Every good story has become a trilogy. And now the GREATEST story ever told (ha!), about the different shades of red I have colored my hair, has a PART 3.
The Copper Chronicles.
*dramatic music plays*
Sometimes you need a little push to make changes. People can see things that would look great on you that you might not necessarily see yourself. I typically like a more blonde shade of strawberry blonde for myself. My friend Anna, @annamcgroarty, is a colorist based in Los Angeles.
She pushed for me to try a light copper red shade, definitely more of a red than a blonde, which I like for winter.
This is a *PIC HEAVY* post because honestly, I think pictures are better than me explaining the hair. My hair is 99% grey at this point, so my results will be slightly different than yours if you have no grey hair.
Each formula below is a combination of one or more of these shades from L’oreal’s INOA line. The exact amounts are detailed below, with photos of the results underneath the formula.
SHOP THE FORMULA
PROS | Rich color, ammonia free formula, professional looking color results at home.
CONS | Hard to find in-store (easy online) and expensive for at-home color. Must also use INOA developer. Consistency is very thick, can be difficult to spread through the hair.
The developer lasts several application, but the cost of the tubes added up for me. I was using at least two and sometimes four tubes ($15 each) to cover all my hair. It was costing me between $35 – $65 each time I colored my hair, including the developer. Still less than the salon, but something to note.
As I said above though, the results looked incredible and the color was so rich. The results (to me) look very high end.
FORMULA #1:
This came out a little too dark for my taste at first, but within 3 washes was perfect and such a pretty shade.
Formula #1 Results (4 photos):
Related Post | Best Shampoos + Conditioners to Maintain Red Hair Color
FORMULA #2:
This came out PERFECT at first, it was the perfect coppery strawberry blonde shade. But it also did fade quickly, so by the end of 4 weeks it needed a red-pick-me-up. But if you want your hair to be more blonde than copper, try this mix.
Formula #2 Results (5 photos):
FORMULA #3:
This was a true copper, which is really pretty. Not my normal, but it’s good to try new things and this is such a gorgeous color!
It has faded since the initial coloring. How wild is the difference in the color between the indoor and outdoor/direct sunlight photos!?
Formula #3 Results (5 photos):
READ MORE
SOCIAL LINKS
Thank you for reading and being a part of the blog! – Molly
Here is my updated Strawberry Blonde at-home hair color formula for gorgeous light reddish blonde…
Ilia has just released their newest complexion product, the Skin Rewind foundation stick. Ilia Beauty…
In today's post, I have swatches and a review of one of the best selling…
This post and video are part of my new Makeup 101 series on the blog…
Jones Road Beauty is one of the most requested brands I've been asked to review…
After four years of wearing Honeylove shapewear, I've really been able to see which pieces…
View Comments
Question about your third formula, you used: 1 tube each of 7.34 GC+ 7.3 G+ 10 grams of 7 + Level 20 developer at the roots and Level 30 developer throughout the hair. What is the 10 grams of 7? That is the absolute best copper color and I have been trying to get it for so long. Your blog has led me to some great combinations, but that is pretty much exactly what I am looking for. Thanks again for all of the information, your blog has been very helpful!
Huge TYPO! Thank you so much for catching that. I updated it with the correct formula, it's actually shade 7.43. I hope this helps and you get the copper color you want! So glad the blog has helped you out so far.
xo - Molly
I LOVE YOUR INFO AND PICTURES!!! I was just looking last night at the Well Kolestan but could not get a good read on a swatch! I am using your level 8 titian 1/4 to 3/4 level 8 blonde and I LOVE IT!!! Thanks so much because I know this takes a lot of time and effort to pass on your info. Thank you, Molly
Thank YOU, Lisa, for being such a loyal reader! I'm glad these posts help and getting your feedback is so nice. I appreciate it!
I tried the first formula and my hair was already a very dark copper and I tried your formula and it came out only a little bit more copper. How do I get it lighter? Thank you
Hi Robyn,
If you go to a level 8 or 9 dyes next, you should be able to get it a bit lighter. What is your natural hair color?
I'm a natural mousey brown but red seems to stick to my hair so well. What mixes do you recommend. Could you recommend a formula please? Also how often do you re dye your hair ? Thankyou
Hi. I'm naturally a mousey brown but hair hair has always had red in it. What formula do you suggest ? I'd love a colour like your last formula but I'm not sure that formula would lighten my hair. Also how often do you colour your hair? Thankyou
Hi Robyn,
I would try to fade your color a bit, read the "help, my hair came out too red" post and then try using a level 8 or 9 to get lighter results. Color can't lighten color, so fading your current color first with shampoos, etc might help you get lighter results next time. I hope this helps! I touch up my roots every 4-6 weeks.
xo - Molly
Try Naturtint line of copper colors:) I use Copper Blonde and Light Copper Chestnut. Loving your colors Molly. Big hug from the snow-land!
