5 Best Auburn Hair Dye (2023 Reviews and Buyers Guide)

Feeling like you are finally ready to make a commitment with your hair and give it a new life? Then sounds like an auburn hair dye is what you need. Auburn hair is a magic pill for those people who are seeking to change their hair color and spice up their look but keep things natural. If you’ve ever been inclined in dying your hair an auburn shade, today you are in luck as we’ll be telling you all about the auburn hair dye.

Auburn hair is a mixture of brown, red, and sometimes copper. It’s a warm and rich hair color that would compliment many skin tones and is the same reason why it is so popular.

Auburn hair is all over these days and it is perfect for winter and autumn! And the best part is that there are so many ways to flaunt this red tone. Whether you’re already on the auburn hair dye team or looking to become its member, know that there is a host of ways to make your styling decisions easier. Besides, it adds extra volume and makes you look more outstanding and super stylish.

Giving your hair new color is among the most practical things one can do to improve physical appearance. Reasons for getting your hair colored are many, perhaps you wish to change your natural color for the first time; to color the white hair that begins to appear with age, or to change the color of the hair temporarily on a particular occasion. Whatever the reason might be, the best auburn hair dye can help you achieve your dream style.

Whether you’ve dyed your hair a bright color before or you’re new to the process, there are a few things to keep in mind when opting for an auburn hair dye. To help guide your auburn hair journey, we’ve narrowed down the best auburn hair dyes currently available in the market.

Auburn Hair Dye Reviewed In This Guide

How To Choose The Perfect Auburn Hair Dye For You?

If you want to pull off auburn hair the right way you need to pick the right shade of auburn hair dye. Auburn hair is the perfect mix of copper, caramel, and gold, a gorgeous color that can look amazing on any skin tone. Varying from strawberry blonde to deep mahogany.

The best auburn hair dye should suit your particular base color. It is also important to know how to properly use it in order to make the most out of your investment.

While there are no rules when it comes to experimenting with hair color, taking your starting hair color and undertones into consideration can help you select a shade that will be the most flattering for you.

Auburn hair color needs a certain amount of lifts to achieve an optional color base. It means if your hair is naturally black, you need to bleach your hair first and then use the best auburn hair dye to color your hair.

If you aren’t quite ready for an all-over hair color change, you can test out the trend with auburn ombré hair. By starting with a rich shade at your roots and fading to a pale shade at the ends, you get the best of both ends of the color spectrum.

Types Of Auburn Hair Dye

Brown Auburn Hair Dye

Auburn brown hair typically ranges from medium to dark shades. It’s rich in color pigments, which makes it more vibrant than other brown tones and a flattering color option for almost every skin type.

Dark Auburn Hair Dye

Dark brown auburn is a vivid, chocolatey color that will frame your face beautifully and put your eyes in the spotlight. The shade creates a stunning contrast on ladies with lighter skin tones.

Light Auburn Hair Dye

Light auburn hair is a beautiful gingery shade that works with both cool and warm complexions.

Rich Auburn Hair Dye

Rich auburn hair has a higher amount of red pigments than your usual dark brown. Therefore the color appears more like a dark red than a dark brown, which enforces a mysterious and sophisticated flair.

Blonde Highlights/Balayage Auburn Hair Dye

Blonde highlights or chic balayage will inject a summer flair into your auburn hair. The colorful layers of this sun-kissed style will add depth to your strands while maintaining the integrity of your auburn shade.

Copper Highlights Auburn Hair Dye

Copper highlights will add some serious shine to your auburn-colored hair. The orange tinge will brighten the red elements of your hairdo while adding more complex layers to your color.

Lowlights Auburn Hair Dye

You can also tone your auburn hair down a notch. Lowlights will have a similar effect on your color. The only difference is your hair will appear darker instead of lighter.

Orange Auburn Hair Dye

Auburn’s orange hair is a vivid ginger shade with a light brown undertone. The rich pigments of this color will add incredible luminosity to your hair while also brightening up the appearance of your skin.

