This rich, high-impact shade isn’t just trending – it’s everywhere. Ranked No.1 on the 2025 Pinterest Palette and flaunted by the likes of Dua Lipa, Rihanna and Megan Thee Stallion, cherry red hair is fast becoming the go-to choice for a confident colour transformation.
From punchy cherry-chocolate shades to sultry black cherry and glossy cherry cola hair, this colour is bursting with flavour and packed with personality. It’s rich, dramatic and incredibly versatile – a colour that elevates every look and lets your creativity shine.
So if you’re ready to refresh your colour and try something new, we’re here to show you how to start your cherry era with our definitive range of semi-permanent red hair dyes.
This is The Red Edit: the ultimate inspiration for your next cherry red hair transformation.
The Red Edit features two eye-catching takes on the cherry red trend, created by hair industry heavyweight Steve Turner (@adams.turner_). Steve’s decades as an editorial stylist and hairdressing educator made him the ideal choice to produce these vibrant shades using our signature colours.
A huge thank you to our model Amber, who made both looks shine on set.
Here’s how we took cherry red hair to the next level…
Cherry Red Colour #1: Cherry Blaze
Our first look, Cherry Blaze, was designed to deliver a rich, multidimensional shade that fuses deep cherry tones with electric pink energy, creating a statement colour that’s equal parts fierce and feminine.
The unique cherry-pink shade was custom-blended using our deep Dark Tulip and the vibrant Vermillion Red – a pairing that delivers serious depth, with the Vermillion lifting the darker red hair for a finish that feels both lively and luxurious.
To achieve full saturation and flawless coverage, Steve sectioned Amber’s hair using his “hot cross bun” method, ensuring every strand soaked up the Cherry Blaze tones. After twisting and pinning the hair to develop, he and the team turned up the volume with hair extensions that blended seamlessly into the final style.
The result? Head-turning bright cherry red hair with serious attitude.
Amber styled the look with her own soft grey two-piece, layered silver jewellery and chunky, Dr Martens-inspired boots for a confident edge. Her sun-kissed golden makeup brought warmth and glow, letting her cherry red colour take centre stage.
Cherry Red Colour #2: Cherry Ebony
Red and black hair is a classic combination, with black’s deep, neutral base allowing red shades to really pop with dramatic intensity.
So our second look, Cherry Ebony, takes this bold, contrast-driven look to daring new heights. Building on Amber’s original Cherry Blaze, Steve layered in fresh Vermillion Red to intensify the crimson tones, adding extra richness and depth for a look that smoulders.
Then came the twist: Amber’s previously cherry red wefts were transformed with Ebony – our darkest, most enigmatic shade – creating a striking contrast that made the ruby-red hues glow with even more drama.
This created a darker cherry red look that blends glamour and street-style edge – rich, moody and full of depth.
Amber kept the vibe clean and confident with a white ASOS vest, charcoal-grey bomber from Topshop, and tailored black trousers, finishing the look with classic Sambae trainers. Her makeup, now darker and more defined, gave the look a smoky finish – the perfect accompaniment to her standout cherry cola shade.
Our 4 top cherry red hair application and maintenance tips
This pair of powerful looks shows exactly why cherry red is the hair colour of the moment – a tone that’s as vivid and expressive as it is subtle and sophisticated, with a spectrum that can suit any style or skin tone.
If you’ve been inspired by our latest shoot, here are a few top tips for applying cherry red hair dye safely and maintaining this signature shade for longer.
1. Perform a skin patch test and strand test
Before diving into your red dye, make sure you're safe to get started. Start with a skin patch test on a suitable area of your body to ensure you experience no unwanted irritation or reactions.
Next, do a strand test on a small section of hair to see if your cherry red colour comes out the way you want it. This is especially crucial when mixing dyes to create your own unique shades, such as our Cherry Blaze look.
2. Use Vaseline or petroleum jelly along your hairline
Like Steve demonstrates in our application video, use an oil-based product like Vaseline or petroleum jelly around your hairline and central parting. This helps prevent hair colour from staining your skin – important for colours as rich and intense as our red hair dyes.
3. Separate your hair for total coverage
We recommend separating your hair into at least four sections using hair clips or bands. This exposes all your hair to the cherry red colour to ensure complete coverage – there’s nothing worse than noticing a patch of your natural hair was left untouched.
4. Wash coloured hair with cold or lukewarm water
To hold onto your cherry red hair for as long as possible, we suggest washing your hair less often using cold or lukewarm water. Hot water raises your hair cuticle, causing colour to fade faster. Also, switch to a colour protecting shampoo and conditioner – it extends the vibrancy of your look for even longer.
What skin tones suit cherry red hair?
Cherry red hair is something that everyone can enjoy. But for the most effective combination, you should ensure your colour compliments your skin tone.
If you have fairer skin, cooler cherry reds with hints of blue or purple undertones give a striking, modern contrast without overwhelming your complexion. For medium or olive skin, opt for true cherry reds or warmer auburn hair tones – they bring out golden undertones and create that soft, sunlit richness.
And for deeper skin tones, darker cherry reds with burgundy notes add serious drama and dimension, making the colour pop while enhancing your natural glow.
If you’re unsure which style or shade of cherry red hair will best complement your skin tone, we recommend speaking to a professional colourist for advice.
Create your ultimate cherry red hair colour with Directions
Cherry red isn’t just a trend – it’s a statement.
Whether you’ve been drawn to the glossy glow of Cherry Blaze, the rich intensity of Cherry Ebony, or simply inspired to see what cherry red tones you can produce – we hope that The Red Edit empowers you to make the most of this eye-catching colour.
We’d like to thank Steve, Amber and the rest of the crew behind these bold looks – their creativity and enthusiasm made this shoot possible.
With our iconic range of mixable, semi-permanent red hair dyes – all vegan-friendly, cruelty-free and hair-safe – you’ve got everything you need to experiment with this trend-setting shade.
So, if red is your next move and you’re ready to make it completely your own, choose Directions.
Want to show off your cherry red hair? Share your styles using #TheRedEdit and tag @directionshair to show off your unique shades with our Directions community.