Rich, red and ravishing, auburn hair is a heady mix of brown-red-orange gorgeousness that sets our hearts on fire. It’s one of the most popular hair colours this year that’s growing its fan base for its ability to look on point from season to season. But which is the best auburn hair dye you need in your life right now?
Let’s find out!
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Contents
- 1 What is auburn hair color?
- 2 Can I dye my hair auburn at home?
- 3 Which is the best auburn hair dye?
- 4 Best auburn hair dyes at a glance.
- 5 TOP PICK!
- 6 Preference Infinia Hair Dye, Brooklyn Intense Copper Auburn.
- 7 #1 Clairol Nice’ n Easy Crème, Light Auburn.
- 8 #2 Schwarzkopf Colour Expert, Auburn Brown.
- 9 #3 Revlon Colorsilk Bright Auburn.
- 10 #4 Garnier Nutrisse Creme Colour, Chestnut Auburn.
- 11 #5 John Frieda Precision Foam, Dark Red Brown.
- 12 #6 Preference Infinia Hair Dye, Brooklyn Intense Copper Auburn.
- 13 TOP PICK!
- 14 Preference Infinia Hair Dye, Brooklyn Intense Copper Auburn.
- 15 Buyer’s guide: How to choose the right auburn hair dye for you.
- 16 How to dye your hair at home.
- 17 Auburn hair dye FAQs
- 18 Is auburn a cool or warm color?
- 19 Is auburn a natural hair color?
- 20 Parting words.
What is auburn hair color?
Auburn is is a rusty orange-red-brown hue that comes from the red hair family.
We love it because, like brown shades and red hair colour, it suits pretty much everyone, whether you have cool or warm undertones.
It’s a beautiful shade of red that has been trending for a few years now.
It’s often described as being somewhere between dark brown and rich red, with the perfect balance of both colours.
It’s a great colour to use for lowlights and hair streaks, it also looks fabulous as a base for blonde highlights.
It’s an awesome option for those who want an autumn-inspired hair colour without going full-on ginger or pumpkin spice latte.
You’ll find shades in anything from a bright, almost copper tone to a medium chestnut or strawberry to a natural dark chocolatey red.
So you’re likely to find a few different hues and styles to suit you.
Check out the latest looks for ideas and inspiration.
Can I dye my hair auburn at home?
Yes! It is completely possible to achieve this on-trend colour at home.
There are an awesome range of auburn box dyes that you can buy off the shelf for every hair type to achieve that perfect all over rich amber sheen.
Just make sure you choose the right shade for the colour your hair is now. Always check the side of the hair dye box you choose to match it with the colour your hair is now.
If your hair is very dark, you may need to bleach it to get the right shade and tone.
If your hair is a dark brown or black – you’ll need to lighten your hair first to get the look.
This will involve bleach so you might want to chat to your hairdresser. You can’t lighten colour with colour!
If your hair is a light brown or blonde – you’re good to go! You can dye your hair this shade yourself for sure. Just follow the advice on the hair dye box.
And don’t forget to always do a strand test to see what the colour will look like on your hair!
Which is the best auburn hair dye?
We’ve searched high and low to bring you the auburn box dyes that will give you this lush loveliness at home!
Best auburn hair dyes at a glance.
| Hair dye | Looks like | Best for | Buy now |
|---|---|---|---|
| Clairol Nice' n Easy Crème, Light Auburn. |   | Warm tones and blending. | |
| Schwarzkopf Colour Expert, Auburn Brown. |   | Cool brunettes. | |
| Revlon Colorsilk Bright Auburn |   | Warm blondes/Light Browns. | |
| Garnier Nutrisse Creme Colour, Chestnut Auburn. |   | Cool mid to dark browns. | |
| John Frieda Precision Foam, Medium Red Brown. |   | Long-lasting colour for cool, dark tones. | |
| L'Oreal Preference Infinia |   | Long-lasting luscious colour. |
TOP PICK!
Preference Infinia Hair Dye, Brooklyn Intense Copper Auburn.
Best for: Long-lasting luscious colour.
This is a gorgeous warm auburn colour. We tried it on dark brown hair and the depth of colour is stunning.
It has multidimensional undertones of metallic copper-red hues. The dye comes with a colour extender so you can brighten the colour back up in between dyes.
Loads of the reviews said it lasted really well too. This is the favourite one for us.
#1 Clairol Nice’ n Easy Crème, Light Auburn.
