Pulp Riot Artist Liz Hewitt shared her expertise on achieving vibrant red hair for Valentine's Day. She highlights red's versatility, suitable for various skin tones from bright pillar-box shades to deep wine hues.
A key challenge with red is its tendency to fade quickly. Hewitt stresses the importance of clients using correct aftercare and top-up products at home to maintain colour intensity. She also advises thorough consultations to align expectations regarding depth and tone, as clients may use terms like 'red' or 'copper' imprecisely.
For multi-tonal reds or combinations with pinks and purples, Hewitt recommends using chunkier sections to prevent colours from muddying. When using permanent colour, she cautions against adding a base, as this can dull the red and create an undesirable muddy effect. For refreshing existing red tones, she suggests using semi-permanent, direct, or demi-permanent dyes. She specifically notes Pulp Riot Semi-Permanent Fireball for this purpose, advising against overlapping to keep the colour bright.
Skin tone consideration is crucial. Hewitt suggests orange-based reds for warmer complexions and violet undertones for cooler skin tones. This seasonal focus on red hues reminds us that hair health underpins colour vibrancy. Dan Spiller of JOICO notes that strong, healthy hair ensures richer, more even, and longer-lasting colour applications.
