I threw it out in the end as my hair did change colour when I used it and became more orange.
Have you any idea nowadays of your real hair colour?
I tried the John Frieda range, didn’t really like them much either, still have 2 half opened bottles.
Amber
Sure – I’ve only been using the Colour Effects for about a year, and I don’t use it all the time, so it reverts back to its natural colour pretty regularly!
Jasmine
I love your post! I absolutely love the boots botanics red range and thought I was going mad going to every boots looking for it, glad I am not alone. I actually phoned boots and they confirmed the line has been discontinued! Such a shame, maybe we should start a petition to have it re-stocked. But you are so right all the red hair care products eventually get discontinued, I was using the leave in spray conditioner by Quantum Reds a few years ago until that too went. One product I have found that is good is the Davines Alchemic Conditioner for red hair – it’s a little expensive but if you use it as a mask once a week it lasts a while!
Gemma
The best colour depositing effect I’ve ever had was (and continues to be) a home made one – cheap thick conditioner and a little bit of bright red vegetable colour, like Directions or Manic Panic. My hair is much more pillarbox red than yours, but still, might work out well!
Gemma
Hi
Do you know the name/colour of the ‘Pure Henna’ you used on your hair?
Amber
Hi,
Henna is the name of the plant and “pure” just means that it hasn’t had anything added to it – it doesn’t come in different colours in its pure form. If you Google “pure henna” you should find lots of information on it!
Lindsay
Hi Amber, I’ve recently run out of my stock of Boots Botanics Red shampoo and conditioner and am a little devastated, I can feel my hair getting more and more orange with every moment. Have you found an alternative that you recommend?
Dana
Hi Amber, I just wanted to say thanks for recommending the superdrug wash in was out conditioner, when I first read about it I thought it will never work, when I was in my teens I hated my red hair so was forever trying to get it blonde with the wash in wash out stuff unsurprisingly, it never took to my hair, but now I accept and actually quite like my red hair, I bought extensions but the hairdresser could never colour match them to my exact colour so today I bought the superdrug stuff and attempted to add red highlights to the brownish extensions, well it came out perfect, an exact match infant so I’m super happy!
Anna
Hi Amber
I was cheated by the hair gods and robbed of the red hair that should have been mine. My brother got it! I was wondering if you could recommend a styling product for him everything he uses on his, curly, hair makes the colour look really dull and a bit lank. Any suggestions gratefully received!
Amber
Hi Anna,
My hair is stick straight, so I’m afraid I don’t know anything at all about curls: these are just all of the products I use myself!
Paula Vianna
Hi Amber!
I’m from brazil and, right now, my hair is very ginger.
Naturally i’m a very dark golden blond but I’ve been to hell and back to turn it orangy-red-natural-looking so I learned a few things: I use permanent dye, it’s from alfaparf and it gets the job done, but my hair has a very strong golden shade to it, that even with the constant colouring (I do my roots every 2 weeks) it keeps shining through like it or not (it also helps that I live in rio de janeiro and it’s a tropical country and the sun is constantly at overheating mode).
So since I decided not to ruin my hair by using the permanent dye on all of it, I just do the roots and keep the rest of it by what they call here a ‘colour wash’ or ‘shine wash’, meaning: you take a little of the permanent dye, adds a little bit of 10% developer and lots of cream, i use the cheapest tresemme hair mask, keep it in your hair for about half an hour and done.
We also have a colour-depositing hair mask called C. Kamura Banho de Brilho in Conhaque, it’s a very rich, very reddish orange, it’s such a gorgeous colour! But it doesn’t last very long.
this is my hair color: http://instagram.com/p/WfHxkhEc8T/
JoW
Reading this with much interest and I’m definitely going to give these lovely little pots a try (if Superdrug still do them) as I’d like to intensify my natural red hair sometimes too. On a side note, it often seems to me that it’s more socially acceptable to have dyed red hair than natural red hair…
Tara
Hi Amber! Any suggestions on a product comparable to the Superdrug conditioner that can be purchased in the US? Doesn’t look like they ship international =(
Amber
hey my names also Amberi used to be ginger but now ive turned graduly blond but am using cramberrie juice to bring back my ginger
Molly
Do you know if the color effects conditioner is available to purchase in the united states?
maz
Can you use superdrug colour effects true chestnut on highlighted hair ??
Helen
Hi Amber, Superdrug has discontinued warm copper gold 🙁 Do you think rich red is that much different in colour? I think my hair is quite similar to yours – maybe a little darker – and warm copper was perfect! I’m a bit worried about it looked unnatural with a pure red?
Amber
Yes, it’s a deeper red, so it’s different from warm copper gold 🙂
Melina
Ah, on reading the part about your hair looking like it’s on fire in the sun, I was just going to post to say that anyone who wants their hair to do that should try henna! 🙂 And then a bit later in the post, there it was, the henna gloss 🙂 I can’t recommend it enough for anyone who wants either to enhance their red hair, like you, or doesn’t have but wishes to have red hair permanently! And I mean permanently, you grow it out, no other way to get rid of it, basically, unlike so-called “permanent dyes”, this one really is permanent. Of course, a gloss or otherwise very diluted henna mix will not be so dramatic, and may fade a bit. I love red hair (though not my natural colour) and used to henna for years, so do know a fair bit about it 😉
Melina
And just to add, one completely natural way to enhance red hair I’ve heard of is rooibos tea – it’s supposed to give a reddish tint if used as a rinse, or leave in. 🙂
Rose
I tried the colour effects but my scalp feels weird after use so I’m not sure if I should risk it again. Nice highlights though- I have natural red hair but mine also changes in different seasons.
Have you tried the Aveda Redhead Madder Root Shampoo? Costs an arm and a leg though so I haven’t yet. Also the redhead website has a henna depositing shampoo I want to try- https://simplyredheads.co.uk/product-category/hair-care/ Have you tried this? Your hair is absolutely gorgeous .
Ros
Ashley
I bought the superdrug colour conditioner and your review is spot on. Not a great conditioner but it gives red colour a lift as if it had been lightly died. Thanks for these tips!
Heidi Ilingsworth
This is exactly what ive been looking for – thank you! My auburn hair does the same chameleon colour change in the light but I want the extra red boost back… I’ll be rushing to Superdrug straight after lockdown 🙂
P.s. I always get the pale comments & spent years keeping my legs covered in summer. Now at 39, I don’t care and a lot of people who make those silly comments can’t believe my age so I delight in telling them my secret… factor 30 and above 😀
Rose
Please could we have a products for redhair update!
I see terrible reviews on superdrug website for their redhair conditioner now as apparently the formula has been changed and wonder what you rate that is currently available. I saw some products on amazon but scared to try!
Amber
It has changed (and not for the better, sadly), but I’m afraid I haven’t found anything to replace it with. I do use henna from time to time, but it’s a huge faff and never seems to last in my hair for some reason, so I’m not sure I’d recommend it 🙁
kiki
to Amber an all other redheads
I am the only redhead in my family, so I didn’t really know that red hair needs special treatment. I used to have copper hair, but over the years it got darker and darker, almost brown. is there any chance that to
get back to my red hair with the right products (without dying them)? or is it too late if the colour faded?