I keep seeing curly hair go red this winter. Not the brassy summer reds, but deep, moody shades that hold their own in low light. It makes sense: winter calls for warmth, and red delivers without shouting.
This roundup has 18 Winter Hair Colors for Curly Hair, from subtle brown undertones to full-on copper. Whether your curls are loose waves or tight coils, there’s a shade that won’t fight your texture. I’ve spent years fighting brassiness on my own fine hair, so I know the difference between a red that fades and one that stays.
Striking Deep Red Collarbone Curls
The collarbone version hits harder. Same deep red tone, but the shorter length concentrates the colour so it feels more intense. The technique is still all-over, but on thick curls at collarbone length, the colour sits closer to the face and reads as deliberate. A side parting breaks up the symmetry and adds lift at the root. The honest downside: the ends get more wear, so the deep red fades faster than it would on longer hair. You’ll see the shift at week four instead of week six. The texture stays defined because the layers keep the curls from clumping into heavy chunks. This is for someone who wants a bold winter red without waiting for it to grow out. It’s a statement that knows its exit strategy.
Medium Brown With Red Undertones
The deepest red undertones barely announce themselves in indoor light, then wink in the sun. That is the point of a medium brown red undertones base: it is a subtle winter colour that does not scream. The technique is a single-process colour with a red-heavy formula to create a rich auburn appearance. Side part, shoulder length, thick curls. This suits those who want change without the maintenance of a full red. Ask your stylist for a brown base with a warm red toner, not permanent red pigment. The defined curl styling shows the undertone best.
Deep Reddish-Brown Collarbone Curls
This is the shade I keep coming back to. Compared to the medium brown with red undertones, that one feels like a whisper and this one is the actual sentence. The deep reddish brown curly hair here has a richness that the lighter version just can’t match. Thick, defined curls take to the deeper base beautifully because the colour sits in every coil without washing out. The middle part keeps the collarbone length from feeling heavy, which it easily could with this much pigment. Air dried, the texture stays visible because the shade is dark enough to catch light at the curve of each wave. The honest downside? This depth shows every new root the second it arrives.
When the strands are this dark and the curls this thick, the regrowth is not subtle. I noticed the line at week five and that was with a good colourist. A gloss between appointments helps the tone stay rich, but the schedule is real. If you prefer low maintenance, pick the lighter brown instead. Otherwise, book the touch-up and accept that a deep, vibrant base declares itself.
Dark Brown Bob With Red Undertones
Confession: I used to think a bob was too harsh for curly hair. Then I saw this dark brown bob red undertones at chin length with a side part, and I changed my mind. The shape is neat but the curls keep it from looking severe. The red undertones are subtle, more of a glow than a statement, which is exactly what a shorter cut needs. If you air dry with a curl cream, the definition holds even by the afternoon.
Dark Brown Mid-Back With Red Undertones
Snow falling outside, a warm drink in hand, and dark brown red undertones that somehow match the whole scene. This is the winter shade for wavy texture, a mid-back length that works whether you blowout soft waves or air dry with a curl cream. The colour is deep enough to feel seasonal, but the red hints keep it from fading into black. In low winter light, the undertones catch a warm glow that reads as cozy rather than flat.
The versatility is the selling point. Blow it out for a sleeker finish or let the waves air dry, the shade holds its depth either way. A salon visit every eight to ten weeks keeps the red from dulling. Thick waves especially benefit because the colour sits evenly across the volume. For anyone who wants a winter shade that does not scream, this is the quiet but noticeable option.
Visual Idea
Honey blonde highlights on a dark brown base catch the curl ridges in a way that a solid colour never will. This collarbone length with defined, air dried curls shows off the contrast because the lighter pieces sit on the outside of each wave. If you have thick curly hair, the highlights give dimension without the upkeep of an all-over light shade. This is a salon job since the placement matters, but the result is softer than a full blonde transition.
Collarbone Visual Idea
The technique here is the whole story. Medium auburn as a base, then subtle copper highlights woven through the coily texture, not painted on top. The stylist sections the curl clumps and paints the copper only on the mid-lengths and ends, leaving the roots dark. That warm tone against the auburn creates a dimensional red that doesn’t go flat when the curls dry. Collarbone length keeps the weight manageable for thick, coily hair. The middle part pulls the colour forward. This is a salon job because the placement has to respect the curl pattern. A home kit would blur the line and turn muddy.
Layers Visual Idea
This colour works best on medium-density curly hair that springs up when air dried. The medium warm brown base with honey blonde balayage needs enough room between the curl clumps to show the two tones. Straight or fine hair would let the balayage read flat, but thick, curly texture turns each honey stripe into a separate highlight. Collarbone length keeps the shape from turning into a triangle. What to tell the stylist: keep the honey blonde above the curl line, not at the root, and ask for face-framing pieces to be honey from the ear down. A middle part distributes the warmth evenly. If your hair is low density, the balayage will look sparse rather than soft.