Oooh, I haven't heard of this line, I will check them out, thank you! Hugs!!
Hi Molly
Found your website as considering former auburn and reddish blonde colors. Your color is beautiful and know of INOA they sell that in Sally in England where my daughter lives they do not have it here. My hair sadly faded never went grey just to a whiter blonde have tried once a year to color it fades out a stylist in London recently said would have to color weekly for two months to get color and a Demi would not take well. I currently just add light blonde by loreal and due to fair skin color looks natural think Lindsay Lohen or Nicole Kidman but miss the besutiful color like yours and inspired but cautious as to why my family that was this color is more platinum easier to deal with as we age. Have you ever been auburn at all love that shade also. Being so light I may try dark and light auburn by loreal think their reds are more natural than Wella line.
Best wishes
Sharon Marie
While you are beautiful as a strawberry blonde and the coppery tones are a natural with your skin tone, I think the rich coppery colour makes you look like a Disney princess. I vote to keep the copper !!
Your previous colour posts were inspiring, and actually got me started on home colouring adventures, including many visits to Sally's and many test swatches of bleaches and colouring. Ironically, I have always been coppery (fading to "mouse" with age of course) and I was planning to enhance the copper colours again -- and instead have been moving more toward golden/light brown. But my whole journey started when I found your Strawberry posts in November.
Keep on being and inspiration !
These posts are so much fun to follow! INOA is a wonderful line. Redken Chromatics is another amazing oil based-ammonia free line. They offer Rubilane and R5 dyes that are supposed to resist fade as well as a 'Beyond Cover' line of Chromatics that are for 75% or higher grey coverage. Do you have any friends willing to let you tag along to a professional store? SalonCentric sells INOA for $8.45 and developer for $10.80. Redken Chromatics is $7.50 and $10. I would love to help you out, but I live in WV :( <----- frowny face on so many levels .... lol
Hi!
I love your hair color and your blog! I have a question regarding your coloring technique. You said that you use 30 developer for touch up/all over color and 20 on the roots. I thought that 30 is much stronger developer so why dont you use it on the roots and 20 for all over color? Im a bit confused, please clarify.
Hi there! Okay so at home myself I just use the 20 all over, and I thought Anna said she used 30 throughout, but I just checked with her and she uses 20 on the roots then Level 10 developer throughout. So sorry, I really hope no one has had a color whoops from this. I updated it to show the Level 10. Thank you for your question, you saved a lot of heads!!
Thank you for your reply! Here's another question, how do you blend two developers? So you colored your roots with developer 20 and put developer 10 for all over, but how do uou blend it so the color is all even? Im sorry if im asking too many questions, im thinking of dyeing my hair strawberry blonde and just dont want to make a mistake with this. My roots are darker then the rest of my hair which is blonde.
No such thing as too many questions! I just use one level myself, so I would email Anna, her email is above and check with her. She'll be able to give you the best advice on this and I don't want to tell you the wrong thing!
Spectacular! The final combo is dramatic and perfect for you! (A little too much mixing and a few too many tubes for me though!)
I absolutely love love love this color!! Do you have any recommendations on how to get this with a line of color they sell at Sally's?? Thanks!
Hi Erica!
I've been looking online and can't find anything similar, but will probably head to the store next week to check it out in person and see if I can find any close matches!
:)
Molly
I was thinking of mixing the Wella Titian Blonde and Red-Red...would that be close to it? Or maybe mixing those two with an 8G or 9G?
I just picked up the 6C Light Copper and the 9G from Wella to mix and see how that goes...I will def add some pics when it's done! I'll probably try it in a month or so :)
Was the wella combo close to the copper Iona line?
Just to make sure I got this the 3rd combo there r three colors what is the 7.43 called?
Your series of posts on going strawberry blonde gave me the courage to have a go at home-coloring my red. I was seeing a colorist every 3 weeks and wasn't thrilled with the results. I've had good results so far following your suggestions but I have a question for you. Because the previous colorist was going so much more dark copper and ashing out with a brown/red mix, I'm not able to get the lighter shade I really want. Do you do any degree of color removal between changes of shade? I know there are commercial products that do this but again, I'm not sure I have the courage to do it at home.