Which is the best copper hair dye right now?
This on-trend colour is everywhere. It’s a shimmering red-orange hue that looks gorgeous with any style in any season.
In Copper hair | How to get the beautiful bronze look at home, we told you all you need to know to find out if this really is the colour for you.
Now we’re here with our favourite copper hair dyes to help you get the look!
We all know that that this is the most in-demand hair colour of the moment.
Copper locks look amazing, but it can be hard to find a good quality at-home dye if you’re not sure what shade would suit your skin tone and style. That’s where we come in!
Our expert team has found six of our favourite hair dyes for you to choose from so that you can get the look without paying salon prices!
Read on for our list of best shimmering hair dyes and see which one suits you best!
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Contents
- 1 What is copper hair?
- 2 Can I dye my hair copper at home?
- 3 Which are the best copper hair dyes?
- 4 Best copper hair dyes at a glance.
- 5 TOP PICK!
- 6 Garnier Olia Copper Hair Dye Permanent.
- 7 #1 Schwarzkopf Live Intense Colour, Mango Twist.
- 8 #2 L’Oreal Preference Infinia, Mango Intense.
- 9 #3 Garnier Olia Copper Dye Permanent.
- 10 #4 Garnier Nutrisse Light Natural Copper Permanent Dye.
- 11 #5 Clairol Nice’ n Easy Crème, Golden Auburn.
- 12 They say:
- 13 TOP PICK!
- 14 Garnier Olia Copper Dye Permanent.
- 15 Buyer’s guide: How to choose the right copper hair dye for you.
- 16 How to dye your hair at home.
- 17 Will copper colour fade fast?
- 18 Parting words.
What is copper hair?
Copper is part of the metallic trend of colours that include silver and golden shades like strawberry blonde. It’s a heady mix of golden, red and orange tones.
Brighter than auburn hair or amber hair and spicier than red hair or ginger hair, it’s a rich, bronze colour that is loved for its warm base of yellow, gold and orange shades that suit practically everyone, warm or cool skin tones alike.
Check out the latest looks for ideas and inspiration.
Can I dye my hair copper at home?
How well your hair will take to this hue depends on the condition your hair is in, and the colour your hair is now.
If you have dark hair – so mid-brown and darker, you can this shade to put richness and depth into your hair.
For brighter tones, you’ll need to lighten your hair first as colour cannot lift colour.
If you have light hair – so light brown and blonde, you can achieve a gorgeous bright shade but make sure you refer to the guides on the sides of the box dye to pick the right shade for you.
Which are the best copper hair dyes?
Here are some of the top box dyes you can try to put some shimmery, bronze beauty on your barnet today!
Always do a strand test first to determine what the colour will look like on your hair.
Best copper hair dyes at a glance.
| Product | Looks like | Best for | Buy now |
|---|---|---|---|
| Schwarzkopf Live Intense Colour Hair Dye, Mango Twist. |   | Warm tones and blending. | |
| L'Oreal Preference Infinia, Mango Intense Copper Hair Dye. |   | Super soft copper hair colour. | |
| Garnier Olia Copper Hair Dye Permanent. |   | Vivid, long lasting copper hair colour. | |
| Garnier Nutrisse Light Natural Copper Permanent Hair Dye. |   | Subtle copper hair colour. | |
| Clairol Nice' n Easy Crème, Golden Auburn. |   | Warm, golden copper hair tones. |
TOP PICK!
Garnier Olia Copper Hair Dye Permanent.
Best for: Vivid, long lasting copper colour.
This is a mighty vivid colour and for us it came out just like the box! The natural glint and richness of the shade is stunning.
It’s a warm, almost golden-orange that made our skin look glowing too. It also lasted better than the other brands on this list. This is the favourite hair dye for us.
#1 Schwarzkopf Live Intense Colour, Mango Twist.
They say:
- A fiery tone with perfect depth.
- This has a built-in ‘vibrancy serum’ with vitamins and oils.
- Stunning shine.
- Up to 70% grey hair coverage.
Reviewers say:
“My natural hair is auburn but I love going even more vibrant with this dark copper dye.
You can see all the different shades over my natural hair. Would definitely recommend it.”
