Are you looking for a fabulous new hair color? Or maybe two? Black and red hair is the perfect combination of two bold and striking colors.
It’s not about having black or red hair – it’s about rocking them both! And finding the perfect balance between the two.
These two colors compliment one another beautifully.
Whether you’re looking for an edgy style or a more understated look, this color combo has all the attitude that you could ever want.
And we’re here with everything you need to know about rocking red and black hair with style.
Table of Contents
- Red and Black Hair: Where Bold Meets Versatile.
- 8 Trendsetting Red and Black Hairstyles.
- #1 Black & crimson ombré
- #2 Black and red balayage
- #3 Half and half hair
- #4 Black hair with red highlights
- #5 Black hair with red streaks
- #6 Red hair with black roots
- #7 Black and red dip dye
- #8 Black and red peekaboo hair
- Will black and red hair suit me?
- Which Hair Color Suits Me?
- Can I dye my own hair black and red?
- Will I need bleach to get the look?
- How long will black and red hair last?
- How often should I dye my hair?
- How to care for black and red hair.
- Parting words
Red and Black Hair: Where Bold Meets Versatile.
Black and red are two of the most popular shades to wear thanks to being totally versatile and always in season.
Red can be too bright on its own, while black can look too harsh without any other color to soften it up.
But when they come together in harmony, they make one hell of a statement!
There are plenty of different shades and tones you can play around with if you want to mix things up.
From ombre, balayage, two-tone split dye and colorful streaks, the style possibilities that work with these colors are endless.
All that’s necessary is either black and red hair dye and a statement style in mind!
Check out the latest Red and black hair styles on our Pinterest board looks for ideas and inspiration.
8 Trendsetting Red and Black Hairstyles.
Looking for a new twist on your hairstyle? Check out these 8 simple yet striking red and black hairstyles.
They’re easy to love and even easier to wear, giving your look a fun update. Whether you’re after a bold new vibe or just a hint of color, we’ve got some great ideas to share with you.
#1 Black & crimson ombré
Ombré is a popular choice for these two vibrant hues.
This coloring method involves starting with darker roots and gradually lightening the ends of the hair, rather than going from dark to light all in one go.
This style looks particularly good on people who want to add some color into their look without it being too obvious or flashy.
Go for a deep black ombré base with crimson or burgundy-red as your accent color.
Or swap it around for a reverse ombre.
#2 Black and red balayage
Balayage is an option if you want to go for something slightly more subtle.
This is a less noticeable form of highlighting, where the stylist applies dye in painted sweeps throughout your hair.
This works most beautifully with a soft black base and copper or mahogany accents for an intense and stunning look.
#3 Half and half hair
Another option for people who want to enjoy the benefits of both red and black hair, but don’t want to commit one way or another, is half and half hair.
Also known as split dye, it’s basically like it sounds; half your hair will be dyed black while the other half is red!
Go for a jet black and deep cherry red combo and you can’t go wrong.
#4 Black hair with red highlights
Highlights are another easy way to add some splash of color into your look, without actually dyeing your entire head.
Off-black hair looks stunning with intense or fiery red highlights because the contrast really stands out.
However, if you just want a splash of color rather than making it an all-year-round thing then you can always opt for some temporary highlights instead.
#5 Black hair with red streaks
Streaks are a really easy and subtle way of wearing these two glossy colors together.
Just make sure that the difference between your dark and light colors contrasts enough to look noticeable.
A Transylvania black base with a bright pop of cool raspberry colored hair streaks around your face will look incredible.
#6 Red hair with black roots
If you want to go for a more traditional look, then we suggest choosing a really deep shade of midnight black and a bright, vibrant fire engine red.
What you should aim to do is make it so that your roots are dark, creating a striking contrast and a gorgeous finish.
#7 Black and red dip dye
Another option is the dip dye look, where you dye your hair at the bottom but leave the top free from color change.
This creates a striking effect which will look great however you wear it.
Try a raven black base with cherry red tips and vice versa.
#8 Black and red peekaboo hair
This underneath hair color peekaboo style is great for people who want to experiment with something a little bit different, but don’t like the idea of dyeing their entire head.
You can experiment with jet black hair with a pop of bright red like ruby or crimson underneath, or vice versa!
