Tips for peachy-toned hair from a faux ginger and a hairdresser
IMAGE VIA @CAITEMMABURKE/INSTAGRAM
WORDS BY CAIT EMMA BURKE
Lady in red.
I’ve had some variation of peach/orange/copper/ginger hair for the best part of five years. Spurred on by my lifelong fixation with Drew Barrymore – more specifically Drew in Charlie’s Angels – I went over to the redhead side in my early twenties and never looked back.
As a painfully pale individual, I find these shades complement my skin tone better than the variety of other colours I’ve dabbled in over the years (a purpley-brown box dye at age 15 was a real low point). The other bonus is that it’s fairly low effort; as a natural mousy brown brunette, my hairdresser doesn’t have to bleach my hair to lift it to my desired shade, she uses a tint.
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This means less damage and less expense. I find that even when I go too long between appointments, the red fades to a goldy-peach shade that works well with my brown regrowth. And if there’s one thing lazy goblin girls like me love, it’s a hair colour that requires minimal upkeep. Something I’m not particularly great at, though, is haircare.
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My obsessive interest in skincare and makeup has never extended to the strands sprouting out of my head. I’m the type of person hairdressers would shake their fists at – I mindlessly chuck whatever shampoo and conditioner are on special at the supermarket into my basket, even though I know it’s doing my hair no favours. My unsubstantiated theory? If your haircare’s sitting side by side with tinned tomatoes and dry pasta, it’s probably not going to be doing anything remarkable to your hair.
While it can be on the pricier side, investing in the right haircare will keep your coloured locks looking fresh for as long as possible. I know this because I sometimes have the privilege of trialling fancy haircare (a perk of the job), and the rare times I actually use it I notice a huge difference in how long my colour lasts. And while my peachy, copper hair fades out quite nicely, if I could get more time with my post-salon tresses, I’d be very pleased.
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So this is the part where I tell you to do as I say, not as I do. Don’t be lazy with your freshly coloured hair – it ends up being more expensive in the long run, because your colour fades far too quickly and you’ll be itching to see your hairdresser much sooner than you expected. This is also where I enlist the wise words of someone much more experienced and skilled than me – after all, I’m just a humble red hair enthusiast, what do I really know?
Jaye Edwards is the owner and founder of the much-loved Australian salon chain, EdwardsandCo, and he’s very familiar with the red/copper/peach tones’ surge in popularity.
“For the past two years, it has been all about peachy and copper tones. These tones are a great way to bring vibrancy back to natural coppers, while still maintaining a natural look. They’re also a great option for those wanting to warm up their blonde tones. When it comes to red tones, I think it’s always best to work with softer, natural tones for a ‘born with it’ rather than [a] ‘from the bottle’ look,” he tells me.
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So how should aspiring redheads brief their hairdressers? “Bringing a reference photo is always crucial, it will help ensure you and your stylist are on the same page. It’s also important to be precise when discussing previous treatments and colour.
“Make sure you go in with an open mind and trust the process, sometimes it will take multiple appointments to achieve your desired result, and sometimes your hair will be too compromised to achieve the colour at all. Let your stylist guide you on what is the best option for you.”
Now let’s fast forward. You’re post-appointment, with the Julianne Moore meets Susan Sarandon hair of your dreams. What’s the best way to keep your colour vibrant and healthy-looking? Just as I suspected, Jaye emphasises that maintenance begins with professional, salon-quality products (certainly no supermarket products here). “Look out for ‘safe for colour-treated hair’. These products don’t contain sulphates and parabens, which fade colour faster.
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“Vibrant peachy tones will always fade over time. I recommend investing in a copper pigmented treatment mask, such as the Christophe Robin Copper Shades Variation Mask. I also suggest booking in for regular glosses. These are quick 15 minute in-salon treatments that help make your colour pop again without booking a full-colour service,” he shares.
So arm yourself with an appropriate photo (may I suggest this one of Queen Drew?), find a hairdresser that really understands colour, invest in the right products and post-appointment treatments, and you too can have the peach/orange/copper/ginger hair you’ve been fantasising about. And next time I get my hair done, I’ll be doing as Jaye says and steering clear of the supermarket haircare aisle.
For more on the copper hair trend, try this.
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