“This colour definitely has the wow factor. It looks super natural and compliments my fair complexion so much! Will be using it again for sure!”
“This is the best dye I’ve tried with so far. I’ve tried L’Oreal and Garnier and none compare to this. You should believe the great reviews guys!”
We say:
We were most excited about trying this colour if only for the name of it!
We tried it on light blonde hair that has recently been balayaged. It was easy to apply and we left it on for 30 mins as recommended.
At first, the colour was epic. It gave a bright orange hue to our lightest strands and blended well into the rest of our hair to provide an even coverage.
After the first two washes, the colour started to fade quite fast but to a lovely light auburn. Good reason to stock up.
Best for: Warm tones and blending.
#2 L’Oreal Preference Infinia, Mango Intense.
They say:
- From the experts in fade-defying hair colour.
- For show-stopping gorgeous colour.
- The powerful direct dyes in the Colour Extender help keep your colour look more beautiful, for longer.
- Fade resistant.
Reviewers say:
“This shade is absolutely gorgeous. The depth of colour is lovely.
The colour extender it comes with is fantastic for brightening the colour back up in between dyes. In summary, I love it!”
“This made my hair have a brilliant, rich colour.
Sadly as with all reds it faded but no quicker than others and in line with my expectations. Hair felt in really good condition after using it too.”
“Love this hair dye. So easy to apply and left my hair looking healthy without any sign of dryness or frizz. I’d recommend it to anyone.”
We say:
This one gave our hair a metallic shine and lustre.
We used it on pre-lightened hair which really does the trick if you want to achieve a vibrant colour.
This one was the number one for leaving our hair in great condition.
It was very dry after lightening but after leaving this in for 40 mins and then conditioning with the lovely smelling conditioner, our new shimmering hair felt lovely and soft.
Best for: Super soft copper colour.
#3 Garnier Olia Copper Dye Permanent.
They say:
- A vivid, bright, oil-powered hair colour
- Ammonia free and a nice smell.
- Visibly improves the quality of hair
- Olia is all about oil that infuses and nourishes your hair.
Reviewers say:
“I used this hair dye along with the highlighter to lighten my hair first as it was a little too dark to begin with. What an awesome result .
The colour gave my hair a glossy shine and covered all my pesky grey hairs. Love it.”
“This colour has serious staying power! I wash my hair every week and I only have to top up my hair every other month now. With other brands I was refreshing the colour every 3-4 weeks!”
“I have dark ash brown hair so I wasn’t expecting it to be too bright but it was! My hair has a lot of shine and when the sun hits it it’s so bright and glossy. I’m so pleased.”
We say:
This is a mighty vivid colour and for us it came out just like the box!
We tried it on light brown hair and it’s on the orange side of orange-red and will no doubt become more orange as it washes out.
But the natural glint and richness of this tone is stunning and it’s a warm, almost golden-orange that made our skin look glowing too.
It also lasted better than the other brands on this list.
Best for: Vivid, long lasting copper colour.
#4 Garnier Nutrisse Light Natural Copper Permanent Dye.
They say:
- Long lasting hair colour performance
- Rich colour, silky, shiny hair
- Intensely nourishes and protects against hair dryness for up to eight weeks.
- Fresh, fruity fragrance.
Reviewers say:
“After I had used this, I had lovely comments from friends who said it looks so natural!
My hair was in really good condition. It’s easy to use and apply and the colour is radiant!”
“Lovely tones in the copper colour. Would use this again.”
“This hair dye went on very easily and the dark metallic colour is rich and left my hair feeling very soft.”
We say:
We tried this one on light brown dyed hair.
After washing it out, the bronze tones are really subtle and the colour wasn’t as vibrant as we would’ve liked.
It’s more reddish than orangey-golden hues but it’s still a rich, deep colour.
This is a dark hue and a great product if you want to ease into copper gently or just try it out. Our hair felt really smooth too.
Best for: Subtle copper colour.
#5 Clairol Nice’ n Easy Crème, Golden Auburn.
They say:
- A natural looking permanent hair colour
- A blend of three tones.
- Highlights and conditioners at every step.