They say:
- An Nice N Easy to use hair dye to get the colour you desire at home.
- The non-drip colour crème smells fresh, not of ammonia (there is none).
- Claims 100% grey coverage that gives natural looking tones.
- Kind to your hair.
Reviewers say:
“This is a lovely colour that lasts longer than others I have tried. I wash my hair twice a week and I find the colour lasts anything from 3-4 months.”
“I am so pleased with the result – shiny, healthy, light red hair. I feel like I should’ve changed to this colour years ago!”
We say:
This hair dye was easy to apply with a non-drip creme that really didn’t go everywhere.
What impressed us most about this one was how it blended the brown root regrowth well with the rest of our blonde hair.
The tone was a little more warm and orangey than it looks on the box. But nothing a little blue shampoo won’t keep at bay.
Best for: Warm tones and blending.
#2 Schwarzkopf Colour Expert, Auburn Brown.
They say:
- This contains OmegaPlex, which strengthens micro-bonds within each hair fibre, during and after colouring.
- It gives improved hair quality and an exceptional colour result.
- Easily detangled & deeply cared-for hair
Reviewers say:
“My hair is naturally on the dry, porous side but it feels soft, strong and the colour is wonderful red brunette.”
“I love this dye. I bought the matching Schwartzkopf colour freeze shampoo and conditioner to go with it and it worked great. Also it smelled lovely!”
“I have quite dark hair naturally and I wanted a dark red and this does the trick. I get so many compliments with this hair colour.”
We say:
This is a lovely subtle colour at the browner end of the spectrum. It doesn’t come with gloves, so get some strong, disposable ones.
Our hair felt soft and shiny after application. Leave it longer than the 30 mins that the instructions say if your hair is already colour treated.
It seems quite brown at first but gets redder after each wash.
Best for: Cool brunettes.
#3 Revlon Colorsilk Bright Auburn.
They say:
- This specially blended, permanent hair color formula includes our Revlon 3D Color Gel Technology, which deposits rich, dimensional color that looks natural and lasts.
- Leaves your hair in better condition than before you coloured it.
Reviewers say:
“I have been dyeing my hair this shade for 8 years. The colour keeps really well and is and it’s close to the colour on the box”.
“It’s so nice and vibrant! It lasts long and is easy to apply. I have long medium brown hair that’s quite thick so I use two packs.”
“I recently had my hair lightened and then I coloured it myself bright auburn at home and I’m really happy with the results.”
We say:
This is a fantastically vibrant shade. It lifted our dark blonde hair to almost a strawberry blonde.
Our hair felt super silky with this and the conditioner is wonderful although we could’ve done with it being bigger as we used it all in one go.
As the reviews say, you’ll need two boxes if you have long or particularly thick hair.
This is also on the orange-red spectrum although it’s not as golden as copper shades.
It’s really bright for a couple of days but it does dull down.
Best for: Warm blondes/Light browns.
#4 Garnier Nutrisse Creme Colour, Chestnut Auburn.
They say:
- Natural-looking hair colour result.
- Rich and long lasting hair colour performance.
- Intensely nourishes and protects against hair dryness for up to 8 weeks.
- After Colour Conditioner enriched with 4 oils for silky, shiny hair.
Reviewers say:
“This hair colour is brilliant and left my hair feeling really soft. Perfect colour, same as on the box. Pleasant smell, so easy to use, does not drip.”
“I’m about 20% grey and it covers this so well. It leaves a variety of shades in my hair so there is no flat feeling or look.”
“I tried this a week after dying my hair another colour. This really worked and had a glossy, shimmery effect.”
We say:
We used this on medium brown hair and it came out a lot darker than the colour examples on the box but still a gorgeous rich hue of red.
This made our hair closer to a luxurious cherry brown, but it goes to show that your base colour matters.
There was real depth to the colour that we loved.
Best for: Cool mid to dark browns.
#5 John Frieda Precision Foam, Dark Red Brown.
They say:
- Lock in rich, salon-quality red hair colour with our thick, saturating foam hair dye.
- The non-drip foam penetrates your hair strands for deep colour saturation.
- The nourishing after-colour conditioner seals in colour for long-lasting, tonal richness.
Reviewers say:
“This dye is such a lovely colour. It was very simple to follow and covered all my hair. But do make sure you read the instructions before using.”
“I used this and my hair came out exactly the shade I had hoped for. A week later, it’s still soft and shiny and looks healthy.”