Natural Auburn Hair Dye

Natural auburn hair tends to be either more on the dark brown or ginger side of the color wheel. If you were born with auburn-colored locks, consider yourself one of the lucky ones.

Red Auburn Hair Dye

Its warm, berry hue is what makes this hair color so appealing. Red auburn can vary dramatically depending on your natural hair color and skin tone, but will undoubtedly look fantastic.

Medium Auburn Hair Dye

Medium auburn hair is a popular in-betweener of brown and gingery auburn hair. The incredibly flattering shade looks especially radiant in combination with a porcelain complexion.

Black Auburn Hair Dye

Black hair with a slight red hue is a luxurious shade that suits warmer and darker complexions exceptionally well. You can use brighter highlights to contour your chop to your liking.

Light Brown Auburn Hair Dye

On light brown hair, auburn highlights can add more visual depth and luminosity. The red pigments of this color will increase your hair’s vibrancy while maintaining a natural appeal.

Burgundy Auburn Hair Dye

As opposed to a purple tinge, burgundy auburn hair carries more reddish pigments. However, both colors find themselves on the dark end of the color spectrum.

Best Auburn Hair Dye List


1. Garnier Nutrisse Ultra Color Nourishing Light Intense Auburn Hair Dye

What We Like

  • Bold Nourishing Hair Color
  • Permanent Hair Dye
  • Color Boosting Technology

What We Don’t Like

  • Pricey

The number 1 Nourishing Color Creme; Nutrisse Ultra Color is formulated with color boost technology and a blend of triple fruit oils: avocado, olive, and shea; to deliver boldly, boosted permanent hair color, even to dark hair.

Garnier Nutrisse hair color crème, with grape seed and avocado oil, comes in a complete hair dye kit and nourishes while it colors with a rich, non-drip creme formula

For hair nourishing, easy-to-use permanent hair dye, temporary hair color, root touch-up, or to enhance your natural hair color, turn to Garnier hair color.

What Our Testers Say

Love this! I bleached to a copper color (it was literally the color of the wall behind me in the pictures) and used this (aquamarine) to achieve a darker teal/peacock green type color and it worked very well. The color stays lovely for weeks on too. I do my color every 6-8 weeks to keep it vibrant ( wash my hair twice a week ) and tbh this is the best semi-permanent color I’ve ever used.

Got so many compliments too. For reference, my hair is fairly thick, layered and about 7 inches below the shoulders and the 4oz bottle is plenty to generously cover the whole head.

Nourishes and restores hair’s visible beauty while smoothing hair surface to reveal the high shine of the color.

Formulated with color boost technology that infuses intense dyes at the heart of the fiber.

Tips

Nutrisse Ultra Color permanent hair color lasts up to 8 weeks. Your root growth may occur sooner, using box dye to touch up your roots is also an option.

Find More About Garnier Nutrisse Ultra Color Nourishing Light Intense Auburn The Information And Reviews Here.

2. Auburn Henna Hair & Beard Color Auburn Hair Dye

Sale Auburn Henna Hair & Beard Color Auburn Hair DyePin
(19134)

What We Like

  • Ammonia-Free
  • Pesticide-Free
  • Peroxide-Free
  • Chemical-Free

What We Don’t Like

  • It Stains

This all-natural, raw, vegan, and gluten-free auburn hair dye is a gift from heaven for people who are sensitive to chemicals or for someone who wants to do away with chemical hair dyes.

Most people tend to switch to henna hair dyes because of a severe reaction to chemical hair colors.

The Henna Hair Dyes are made with plant-based ingredients like henna, indigo, amla, and false daisy.

What Our Testers Say

This product goes on fairly easily and didn’t take me very long to complete the process. My hair is straight and fine, and leaving it in according to directions was perfect. I just love this color.

It really shines, it’s soft and it’s a pretty shade of medium brown that shimmers with a hint of bronze. I’m very happy with it and will buy it again. Love, love, love it!

It is made using the finest quality of each ingredient and triple-sift our powders for the perfect non-clumpy paste. We ensure that each ingredient is fresh for optimal results.

