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    Choosing the Right Red Hair Color

    By | Beauty on Shine – Tue, Feb 28, 2012 7:33 PM EST

    By Meredith Stebbins, Birchbox

    Choosing the Right RedChoosing the Right Red

    These days, redheads are having all the fun. Just look to Hollywood and its slew of newly crimson bombshells. There's Michelle Williams, Drew Barrymore, Emma Stone, and the list goes on. This surge in popularity amongst starlets (not to mention the crew of longtime copper stunners like Julianne Moore and Christina Hendricks) has meant that stylists are getting more requests than ever for this glam shade. But can everyone pull it off? We talked to stylist Jeff Chastain about going red and how to pick the right hue for you.

    SAY NO TO MONOCHROME
    The single biggest mistake that women make when dyeing their hair red is going too monochromatic. "Hair shouldn't ever be one single color," says Chastain. "A natural color will have depth with highlights and dimension, even if it's subtle."

    COLOR SCHEMING
    Chastain says that everyone can go red; it's just about finding the right hue. His best tip? Look to your eye color. If you have blue eyes, choose a cool-toned red with eggplant or plum undertones. If you have brown eyes, opt for something that is more golden, or orange-coppery in color. "These warmer reds fade more naturally," says Chastain.

    MAJOR MAINTENANCE
    Know before you dye: red hair is more work. "With blonde and brunette hair, you can get away with it looking frizzy, dry, and unkempt," says Chastain. "But with red hair, it always needs to have shine." When you are having your color done, ask your stylist for a glossing treatment and invest in an at-home product like Oscar Blandi's Salon Glaze. Keep your color vibrant by using deep-conditioning masks like Carol's Daughter Monoi Repairing Hair Mask and Number 4's Lumiere d'hiver Reconstructing Masque regularly.

    BEFORE YOU GO RED
    Don't go red unless you have perfect skin. "Red hair pulls out the red in your complexion," says Chastain.

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