Cherry cola hair

Who it suits

A cool, deep shade. Usually sits well with winter palettes. See the deep winter, true winter or bright winter palette.

It suits people who want red but want to keep brunette depth, and who prefer burgundy or violet to orange. Colorists tune how much brown, red and violet goes in to suit the person rather than following strict skin-tone rules: chocolate cherry is the warmer, softer version, and black cherry or burgundy the cooler, deeper one.

Find your color season on your photo

Cherry cola hair variations

• Auburn hair

  The warmer, more natural-looking red-brown; cherry cola is its deeper, cooler cousin.

• Chocolate brown

  Where chocolate cherry starts: a warm brown base, with softer red added on top.

• Chestnut brown

  A quieter red-brown with no violet, for a lower-key way into red.

• Cinnamon gloss

  A warm, spiced brown-red: the alternative if you'd rather lean copper than berry.

• Glossy espresso

  A near-black base like this is where black cherry begins: dark red-violet that shows mostly in sunlight.

Upkeep

Deep reds are stubborn and fragile at the same time: the brightness fades fast, but the pigment hangs on in the hair. As it fades, cherry cola can soften into a red-brown, a warm brunette or a muted burgundy, or turn more copper on hair that was lightened first. Colorists often suggest a gloss every four to six weeks to keep the red alive; how often the roots need doing depends on how far the color is from your natural shade. Keeping more of your own brown in the mix makes the regrowth softer than with a solid, bright red.

How to ask your colorist

1. Show photos and say how red you want it: brunette with a red sheen that appears in sunlight, or clearly cherry or burgundy from every angle.
2. Tell them your natural color and anything on your hair now, especially box dye or old permanent color. Red over artificially dark color won't make it brighter, and uneven color may need correcting first.
3. If your hair is very dark, ask whether they'd pre-lighten with color by a level or two, or lighten a few pieces, for the brightness you want.
4. For less upkeep, ask for a lived-in version: lighter strands through the mid-lengths and ends before the color goes on, with the roots kept close to your own. For an all-over result, ask about a slight lift of the base first.
5. Mention what comes next. Going darker later is easy; going back to blonde can mean color removal over several appointments, so if you change color often, ask about a demi-permanent formula.

Keeping the color

Wait at least two days before the first wash so the color settles, then wash less often, with a color-safe shampoo and conditioner and cool or lukewarm water. Keep heat low and use a protectant, cover up in strong sun and chlorine, and skip frequent clarifying shampoos. A color-depositing conditioner or gloss refreshes the red; pick one your colorist suggests so it doesn't push the tone too warm or too purple.

Questions