9 Formulas for the Prettiest Copper Hair

02.12.2020

Precious metals have been inspiring some of our favorite hair color trends for the past few seasons, with everything from rose gold hair to sleek silver hues adding subtle shimmer. The next shade to take a shine to? Copper hair. Whether dialed up to a warm, rich orange tone, or down to a soft, coral shade, it’s the go-to hue for a glowy dose of warmth.

So, get your clients to join the copper club this season – it’s nearly winter, after all. Keep scrolling for inspiring ideas and tried-and-true formulas to use on your clients…

Copper Red Hair

Image Credit: @dana.arvu_hair

This is copper with a boost of red. Veering almost scarlet, it’s set aglow with pigment-packed Koleston Perfect, using a fiery blend of 99/44 + 77/43.

Coral Copper Hair

Image Credit: @shaunaformanhair

If your client is new to copper hues, try a softer shade to ease them in. We’re obsessed with this cool, coral copper, created by Shauna Forman. She started with a base of Illumina Color 7/43, painted babylights through strands for extra lift, then toned using 9/0 blended with a dot of 65. Et, voila – a look that straddles the copper and peach hair color trends, perfect for all seasons.

Copper Orange Hair

Image Credit: @hairbymerisointu

A dose of orange gives this copper hair look a bolder, brighter edge, enhanced by the light-reflective glow of our permanent Illumina Color formula. The shade? 9/43 + 9%, swept over a Blondor-ed canvas to ensure it stands out. We love the soft root shadow, too, which gives the look a little extra dimension.

Ginger Copper Hair

Image Credit: @abby_wella

Spicy ginger meets crisp copper in this rich hybrid hue, which delivers just the right amount of warmth to flatter all skin tones. To get the look, locks were pre-lightened with Blondor to lift out the old color, before Koleston Perfect 6/74 was applied to the root area as a soft, contrasting smudge. Finally, 7/47 and 7/43 were applied in alternating ribbons through mid-lengths and ends, lending lasting radiance.

Photo of woman with mid-length, wavy, auburn copper hair color, created using Wella Professionals.

Copper Auburn Hair

Image Credit: @topknotbalayage

Auburn hair gets an upgrade with this coppery twist. Between the swathes of red brown hair color, hints of metallic shine catch the light as color reaches the tips. Color Touch 10/34 and a little bit of 8/41 were smoothed over balayage, resulting in this seamless, glossy graduation of red tones.

Blonde Copper Hair

Image Credit: @chris_dickson_hairdressing

Sun-kissed sweeps of blonde feature in this coppery hair creation, lending a multi-tonal lift that breaks up the richness of the red. While Blondor Freelights brightened sections of hair, Koleston Perfect 45g 8/34 + 5g 8/41 + 30g 7/43 with 4% was applied on top. When recreating this shade, team with loose waves to allow the spectrum of copper blonde tones to take center stage.

Copper Ombre Hair

Image Credit: @janina_ehrenberg

Ombre hair doesn’t get much dreamier than this. Segueing from dark to light copper, it sparkles with Illumina Color 7/43 + 7/7 + 6/ + 6% through the mid-lengths, which melts into Copper Peach + 7/43 + 1.9% Pastel through the tips. Flawless.