“This colour was just right and covered really evenly with no patchy bits. I also have a lot of grey hairs but this covered it fantastically.”
We say:
We love John Frieda Precision Foam Colour for how easy it is to use, and how long the colour lasts.
This colour is super rich and almost mahogany on our dark brown hair. It gave a very even colour and had a glossy sheen to it after drying.
This is one of our faves as our hair felt more saturated with the foam and in better condition after dyeing. We have high hopes that this colour will last a while.
Best for: Long-lasting colour for cool, dark tones.
#6 Preference Infinia Hair Dye, Brooklyn Intense Copper Auburn.
They say:
- Lustrous colour results, and fade-resistant formula.
- Comes with a new precious High Shine Elixir.
- Colour radiance for up to 8 weeks.
- Improved fragrance for a better colour experience.
Reviewers say:
“Amazing hair colour. Very vibrant. and super easy to apply.”
“I’ve been a red head on and off for years – this shade is absolutely gorgeous.”
“The best hair dye I’ve ever used. Long lasting so you don’t have to worry about it fading any time soon. Glossy finish and easy to apply!!”
We say:
This is a gorgeous warm colour. We tried it on dark brown hair and the depth of colour is stunning.
It has multidimensional undertones of metallic copper-red hues. The dye comes with a colour extender so you can brighten the colour back up in between dyes.
Loads of the reviews said it lasted really well too. This is the favourite one for us.
Best for: Long-lasting luscious colour.
TOP PICK!
Preference Infinia Hair Dye, Brooklyn Intense Copper Auburn.
Best for: Long-lasting luscious colour.
This a gorgeous warm colour. We tried it on dark brown hair and the depth of colour is stunning.
It has multidimensional undertones of metallic copper-red hues. The dye comes with a colour extender so you can brighten the colour back up in between dyes.
Loads of the reviews said it lasted really well too. This is the favourite one for us.
Buyer’s guide: How to choose the right auburn hair dye for you.
If you’re looking to stand out in a sea of blondes and brunettes, auburn hair is the perfect way to make a statement. Read on for our comprehensive guide on how to choose the right auburn hair dye for you.
Hair Type & Texture Matters
Before you get started, it’s important to take into consideration your hair type and texture.
Is your hair fine or thick? Straight or curly? Low porosity or high porosity? Knowing this information will give you an idea of how easily your hair absorbs color as well as which shades will best suit your natural look.
Skin Tone Matters Too
Once you know your hair type, it’s time to consider what kind of hue will look most natural against your skin tone.
Fair skin tones tend to look better with cooler shades such as mahogany red while those with dark skin should opt for warmer hues like copper red.
If in doubt, seek professional advice from a stylist before taking the plunge!
Semi-Permanent vs Permanent
When it comes to dyeing your hair, there are two main types of dye—semi-permanent and permanent.
Semi-permanent dyes last up to 15 washes and are ideal if you want something that won’t stay put forever and can easily be changed up when needed.
Permanent hair dyes last longer (up to 8 weeks) but require more maintenance than semi-permanent dyes so keep that in mind when making your decision.
The strand test
Before committing to any particular shade of auburn dye, it’s always wise—and recommended—to do a strand test first in order get an idea of what the final result will look like on your own head.
This will give you an opportunity see how different dyes interact with your individual strands and help ensure that you get exactly what you’re looking for before going all in!
How to dye your hair at home.
Auburn hair dye FAQs
Is auburn a cool or warm color?
It’s more of a warm colour thanks to its natural red undertones so it will really suit those who have warm skin tones too.
That’s not to say it can’t be cooled down by choosing shades of red that are more on the brunette end of the spectrum.
Lowlights and balayage hairstyles also work amazingly when blended with cooler shades.
Is auburn a natural hair color?
This is a natural hair color that can be found in many shades from deep burgundy to bright copper or cinnamon, with some people having red or strawberry blonde strands as well.
It varies depending on what your parents passed down for genes!
The idea of going au naturel has become increasingly popular over the last few years and people are now using plant dyes like henna to achieve that natural looking red hue rather than harsh chemicals on their locks.
Parting words.
When it comes to the best hair dye to get the classic look, you can’t go wrong with any of these.
Auburn tones will change your life, make you feel like a new person, and give you the confidence to take on the world.
All are great for different reasons and all will give you that rich red tone that’s sure to turn heads this season!
So what are you waiting for?