Get the best of both worlds from this henna auburn hair dye. This gorgeous color combines rich red and earthy brown for a classic shade that’s both flattering and complex.

Tips

Prepare the mixture using warm tap water, apply evenly on the hair, and wait for a minimum of 2 hours. Rinse it out.

Find More About The Auburn Henna Hair & Beard Color Information And Reviews Here.

3. L’Oreal Paris Excellence Light Auburn Hair Dye Color

What We Like

  • Alcohol-Free
  • Long-Lasting

What We Don’t Like

  • Skin allergy Test Required

This auburn hair dye gives you an excellent rich, radiant color. The non-drip cream formula is available in 38 shades ranging from Ash Blonde to Jet Black.

The triple protection system infused with Ceramide, Pro-Keratine Complex, and collagen deeply cares for your hair before, during, and after coloring.

The pre-color treatment with ceramide helps protect color-treated ends from color buildup.

What Our Testers Say

Absolutely love this hair color…I have tried so many others like sparks. manic panic..and other permanent hair colors…this did the trick. I will be buying this from now on. Love how this turned out!!!

Excellence gives you 100% gray coverage, even on stubborn grays. Get rich, radiant color with no grays in sight.

The auburn hair dye gives you an exclusive triple protection system that seals, replenishes, and conditions your hair for up to 8 weeks of protection. All that, and 100% gray hair coverage, even on stubborn grays.

Tips

Always read the hair color instructions insert in the box. Store between 50 Degrees and 80 Degrees F.

Find More About The L'Oreal Paris Excellence Light Auburn Hair Color Information And Reviews Here.

4. dpHUE Gloss+Auburn Color-Boosting Semi-Permanent Auburn Hair Dye

What We Like

  • Gluten-Free
  • Vegan
  • Paraben-Free
  • For Color-Treated Hair

What We Don’t Like

  • Expensive

Gloss+ is a semi-permanent hair color, with a deep conditioning base, that works by staining the outside of the hair with pigment.

Boost color in the shower with hydrating ingredients that leave hair soft, shiny, and illuminated. No mixing. No peroxide or ammonia.

Gloss+ is intended to enhance and deepen your current hair color. It will not create dramatic hair color changes or cover grays and gradually washes out over time.

Use when color is lacking shine and vitality, when it has started to fade, or when highlights need to be toned. It’s a color boost with a crazy, healthy shine.

What Our Testers Say

Absolutely love this hair color. I have tried so many others like sparks. manic panic..and other permanent hair colors…this did the trick. I will be buying this from now on. Love how this turned out!!!

Gloss+ will enhance and deepen your natural hair color or color-treated hair to give you that fresh out-of-the-salon feel. Auburn is deep red with a brown base to help keep red tones in dark hair vibrant.

Use whenever; leave on for minutes and see the results; no mixing required. It has never been this easy to get so many compliments on your look. It’s a color boost with a crazy, healthy shine.

Tips

I started with the roots and made sure that they were fully covered, then went on to the rest of my hair, and it turned out great.

Find More About The dpHUE Gloss+Auburn Color-Boosting Semi-Permanent Hair Information And Reviews Here.

5. L’Oreal Paris Superior Preference Chic Auburn Hair Dye

What We Like

  • Shine System
  • Long-Lasting
  • Luminous Hair Color

What We Don’t Like

  • No Brush

For gorgeous, fade-defying hair color with dimension, look no further; this auburn hair dye helps maintain color vibrancy and provides silk and shine.

Formulated with golden camelina oil, antioxidant vitamin E, and, a UV filter for silky hair. Fade-defying for up to 8 weeks. Made with high-tenacity dyes. Color that lasts. The brand’s gold standard of luminous color is uniquely blended to give multi-dimensional color.

What Our Testers Say

BUY IT. It’s worth the bucks and one box goes a long way. My hair type is; processed, medium length/brown, thin hair but still a lot of actual hair and one tube was enough for me. I love how the color turned out. It is a very dark plum/black purple.

I left it on my hair to process for 45 minutes total. I recommend applying the color and then combing it through a few times with a big tooth comb for even coloring. The color also HYDRATED my hair and left it feeling SOFT and SHINY. overall, happy and recommend it.

