How to get ginger hair from dark brown naturally

Q: How do you naturally dye your hair ginger?

Henna. Henna is a natural plant-based dye thats traditionally used to create temporary tattoos directly on the skin. It can also be used to dye your hair red. Henna comes in powder form and is probably the longest-lasting, most vibrant natural hair dye option.

Photo: Marc Piasecki/GC Images.

Índice Show

References
About This Article
Did this article help you?
How do I get my hair from dark brown to ginger?
Can brown hair turn ginger naturally?
How do you naturally dye your hair ginger?
Can a brunette go ginger?

Based on appearances alone, colouring your hair unicorn pink or mermaid blue may seem like a magical endeavour, but it's actually pretty straightforward, especially if you're naturally brunette. Generally, the process involves spending hours lifting your dark hair to light blonde, depositing bright colour to your bleached strands, layering a gloss on top, and boom — you now look like (the cooler, grown-up version of) My Little Pony.

On the other hand, going red as a brunette doesn’t feel that simple. The colour is complex, and if your hair is naturally dark, going scarlet red (like Madelaine Petsch) or creating copper tones (like Lindsay Lohan from back in the day) may seem way out of reach. But the pros say otherwise — and not only is your lifelong dream of trying out life as a redhead actually attainable, but hours of bleaching and damage may not even be necessary to get you there.

Ahead, we asked the experts to break down everything there is to know about transforming your strands from brunette to brick red — and every shade in between.

Want more? Get Refinery29 Australia’s best stories delivered to your inbox each week. Sign up here!

Download Article

Red hair is all the rage these days, but is it possible to get a natural looking shade at home if you have dark brown hair? Absolutely! If you have virgin (undyed) hair, you can use store-bought dye to lift (lighten) and color your hair without bleaching. If your hair is very dark or already colored, you can still get a vibrant, beautiful red by bleaching your hair first. We’ve put together a complete guide to turning your brunette locks red, including how to bleach your hair and maintain your new rockin’ red. If you’re ready to start turning heads with your luscious red locks, read on!

This article is based on an interview with our professional hair stylist, Karen Leight, owner of Karen Renee Hair. Check out the full interview here.

1
Choose a bleaching kit with a 30- or 40-volume developer to lift dark color. A 40-volume developer will lift your hair up to 8 levels of color (from near black to dark blonde) in one session. This is great if your desired red color is bright, coppery, or blondish. To get the truest-to-shade red when you color, bleach your hair to a pale yellow color.[1]
- For darker or brownish red, use a 20-volume developer (most store-bought bleaching kits come with this strength). This lightens your hair 2 to 3 shades.
- If you want a reddish tint to your natural shade of brown, you don’t need to bleach at all.[2] If your hair is already colored, though, bleaching is a must.
- Follow the instructions on your bleaching kit carefully. 30- and 40-volume developers can cause scalp irritation or burns if misused or left on too long.
2
Put on some old clothes and protective gloves. There’s always the chance you’ll drip some bleach onto your clothes, so wear something you don’t mind getting stained, like an old t-shirt. Wrap an old towel around your neck as well. Wear some rubber gloves to protect your hands from the bleaching product.[3]
- Bleach your hair in a room with good ventilation.
- Remove any bathroom rugs or mats to protect them from accidental bleach spills and drips.
Advertisement
3

Part your hair into 4 equal sections. Use your fingers or a rat-tail comb to divide your hair into 4 sections to evenly distribute the bleaching product. Secure each section of hair with a clip.[4]
4
Mix the bleaching product according to the instructions. Directions vary, but usually you’ll mix 2 parts developer with 1 part bleach. Mix until the bleach is fairly runny, making sure there aren’t any lumps in the final product.[5]
- Mix the bleach and developer in a plastic bowl with your applicator brush (some bleaching kits come with a bowl and stirrers to use).
5
Apply the bleach to your hair in small sections or strands. Use an applicator brush to paint the bleach into your hair, starting at the back of your head and moving forward. Start 1 in (2.5 cm) from your scalp and work down each section, making sure the bleach evenly and thoroughly coats each section of hair (front and back).[6]
- Bleach your roots last since they don’t take as long to process as the ends.
6
Cover your hair and wait about 30 minutes. Use a processing or shower cap to cover your hair while the bleach does its work, keeping an eye on how your color is lifting while you wait. Check the instructions on the bleach for the exact amount of time you should wait.[7]
7
Rinse and wash your hair thoroughly. Once your time is up, rinse out the bleach with cool water and wash it with a blue toner or purple shampoo to prevent a brassy or orange color from forming. To restore moisture, do a deep conditioning treatment too.[8]
- Washing and conditioning your hair reduces brassiness and ensures your red dye will come out true-to-shade.
8
Wait 2 to 3 days before dyeing your hair red. Your hair needs time to recover between treatments, so allow it to rest for at least 2 days before you jump in with color. Try not to shampoo again until right before your dyeing session.[9]

