Black and red – 13 best hair colour combinations

Black and red hair team together like a dream and you don’t need to be a Goth to appreciate this look.Thanks to colour techniques like ombre, balayage and dip-dye, there are so many ways to wear this distinctive look.

Your red is a question of personal choice and skin tone. Cool-skinned girls should work with the cherry and pillar-box red palette, while warmer-toned beauties should embrace tones with more yellow undertones like coppers and fiery reds.

Remember that red colours fade most quickly because of the large size of the colour molecule, so aftercare with colour shampoo and conditioner is essential to keep your colour vibrants.

Below, we’ve picked the top red-and-black hair colour ideas from Instagram to help inspire your next trip to the salon.

Red and Black Hair Melt

This colour works all hair lengths. Credit: Instagram.com/tobruckave

The dual dark brown and cherry-red tones in this look work together so well and add dimension to this beauty’s medium-length hair. Credit: @tobruckave

Black and Red Balayage

Give dark tresses a red balayage makeover. Credit: Instagram.com/hairhasdina

The balayage technique is one of the most popular ways to wear black and red hair, that we can attest to.

Thanks to the freedom to go as heavy or as bold as you like, you can tailor the look to your own style and personality. If you’re a more discreet type, simply add a few slices of red throughout the lengths of your hair for a more subtle finish, or glow up like this Instagrammer and turn heads with an intense red effect. Credit: @hairhasdina

Two-Tone Split Dye Black and Red Hair

Can’t decide between black and red hair? You’ll love this. Credit: Instagram.com/colorbychristina

Cruella De Vil gone rogue (or should that be rouge)? It might not be one for the faint-hearted, but it’s certainly one of our fave red and black hair colour ideas.

From Nicki Minaj to Ke$ha, this half and half two-tone black cherry hair colour is super playful, and just imagine how amazing it will look when weaved together in a braid or in a twisted updo! Credit: @colorbychristina

Editor’s tip: If you plan on adopting any of these red-and-black hair colour ideas, keep your tresses nourished and frizz-free by shampooing only every other wash. We suggest using the TRESemmé Replenish and Cleanse 2-in-1 Shampoo + Conditioner to help maintain your hair vibrancy way past the hundreds of Instagram likes you’re sure to get.

Two-tone Black and Red Braids

Boxing clever. Credit: Instagram.com/nakedbeautyplanet

These tresses weave the natural black hair into the box braids to create a beautiful two-toned look. Leaving the curls loose emphasises the fiery red. Credit: @nakedbeautyplanet

Red Ombre on Black Hair

Long hair, don’t care. Credit: Instagram.com/colorbychristina

This Instagrammer’s mix of black and red hair is striking for all the right reasons. Using an ombre to show off her hue, this straight hair look show off the colour and gleam to great advantage. Credit: @colorbychristina

Dip-Dye

You can’t go wrong with a dip-dye. Credit: Instagram.com/johannarejstrom

Make a tip statement. This fearless dip-dye combination is the perfect way to ‘dip’ your toe in the colour trend. Credit: @johannarejstrom

Colour Blocking

Colour blocking is a cool way to wear black and red hair. Credit: Instagram.com/trishhairdesign

Not just for your wardrobe, colour blocking is becoming one of the surprising new ways to dye your tresses of late. This Instagrammer coloured the top section of her hair with a fiery red hue while leaving the hair underneath a deep dark hue.

The contrast looks amazing and can be your own little secret when hair is left loose. Credit: @trishhairdesign

Bright Cherry Red on Black Hair

This vibrant look will make you shine. Credit: Instagram.com/mhollandhair

This sweet black-and-red hair combination is a great choice for ladies who aren’t afraid to show off a vivid hue. Not only will it warm up your strands in the winter, but it’ll also make you shine in the summer. Strong dyes like this can damage your hair, so make sure you use a protective shampoo like SheaMoisture Manuka Honey & Mafura Oil Intensive Hydration Shampoo

Prefer subtle looks? Try this. Credit: Instagram.com/tashdollars

Looking for a subtle black-and-red hair combination? Look no further! This beauty has opted for fiery red money-piece highlights on each side of her strands for a cool effect. Credit: @tashdollars

Red and Black Pixie

Black and red hair looks great on short hair. Credit: Instagram.com/hairhasdina

If you are dreaming of adding a playful touch to your pixie cut, take note of this Instagrammer’s hairstyle. With a dash of red hair and the rest of her hair left dark, this look makes an edgy and stylish impact. Credit: @hairhasdina

Red Highlights on Vintage Black Hair

Elevate your look. Credit: Instagram.com/miss.amberlouise

All eyes on me! This vintage ’40s hairstyle is given a quirky update with two bright red highlights on her victory roll. She’s no shrinking violet. Credit: @miss.amberlouise (JPG 191KB)

Bright Red Tresses with Black Roots

Flaming Pompadour. Credit: Instagram/tashdollars

This edgy look gets our vote with its cheeky pomapdour/victory roll, and luxuriant pony. the black roots soften the whole appearance. To keep your colour vibrant and bright, use TRESemmé Revitalise Colour Shampoo, that will boost your flame red for up to 12 weeks.

Prefer subtle looks? Try this. Credit: Instagram.com/tashdollars

Looking for a subtle black-and-red hair combination? Look no further! This beauty has opted for fiery red money-piece highlights on each side of her strands for a cool effect. Credit: @tashdollars

Red and Black Pixie

FAQs

Does red go with black hair?

Red works beautifully with black hair, as you see above. Why not experiment with different tones – try warm and spicy to bold and bright or why not a combination of complementary tones?

What does red hair fade to?

That depends on the type of red used. If you have a orange-toned red like a coppery red, it will fade to a peachy/coral hue. If it’s a blue-red like cherry, it will fade to a pinky tone. Preserve your red’s vibrancy by using colour shampoo and conditioner and skipping shampoo every second wash.