Unlike some hair colour trends that vanish almost as soon as they appear, copper is playing the long game. It’s been gaining momentum for a few years now, with various celebrities – including Kendall Jenner, Zendaya and Sydney Sweeney – opting for the fiery hue at some point. It’s also a shade that’s huge on social media, with ‘copper hair’ reaching over 1.1 billion views on TikTok.

“Copper is more popular than ever in our salons,” says Larry King, Redken’s ambassador for the UK and Ireland. “This year there are so many more new colours in the copper palette that clients are requesting and people are inspired to try a shade customised to their complexion and style, and more blondes are starting to experiment, too.”

Now, copper is proving itself to be a suits-all, customisable shade that really can stand the test of time. “There are copper blondes that have soft blush tones, to warm honey and natural ginger,” says King. “Then we have vibrant reds and a deep auburn palette for brunettes. There really is a shade to suit every season, skin tone and hair type.”

So, if you’re looking to be inspired for your next big colour switch-up, look no further – here’s everything you need to know about three emerging copper tones – copper blonde, smoked copper and true copper – that we have no doubt you’ll be seeing everywhere very soon.

“This season, I’ve found a lot of blondes wanting a longer-lasting finish – it’s peach with a punch,” says Harriet Muldoon, senior colourist at Larry King. “Some blondes can be reluctant to try warmer tones if they are used to creamy or cool-toned colours, but it’s possible to create a subtle shade with a neutral golden undertone. A pale rose gold with a shimmery reflection complements paler complexions, too. I like to describe it as a dusty rose gloss that fades out to a beautiful golden blonde.”

“Smoked copper is one of my favourite looks for curly clients. It creates an amber glow that adds radiance,” says Claire Martin-Kennedy, Redken advocate and colour educator. “I like to hand paint the hair to enhance depth and dimension, and pick out highlights around the face for a glowing, bronzed auburn halo of curls.”

Colour educator Conor James Doyle concurs, adding that these deeper copper shades only need minimal processing, so “it’s ideal for anybody who wants a change without going too light because we work with the natural warmth that comes through, rather than using neutralising toners like we do for blondes”.

“True copper is a timeless choice,” says Samantha Cusick, founder of Samantha Cusick London. “It’s a perfect balance between red and orange undertones and embodies the essence of warmth, radiance and confidence. This trend has evolved from all over colour and now, in salon, we use balayage, highlights and foils for a more dynamic result, softer regrowth and extra vibrancy using Redken Shades EQ. By blending different shades of copper with these gloss toners, the final result is so much more dimensional, enhances natural features and creates a super glossy finish.”

Images: courtesy of Redken