Auburn Hair Color Ideas: Best Shades & Styles to Watch

Joanna Elizabeth

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Updated February 27, 2024

Auburn Hair Color
Explore the different shades of auburn hair color.

Auburn hair color indeed deserves its moment in the spotlight, nestled within the red hair spectrum. But what exactly makes auburn different from your typical red shades? Auburn hair color is a rich, warm blend of dark red and brown hues, creating a deep ginger or reddish-brown tone.

Whether a gift of genetics or the result of a well-chosen dye, auburn hair stands out for its natural-looking depth and vibrancy. And if you’re contemplating this color, you’re in good company.

Numerous celebrities have embraced the auburn trend, and here are over twenty different ways to rock the style. Get ready to book an appointment with your hairstylist.

Best Auburn Hair Color Ideas

Dark Auburn Brown

Dark Auburn Hair Thora Birch
Embrace a dark auburn hue like Thora Birch. Photo Credit: s_bukley / Deposit Photos

Consider this style a prime example of a stunning dark auburn hair color. This look strikes the ideal balance between rich red and earthy brown tones, showcasing the versatility of the hue. Moreover, the long bob cut adds a touch of extra length, giving it a fresh twist.

Auburn with Wine Roots

zendaya auburn hair color
Zendaya’s wine-colored hair shows the deep hues of auburn. Photo Credit: PopularImages / Deposit Photos

Zendaya’s hair is a masterclass in blending dark brown roots seamlessly into a vibrant auburn shade, a look that beautifully complements her complexion. This style is ideal for those with natural brown hair, offering a striking yet cohesive color transition.

To add dimension, consider weaving in caramel highlights, enhancing the depth and richness of the auburn.

Burgundy Hair

megan mullally burgundy auburn hair
A burgundy auburn shade is a bold choice worn by Megan Mullally. Photo Credit: Jean_Nelson / Deposit Photos

Consider a burgundy tint for auburn hair that pops, presenting the perfect audacious shade. This color choice is particularly effective for covering gray hair, adding a vibrant twist to your look.

The versatility of this bold burgundy auburn shade makes it suitable for all hair lengths, guaranteeing compliments for its stylish hue.

Auburn & Strawberry Blonde Highlights

auburn hair strawberry blonde highlights
Embrace strawberry blonde highlights with your auburn hair like Sara Rue. Photo Credit: PopularImages / Deposit Photos

Look for a captivating combination of auburn hair color accented with strawberry blonde highlights. An updo adds a touch of classic romance to the look, proving that light auburn hair can be both elegant and playful.

This style shows the versatility of auburn shades, allowing for lighter interpretations.

Vibrant Auburn

vibrant auburn hair color ideas madeline brewer
Bring the fire with a vibrant auburn shade like Madeline Brewer. Photo Credit: Featureflash / Deposit Photos

Madeline Brewer’s vibrant auburn hair shows the hair color’s dynamic appeal with its reddish-brown tones that command attention. Her fiery hue is particularly striking for those with brunette roots, offering a bold contrast and a standout look.

Brown Hair with Auburn Highlights

auburn hair darker skin tones
Make your brown hair pop with subtle auburn highlights, as seen on Issa Rae. Photo Credit: Imagepressagency / Deposit Photos

Issa Rae frequently embraces the auburn spectrum in her hairstyles, and she stuns with brown curly hair featuring auburn highlights. These subtle yet impactful auburn tones blend flawlessly with her complexion, highlighting naturally dark hair.

Bright Auburn Shade

bright auburn hair color ideas side waves
A rich, velvety bright auburn shade like Debra Messing wears stands out with polished waves. Photo Credit: Jean_Nelson / Deposit Photos

Debra Messing, renowned for her signature red locks, showcases a luminous auburn shade that is impeccably styled into polished waves. Despite her naturally brown hair, her choice of auburn pairs wonderfully with her skin tone, providing a vibrant option for darker hair.

Brown Hair with Auburn Hues

rich brown hair auburn highlights
Dark brown hair with vibrant auburn highlights provides all the dimension you need, as Lydia Hearst shows. Photo Credit: PopularImages / Deposit Photos

Dark brown hair receives a stunning transformation with the addition of auburn highlights, offering a head-turning appeal. This deep auburn tone enriches the hair’s overall color and is versatile enough to complement a range of skin tones, making it a great choice for those looking to infuse warmth into their look.

