Billie Eilish and Lindsay Lohan are bringing back the rarest hair colour of the moment
Choosing a hair colour that sets you apart from the crowd is exactly what salons are offering this autumn 2026: red hair has established itself as the most coveted shade of the season, championed by icons who have triggered an unprecedented wave of client requests. Yet this colour long occupied a singular, almost marginal place before suddenly becoming the most desirable shade around.
Red hair: a rare shade that is finally winning over salons
The numbers speak for themselves: fewer than 2% of the world’s population is born naturally redheaded, according to data reported by National Geographic. This extreme rarity is fuelling a desire for singularity that clients are increasingly eager to claim as their own. Vogue France describes red hair as the standout shade of winter 2026, confirming that this phenomenon goes well beyond a passing trend.
In practical terms, this rarity is changing the way women think about their next hair colour. Those who are naturally red are looking to preserve their shade, while others are turning to colourists to get as close as possible. Red hair is becoming a marker of desirability, a way of expressing a less uniform femininity in the face of the ever-present blonde or brunette.
Lindsay Lohan, Billie Eilish and the stars who started it all
The shift toward this hair colour has been accelerated by several high-profile figures. On 4 August, Lindsay Lohan announced on Instagram her return to her natural red from the early 2000s, ditching platinum blonde to coincide with the launch of her new Hulu mini-series. The move immediately resonated with her followers.
On 28 May 2026, photos posted by the account @Deuxmoi revealed Billie Eilish sporting a sleek auburn red, a complete departure from her signature black. The singer had herself told her followers, in an Instagram story cited by Marie Claire, that she had dyed her hair red for a week. Every hair colour change from Billie Eilish instantly triggers a wave of similar requests in salons.
On screen, actresses such as Isabelle Huppert, Julianne Moore and Jessica Chastain, who returned with the film Malfaisante, have long associated their red hair with a quiet kind of power. Their roles have helped cement this shade in the collective imagination as a bold signature look.
Which shade to choose for your skin tone?
Faced with this trend, colourists are no longer talking about a generic red. They are offering precise palettes tailored to each complexion. Here are the most talked-about shades this season:
- Baby copper: an ultra-soft coppery blonde, somewhere between Venetian blonde and classic red, highlighted by Doctissimo as ideal for fair skin tones.
- Luminous ginger: a bright, radiant shade that also flatters fair complexions.
- Burnt copper: a deep copper recommended by Aufeminin for darker bases and golden or olive skin tones.
- Burnt cinnamon: a warm shade that enhances golden or olive complexions.
- Cherry mocha: cited by Aufeminin for darker bases, with warm, rich undertones.
By adjusting the intensity, this hair colour can flatter almost any complexion. Colourists advise arriving at your appointment with reference photos to pinpoint the exact shade you have in mind.
How to maintain your red hair colour through winter
Going red also means planning ahead for upkeep, as this hair colour requires particular attention to keep its vibrancy. Professionals recommend limiting daily heat styling, which quickly dulls copper tones.
It is also worth investing in products specifically designed for colour-treated hair and scheduling regular toning or gloss treatments at the salon. These sessions help revive the shade between full colour appointments and keep the warmth of the tones alive through winter. For those still on the fence, a light copper gloss or baby copper offers a first step without any drastic change.
The warm tones of red hair pair naturally with the camel and burgundy coats of autumn, making it a hair colour that sits particularly well with a seasonal wardrobe. Choosing this shade becomes as much a style statement as it is a beauty decision.