1
Choose a shade of red that flatters your skin tone for a natural look. If you have cool undertones (your skin tone is pink or pale and the veins in your wrist look blue), opt for cool, dark, or ashy reds. For warm undertones (your skin tone is tan or olive and your wrist veins look green), go for a bright or golden red.[10]
- If you have neutral undertones (a mix of cool and warm), you can pull off almost any kind of red!
- Follow the “2 shade rule”—pick a color at least 2 shades lighter or darker than your skin tone to avoid looking washed out.[11]
- Choose permanent color for long lasting red, or demi-permanent to experiment with color for just a few weeks.
2
Shampoo and condition your hair before coloring. Use a clarifying shampoo to remove buildup on your hair and scalp. This will help the dye absorb better and make the coverage more even. Wait for you hair to be dry or slightly damp before you go in with the dye.[12]
3
Separate your hair into 4 sections. Once hair is clean and dry (or almost dry), part it into sections with your fingers or a rat-tail comb. Hold each section in place with a clip.[13]
- Dyeing in sections helps the process go smoothly and makes it easier to reach all parts of your hair evenly.
4
Spread petroleum jelly around your hairline. Use your fingers to rub a thin layer of petroleum jelly around all parts of your hairline, especially your forehead. This will keep the dye from staining your skin if it drips down onto your face or neck.[14]
5
Mix your red hair dye with a developer. Follow the exact instructions on your dyeing kit. In most cases, you’ll combine developer and color in a 1:1 or 1:2 ratio. Some dye kits include a developer, but you may have to buy some separately.[15]
- Mix the developer and color in a plastic bowl with your applicator brush (some coloring kits come with mixing supplies).
- For permanent color, use a moderate 20- or 30-volume developer. Remember, stronger developer means lighter color.
6
Apply the dye to your hair in small sections or strands. Use an applicator brush and paint the dye onto sections of your hair, starting 1 in (2.5 cm) from the scalp and working downward. Begin at the back of your head and work forward, making sure each section of your hair is saturated with dye (on top and underneath).[16]
- Go back and color your roots halfway through the overall processing time (it doesn’t take as long for the dye to take hold at the roots).
- The exact directions will vary by product, so be sure to double check your specific dye’s instructions.
7
Leave the dye in your hair for 30 to 45 minutes. Put on a shower or processing cap to protect your hair and wait the recommended time according to the instructions on your dye. In most cases, that’s around 30 minutes or so.[17]
8
Rinse your hair thoroughly with cool water. After your time’s up, rinse away all of the dye from your hair. Wash away the petroleum jelly around your hairline at this time as well.[18]
- Wait at least 3 days after you color your hair to shampoo it. This gives the color time to set and the cuticles time to seal.[19]
9

Finish with a color-safe conditioner. After the dye is rinsed out, apply conditioner to seal the hair cuticles (the outermost layer of your strands of hair). Rinse again with cool water and blow or air dry your hair to see your ravishing new red![20]

1
Wait as long as possible to shampoo your freshly colored hair. Your hair might need as long as 3 days to let the cuticles fully close and seal in the color. Use dry shampoo in the meantime if your hair starts to look greasy.[21] After the first shampoo, aim to only wash your hair 2 or 3 times a week to prevent the color from fading.[22]
- When you start washing your hair again, use cold water (hot water will steam away the color, meaning your dye job won’t last as long).
- If your hair gets oily, try a scalp exfoliator or dry shampoo. It will remove some oil from your hair and keep it moisturized without eroding your color.
2
3
4
Touch up your color every 4 to 6 weeks. Red is more prone to fading than other colors, so refreshers are necessary. Use the same dye you applied initially. Instead of the full 30 or so minutes of sitting, simply run the color through your hair and leave it for 15 to 20 minutes.[26]
- Buy multiple boxes of color when you first dye your hair so you’re stocked and ready for touch ups anytime.

Ask a Question

200 characters left

Include your email address to get a message when this question is answered.

Submit

For dark brown virgin hair, try dyeing without bleaching to see how the red shows up in your highlights. If it looks too dark for your taste, you’ll have to lift your natural color first.
As a small thank you, we’d like to offer you a $30 gift card (valid at GoNift.com). Use it to try out great new products and services nationwide without paying full price—wine, food delivery, clothing and more. Enjoy!
As a small thank you, we’d like to offer you a $30 gift card (valid at GoNift.com). Use it to try out great new products and services nationwide without paying full price—wine, food delivery, clothing and more. Enjoy!

Always follow the directions for your specific hair dye, bleach, or other products for the best, most natural-looking results.
As a small thank you, we’d like to offer you a $30 gift card (valid at GoNift.com). Use it to try out great new products and services nationwide without paying full price—wine, food delivery, clothing and more. Enjoy!
Bleaching and dyeing isn’t recommended for fragile, compromised, or overly colored hair.
As a small thank you, we’d like to offer you a $30 gift card (valid at GoNift.com). Use it to try out great new products and services nationwide without paying full price—wine, food delivery, clothing and more. Enjoy!

References

About This Article

Thanks to all authors for creating a page that has been read 4,932 times.

If you buy through links on our site, we may earn a commission.

Did this article help you?

Get all the best how-tos!

You're all set!

How do I get my hair from dark brown to ginger?

To get the truest-to-shade red when you color, bleach your hair to a pale yellow color..

For darker or brownish red, use a 20-volume developer (most store-bought bleaching kits come with this strength). ... .

If you want a reddish tint to your natural shade of brown, you don't need to bleach at all..

Can brown hair turn ginger naturally?

Is Your Hair Really Turning Red? If you have black hair turning red or brown hair turning red, you're not the only one. Many people notice their dark hair becoming reddish as they grow older. Some folks notice it after moving to a different area or even switching shampoos.

How do you naturally dye your hair ginger?

Henna. Henna is a natural plant-based dye that's traditionally used to create temporary tattoos directly on the skin. It can also be used to dye your hair red. Henna comes in powder form and is probably the longest-lasting, most vibrant natural hair dye option.

Can a brunette go ginger?

"Dark hair has lots of natural red tones, so when you strip it there's a lot of warmth underneath," she says. "That red can turn into orange, too, and those are the tones you need to sustain a beautiful, bright, natural-looking red." That means going red is possible without bleach — but only if your strands are virgin.