The Best Red Hair Dye – Review and Buying Guide

Do you wish to look fabulous with hair that stands out in a crowd? Nothing quite makes a statement like going red, while still sticking to a somewhat common and “socially acceptable” hair color.

Whether you want to try dyeing your hair red for a certain occasion, spice up your look just for fun, or go with a complete makeover for a new you, the best way to go about it is by using the right hair dye that can meet your expectations and more.

With the best red hair dye, you can achieve healthy and vibrant red hair that you- and everyone around you- is sure to love. To help you find the best one for you, we’ve surveyed the market and tested hundreds of products to come up with this list of the best red hair dyes. There’s also a buying guide at the end to answer all your questions about red hair dyes.

Read also related articles: Best purple hair dye, best blue black hair dye, best hair colour without ammonia, best jet black hair dye, 1b hair color, baddie hairstyles, and brazilian blowout.

8 Best Red Hair Dye

Here are the 8 best red hair dyes that we’ve found just for you. All these products are guaranteed to give you the best and most outstanding looks in the hair department, so you can shine and slay your day with hair that looks stunning and alive.

1.  L’Oreal Paris Superior Preference Permanent Hair Color, 6ab Chic Auburn Brown

Our first pick is the L’Oreal Paris superior preference permanent hair color in a lovely chic auburn brown. It makes use of a unique formula that lets you enjoy luminous and natural looking hair with subtle highlights and lowlights.

This one’s made with fade defying technology, so you can enjoy your red hair for as long as eight weeks. It also comes with hair care essentials, including a supreme conditioner that contains vitamin E, camelina oil, and a UV filter.

With this hair dye, you are guaranteed a soft and shiny, and of course vibrant looking hair. The dye won’t cause you an assortment of problems such as skin staining and hair loss, so those are two things you don’t have to worry about when using this dye.

2.  Revlon Colorsilk Beautiful Color, Permanent Hair Dye with Keratin, 45 Bright Auburn

We also really like the Revlon Colorsilk beautiful color permanent hair dye in a bright auburn color. It’s a two in one hair dye and hair treatment that comes with keratin and a silk amino acid to keep your hair conditioned and silky smooth.

This comes in a liquid gel formulation that is surprisingly easy to apply and is guaranteed to give you natural-looking results. It’s also delicate and gentle on even the most sensitive hair and scalp, and is sure to make your hair not only look vibrant, but also feel hydrated and soft.

What really seals the deal, however, is that it only costs less than ten dollars for a pack that’s ample enough to color thick and long hair, so it’s not only a high-quality option, it’s also light on the pockets as well.

3.  Garnier Nutrisse Nourishing Hair Color Creme, 66 True Red

Ranking third is the Garnier Nutrisse nourishing hair color creme that comes in true red- not brown, not magenta, not pink, but strong and vibrant red that is sure to make you stand out and look somewhat ethereal and out of this world, in a nice way, of course.

It’s also a really potent hair dye that lasts for a long time, so you don’t have to keep dyeing your hair every few months. This is made possible by a mixture of natural ingredients that are not only really effective, but also safe to use even on sensitive skin.

These ingredients include shea butter, olive oil, and avocado, all of which work together in bringing about a vibrant color while also nourishing your hair so it stays smooth and silky after coloring.

It also contains grapeseed oil that feeds your hair with healthy stuff to keep it strong and well nourished. Plus, this hair dye guarantees complete gray coverage for a natural and even look, and it comes in a variety of shades for you to choose from.

4.  Schwarzkopf Ultime Hair Color Cream, 5.22 Ruby Red

Taking the fourth spot is the Schwarzkopf Color ultimate hair color cream in ruby red, an excellent hair dye that is sure to give you rich and vividly vibrant results made possible by a premium coloring formula that keeps the color on for up to nine weeks.

This way, you can go on your day with lovely looking hair for much longer, and even save up on hair treatments. This hair dye doesn’t fade or wash out quickly, and the color you see on the box is exactly what you get, so you don’t have to worry about color failure.

What’s more, is that this hair dye is also pretty affordable at just around ten dollars a box, so if you’re looking for an efficient and cost-effective at-home hair color, this is a superb choice. Trust us, this is going to be worth the investment.

5.  L’Oréal Paris Feria Permanent Hair Color, R57 Cherry Crush

Another excellent option from L’Oréal Paris is the Feria permanent hair color in cherry crush, which is a nice and striking shade that is perfect for those with medium brown hair. This is made with an expertly blended formula that is sure to keep your hair strong and healthy after dyeing.

Meaning, you don’t have to worry about damaging your hair just by applying color treatments. You can even bleach your hair if you want, especially if you have a darker shade of hair. Either way, this dye is guaranteed to work and give you true-to-color results.

Furthermore, this dye is completely safe to use as it’s free of harmful chemicals such as ammonia. It also doesn’t come with strong and unpleasant odors, so you can color your hair just about anywhere.

6.  Sparks Long Lasting Bright Hair Color, Red Velvet

Another amazing option you might want to try is the Sparks long-lasting bright hair color in red velvet, which is a wonderful choice if you want to experiment with red hair but don’t really want to commit to single hair color for months.

It’s high quality and professional hair dye that is easy to use and apply. You don’t even have to use developers, or worse, bleach. It also works on all types of hair, and can be used along with the Sparks Crystal Clear if you want to add a certain shine to your hair.

