Your Ultimate Guide to Copper Hair Dye

Copper hair spans a rich range of tones. The soft warmth of strawberry blonde and golden peach. The deep intensity of auburn and copper-browns. The fiery hues of ginger, apricot and copper-reds. With so much to choose from, your perfect copper depends a lot on your skin tone, your base colour and your unique style.

What copper hair dye is best for my skin tone?

Skin tone can be a big factor in finding your ideal shade of copper. The right pairing benefits both sides – giving your complexion a healthy glow and enhancing your hair’s vibrancy. A clash can leave skin looking dull, overly red or washed-out.

While everyone is different, here are our copper recommendations based on your specific skin tone:

• Pale skin: Go for lighter strawberry-copper, rose-gold or peachy coppers, as these tend to blend more naturally with paler skin. Avoid darker, richer coppers that can overwhelm fair complexions.
• Medium skin: As the most versatile skin tone, practically any copper works well here. Classic copper, warm auburns and rusty orange-copper shades like Sunstone can all be carried off.
• Olive skin: With its natural green/yellow undertones, olive skin pairs best with warm, spicy coppers, such as our own Fire Opal, as well as pumpkin coppers, sandy copper and copper-bronze. 
• Dark skin: Bold, vivid coppers pop against darker skin tones. Think burnt copper, cinnamon hues and saturated copper-reds, which appear vibrant rather than washed out.
• Warm undertones: Lean into classic warm coppers like Amberwood, as well as auburns, copper-golds and the trendy cowboy copper shade. Warm undertones and copper are a natural pairing, sharing the same warm base.
• Cool undertones: Slightly muted, ashy coppers work best on cooler complexions, such as a subtle copper-brown or rose-gold. Be careful with overly orange or golden coppers, as they can fight against your skin tone.

Remember that these are just recommendations. Everybody’s skin tones are slightly different, and numerous copper shades work well across multiple complexions. Spend time experimenting to find the copper that complements you the best.

What copper hair dye works with my natural colour?

Your natural hair colour will also help determine what shades of copper will achieve a vibrant, true-to-tone result without any pre-lightening. As a general rule, the darker your base, the harder it is to directly apply copper hair colour.

For this reason, we always recommend using a hair lightening kit to lift your base colour, unless you already have lighter blonde hair. This makes it much likelier for your copper dye to show up as intended, and not be overpowered by your hair’s natural pigment.

Dyeing blonde hair copper

Blonde is the easiest base to work with for copper, as it takes on colour quickly and effectively. At Levels 9-10, both light and saturated copper shades can show up vibrantly, including:

• Strawberry copper and strawberry blonde
• Rose-gold copper
• Peach copper
• Golden copper
• Ginger copper
• Cinnamon copper

Blonde is also the ideal base for bold, dramatic shades, since there’s little-to-no underlying pigment for them to fight against.

Dyeing brown hair copper

This depends on the depth of your natural brown hair, as brown pigment can mute or darken copper tones. If you want to avoid pre-lightening light brown hair, it’s a good idea to pick a copper that blends nicely with your brown’s natural warmth, such as:

• Auburn copper
• Copper-red
• Caramel copper
• Cowboy copper
• Copper-brown
• Spiced copper

If you have a darker brown base, you will likely need some lightening to achieve a true, all-over copper transformation. Alternatively, a lower-maintenance option is to add copper as a balayage or lowlights that plays off your brown base for a more natural, dimensional result.

Dyeing black hair copper

Black hair has the most pigment to overcome. Left untreated, copper dye applied to black hair may only give a subtle warm tint or sheen rather than a true, vibrant copper colour.

A deep copper-brown or copper-mahogany shade can add warmth and dimension while staying close to the natural dark base. But for a bold, true copper result, pre-lightening your hair is the most reliable route.

Found your favourite copper? Then it’s time to get to work. Here are our step-by-step instructions for achieving radiant results when dyeing your hair copper at home:

1. Always do a strand test and skin patch test before committing to a dye. The strand test previews how the copper looks on your natural base, while the skin patch test flags any allergic reactions.
2. If your hair is darker than a light or medium blonde, pre-lighten it using a hair lightening kit to ensure your copper shows up well.
3. Wash your hair with Pre Colour Shampoo before dyeing. This cleanses, removes build-up and balances your hair’s pH, so the copper can develop evenly.
4. Rub a little Vaseline, baby oil or petroleum jelly along your hairline, ears and neck, put on protective gloves, and cover yourself in dark towels or a salon cape.
5. Transfer your copper dye into a mixing bowl rather than applying straight from the tub – this gives you more control and makes the process less messy.
6. Divide your hair into sections using clips, then work the colour through with a tint brush. Start at the roots and pull it through to the tips for even, complete saturation.
7. Leave the dye to develop for 15-30 minutes, adjusting the time based on the results of your earlier strand test.
8. Rinse thoroughly with cool or lukewarm water, keeping it away from your eyes, until the water runs clear.
9. Towel-dry, style as usual, and show off your gorgeous copper glow!

How do I get copper hair dye off skin?

Should copper hair dye get on your skin, quickly wipe it with a damp cloth or cotton pad to minimise the risk of staining.

For stubborn stains, try using a little micellar water, a mild facial cleanser, or a dab of cleansing oil. Gently massage it into the stain in circular motions, then run it under some warm water.

How do I get copper hair dye out of clothes or carpet?

Getting dye on your clothes is annoying, but it doesn’t mean you need to throw them away. Run the stain under cold water, then dab the area with a liquid detergent or stain remover. Let this sink in for a few minutes, then put your clothes in the washing machine.