Reddish Auburn

Reddish Auburn Hair
Red takes the front seat with this auburn hue worn by Amanda Righetti. Photo Credit: Tinseltown / Shutterstock.com

A reddish auburn hair color exudes elegance and a perfect balance between brown and red shades, making it a standout choice. When styled into undone waves, the hair’s dimensional richness is fully displayed, accentuating the subtle interplay of auburn’s warm hues.

Fiery Auburn

Pop singer Ashlee Simpson became a redhead for a short period. Here she is with medium auburn hair. You can easily get this look by using a flat iron to create the undone waves. Photo Credit: s_bukley / Shutterstock.com
Fiery auburn shades are sure to turn heads like this wavy style shown by Ashlee Simpson. Photo Credit: s_bukley / Shutterstock.com

A fiery auburn tone can instantly add a touch of vibrancy to your look, as demonstrated by this bold hue. Achieving this look can be as simple as using a flat iron to create casual, undone waves for an everyday look, allowing the fiery auburn color to shine with a radiant glow.

Light Auburn

Light Auburn Hair Color
Embrace a light and vibrant auburn hair color like Christina Hendricks. Photo Credit: Helga Esteb / Shutterstock.com

The allure of light auburn hair is obvious. You can style it, offering a subtle tease at the roots for added volume. This dark ginger shade harmonizes beautifully with neutral skin tones, presenting an eye-catching look that radiates with a soft, fiery warmth.

Auburn Brown Hair

Auburn Brown Hair Drew Barrymore
An auburn brown shade with burgundy undertones shines on Drew Barrymore. Photo Credit: DFree / Shutterstock.com

A dark auburn brown hair color can be transformative, exuding romance when styled into soft waves like those worn by Drew Barrymore. This particular hue highlights and accentuates the depth of green eyes, offering a rich, multi-dimensional color experience.

Cherry Auburn

Cherry Auburn Hair
Make a statement with cherry auburn hair like Demi Lovato. Photo Credit: s_bukley / Shutterstock.com

A cherry auburn shade introduces a captivating dimension to long, mermaid-like waves. The vibrant, fiery tones not only enhance the hair’s texture and volume but also complement brown eyes. The contrasting pops of color create a look of bold beauty that’s hard to miss.

Auburn with Copper Highlights

Copper Highlights Auburn Hair Emma Stone
As shown by Emma Stone, copper highlights bring a lightness to auburn hair. Photo Credit: DFree / Shutterstock.com

A captivating auburn base enriched with copper highlights brings a dynamic contrast that enlivens the hair’s natural-looking color. Subtle blonde tones add depth and warmth, creating a radiant effect that’s particularly striking on dark red hair for a summer shade.

Deep Auburn

Deep Auburn Hair Julia Roberts
Embrace the versatile deep auburn hue for the ultimate red like Julia Roberts. Photo Credit: Featureflash / Shutterstock.com

When paired with soft curls, the timeless beauty of deep auburn hair worn by Julia Roberts exudes an air of sophistication and charm. This shade enhances the warmth of her brown eyes, creating an enchanting look that radiates with rich, reddish-brown undertones.

Cinnamon Auburn

Cinnamon Auburn Hair Julianne Moore
A subtle shimmer makes a cinnamon auburn hair color shine on Julianne Moore. Photo Credit: DFree / Shutterstock.com

A darker shade of cinnamon auburn offers a refined look. On natural redhead actress Julianne Moore, it proves its adaptability for cooler skin tones and pairs well with those who have blue eyes. This rich, velvety hue holds a timeless appeal, providing classic depth and warmth.

Natural Auburn

Auburn Hair Side Ponytail
The natural auburn shade of Kate Mara stands out with a side ponytail hairstyle. Photo: s_buckley / Shutterstock.com

The enduring elegance of auburn hair is beautifully demonstrated with a side-styled braided ponytail. This hairstyle transcends hair color, promising a classic and chic look that complements red hues and beyond, embodying versatility and timeless style.

Auburn Hair with Blonde Highlights

Auburn Hair Blonde Highlights
Kate Walsh shows the dimension of auburn hair with golden blonde highlights. Photo Credit: Helga Esteb / Shutterstock.com

Medium auburn hair, interlaced with blonde highlights and styled in romantic waves, offers a captivating look for those with medium skin tones. The combination of auburn with subtle highlights creates a harmonious blend, adding dimension to your hair.

