This fall, a scorching red shade is taking over living rooms and Instagram feeds. According to the beauty platform Fresha, searches for “spicy copper hair color” jumped 300% in three months. The classics
copper hair come back every year as soon as the sweaters come out, but this time, the demand is focused on a more intense, warm and delicious version of this roux. Its name is talked about among hairdressers: the spicy copper.
To describe it, American hairstylist Sierra Adam speaks of “warm copper tones, cinnamon and amber”, a mix that gives a result halfway between brunette and redhead. She adds that the color adds enough warmth to make hair rich, shiny and very dimensional. His colleague Ashley Ruiz sums up the trend bluntly: “Copper is the new brown“, while remembering that the effect can remain very discreet or become frankly flamboyant.
Spicy copper: the spicy version of copper hair that’s a hit
Concretely, the spicy copper is placed a notch above a classic copper. The base remains warm, but the reflections lean more towards cinnamon red than bright orange. Cosmopolitan describes this shade as a deeper copper that balances brown and red tones in equal measure. The result remains wearable on a daily basis, while giving the impression of having really changed your look for the cold season.
For light bases, colorist Ashley Rose recommends shades of golden copper or apricot applied in a patina. She explains that “blonde hair is a great canvas for softer, more translucent reds rather than saturated, bright hues.” Ashley Ruiz specifies that for clients, a simple gloss, such as Danger Jones, is enough, and affirms:
“I consider this color to be low maintenance.”
Copper hair: who is spicy copper suitable for and how to adapt it
Good news, spicy copper adapts to almost all bases. On a chestnut or brown, experts rely on variants close to auburn, mahogany or cowboy copper to maintain depth and a chic effect. Beauté Test reminds us that copper highlights warm up the complexion, especially on dark skin tones, while very fair skin benefits from staying in brighter, golden shades of copper.
In the salon, the ideal remains to come with photos, but also a simple vocabulary.
- If you are blonde, ask for a light spicy copper, with caramel highlights and a softer root;
- On a bronde or chestnut base, ask for a spicy copper balayage that frames the face;
- For brunettes, create a desire for a deep cinnamon red, without lightening the base too much to preserve the shine;
Salon, gloss and maintenance: instructions for spicy copper
Another advantage of this color is that the application is often quicker than a major lightening. Ashley Ruiz explains that for many clients, a base and patina is enough, followed by root touch-ups. She recommends returning every six to eight weeks, depending on the speed of regrowth, to revive highlights and prevent the copper from dulling or turning too red.