If you want true and vibrant results while keeping your hair soft and shiny, this is a great option. While it’s a semi-permanent solution, it doesn’t fade as fast as other similar products, so you can enjoy your temporary hair color for longer.

7.  Manic Panic High Voltage classic cream Formula, Vampire Red

Another semi-permanent hair dye that you should definitely check out is the Manic Panic high voltage classic cream formula in vampire red. It’s easy to apply a cream that works on all types of hair and gives you rich and vibrant results without a permanent commitment.

You can even use this with a pre-lightening bleach kit if you want to enjoy longer-lasting and more intense results or use it as is for a fun experiment on what you’ll look like with red hair. Either way, you are sure to enjoy the end result with this dye.

It also offers great coverage on even the darkest natural hair colors, so even if you have jet black hair, you can still use this dye without bleaching. You also don’t have to worry about hair damage with this one. And, once you’re tired of the hair color, the dye is also pretty easy to wash out.

8.  John Frieda Precision Foam Colour, Dark Red Brown

Last but definitely not the least is the John Frieda precision foam color in dark red brown, which is a nice option if you want to enjoy red hair without standing out too much. It’s also an excellent choice for thick and lush hair that’s typically difficult to color.

As a specially formulated hair dye, this addresses all the problems you might encounter while you’re dyeing your hair. It’s made with all the vital ingredients you need that are carefully selected to work on thick and tough hair.

It also comes as a non-drip foam that is really easy and hassle free to apply, and even successfully spreads into the hair roots and other hard to reach areas, so you can enjoy a nice and even appearance.

Red Hair Dye FAQs and Buying Guide

Looking for the best red hair dye? Here’s a list of all the things you need to consider so you can find the best dye that works for your hair:

Should you buy a red hair dye?

First of all, should you really go red? Like all other hair colors, natural or otherwise, how to put together you’ll look largely depends on your skin and eye color. The great thing about red is that it works considerably well for everyone, so you just have to choose the right shade of red for you.

Red hair gives you a more raven like appearance, and these hair dyes are also often inexpensive and easy to apply, unlike the more unusual hair colors trending today. You can also get a dye in a semi permanent formulation if you don’t want to commit to a life of red hair.

One thing you do need to consider, however, is finding the right dye that works for your hair type, which is even more important if you have previously colored or treated your hair. Doing a strand test is an easy way to make sure you have the right dye and one that won’t cause allergic reactions.

Check also: Best hair color for skin tone

Things to look out for when buying red hair dye

There may be hundreds of options out there, but not all of them are created the same way. Some simply stand apart from the rest, while others fail to meet expectations. So, how do you find a hair dye that gives you satisfactory results?

Permanent vs semi-permanent

One of the first things you need to decide on is whether you want a temporary or permanent solution to coloring your hair. If you just want to try out the color for a bit of time, a semi-permanent solution is a safer choice, and one that doesn’t require a lot of commitment.

Semi-permanent hair dyes are also generally safer to use as they don’t contain harmful ingredients and don’t require developers and bleaches.

On the other hand, if you’re ready for a “new life” with new hair color, then you’ll do better with a permanent option so you can enjoy your new red hair for much longer- ideally more than eight weeks for a single treatment.

Take note, however, that red hair is usually difficult to maintain and tends to bleed a lot, so try to find a brand with proven and tested fade defying properties for better results. And if you opt for a permanent dye, expect to have to regularly maintain your roots for a natural look.

Shade of red

The next and just as important thing is for you to figure out what shade of red will work for your skin tone. Sure, if you really want to stand out, you can go for the brightest and most vivid reds, but if you want a more natural look, try to find a shade that complements your complexion.

More than that, you should also take into account the color of your natural hair, and buy a hair dye based on that, since the actual results of how the dye will look largely depends on what color your hair is to start with. Most dyes come with a color chart for you to base your decision on, so this shouldn’t be too hard of a task.

Conditioning

We all know the damage that hair dyes can do to your hair, and if you plan on coloring your hair, you want to avoid this damage as much as possible. As such, you should find a hair dye that comes with excellent conditioning properties, so your hair can stay healthy.

This is especially important if you’re going with red dyes as they are more difficult to maintain and require several applications, increasing your risk of hair damage. The good thing is, many hair dyes contain conditioning ingredients, and also come with a post-dye conditioner for you to use.

How to make your red hair last longer

Red hair dye is notoriously difficult to maintain, so you may want to look for ways to keep your hair color for as long as you can in order to save up on treatments and to reduce possible hair damage.

Of course, semi-permanent dyes will fade faster, and washing your hair often will also make the dye bleed more, so the simplest solution you can do is to go for a permanent dye and reduce your hair washing to a few times a week.

You can also use a color safe shampoo and conditioner, and opt for cool or lukewarm rather than hot water when showering. Basically, stay away from water and heat if you want your red hair to last longer.

Overview

There are lots of different hair dyes out there, but for us, the best red hair dye is the L’Oreal Paris Superior Preference Permanent Hair Color, 6ab Chic Auburn Brown. It’s natural looking, fade defying, and keeps your hair looking vibrant while feeling soft and shiny. Plus, it’s pretty cheap, too!