- Nice’n Easy Crème is gentle on hair and scalp due to its oil infused colour.
Reviewers say:
“I usually have highlights but been thinking about going slightly darker for a while so thought I’d try this color.
It left my hair feeling lovely and soft and it was easy to brush afterwards which pretty much never happens!”
“It colored my hair really well from root to tips including the unsightly greys I had around my temples.”
“This didn’t dye my scalp as a lot of others do! My hair looks healthy and bouncy. The colour is vibrant and I felt like I had it done at the salon.”
We say:
Nice n Easy certainly is and although this doesn’t say ‘Copper’ on the box, that’s the colour you’ll get.
We used this on a dark blonde/caramel hair colour base and the results were a gorgeous, soft hue with golden undertones.
After a couple of washes, the dye has begun to fade to yellow, but this isn’t anything a good purple toning shampoo and conditioner can’t fix until the next colouring treatment.
Best for: Warm, golden copper tones.
TOP PICK!
Garnier Olia Copper Dye Permanent.
Best for: Vivid, long lasting copper colour.
This is a mighty vivid colour and for us it came out just like the box! The natural glint and richness of this shade is stunning.
It’s a warm, almost golden-orange that made our skin look glowing too.
It also lasted better than the other brands on this list. This is the favourite hair dye for us.
Buyer’s guide: How to choose the right copper hair dye for you.
Copper hair dye is a great way to add a pop of color and spice up your style. But how do you know which copper hair dye is the right one for you? Here’s a buyer’s guide with everything you need to consider when picking out the perfect copper hue for your next look.
Hair Type and Texture
Is your hair thick or thin? Straight or curly? Hair porosity matters too.
Knowing the details of your hair will help you pick the best formula of dye that will work with your strands to give you the best coverage and color.
For example, if you have thick, curly hair, look for formulas specifically designed for thicker textures and more resistant locks, as this will ensure that the color lasts longer.
Skin Tone
When choosing a new shade, keep in mind that certain colors may look better against certain skin tones than others.
If you have cool undertones (think pink-ish), then opt for cooler shades of copper such as bronze or rose gold.
If you have warm undertones (think yellow-ish), then go for warmer shades like red or orange.
Semi-Permanent vs Permanent hair dye
When choosing a new color, it’s also important to keep in mind whether you want semi-permanent or permanent results.
Semi-permanent dyes are perfect if you just want to try out a temporary color without committing long-term; these formulas last anywhere from 4–6 weeks before fading out completely.
Permanent dyes offer longer lasting results—anywhere from 6–8 months or even longer—but they require more maintenance and upkeep as they grow out over time.
So think about which style works best with your lifestyle before making any decisions!
Strand Test
This is an essential step no matter what kind of dye you’re using!
Before committing to the full application process, always perform a strand test by applying just a bit of the product on a small section of hair at the back of your head or near the nape of your neck (just make sure it’s not visible!).
Wait 24 hours before making any decisions—this allows enough time for any reactions or sensitivities to surface before fully dying all over!
Finally, make sure that before applying any type of permanent dye, always do a patch test first! This will ensure that there are no adverse reactions between the product and your skin prior to full application—especially if you have sensitive skin.
To do this, mix some of the product according to instructions on the box and apply it on a small area of skin behind your ear using cotton swab; wait 48 hours and observe for any signs of irritation such as redness or itching before going ahead with coloring your head!
How to dye your hair at home.
Will copper colour fade fast?
Because it’s part of the red colour gang, it means, just like red hair dyes, it will unfortunately fade quicker than other hair dye colours.
This is because red dye is made up of extra large molecules that slide out of your hair with every wash.
To keep the colour locked in, you’ll need to use specially formulated shampoos and conditioners to make the colour stay rich and vibrant for longer.
And don’t forget to follow all of our top coloured hair care tips in How to look after coloured hair can keep it luscious for longer.
Parting words.
Copper hair color has become one of the hottest trends in recent years—and we can understand why!
From warm rose golds to bright oranges, there are so many stunning shades to choose from that’ll help level up your look in no time at all.
So whether you’re considering semi-permanent or permanent dyes, remember these tips when shopping around—your perfect copper hue awaits!