Unless you subscribe to the Katy Perry school of Crayola hair hues, it’s pretty much a given that Pantone’s Tangerine Tango, Emerald, and Radiant Orchid colors of years past won’t translate as well in your new ’do, which makes 2015’s Marsala shade especially exciting—the tawny wine hue looks just as gorgeous on your stilettos as it does in your strands.
Case in point: Drew Barrymore’s circa 2011 rich auburn, which walked the line between fiery copper and warm chocolate.“To get Marsala as a hair color, you need to go for a red-brown with a cool blue undertone,” says celebrity hair colorist George Papanikolas, who works with Kim Kardashian and Miranda Kerr among many others. “It’s a great color for brunettes with fair and olive skin tones, as it’s a great complement to their complexion.” Papanikolas advises that natural brunettes go for an all-over Marsala hue, while others can try subtle Marsala high or lowlights if a high-impact red isn’t your thing.
RELATED: How to Wear Pantone’s 2015 Color of the Year
Because red hair dyes have a large color molecule, auburn tones are more prone to fading. Incorporate shade-saving products into your routine and choose a hue close to your own natural hair color, so that when it does fade, the shift isn’t as obvious.
“Keeping the color rich and vibrant requires a color-safe shampoo that has a low PH. My recommendation is Matrix Biolage ColorLast Shampoo ($17; matrix.com for locations), which keeps the color vibrant for nine weeks,” Papanikolas says. “It’s also important to keep the color looking glossy and vibrant to maintain that overall deep Marsala color.
” Try using a hair gloss or a color-depositing conditioner to keep the shade intact, and before heat styling, make sure to work a protective oil like Matrix Oil Wonders Egyptian Hibiscus version ($20; matrix.com for locations) onto your mid-lengths and ends.PHOTOS: The Top 10 Redheads In Hollywood