Chestnut Auburn

Chestnut Auburn Hair Kristen Stewart
A chestnut auburn shade like the one worn by Kristen Stewart has plenty of depth. Photo Credit: landmarkmedia / Shutterstock.com

Be inspired by these wavy locks in a chestnut auburn hue that offer a versatile look that commands attention. The integration of light auburn streaks lends an added dimension to the hairstyle, enhancing the natural depth of the color and making it an ideal choice to accentuate green eyes, as Kristen Stewart shows.

Auburn Balayage

Balayage Auburn Hair Rihanna
Go for a dynamic balayage auburn hair color like Rihanna that blends many different shades. Photo Credit: DFree / Shutterstock

For a variant that exudes luxury, look for an auburn balayage effect, as shown on Rihanna. Imagine a color that begins with espresso’s deep, dark roots, seamlessly melting into auburn’s classic reddish-brown and gently transitioning into the soft glow of caramel ends. It’s the perfect hue for autumn.

Toasted Auburn

Toasted Auburn  Hair Scarlett Johansson
Embrace the darker side with a toasted auburn hue, shown by Scarlett Johansson. Photo Credit: Tinseltown / Shutterstock.com

The transformation into a toasted auburn brings a vibrant energy to the hair, with a dark, rich shade that carries burgundy undertones. This sleek and straight style channels a classic yet bold aesthetic, perfect for those looking to make a statement with a signature red hue.

Orange Auburn

Orange Auburn Hair Ice Spice
Stand out with a vibrant orange auburn shade, as shown by Ice Spice. Photo Credit: Franklin Sheard Jr / Shutterstock

Ice Spice’s signature red hair shows the lighter side of this shade. An orange auburn hair color provides a playful twist, with traditional auburn shades kissed by golden apricot bright, sunny tones. This vibrant combination radiates with the cheer of sunlit orange, adding a lively bounce and vivid warmth to a textured look.

Auburn on Different Skin Tones

Auburn Hair Back
Find your right shade of auburn. Photo: Shutterstock
  • Fair Skin: Light auburn shades with soft red and golden undertones provide a radiant balance.
  • Olive and Medium Skin: Rich, warm auburn hues with copper or cinnamon undertones add depth and vibrancy. Deep auburn shades are a prime example.
  • Dark Skin: Bold auburn shades, such as dark, rich auburn, or burgundy tones, create a dramatic contrast and warmth.
  • Undertone Harmony: Match auburn to your skin’s undertones. Cool undertones suit auburn with violet or burgundy hints, while warm undertones go well with golden or caramel auburn.
  • Custom Highlights: Personalize with blonde or caramel highlights for a lighter color or chocolate lowlights to deepen the color.

Quick Tips on Auburn Hair

Long Auburn Hair
From dark to light, auburn hair has plenty of variation. Photo: Shuttersotck

Auburn Hair’s Color Spectrum

Auburn hair uniquely blends brown and red tones, ranging from light reddish-brown to deep mahogany. It typically features red undertones, which can vary to include golden or honey highlights, depending on the shade’s intensity. These highlights are usually subtle but can be deeper, contributing to a warm and rich appearance.

Recommended Auburn Hair Dye Brands

L’Oreal Excellence, Garnier Nutrisse, and Clairol are top choices for those looking to dye their hair auburn at home. These brands are known for their high-quality auburn hair dyes, providing long-lasting color and shine while nourishing the hair.

Always check reviews before purchasing, and consider consulting a professional for the best results, especially if it’s your first time dying your hair or if you have naturally black hair.

The Rarity of Natural Auburn Hair

Natural auburn hair is quite rare, with only about 1-2% of the global population naturally possessing red hair, a recessive genetic trait.

Red-Brown Beauty

Woman Auburn Hair
Make sure to take proper care of your auburn tresses. Photo: Shutterstock

Auburn hair color is a fantastic choice for those seeking to infuse their appearance with warmth and vibrancy. This color offers a spectrum from lighter shades enhanced with highlights to richer, classic tones catering to diverse preferences.

Whether you’re sporting natural red tresses or considering auburn as a new look, the variety of styles showcased by celebrities illustrates its fashionable versatility. The plethora of auburn shades available invites experimentation, allowing you to discover a style that resonates with your aesthetic.

For those with auburn or color-treated hair, it’s crucial to use specialized hair care products and treatments. These products are designed to maintain the intensity of the color and keep your hair healthy and radiant.


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