Check out InStyle’s favorite red hair looks so you can be prepared for your next color appointment with tons of inspiration.

As summer cools down and is replaced by a crisp autumn, listen closely and you'll hear a leaf lose its green color as it hits the ground. And if you listen even closer, you'll also hear someone ask their colorist: “I want to be a redhead for fall.”

While going auburn for autumn is not a new concept, it is definitely a trendy one.

“Right now, we're seeing a resurgence of the auburn/dark hues when it comes to red hair,” says celebrity colorist Dimitris Giannetos. “Especially with the viral cowboy copper trend that we saw over the summer, people are looking for a more subtle shade of red. I think this trend is only going to skyrocket as we enter Fall, as we move away from sun-kissed blondes and transition to darker vibes.”

Meet the expert

Dimitris Giannetos is a celebrity colorist for stars like Kim Kardashian and Meredith Duxbury. Rogerio Cavalcante is a colorist and owner of the Second Floor Salon in New York City.

With so many shades to choose from, it’s ultimately about finding one that makes you feel like the true redhead you were meant to be all along. Check out InStyle’s favorite red hair looks, and come prepared for your hair appointment with tons of inspiration.

Cherry Bomb

We love this dark, cool tone that Actress Emma Stone recently sported. She has been rocking this color since at least June of 2024, but you can expect it to be popular all the way through winter.

Warm Copper

“Lindsay Lohan is back and with hair more beautiful than ever," says colorist Rogerio Cavalcante. "The goal is to make the red look natural with a copper undertone. I like how nuanced and rich this color is. It looks simple, but getting this color is a lot of work if you are not naturally blessed with red hair genes." He adds that “if you have cool skin undertones, this color can look too orangey on you, and make you look washed out.”

Vibrant Candy Apple

This bright and eye-catching color is perfect on Grammy winner Meg Thee Stallion. This shade is fun and exciting, and serves up the Little Mermaid hair so many of us dreamed about as kids. 

Rich Red

The “Midwest Princess” songwriting sensation is known for her incredible costumes on stage—but let’s not forget her iconic curly red hair. Calvacante said this is a popular shade of red at his salon. It’s, “a mix between Lindsey Lohan’s bright copper and Nicola Peltz’s cool dark red. Because this is a more neutral tone compared to the other two shades, it is more universally flattering.”

Cowboy Copper

“Shay Mitchell is another celeb that kills the red hair look,” says Giannetos, who executed this stunning look. “I love the cowboy copper trend and how the brown hues balance out Shay’s tan complexion.”

Vintage Red

Oscar winner Jessica Chastain is known for her bright red hair—and her recent look at Milan Fashion Week showed us why she keeps it. Her copper locks have a natural, old-school element to them that we love.

Fire Brick Red

This dark hue has cool undertones that nearly boarder on purple. Lean into fall with this understated red shade.

Strawberry Blonde, Extra Strawberry

Another iconic redhead, Isla Fisher, took her locks to Paris Fashion Week. Fisher’s hair color puts an emphasis on "strawberry," with this warm tone—an even redder take on your classic strawberry blonde.  

Cinnamon Spice

While red curls have always been Ice Spice’s signature look, this warm red shade is one of our favorites.

It’s best to match your shade of red with your skin undertones. “If you have cool undertones, dye your hair with cool shades," says Cavalcante. "If you have warm undertones, go for warm hair colors. Red, being such a unique color that is not natural for the majority of the population, is tricky, so if you choose the wrong undertone, it will show more than if you had the wrong tone of brown, for example.”

Auburn-ing Up

Julianne Moore has always known how to rock red hair, and this dark, auburn shade is no exception.

Nicola Peltz

“This is a cool, dark shade of red with a lot of blue tint, making it appear almost purple.” says Calvacante. “I like it because it is bold—it’s like a fantasy color; it wouldn’t exist without hair dye. This is a good fall color because it has that rich darkness that matches the cold seasons.”

Terracotta Curls

One of Broadway’s most well-known redheads, Bernadette Peters, has had her signature style for decades. This timeless look has evolved into its current iteration—a gorgeous earthy red. 

Garnet Red

Amy Adams is truly that girl in this jewel-toned shade of red. While her copper locks from “Enchanted” might be gone, this darker shade looks great on Adams, and is still enchanting to us.

Bright Copper Visions

“I recently did Meredith Duxbury’s gorgeous coppery red shade which turned out amazing!” says Giannetos.”I love how this shade is more subtle than other bright reds but still works to bring out the complexion. It’s a great shade for those who want to go red while still maintaining a natural look.”

Nearly Orange

What can’t Zendaya do.? Any style will probably look good on her, but this bright, red-orange bob turned heads at the 2018 Met Gala, and we simply cannot let it go.

Bright and Natural

A famous red head from a family of famous redheads. Bryce Dallas Howard stays true to her signature look with a red that is fun and bright, but still looks natural.

Sienna Sunset

The Mad Men actress’ red locks are bright, with darker orange pieces to give this look true dimension.

Light Auburn

Avatar star Sigourney Weaver shows off her reddish almost brown bob. Her light highlights brighten up this look and give it some extra flair.

Fired Up

This look is certain to catch eyes and turn heads. Model and singer-songwriter Karen Elson has shown off these bright and gorgeous orange shades. 

Dula Purple

Dua Lipa’s deep, almost purple is truly a thing to envy. If these walls could talk, they would say how much they love her hair.

Demure, Dark Red

Actress Molly Ringwald has grown far beyond the bright red hair of her youth. For this look, she opted for a much darker hue, while still paying homage to her signature red.

Dark Fuschia

Sharon Osbourne sports this elevated pixie with a vibrant, chic red featuring deep purple tones. 

“Red Velvet”

“I always love red hair on Megan Fox and she absolutely kills the bright red look,” says Giannetos. "Her recent red velvet bob is one of my all-time favorite looks on her, the fiery tones bring out her eyes and add boldness to any look."

Rosé Blonde

We yearn for the gorgeous color on actress Laura Dern. Largely blonde, the substantial red undertones of this color put it in our red hair inspiration category, for those looking to soft launch their transition to red hair.

Ombré Dreams

Madeline Petsch never disappoints with her gorgeous red hues, but this ombré look truly took the cake. The light copper top slowly transitions to a darker shade. 

Copper and Lowlights

Comedian Kathy Griffen sports a bright red look, with some darker lowlights to add dimension and volume.

A Silver Lining

Country legend Bonnie Raitt has a gorgeous copper shade. But it's the singular silver money piece that truly makes this hairstyle “Something to Talk About.”