Preference and Excellence are permanent hair colors. Excellence provides 100% gray coverage with triple protection that seals, replenishes, and conditions your hair. Preference is a gorgeous fade-defying color with incredible dimension and luminosity.

The fade-defying Color and Shine System includes our Care Supreme Conditi1r, with Shine Serum, Vitamin E, and UV filter locks in first-day color vibrancy and provides soft, luxuriant silky hair. This kit includes gloves, tint/color, and a developer with applicator, conditioner, and instructions.

Tips

It is suggested to shampoo with Elvive Color Vibrancy Nourishing Shampoo and Conditioner to care for your hair.

Find More About The L'Oreal Paris Superior Preference Chic Auburn Hair Dye Information And Reviews Here.

Auburn Hair Dye Buying Guide

What Is Auburn Hair Dye?

In general, hair dyes are chemicals that are used to change hair color, therefore a rose gold hair dye, if properly done, chemicals in the dye will change the structure of the individual strands of hair in order to let the new color take hold.

The auburn hair dye is made up of a variety of red shades, all of which have brown and ginger undertones and range from light to dark. Auburn hair is a variation of red hair and is most commonly described as reddish-brown in color or dark ginger.

In fact, auburn hair color ranges in shades, with the most popular tones being light, medium, and dark. Dark auburn hair can be seen as deep ginger, while light auburn hair may look orange.

How Does Auburn Hair Dye Work?

Hair coloring works by coating each strand with color (non-permanent color) or by penetrating each hair cuticle, entering the hair cortex, and bonding with the hair (permanent color). While non-permanent hair color can be shampooed out eventually, permanent color, as the name suggests, permanently colors the hair.

Although the auburn color is sometimes considered a cool-toned color because of its slight blue undertones, auburn can be worn either cool or warm depending on your chosen shade.

If you want warmth, opt for an auburn shade with coppery, golden undertones. If you prefer a cool tone, stick with the deeper shades with purple undertones.

Features To Look For In Auburn Hair Dye

Perfect Shade/Skin Tone

  • If you have a light skin tone, strawberry blonde and copper tones will give you a gorgeous pop of color. That being said, if you have pink undertones, a dark strawberry blonde, or adding a rosy touch to a copper will be even more complimentary.
  • A brighter auburn will suit neutral pale skin, and if you’re cool-toned, go for a mix of strawberry blonde, copper, and ginger. Yellow-based fair tones will look best in a golden copper to take their warmth to the next level.
  • If you have a medium skin tone, you should look for a deep copper to medium auburn, going a bit richer.
  • For darker skin tones, medium to dark auburn works best, but you have room to play around. Medium brown tones should go for mid-range auburn brown, or burgundy for more drama.

Maintenance Level

Auburn can be trickier to maintain than some other colors, especially if it has brighter red tones, as the red pigment can fade faster. It’s also more difficult if your hair is naturally light, as it can fade much more quickly.

Other than regular touch up, tricks to keep the color lasting longer include washing less often, only two or three times a week. You’ll also want to avoid salt and pool water, as this can also strip the color. Lastly, sun protection is an essential step in slowing color fade.

Pre-Treatment

Some women tend to use bleach for making the color more prominent. If you have lightened your hair, the color will take a purer shade. Although a lot of brands advise against it, some specifically instruct you to do so.

Ease of Use

The very first and most important factor that determines a quality hair dye product is how easy or complicated it is to use. Coloring your hair shouldn’t feel like forever. The simpler, faster, the better.

Product

Is your product cream-based or you can directly apply it? According to the instruction manual, you may need to mix and then apply the dye to your hair. There are some that come housed in a tube for direct application.

Hair Type

Colors look different on a brunette than they would on a blonde. The same product may take a lighter tone on blonde curls and a darker hue on a brunette with straight hair. Whatever the shade, you will find a close-enough review for you to understand.

Duration

You also need to evaluate the lasting impact of the hair dye, this is a critical aspect on which you need to judge the hair dye. If it is not last enough, it is a total waste of your investment, both your money and time.

