Embracing Copper: A Comprehensive Guide to Copper Hair Color Care and Styling

Copper hair is a stunning hair color that has been getting its praise these past couple of years. Deservedly so! It hasn’t always been lauded in earlier decades and has been the butt of jokes for a long time. However, it is fantastic that this color is finally getting the love that it deserves.

Red hair, copper hair, auburn hair: these are hair colors that people pay hundreds and even thousands of dollars to achieve at a salon. These days, copper hues are the trend and more and more people are seeing how gorgeous and flattering this hair color is. If you have this color naturally, consider yourself lucky!

In this article, we’ll be going over everything you need to know about caring for and styling your copper hair so that it can be at its best!

Understanding Copper Hair Color

Definition and Characteristics

Just from the name itself, it’s pretty easy to picture what a copper hair color looks like. However, not all copper colors are made the same. Copper hair colors can definitely vary from light to dark and just how much warmth there is. Some people have fiery red hair, some people have a nice sunset orange, some people have a true copper tone of a penny or wire, and some people have a darker auburn hue.

Skin Tone Compatibility

Copper hair typically manifests naturally in people with very fair skintones. They also usually come with freckles and light-colored eyes. However, copper or red hair can still occur in people with darker skintones but this is more rare. That’s because copper hair is caused by a gene called MC1R that needs to be inherited from both parents. The MC1R gene is more commonly found in European, Celtic, Nordic, and Germanic races.

Cultural Significance and Historical Context

Red hair actually has a very significant place in history and culture. Unfortunately, it’s not for very pleasant causes. Red or copper hair has been a center of conflict and discrimination. In ancient times, this hair color was associated with violence, being primitive, and prejudice and racial discrimination against those with Scandinavian heritage as well as Thracians and the Scythians. Over the years, this discrimination has carried onto modern times with the stereotyping of men and women with red hair as short-tempered and encouraging violence and dehumanization against them.

This was all happening as recent as the early 2000s. However, society has come a long way when it comes to racial discrimination in general. While we still have much more to learn as a whole, movements to banish racism and discrimination against minorities have made significant progress and continue to fight for equality.

Nowadays, more and more people are embracing their copper hair, freckles, and fair skin. It’s both a beautiful and empowering movement.

Hair Care Essentials for Copper Locks

Selecting the Right Shampoo and Conditioner

To keep your hair vibrant and bright, redheads should avoid toning shampoos and conditioners that have blue or purple pigment in them. These pigments will cancel out the warm tones in your hair and make it look dull. Instead, opt for sulfate-free shampoo and silicone-free conditioner.

Hydration and Moisture Retention

Copper hair’s red and orange tones come out best when hair is property hydrated and moisturized. You can add more moisture and hydration to your hair care routine by incorporating a deep conditioner and hair mask every week or so.

Protecting Against Color Fading

Even natural redheads can experience color fading. The most notorious cause for this is sun exposure and heat styling. You can prevent this by applying a UV protectant on your hair whenever you will be exposed to the sun for an extended amount of time and applying heat protectant if you are using hot tools to style your hair.

To restore vibrancy in your hair, you can also incorporate some hair masks and treatments that contain copper or red pigments.

Professional Treatments for Color Enhancement

For a professional touch, you can also ask for a deep conditioning treatment as well as toning treatment at your hair salon. This will help bring out the vibrant colors in your hair and get rid of any unwanted tones.

Styling Tips for Copper Hair

Styling Products for Definition and Shine

Because copper hair is on the lighter side of the spectrum, it’s a bit finer than other hair types. It’s best if you choose lightweight styling products that won’t weigh your tresses down. Opt for medium to light hold hair sprays and a light finishing oil to bring back shine.

Heat Styling Guidelines to Preserve Color

It’s always best to avoid heat styling if you can to preserve the vibrancy of your hair. However, if it cannot be avoided, make sure to apply a heat protectant that can protect against temperatures as high as 450 degrees fahrenheit (or higher).

Red hair is finer in texture, so it doesn’t need very high heat to be able to hold a curl or be straightened. Go as low as you can in temperature (the lower the better) and never go higher than 450 degrees fahrenheit.

Tips for Adding Dimension and Texture

A sea salt or texturizing spray is a great way to add some dimension into the hair without making it stiff or weighing it down. A dry shampoo is also an essential to put some volume into the roots and absorb excess oil.

Maintenance Routine for Vibrant Copper Hair

Washing Frequency and Technique

Fine hair is more easily weighed down by excess oil and product buildup and therefore needs to be washed more often than those with thicker strands. However, it’s still not recommended to wash the hair daily. Start with washing every other day and adjust as needed. You can wash less if you absolve that your hair is not that oily and if you don’t use a lot of products in your hair that can build up.

Trimming and Preventing Split Ends

With every hair type, trimming is essential every couple of weeks. If you’re trying to keep your length, there’s no need to take much off. You can trim only the very ends of your hair to keep from getting split ends and to make the hair more manageable.

Color Touch-Ups and Maintenance Schedule

For those with colored red hair, touch ups can be done every 2-3 weeks once your roots have grown in. For easier maintenance, you can opt for a balayage or highlights that blend seamlessly into your natural hair color to avoid such frequent touch ups.

Dealing with Hair Damage and Breakage

Fine hair can be much more prone to damage and breakage so it definitely requires a bit more care. Find products like shampoo, conditioner, hair masks, and treatments that contain keratin to toughen up your strands and make them less prone to breaking.

Lifestyle Practices for Healthy Copper Hair

You can see the most gorgeous copper tones the best in your hair if it’s healthy and hydrated. Make sure to eat a balanced diet and drink plenty of water throughout the day.

Out from the Ashes

Copper hair has truly been through a lot. It is amazing to see it come out from the ashes and embraced for the beauty that it is. If you have naturally red hair or have given in to the red hair craze, embrace the fiery warmth of this color and live your best life! To really make the most out of it, remember the guidelines we’ve provided here for caring for your red hair.