Will black and red hair suit me?
Red and black is a great way to experiment with new styles and colors if you’re looking to be adventurous.
You never know, you might find that this combination of hair colors suits your skin tone more than you ever imagined.
Redheads are most commonly associated with this look, but that doesn’t mean that everyone else can’t enjoy it.
If you have naturally black hair, adding a pop of red color is easy too.
All you need to do is find the right shade for you. This will involve finding out if you have cool or warm undertones.
Black and green, black and orange and black and white hair are alternative statement color combos if you have lighter hair.
If you’re not sure what skin tones you have, you can use our handy checklist below!
If you have cool undertones:
- Your skin tone is pink or pale.
- You blush easily!
- Jewel and pastel colors are so your thing.
- The colur yellow washes you out and does not look good on you.
- You have blue not green veins in your wrist.
- Pearls and silver jewellery look awesome on you.
If you have warm undertones:
- You have red or golden tones in your natural hair.
- Your skin tone is golden, tan or olive.
- You might have freckles.
- You have green not blue veins in your wrist.
- You suit bright or rich shades better.
- Gold jewellery looks awesome on you.
If you’re still unsure, take out quick quiz! This will tell you what hair colors will suit you.
Just answer a few quick questions and you can apply this color theory to your hair, your wardrobe and your life!
Which Hair Color Suits Me?
Can I dye my own hair black and red?
If you want to dye your hair this trend, there are plenty of great hair dyes on the market designed specifically to create this look.
You can use permanent or semi permanent dye.
We’d recommend permanent black for full coverage and semi-permanent for reds to get that brightness and tone.
If you’re going to brave DIYing the look at home, make sure to start off with the right base color.
This will probably involve bleaching your hair to get it light enough to dye again.
Of course, the style you’re going for makes all the difference!
Check out these awesome hairstyles below! They’re perfect for showing off this hair color combo.
Beginners can start with dipped ends or streaks.
Go for something more tricky like ombre and balayage if you’re feeling confident and ambitious!
If you’re unsure, your hairdresser is your friend.
Talk to them about the right options for you with your hair condition and skin tone in mind.
Will I need bleach to get the look?
It’s likely you will! But this all depends on the color your hair is now and whether it’s been dyed before (and how much!).
If you have dark hair – you may need to lighten it with bleach or tint it red if you want this look. It may take a few processes if your hair is very dark.
If you have fair hair, you could have the right base to take these strong colors.
If you’re looking for a more subtle change, balayage or highlights are probably what you’ll need!
“If you have black hair in the range of 1–4 on the color scale with 1 being the most black and 4 being very dark brown, you absolutely can not dye your hair red without using either a bleach or some form of lightening/lifting agent.”
Karen Marie Shelton, CEO & Founder of HairBoutique.com
How long will black and red hair last?
This color combination is stunning, but it isn’t very long-lasting.
Your hair dye will start to fade after just a few washes. So you’ll have to re-dye your locks fairly regularly if this is the look you’re going for.
If you’d dyed your hair both colors, red is more likely to fade first.
But don’t be tempted to top it up or re-dye it on its own.
It’s best to refresh both your tones to keep the style looking fresh!
How often should I dye my hair?
It will fade after a few washes, so you’ll have to dye it again fairly soon.
How often you should dye your hair depends on how much you want your color to show up.
For the best results, we recommend getting your hair touched up again every four-six weeks if you don’t want it to fade away completely!
How to care for black and red hair.
Any of these styles are easy to care for, but needs a little bit of extra TLC in comparison to other shades.
Make sure you’re using quality, sulphate-free shampoos and color-safe conditioners to keep your color looking bright and healthy!
To prevent fading, opt for a deep conditioning treatment every time you wash your hair to restore moisture and shine.
Products that will help keep your locks protected include those which contain UV filters, as well as those with moisturising properties.
If you want your color to look bright and glossy then we recommend using a good heat protector every time you heat style your hair.
Parting words
This truly is a striking combination that looks awesome when it’s done properly.
If you’re already a black or a redhead then it can be nice to switch things up a little bit.
If not, there are plenty of ways to get this look without dyeing your whole head.
Dip-dye some highlights, add some temporary streaks or try the peekaboo technique – whatever you choose, we hope this article has proved helpful!
