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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.
- Christine Bellemare is a Boston-based colorist, stylist, and owner of Maven A Collect.
- Nikki Copeland is a New York-based colorist and co-owner of Sweet Goldie in Brooklyn.
- Kara Hoskins is a Manhattan-based colorist at Treehouse Social Club.
- Hanna Oh is a Chicago-based colorist and stylist at 821 West.
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.
Hanna Oh, a Chicago-based colorist and stylist, thinks Lindsay Lohan’s much-talked-about hair transformation—from her signature deep red to a light strawberry—may have something to do with it. “My clients in their 30s are asking for Lindsay Lohan vibes,” she says.
Want to achieve that same transitional shade? “Lohan’s strawberry blonde is achieved by taking the client blonde and then adding in copper golden shades in the gloss formula to add the strawberry tone,” Oh explains. “It just needs to be refreshed every six to eight weeks to keep the strawberry color vibrant.” Done and done.
It’s official: Copper hair has taken over Hollywood, from Keke Palmer’s change-up for the press tour for her new movie, One of Them Days, to Megan Thee Stallion’s “hot honey” hue. Accordingly, aspiring redheads far and wide are taking notice, with the term “copper hair” growing 34.4% on TikTok and Google over approximately the last 12 months compared to the previous year, according to Spate.
The best thing about the copper trend? It includes a whole spectrum of shades that fit every skin tone. From vibrant versions with cooler undertones, like Megan’s, to softer ginger shades (see: Sadie Sink’s natural color), expect copper’s dominance to continue this year.
An alternate name for the past year could be The Year of Chappell Roan. With the pop star’s meteoric rise came a laser focus on her curly, fiery auburn hair, particularly during stops on the summer festival circuit and her electrifying performance (plus Best New Artist win) at the 2025 Grammy Awards. Broadly, “auburn hair” saw a 21.8% jump in year-over-year popularity on Google and TikTok, according to Spate. “Chappell is definitely a driving force [behind the trend], because she's everywhere,” says Hoskins. “And who wouldn't want to have that spirit in their daily life?” I couldn’t agree more.
When the colder months hit later this year, Hoskins predicts more clients will tend to go “more auburn, or a darker version of whatever red they've been rocking.” Emma Stone, known for her various iterations on red hair, continues to inspire Hoskins’s clients in New York. The pixie cut Stone debuted at the 2025 Golden Globes is a prime example of downshifting from a brighter red to a slightly darker auburn.
Cherry cola hair has been on the come-up since fall 2023, and the trend—or some version of dark cherry or burgundy hair—shows no signs of slowing down in 2025. The term grew in popularity by a whopping 265.2% on Google and TikTok in the last year, according to Spate.
Bellemare confirms the trend is “still having its moment,” and that clients often come in asking to emulate Dua Lipa’s much-talked-about shade (which, fun fact, took more than 10 hours to achieve) and Zendaya’s goth-goes-glam version. For a uniquely 2025 twist, consider SZA’s fresh. bold take on the trend during her appearance in the Super Bowl half-time show in February.
Read more about the latest trends:
- 2025's Top Haircut Trends Are a Masterclass in Timeless Sophistication
- The Top 2025 Hair Color Trends Are Straight Out of Film Noir
- Spring’s Biggest Hair Trends Offer Maximum Impact With Minimal Upkeep
Now, watch Gracie Abrams' 10-minute beauty routine.
