Natural red hair isn’t made up of a single tone—it’s a blend of multiple shades working together to create depth and dimension. That’s one of the key principles celebrity colorist, Schwarzkopf Professional® U.S. Creative Director of Color and Technique and co-owner of Mèche Salon in Beverly Hills, Tracey Cunningham follows when creating her signature reds.
Whether she’s taking one of her A-list blonde clients copper, refreshing a natural redhead or formulating Emma Stone’s signature auburn, Tracey’s goal is the same: create the variation naturally found in real red hair.
Here’s how she uses highlights, strategic depth and tonal layering to create richer, more dimensional reds. Before we break down Tracey’s techniques, tap through some of her color work on Emma:
Build Dimension Before You Add Red
“Usually when somebody says to me, ‘I want to go red,’ I do a fine highlight all over, and then I put [IGORA] VIBRANCE® over,” Tracey explains. “The most important thing is that it doesn’t look monochromatic, because reds usually aren’t monochromatic.”
Using Schwarzkopf Professional IGORA VIBRANCE® demi-permanent color over the highlighted hair allows Tracey to build depth and tonal variation instead of creating one solid red from roots to ends. The added dimension helps break up solid color and mimics the natural variation found in real redheads.
Why Gold Matters in Red Formulas
While some clients prefer a brighter, more intense red, Tracey typically uses gold to soften the overall result and create a more natural-looking finish. “You’ve got to always add a gold to a red, otherwise it just looks really hot,” she says. That balance of gold, copper and red reflects is one of the ways Tracey creates dimension without making the color look overly intense.
Emma Stone’s Soft Auburn Formula
Emma’s Soft Auburn showcases the layered approach Tracey uses to create dimension in red hair. Tap the beaker to see the full formula:
Want to get all of Tracey’s tips and tricks for creating luxury, dimensional reds? Watch the full interview below:
