16 Stunning Black Hair with Red Highlights for a Striking Contrast

Avery Hunt
Avery Hunt Hair Colorist

Black hair with red highlights is a deep hair color featuring shades of red streaks woven through the strands. If you’re one of those gals eager to enhance your mane, this is the perfect choice!

We offer numerous highlight options that complement various skin tones and eye colors. A splash of vibrant hues is available, including rose and bright crimson, along with rich, warm shades like wine and burgundy.

The challenging part is determining how to incorporate these streaks into your tresses. Would you select full highlights for added depth and dimension? Or would you prefer the partial ones to enhance and illuminate your facial features?

Oakland-based professional hair colorist Nikki Foster shares her essential guideline regarding this trend. “A balayage technique would be an ideal way to begin,” she states. “That way, it creates a gentle hairstyle and will help maintain the warm tones as a superb base to add the red to.”

“Refresh the color every four weeks to sustain its richness and vibrancy,” says Foster. She also recommends using a color-safe shampoo and conditioner with UV protection. Red pigment tends to fade quickly when exposed to any heat, which is unavoidable.

Above all these suggestions, be wise enough to confirm that the integrity of your locks remains intact. Foster encourages you to assess whether your hair is resilient enough to achieve the look you’re aiming for.

Before your upcoming hair color appointment, take a look at these photos of the most popular styles and ideas for showcasing black hair with red highlights.

Photos

#1: Dark Black and Vivid Red Ombre for Long Hair

A dark black and vivid red ombre works great with naturally dark hair. You will likely need to bleach out the ends or find a great red high lift meant for dark hair to get those ends vivid red. You can use a red-enhancing conditioner or shampoo to maintain the vibrancy of the red. You must do root touch-ups if you’re naturally lighter or have grey hair.

Bold Red Chunky Highlights with Medium Feathery Layers for Black Hair
Instagram @kutsbykass

#2: Bold Red Chunky Highlights

The style draws inspiration from ’emo dream hair’ and showcases its striking, vibrant colors. This color technique incorporates chunky highlights in the fringe, accentuated by a bright red tone. The contrasting black beautifully frames and emphasizes the vivid red. The combination of black and red tones amplifies the style’s edgy, sassy, and bold persona.

#3: Purple and Crimson Highlights

Purple and crimson shades are best showcased around the face. These colors create a natural warmth on the face because they’re warm shades. This colored hair was created using a color melt technique, according to stylist Boonhan Yap of Malaysia.

He notes, “This color is perfect for ladies with darker hair, as it doesn’t require intense pre-lightening.”

Color-care routines are suggested to enhance the tone’s luster. Yap explains, “So, you might have beautiful, fresh pink hair at the journey’s end.”

#4: Copper Accents on Dark Hair Tones

Copper red hair accents bring a warm glow to a deep base and are guaranteed to enhance the look for individuals with brown eyes. Copper stands out as the most effortless color in the red spectrum. You can apply some simple highlights or foiling on dark hair to soften the base shade and achieve a smooth grow-out.

#5: Crimson Highlights for Dark-Haired Beauties

Crimson highlights on dark brunette hair strike a perfect balance between bold and understated. They complement both warm and cool skin tones beautifully. With a naturally dark base, the grow-out will seamlessly blend in. However, if your base is lighter, it’s advisable to schedule touchups every 6 weeks to maintain the vibrant hue.

#6: Perfect On Jet Black Hair

Red highlights are perfect on long jet black hair, bringing an easy-maintenance, fun flair to any woman’s look. It’s ideal for a virgin mane as it won’t need to be lifted to a damaging level.

For this black with red highlights look, colorist Laura Wojcik of Pennsylvania did a chunky weaved balayage. “I wanted to create a ribbon-like dimension while leaving most of the dark base there. The highlights are feathered up to the roots using a slight tease, leaving the blend seamless,” states Wojcik.

Crimson Peekaboo Highlights
Instagram @arelee

#7: Crimson Peekaboo Highlights

A crimson peekaboo adds a vibrant, edgy, and colorful accent to understated dark red hair. Lively, cherry red shades contrast beautifully against black hair. If a striking underlayer of red isn’t your style, consider incorporating delicately blended red highlights beneath your hair to refresh your hair color.

Deep Maroon Red with Black Hair
Instagram @glam.with.em

#8: Deep Maroon Red with Black Hair

Consider deep maroon red on black hair for an elegant yet striking hair change. A dark foundation will merge beautifully with the maroon-red shade. Incorporating warm shades will provide depth and brilliance to your locks!

#9: Elegant Red Accents on Short Black Bob Hairstyle

Black hair with elegant red accents complements warmer skin tones beautifully. With this type of highlights, you can still maintain professionalism while adding a hint of fun color. Depending on your natural color level or whether your hair has been previously colored, you might achieve these subtle red accents without bleach. And hey, these partial red accents would look fantastic on a short bob cut!

#10: Fiery Red and Blonde on Natural Curls

Fiery red and blonde on curly hair are great for women who want to flirt with a vibrant copper shade before making a full-on commitment. Consider strawberry blonde as an appealing in-between tone. This tone will enhance tan and pale complexions. To enhance the hue and manage the curls, use a moisturizing mask such as the Olaplex no. 8 as a weekly at-home treatment.

Crimson Highlights on Dark Hair
Instagram @hairbybrittb

#11: Crimson Highlights on Dark Hair

Crimson highlights on dark hair are perfect for women with tan skin tones. A vibrant red balayage on dark hair will instantly enhance your complexion. Consider using Alchemy by Davines for copper hair to preserve these rich red hues as a home treatment between salon visits.

#12: Delicate Dark Red Balayage Accents

Consider delicate dark red balayage accents for a striking look on your brunette hair. The strands of red will provide depth and dimension to your locks! Style your hair with waves to showcase your new black and red hair tones.

Dark hair with crimson highlights beneath
Instagram @sunnyglamroom

#13: Dark Hair with Crimson Highlights Beneath

Choose crimson highlights on dark hair as they can create a stunning yet understated look with a subtle touch. Incorporating peekaboo highlights will help you achieve this. It will involve some bleaching and toning, but this dark hair with highlights underneath is generally easy to maintain.

#14: Mahogany Crimson Highlights

Are you seeking a change from your blonde highlights? Consider trying mahogany crimson highlights! Mahogany is an excellent color choice for women with an olive complexion, but it complements everyone beautifully. Maintain those warm tones for a longer duration by using a red-colored conditioner like Aveda’s ‘Madder Root’ conditioner.

#15: Deep Burgundy Highlights

Burgundy highlights look stunning over dark hair. The blend of burgundy and black hair appears vibrant under the sun and more understated indoors. The red color, even this black with dark red highlights, is known to fade out quickly, so ensure to use color-safe, sulfate-free products like Simply Organic’s hair care products.

#16: Vibrant Cherry Red Hair Highlights

Vibrant cherry red hair highlights can enhance an ombré even further. Ask your stylist to apply red throughout your hair to create a cherry tint over your dark base. This fun red-black hair dye idea is a delightful color you can maintain at home using oVertone haircare products during your weekly or bi-weekly washes.