I’ve had only one red era. When I was in high school, a friend and I marched into CVS, grabbed a box of auburn dye, and went for it. The result was a flat, burnt-orange shade that clashed with my peaches-and-cream complexion. (I’ve deleted all photo evidence.) But ever since that teenage misstep, I’ve dreamed of doing red the right way—with better inspiration and at the hands of a pro. Lately, the urge has only grown stronger, thanks to the parade of A-listers embracing everything from statement-making dark cherry (like SZA’s Super Bowl half-time show look) to the soft, sun-kissed copper Emma Roberts debuted this year.
It turns out I’m not the only one feeling the pull. “My clients are going red more than I’ve ever seen in my career,” says Christine Bellemare, a Boston-based colorist, stylist, and owner of the salon Maven A Collect. “It’s a very flattering color that almost every skin tone can carry. It draws the eye to you and makes a statement.”
Even those who aren’t seeking a radical, more literal red are shifting toward warmer strawberry blonde or copper tones that are easy to maintain, adds Nikki Copeland, a New York-based colorist and a co-owner of Sweet Goldie in Brooklyn. It’s a shift she believes may relate to the current political climate. “With talk of a recession, we’re entering an era where people want something a bit more low-maintenance but still fun, like a gloss with warmer tones.”
Kara Hoskins, a colorist at Treehouse Social Club in Manhattan, recommends that those with light hair who are red curious try a colored gloss, which fades in approximately four to eight weeks, or choose a color-depositing shampoo or conditioner (she recommends Overtone’s range) to see if they might vibe with the shade before making a longer-term commitment. Sorry, brunettes: You may have fewer options for experimentation. Maybe try a wig, like Billie Eilish’s strawberry blonde Halloween tribute to Jane Fonda, or one of Overtone’s shades designed for darker hair, like this new cherry chestnut color-depositing treatment mask.
Below, explore which of 2025’s top trending reds might be right for you and—just maybe—me.
Meet the experts:
Strawberry Blonde
Getty Images
Getty Images
Getty Images
This year, people are going strawberry blonde in droves, with an emphasis on the strawberry. Case in point: The term “strawberry blonde hair” saw a 31.7% jump in popularity, from February 2024 to January 2025, compared to the previous 12 months, according to Spate, a trend forecasting platform that analyzes Google Search and TikTok views.