You may also just want a product that will be super easy to wash away and won’t stick with you for long if you change your mind. Temporary colors fade away with a few washes. So the application is much simpler and takes less time.

Softness

The shine and softness that the hair dye leaves your hair with. There are dyes that are going to make your hair dryer than you can think, along with taking away the shine.

So, whether the hair dye maintains the softness becomes a critical feature.
If the chosen hair dye makes your hair soft or rough, as so many hair colors tend to take the moisture out of the hair, leaving it rough; this is vital to make your final choice.

Common Questions About Auburn Hair Dye

Is auburn more brown or red?

Auburn encompasses the color maroon, but so too do chestnut and burgundy. In contrast to the two, auburn is redder in color, whereas chestnut is browner, and burgundy is more purple; chestnut hair is also often referred to as “chestnut-brown”.

What colors are in auburn hair?

Auburn hair is a variety of red hair colors ranging from reddish-brown to dark ginger. Auburn shades vary from medium to dark hair and are a combination of light to dark brown and red hues, which makes it similar to a Titian hair shade.

Can you dye your hair auburn?

Generally speaking, a brunette will have an easier time maintaining auburn hair than a blonde since it’s closer to its natural color.

What skin tone suits auburn hair?

Pale neutral skin tones. Pale neutral skin tones will suit bright auburn, as this color has a balance of both cool and warm tones. For pale to medium skin tones with a cool undertone, a mix of strawberry blonde, copper, and ginger tones will best complement the skin.

Is auburn hair a natural hair color?

It’s possible to be a natural redhead, but it’s also rare. In fact, only one to two percent of the global population is known to have natural auburn hair.

What is the difference between auburn hair and ginger hair?

A red-heavy version of ginger hair works well for both warm and cool undertones, but those people with olive undertones (meaning that there is more green in their skin) should avoid it, as it might make their skin appear sickly.

While auburn color hair suits almost all skin tones and eye colors. Auburn and ginger are entirely different shades of red, and the latter has a brighter, lighter finish and is perfect for fairer skin tones.

What is the difference between auburn and chestnut hair color?

While both chestnut and auburn feature red undertones, the former finds itself on the colder end of the color spectrum. Auburn, on the other hand, has a much warmer character and tends to appear more vibrant due to its density of red color pigments.

What is the difference between mahogany and auburn hair color?

The undertone of mahogany-colored hair is more of a purple-based red, which often occurs in darker brunette shades. Auburn, however, has more of an orange-red tinge, which tends to appear brighter.

Enjoy Your New Auburn Hair Dye

Keep in mind that, auburn is a variety of red, often described as reddish-brown. This gorgeous shade is not as full-on as some brighter reds and fortunately, suits a lot of skin colors and tones.

We hope this guide was helpful in your journey toward the best auburn hair dye. Our goal is for you to be able to make an informed decision and evaluate what’s best for your specific hair needs.

Feel free to contact us if you have any doubts, questions, or comments. We are always happy to hear from you.

Disclosure: The Hair Products recommended in this article are our top favorites because they have a great combination of quality, features, and affordability. As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases made through the links as a way to support this site. If you buy a qualifying product, you’re not charged anything extra, but I’ll get a small commission to help pay for my expenses. I hope you find our advice helpful and discover the Best Hair Products for your needs on this list.

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Author
After graduating from an apprenticeship program in 2010, color specialist Doris began working behind the chair. She started with color corrections and then moved on to creative color. Currently, she works with blonding and grey-blending clients. Sarah views hair color as both an art form and a science and is passionate about salon education, which is the main reason why she started this blog. She has the Invisible Bead Extension Certification and the Bellami Master Certification for extensions.
Photo of author
Author
After graduating from an apprenticeship program in 2010, color specialist Doris began working behind the chair. She started with color corrections and then moved on to creative color. Currently, she works with blonding and grey-blending clients. Sarah views hair color as both an art form and a science and is passionate about salon education, which is the main reason why she started this blog. She has the Invisible Bead Extension Certification and the Bellami Master Certification for extensions.