Whether you’re a natural redhead or looking to color your freshly painted red hair with blonde highlights, you’ll find some awesome inspiration below! When it comes to red, all sorts of shades are available, depending on your natural base color. Dark reds and platinum blonde highlights are just the contrasting look some seek. But you may want to go more subtle with a medium red hue with dark caramel blonde. The options are almost endless, aren’t they? As you browse these photos of the best red hair with blonde highlights, note that the darker reds and brighter blondes will take more time (and potentially money) to achieve. You’ll also want to talk with your colorist about using traditional foils or balayage to fit your budget and lifestyle needs.
#1: Deep Crimson Red Hair with Blonde Face Frame
This hairstyle is a prime example of how red hair dye can be customized. It features a deep crimson red color, a fiery autumn hue, and a warm platinum accent in front. It’s tailored to your life and style. You should know that red tones can range from cool mahogany to warm orange or gold. Consulting a red hair specialist will ascertain that your chosen color matches your needs and interests.
#2: Beautiful Long Red Hair with a Blonde Money Piece
Ask for beautiful long red hair with a soft blonde money piece with a middle part. Your hairstylist may suggest adding balayage to add dimension and a soft grow-out. I’d recommend you ask them to use the free-hand painting technique. Then, they can place the highlights to achieve a natural sun-kissed look. Be mindful of not over-highlighting. This could lead to over-processing and fading quickly.
#3: Cherry Red Hair with a Blonde Money Piece
When thinking about a bright hair highlight, have you ever considered trying a front hair highlight, also known as a money piece? This cherry red hair color mixed with a blonde front highlight shows how a few light pieces can be more striking than a full blonde highlight.
#4: Natural Ginger with Highlights
If you want a glowing and bright hair color, natural ginger with highlights can be a fantastic option. Ask for a blend of warm red hues and light blonde accents to create an eye-catching contrast. The ginger-red base brings depth and richness to your hair, and the blonde highlights add brightness and dimension. The ginger-blonde combination will complement fair to medium skin tones. Consult a professional colorist to achieve this look. They can expertly mix both shades for a seamless finish.
#5: Copper Red to Blonde Ombre Hair
If you want a warmer hair color, consider a copper red to blonde ombre. The warm copper hue meshes well with the golden blonde tips. Use a color-preserving shampoo to keep this hair color vibrant.
#6: Ginger Hair With Blonde Highlights
Ginger hair and copper hues look fabulous with the addition of blonde highlights! These highlights add depth to your natural hair shade and completely change its look.
#7: Ruby Red Hair with Blonde Accents
If you love a bright and trendy look, try ruby red hair with blonde accents! This style draws from the well-liked blonde and red color mix of the late 90s. It adds a new feel with the increased use of magenta tones.
#8: Copper Red with Face-Framing Blonde Highlights
Bring out your bold side like the iconic Jessica Rabbit by coloring your hair copper red and adding blonde highlights around your face. The striking red color will catch everyone’s attention, and the contrasting blonde highlights will draw more focus to your eyes.
#9: Curly Red Hair with Highlights
Curly red hair with highlights gives a beautiful fiery twist. Highlights add dimension while making red hair pop. Red hair and blonde highlights may be high-maintenance, but regular salon visits could be recommended.
#10: Crimson Red Hair with Blonde Balayage Highlights
This look can be described as a deep red blended into a coppery red and blonde balayage with a long layered cut. The loose waves give a casual yet elegant feel and can be worn for either setting.
I truly believe in Audrey Hepburn’s statement, “There is a shade of red for every woman.” Red is so fascinating in that there are many variations: coppery orange-based reds, violet reds, and even rich brown reds. Depending on how bright of red highlights the client wants, sometimes pre-lightening the hair is a necessary step. Olaplex is a great way to maintain the integrity of the hair during the lightening or color process.
As beautiful as these bright reds are, they fade quickly, and home maintenance is key. I recommend using shampoos with red boosters (Pravana has a great option) every other wash, and a color-caring shampoo for regular use. Olaplex also has a Step 3 at-home treatment, which keeps the hair healthy and vibrant.
#11: Ash Blonde Highlights
This unique color blend of shoulder-length choppy cut features platinum streaks and a vibrant rose base. It’s dimensional and edgy and would require lots of TLC to last long.
