Kendall Jenner’s photo sparks a rush for a previously “unattractive” feature

A hair color that was once labeled “least desirable” is now so popular that hairstylists are reporting huge demand for it.

Red locks were sadly underestimated for decades, with studies concluding that people naturally born with the hair color suffer the most in the dating world, a term dubbed “anti-redhead prejudice.” .

But after years of being brutally labeled as the “most unattractive” hair color, redheads are finally having a moment.

In recent months, stars like Kendall Jenner – who is famous for her almost jet black hair – blonde actress Sydney Sweeney and singer Doja Cat have ditched their typical hair colors in favor of a shade of red.

Copper in particular – a warm shade of red – is everywhere, and Sydney-based celebrity hair colourist Jaye Edwards told news.com.au’s The Beauty Diary that there’s a reason so many people are ‘obsessed’ with it are.

“I think post-pandemic people are looking for change. We see so many full transformation requests in the salon,” he said.

“Natural copper tones are a great option for those looking for transformation as they can be adjusted to suit different complexions.

“It’s a bold look, but when paired with lighter undertones it gives a more ‘born with’ than ‘out of the bottle’ look.”

Jaye, who owns eight EdwardsAndCo salons across Australia, added that Kendall’s recent transformation has “inspired a lot of people to try this look” – with the award-winning hairstylist saying he’s seen an increase in demand from his clients.

“Deep, natural-looking auburn tones as well as copper-blonde tones have made a big comeback, while bright reds have taken a back seat,” he said.

There has also been an influx of TikTok users sharing videos under the hashtags “#kendallshair” and “#copperhair” – many of which have hundreds of thousands of views – proving that the color really is in style.

“Why did I wait so long,” one influencer commented on her transformation video, which has had over 940,000 views.

READ MORE: • Fans stunned by Kendall Jenner’s pickle conundrum

US-based colorist Matt Rez, the man behind Kendall’s dramatic hair makeover, said he was “pleasantly surprised that everyone made a splash and went for the warmth of the copper hue.”

“Copper colors are trending on TikTok with how-to videos, and definitely more of my customers are asking for warmer colors these days,” Rez recently told WWD.

“Blondes like to play with strawberry tones and brunettes either want to switch to reds or really warm up with their glosses for a reddish tinge.

“Hairdressers love to do a good red hair color – it’s a fun challenge for us.”

Test the new red

If you’re craving a whole new copper do right now, I wholeheartedly understand. As a fake redhead, I’d had my eye on copper for a while over the past few years.

I recently took the plunge into Jaye’s newest salon in Fortitude Valley, Brisbane.

The whole process took about six hours because we had to take the deep tones out of my bright red paint to get it to a place where the copper tone would arrive. It’s definitely a long time in one chair, but I have no regrets. I’m obsessed with my new golden locks.

Jaye advises against resorting to box dyes if you’re considering switching your hair to copper, and advises being prepared to pay the cost of regular maintenance visits to your colorist.

“Copper can be a beautiful statement piece, but it’s probably the most difficult color to maintain and requires multiple visits to the salon to keep that color looking fresh,” he warned.

“The color fades faster and it’s almost impossible to achieve that without a professional.”

There are products that can help prolong color, with Jaye advising you to buy “professional/salon quality products” that are “safe for colored hair.”

“These products don’t contain sulfates and parabens, which make color fade faster,” he said.

“Bright peaches will always fade over time – I recommend investing in a copper-pigmented treatment mask, like the Christophe Robin Copper Shades Variation Mask.

“I also suggest booking regular glosses; these are quick 15-minute in-salon treatments to help you regain color without booking a full color service.”

One of the main reasons I decided to stray from the bold red I previously had was to give my color some longevity.

Previously, I had about four weeks at best before having to either buy another color or lather my tresses with a colored conditioner, which was my preferred option since it’s a lot cheaper.

But with the copper, I find it stays fresh for about eight weeks, which is a big difference.