How about dye stains on the carpet, upholstery or furniture? First, blot the stain with a clean cloth – don’t rub it hard, as this can spread the dye further. Then, very gently rub it with another cloth soaked in warm water mixed with either washing-up liquid or white vinegar.

After you’ve applied your copper colour, you probably want its glow to last as long as possible, right? So while dyes will naturally fade over time, there are a few things you can do to extend your colour’s brilliance:

• Prep with Pre Colour Shampoo – it balances your hair's pH so your copper develops evenly and appears stronger
• Take more time between washes – copper is a warm, vibrant tone that can fade quickly, so aim for no more than 2-3 washes a week
• Stick to cool or lukewarm water – warm water lifts the hair cuticle and lets colour escape, while cooler temperatures help seal it in
• Swap to Colour Protecting Shampoo & Conditioner – these are designed to shield copper tones from fading while keeping hair nourished and glossy
• Go easy on heat styling – tools like straighteners and blow-dryers accelerate colour loss, so try to air-dry and minimise usage where you can
• Shield your hair from the elements – strong sunlight, chlorine and salt water can all dull and fade copper tones, so limit exposure when possible

How long does copper hair dye last?

At Directions, our copper hair colours do not have a fixed longevity on the hair. It varies based on the specific shade of copper, the thickness and porosity of your hair, and more. But, in general, copper is a lighter, warmer shade, so it won’t typically last as long as deeper, darker tones.

The tips above will help your copper stay bold and bright longer, while it’s always good to top up your colour when the fade starts to set in.

Does copper hair dye damage hair?

It depends on your chosen dye. At Directions, our semi-permanent hair dyes are formulated with conditioning, moisturising ingredients, designed to deliver intense colour while protecting the health, look and feel of your hair.

If you’re worried about dye damaging your hair, avoid permanent copper hair dyes that contain chemicals such as ammonia, peroxide and PPDs. These can make your hair brittle and susceptible to harm compared to kinder semi-permanent shades.

Because all our hair colours are completely mixable, we encourage our community to combine shades to create your own unique, custom blends.

But which tones couple up best with copper? Here are our top recommendations:

• Copper & red hair dye: Mixing copper with red deepens and warms it up, pushing toward a more fiery, saturated copper-red or "cherry copper" tone.
• Copper & orange hair dye: Blending in orange brightens and intensifies your copper, and is a popular route if you want it to look bolder and richer than it does alone.
• Copper & brown hair dye: Adding brown to the mix mutes and deepens your copper, creating a more subtle, "lived-in" copper-brunette or chocolate-copper look.
• Copper & yellow hair dye: Using yellow or golden tones lightens and brightens copper, pushing it toward a golden-copper or sunkissed shade.
• Copper & blonde hair dye: If you’re seeking a strawberry blonde or rose-gold effect, combining copper and blonde is your best bet.
• Copper & purple hair dye: A hint of violet or plum can add subtle depth and dimension to copper, creating a more complex, jewel-toned copper-mahogany.

When mixing colours at home, remember:

• Use a mixing bowl and tint brushes to combine colours
• Measure your ratios carefully to get the best outcome
• Perform a strand test to try out your custom shade
• Mix a maximum of 2-3 colours at once

What hair colours go well with copper hair dye?

If you’re more interested in pairing colours up rather than mixing them, copper is a good option for a split-dye, balayage or ombre style.

Here are some of the most popular choices to use alongside copper:

• Copper & black hair dye: A high-contrast combo, black against vivid copper creates drama and makes your copper pop even more emphatically
• Copper & blue hair dye: Sitting opposite orange on the colour wheel, blue is a classic contemporary contrast against copper
• Copper & green hair dye: Cooler shades like emerald and forest green deliver striking results alongside copper
• Copper & purple hair dye: Purple offers a bold jewel-toned distinction against copper's warmth, from deeper plums or violets to punchier bright purples
• Copper & pink hair dye: Hot pink or magenta against copper gives a vibrant, playful split, while softer pastel pinks create gentler, better blended results
• Copper & brown hair dye: Using copper on a brown base in an ombre or lowlight style delivers more natural, subtle creations

Ready to say goodbye to copper? To speed up the fading process, try the following:

• Wash more often with warmer water – the heat opens up the hair cuticle, helping the copper tone escape faster
• Treat your hair with a deep conditioner – apply generously through the lengths and ends, leaving it in for 10-20 minutes before rinsing
• Book a consultation with a professional colourist – they'll be able to advise on the safest way to lift copper from your hair without damaging it

We recommend avoiding colour strippers or removers unless advised to use them by a professional – these can dry out your hair and cause uneven results.

What colour does copper hair dye fade into?

How your copper fades out depends on your chosen shade, as well as your hair’s density and natural colour. However, a typical fading process for copper hair on a blonde base goes as follows:

• Early fade stage: The copper mellows into a warm, slightly muted strawberry-blonde or peachy-copper tone
• Middle fade stage: It shifts toward a soft coppery-pink or salmon tone, as the remaining red pigment takes on a pinkish cast
• Late fade stage: The colour settles into a pale pink-blonde or washed-out rose-gold, before returning to your natural base colour

What colour should I use to cover copper hair?

As copper is an orange-based shade, blue is its complementary opposite on the colour wheel. Therefore, a small amount of blue hair dye, blue-based toner or blue shampoo can help to neutralise copper tones.

If you’d rather cover over your copper hair with an entirely new shade, a darker brown or black shade is a good option as these can overpower the residual copper pigments in your hair.