#12: Cherry Red Hair with Blonde Highlights
If you’re ready for something new and fun, this shoulder-length layered lob with a deep auburn shade is what you’re looking for! Add just a pop of blonde at the front and tips for spice!
#13: Bright Red Hair with Caramel Blonde Highlights
This is a hue easily worn by anyone, regardless of skin tone. It’s a fun way of lightening your hair and giving definition to your lovely locks.
#14: Natural Red Hair with Bright Blonde Highlights
When done right, vibrant colors like this gorgeous redhead shine beautifully when accentuated with warm blond streaks, it brightens the whole look and provides it with magnificent contrast.
#15: Burgundy Brown Hair with Blonde Highlights
If you have deep, rich brown-red hair and would love to have effortless, warm tones, this might just be your look. It’s a subtle combination of soft and bold, brightening and adding texture to the whole look.
#16: Brownish Red Hair with Blonde Highlights
Partner a soft brunette hue with warm blond streaks for a beautiful and feminine appearance. This shoulder-length cut styled with a side part proudly shows off the charming blend these colors create, especially under natural light.
#17: Cinnamon Red Hair with Blonde Highlights
The sweet ginger hair is coupled with subtle warm highlights to create gorgeous contrast and depth. They’ve been meticulously placed throughout to create a natural and brightening look.
#18: Light Red Hair with Golden Blonde Highlights
A few soft and light streaks and loose waves complete this lived-in neck-length cut. This combination beautifully brings out the pink in warm skin tones.
#19: Dimensional Fall Bob
The loveliest part about it would be the different tones you see throughout the hair, even with it straight. Dimensional colors are absolutely beautiful and are some of my favorites to create!
For this particular look, I used Framesi’s color line, and they have some of the most beautiful reds. I did babylight slices of foils for the highlight. Since reds can sometimes tend to fade faster, I recommend washing the hair with professional color-safe shampoo recommended by your stylist and washing it in cooler water, both of which will prevent fading. Since it is a highlight, I would inform them that upkeep for this look would be every 6 weeks to touch up the blonde and refresh the red if necessary.
#20: Layered Bob with Light Blonde Highlights
I love the touch of brightness these blonde highlights add to her beautiful red hair color. This client has naturally curly hair, so we must be careful about preventing damage. That’s why I only put a touch of blonde highlights throughout. When I retouch the highlights, I’m careful not to touch any previous blonde ends. Make sure you’re using good products at home that your stylist recommends. My favorites include Paul Mitchell’s Marula Oil and the Bassu Hydrating line from Surface. Also, most importantly, find a good stylist concerned about your hair’s integrity.
#21: Caramel Blonde Highlights
This fun, playful color reminds me of the beautiful fall leaves here in Northern Michigan. I love this color because it is vibrant but still soft and subtle. The balance of contrast between the blonde and red blends nicely without being over the top. The best thing about creating this color was the reaction on my client’s face when I turned her around and revealed her new look. This is why I love my career, and I am thankful that I get to create beautiful pieces of art like this every day!
Consider the work it takes to keep it looking beautiful and vibrant. Red is hard to keep up with, as it fades fairly quickly. Find the best products (shampoo, conditioner, styling products) to ensure you are protecting the color for as long as possible.
#22: Platinum Blonde Highlights
The loveliest thing about this look is that it is unique! You see red and blonde but not many red and blonde highlights/lowlights! Mainly because it is hard to prevent the red from bleeding into the blonde or turning the blonde pink! I foil it all, rinse with cold water, and wash with color-safe shampoo, and I have no issues with it bleeding!
This is a high-maintenance look! The red will fade. If you don’t wash with color-safe shampoo and cold water, the red will bleed and turn the blonde pink. However, if you’re willing to shampoo it correctly, this would be a beautiful look for anyone who loves red hair or wants a more fall/dark look for autumn! This is also something I wouldn’t recommend to someone whose hair is damaged.
#23: Mahogany Hair with Blonde Highlights
This look is a mixture of several different reds. I used copper mixed with mahogany red and toned her blonde highlights with a strawberry blonde. It reminds me of a raspberry swirl!
