Best colors · By hair color
The best colors for red hair
Copper, auburn and strawberry hair is already the focal point, so the right clothes frame it with greens, blues and warm neutrals instead of competing.
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The short answer
Red hair looks best with colors that frame its warmth: forest green, emerald, teal, navy, camel, cream, mustard and chocolate brown. Strawberry blondes suit lighter versions like salmon, aqua and peach. Avoid hot pink, fuchsia, icy pastels, cool gray and orange that matches your hair, which clash with copper or wash out fair, freckled skin.
The palette
Colors that flatter red hair
Red hair covers a wide range: pale strawberry blonde, bright copper, deep auburn and red-brown that only flashes red in sunlight. Most redheads have golden undertones, but not all. Some have fair, pink-toned skin with freckles, and others have olive or deep skin with auburn or henna-red hair. Hair is one input alongside skin undertone and eye color, which is why two redheads can need different palettes and land in different seasons.
Neutrals
Use these where most people reach for black and gray: coats, trousers and suits.
- Cream#F0E4C8
- Camel#B5895A
- Warm Taupe#8A7563
- Deep Olive#4B4A2C
- Chocolate#4E3326
- Navy#25324F
Everyday colors
Wear these right next to your face and hair: knits, shirts and dresses.
- Forest Green#2F5A3A
- Teal#22706E
- Moss#6E7A44
- Denim Blue#48698C
- Mustard#B58E35
- Salmon#D98A6F
Statement colors
For events and evenings: one strong piece, calmed by a neutral.
- Emerald#0D6B4C
- Peacock#135E6C
- Sapphire#26457E
- Brick Red#943A2C
- Warm Plum#633C47
- Antique Gold#A8873D
Why it works
Why these colors work
Still, the colors for redheads that work most often share one idea: they complement copper rather than copy it. Green sits opposite red-orange on the color wheel, so forest green, emerald and teal make red hair look richer. Navy and denim blue do the same more quietly. Warm neutrals like camel, cream and chocolate let your hair lead. Colors that fight its warmth, like fuchsia and icy pink, make hair and skin look off, and colors too close to it turn hair and outfit into one block.
Your season
Seasons where red hair is common
Warm Autumn
Copper and auburn hair with golden skin and amber, hazel or green eyes: rust, olive, teal and camel.
Warm Spring
Bright golden-red hair with clear, warm skin: coral, warm turquoise, poppy red and golden yellow.
Soft Autumn
Muted red-brown or faded strawberry hair with soft, blended features: sage, soft teal and dusty terracotta.
Light Spring
Strawberry blonde hair with fair, peachy skin and light eyes: peach, aqua, warm pink and light camel.
One trait doesn’t settle a season: undertone, depth and how soft or bright your coloring is decide it together. Avarobe reads all three from one selfie and shows your best and worst colors on your own face.
Keep away from your face
Colors to avoid
- Hot Pink#F0368F
- Fuchsia#C71585
- Icy Lavender#E4DDF5
- Baby Pink#F4C2D2
- Neon Orange#FF5F1F
- Cool Gray#A9AEB5
These either clash with the warmth of red hair or wash out the fair skin that often comes with it. Wear them on your lower half, or pick a warm cousin: coral instead of hot pink, warm taupe instead of cool gray.
Put it together
How to wear them
- Put green near your face first. A forest green sweater, teal scarf or emerald dress does more for red hair than any other single color.
- Keep oranges and rusts a clear shade lighter or darker than your hair, so your outfit frames the color instead of matching it.
- Pick denim in a mid or dark indigo. Blue sits opposite orange, so jeans and chambray shirts make copper hair look brighter.
- Match the depth of your outfit to your hair: strawberry blondes look best in lighter, softer shades, while deep auburn can carry burgundy, peacock and espresso.
- For white shirts and tees, go for cream, ecru or ivory. Stark white makes pink-toned, freckled skin look ruddier.
Makeup
Lips in terracotta, peachy nude, brick and warm berry; an orange-red looks striking with copper hair. Blush in apricot or soft peach. Brown, bronze and plum shadows make green and hazel eyes stand out, and an auburn brow pencil looks more natural than dark brown.
Metals
Yellow gold, rose gold, copper and bronze echo the warmth of red hair. If your skin is pink-toned and your auburn leans cool, brushed silver works too, especially mixed with gold.
Glasses and accessories
Tortoiseshell, honey, olive and dark green frames suit red hair better than black. Cognac, tan and chocolate leather look more natural than black for bags, belts and shoes. A teal or green scarf is the quickest way to add color near your face.
Questions
Red hair: FAQ
What colors should redheads avoid?
Hot pink, fuchsia, magenta, cool pastels like icy lavender and baby pink, and orange or rust that exactly matches your hair. The pinks clash with copper, the pastels wash out fair skin, and a perfect match makes your hair disappear into your outfit. If you love pink, choose a warm coral or salmon instead.
Can redheads wear red?
Yes, if the red has the same temperature as your hair. Copper and auburn hair suits brick, tomato and rust reds; strawberry blonde suits coral reds; cooler, wine-toned auburn can wear burgundy and cranberry. Keep the red a clear step lighter or darker than your hair so the two read as a pairing, not a match.
Can redheads wear pink?
Yes, but choose warm or soft pinks: coral, salmon, peach, dusty rose and terracotta pink. They share the warmth of your hair. Bubblegum, hot pink and fuchsia are cool and loud, so they compete with copper. Redheads with pink-toned skin and cool auburn hair can wear soft rose and raspberry better than most.
What colors look good on redheads with fair skin?
The best colors for red hair with fair skin are soft, medium-depth shades: moss, sage, teal, warm navy, camel, cream and peach. Very dark colors and neon brights create more contrast than fair skin can carry, so freckles and hair look harsher. Strawberry blondes with fair skin often do best in the lighter, clearer shades of Light Spring.
Is black a good color for redheads?
Black works best on deep auburn hair with medium or deep skin. On fair redheads with copper or strawberry hair, it can look stark and make the skin look pale. Try chocolate, espresso, navy or deep olive for tops and jackets, and let black show up in boots, belts and evening bags.
Keep exploring
Related guides
Avarobe
See your best colors on your own face
One selfie: Avarobe reads your undertone, depth and contrast, names your season and shows the colors that flatter you, and the one to keep away from your face.
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