Strawberry Blonde

The Allure of Strawberry Blonde Hair

Two colors that have historically been considered the definitions of sexy and beautiful – red and gold – come together in perfect blonde hair with strawberry hues. It’s a color that can make a star, and did. The 1940s bombshell Rita Hayworth originally had dark brown (some say black) hair, which was pretty, but Columbia Studios sensed a different color would suit her features better. These were the days when studios could use the power of contracts to force their stars to alter their appearance. In the case of Hayworth, dyeing her hair catapulted her from unknown bit player to major star. Her first film with her new hair was 1941’s Strawberry Blonde and from there, she was established as the sexiest glamour queen of the era, the object of many soldiers’ dreams, and the source of many women’s inspiration. For years, many women went to the beauty salon in search of Rita Hayworth hair.

Whom Does It Suit?

Strawberry-toned blonde works best on people with a “warm” tone. That is, they already have some golden or reddish tones in their skin, hair or eyes. It can be harder for people to determine their shade than you’d think, so if you’re contemplating going to this fun shade, you should consult a stylist first. You can also query a makeup artist to help determine your tone. Anyone who deals in beauty for a living will be able to tell you whether you’re warm or cool and what look will best suit your locks.

Dyes to Try

If you’re contemplating a radical change, like dyeing away from black hair, you will have to go to a colorist, because your hair will need bleaching first and that can be very hard on locks. But if your hair is already a shade of blonde and you want to liven it up with some red highlights, there are a number of good dyes that should do the job beautifully. Since dye can be harsh, it’s best to go slightly more organic when possible. Logona Herbal Hair Colors have a dye called Sahara Blonde that will add a reddish golden tone on light to medium blonde hair. If you like henna and don’t mind dealing with the powder, Rainbow Research makes a nice shade. Fading is gradual, so regrowth will not be too noticeable.

Natural Dye

While it doesn’t work for everyone, freshly brewed chamomile tea from leaves, not bags, can act as a natural dye, adding red and gold to blonde hair. Saturate your hair thoroughly, let set for thirty minutes or so, and then rinse out. Even if you don’t see a noticeable change in color, a chamomile rinse is very healthy for your hair.

Maintaining Your New Color

Red fades faster than any other color. Since not everyone can do what Rita Hayworth probably did, which is go to the salon every week for a touch-up, it’s good to use color enhancing shampoos and conditioners. They won’t stop your hair from fading, but they’ll do a lot to slow it down. Jason, one of the best lines of natural shampoos is available at most health food stores and makes a color enhancing shampoo for red hair that will respect the gold of the blonde and maintain the red of the strawberry. Additionally, any shampoo that is henna-based (and do be sure to read the ingredients thoroughly) is ideal for hair that has any red dye. A natural shampoo designed to respect color can even be good for a natural strawberry blonde, because hair color can be affected by the quality of the water, other products and the sun. If you’ve got a look that striking, you definitely want to maintain it!

Strawberry blonde hair is fun, flirty, and fabulous. Whether you were born with natural blonde hair and frisky red highlights or if you’re interested in trying a new and stunning look, there is a red-gold combination right for you.