For anyone looking to take their color up a notch, mix many different tones (especially with reds). Using a gold/copper/red combo always looks more natural and suits most people’s skin tones. This is also good for a client who doesn’t want much work to maintain it. You must have a fiery personality to pull it off!
#24: Short Red Hair with Blonde Highlights
If you prefer more vibrant shades of color but still want to keep your natural hair, this style strikes a nice balance of vibrancy that stands out. It can be easier to maintain if you keep it in a short wavy hairstyle like this. This look is a shaggy playful asymmetrical bob filled with texture and movement, channeling a variety of creative looks. It stands out in the crowd and is never boring. Playing it up is the best part!
I had so much fun creating the dimensional colors, incorporating the copper and red blonde, and adding depth to allow automatic texture with or without styling. Her base color was brought to a deepened mahogany. These colors combined were chosen to complement her fair porcelain complexion, which carries a bit of neutral, which allowed me to go a little brighter than too neutral!
#25: Deep Red Hair with Blonde Highlights
This is a Red Sangria with copper and blonde highlights. I love the dimension that the fine highlights give. You would also see a lot of texture when she wears it in an updo. We decided on a long layered haircut for simplicity and to show off the red intertwined with the copper and blonde highlights. I used Matrix Airy Builder Dry Texture foam for her blowout, then curled with a 1 1/4 inch wand and finished with Matrix Oil Wonders. Use professional products at home to help extend the red tones and to help keep the highlights from getting brassy. Keep in mind that red fades fast, so this look will need to be maintained every 4-6 weeks.
#26: Fire Red Hair with Blonde Highlights
This beautiful fiery red is one of my favorites! I love the way the blonde highlights add even more brightness. When I color, I love adding different levels of light and dark to keep it dimensional.
Copper reds look best on clients with fair to medium skin tones and blue or green eyes. It’s just stunning! This haircut is perfect for almost anyone. The shortest length would depend on your face shape, which your stylist can help you with. Some people avoid a bob if they have a round face, but as long as you keep the length below your chin, you can rock it!
The color is on the higher maintenance side. You’ll want to get a retouch at least every 4-6 weeks to keep the red looking beautiful. I recommend a retouch every 2-4 weeks if you’re over 50% gray. Have fun rocking this fiery red, and opt for some blonde highlights!
#27: Copper Hair with Strawberry Blonde Highlights
The color is a medium natural copper with light golden coppery strawberry blonde highlights. It’s a natural sunkissed look and provides super low maintenance for the client.
What I love most about it is that it provides a natural look with super low maintenance and a very vibrant and fun look. I suggest this look for a light-skinned light eyed client. I suggest a copper depositing shampoo or conditioner such as Viral to maintain the color between services.
#28: Dark Red Hair with Bleach Blonde Highlights
I call this blonde and red hair Amber Love! The deep red base that melted into a golden balayage reminds me so much of the gemstone. Her long hair is complemented by medium-length layers and a face frame, allowing for a lot of movement and versatility when styling. The loveliest thing about this is the blend I’ve achieved with the red and blonde highlights. Even with the big contrast between the dark base and light ends, the transition is seamless. The key to a great balayage is the blend.
Professional products are always necessary to ensure proper care and condition of your hair and maximum longevity of your color. If you don’t have one already, find a stylist with experience with color and balayage who is willing to offer you professional opinions and guidance. It’s also equally important to have a stylist excited to be a part of your hair journey. Remember, any hairstyle you have should always make you feel beautiful and confident!
#29: Dark Auburn Hair with Blonde Highlights
This dark auburn hair with blonde highlights is one of my favorites. My client has natural level 7 strawberry blonde hair, so I did a lowlight with two reds – one a red copper and the other a red violet. Auburn red with blonde highlights can be a commitment. A beautiful, stubborn commitment. Red fades fairly sooner than other more “natural” shades but stays better the more you color it like that. You’ll get a better life out of the 3rd time your hair is colored red than you would the 1st or 2nd. Washing in cold water helps the red color lifespan.
If you’re thinking about going red, there are so many different variations of red that you or your stylist could find one that would complement your skin tone, especially if paired with a highlight for dimension. I suggest baby steps to achieving red hair blonde highlights. Start with a few lowlights before you jump in completely, especially if you’re on the fence because using a lightener (bleach) over freshly colored or once-colored red can take time to lift past that orange stage.
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