Cinnamon Brown Visual Idea
Cinnamon brown beats plain brown every time. Where medium brown sits neutral and ash brown goes grey on wavy texture, cinnamon brown brings a red-gold warmth that works under winter coats and overhead office lights. The all-over colour is simple, no highlights, no balayage. The tone is the whole point. Mid-back length with a blunt blowout lets the colour reflect evenly. The honest downside: cinnamon brown fades faster than a neutral brown because the warm pigment molecules are smaller. You will see the red dim by week five. A colour-depositing conditioner in a copper shade stretches the tone. Wavy, thick texture holds the pigment longer than fine hair, so that helps. This is a salon dye, but the upkeep is just a touch-up every eight weeks.
Copper With Blonde Highlights Visual Idea
Ever wonder how some curls catch the light like they’re lit from inside? That’s the trick of layering blonde highlights over a copper base, not just painting one flat color on. On thick, curly hair at collarbone length, the stylist weaves fine blonde pieces through the mid-lengths and ends, leaving the root area copper for depth. The technique relies on the curls themselves: each bend shows a different slice of blonde, so the color shifts as you move. Air dried with natural curl, it reads warm and dimensional, never stripey. This one is a salon job, no question, because placement on curly hair is everything.
No Bangs Visual Idea
I’ll admit it: I used to think multi-tonal color on wavy hair meant constant touch-ups. Then I saw this dark brown base shot through with copper and rose gold highlights, and I changed my mind. The mid-back length with no bangs means the color does all the work, no fringe to fuss over. Defined curls, air dried, show off the dimension without heat styling. Real talk: this is not a bathroom-mirror job. The highlights need a stylist who understands how waves reflect light, and you’ll want a gloss or toner every eight to ten weeks to keep the rose gold from turning brassy. But daily styling? Just wash, scrunch, and go.
Shoulder-Length Visual Idea
Ever wondered how copper highlights actually behave on a natural afro through a work week? The dark brown base with warm copper highlights gives your coils dimension without the root-line panic of a full bleach. The tone is a soft, burnished copper that reads warm against deep skin. At shoulder length, the coily texture holds the colour well, but the real test is day three. You will need a refresh routine, a spritz and a light finger coil, because the copper can settle into the curls unevenly. This is a salon-leaning job, not a box-dye situation, and the upkeep is a toning shampoo every few washes to keep the copper from pulling brassy.
Front View Medium Crop Visual Idea
This copper red base with darker undertones is not for everyone, and that is the point. It flatters those with naturally curly, thick hair because the depth of the undertones prevents the copper from looking flat or one-dimensional. The mid-back length gives the colour room to breathe, and the middle part shows the even saturation from root to tip. The tone is a vibrant copper that leans into red, not orange, which reads sophisticated on deeper skin tones and warm olive undertones. If your hair is fine or low density, the weight of this colour can feel heavy, and the darker undertones may read as muddy rather than rich.
When you book this, ask for a single-process colour with a demi-permanent formula to keep the undertones subtle. Say you want the copper to be the star, with the darker base acting as a shadow, not a stripe. The stylist should apply the colour evenly through the mid-back length, focusing saturation on the mid-lengths and ends to avoid a flat root.
Back View Visual Idea
Of all the neutral browns, this one wins for subtle warmth. The medium brown base with subtle caramel highlights avoids the flatness of a solid brown and the contrast of a full caramel melt. The tone is a soft, buttery caramel that catches light without going brassy, and on curly, medium-density hair at mid-back length, the highlights read as natural dimension rather than obvious colour. The back view shows how the highlights are concentrated around the crown and face-framing layers, which keeps the overall look grounded.
The honest downside is that the caramel can fade into a muddy yellow if you do not use a toning shampoo. Because the highlights are subtle, the fade is less obvious than with high-contrast colour, but it still happens. Compared to a cool ash brown or a warm chestnut, this shade sits in the middle, offering warmth without committing to full copper. It is a safe choice that still looks intentional.
Warm Brown With Caramel Highlights Visual Idea
How do you get caramel highlights to look blended rather than striped on curly hair? The technique is a hand-painted balayage on dry curls, starting the caramel sections a few inches from the root to avoid a harsh line. The warm brown base is applied as a single-process colour, then the caramel is woven through the mid-lengths and ends in a subtle, scattered pattern. On shoulder-length, thick curls, this creates a dimensional effect that moves with the curl pattern rather than fighting it. The tone is a soft, golden caramel that warms the brown without overpowering it.
Dark Brown Base With Caramel Highlights Visual Idea
Picture this: cold air outside, warm tones in your hair. This collarbone wavy cut has a dark brown base and painted caramel highlights that mimic the light through a winter window. The tone is a warm, golden caramel that catches low winter sun in a way flat brown never does. The technique is a fine balayage, so the highlights feel natural, not striped. The length hits collarbone, and the wavy texture allows the caramel to skip across the surface. This is the color I want for holiday dinners and gray January afternoons.
Air Dried Visual Idea
The air-dried finish here might look effortless, but it’s carefully placed. This collarbone wavy cut with a dark brown base and caramel highlights is designed for wavy hair that holds a pattern. The technique uses a root shadow so the grow-out isn’t a harsh line. The tone is a soft, buttery caramel that warms the face without washing out pale winter skin. The length is collarbone, which lets the waves curl under naturally. Honest downside: on low density wavy hair, the caramel can look sparse—the highlighted pieces get lost in the wave. High density wavy hair shows it off beautifully.
Side Visual Idea
I was wrong about caramel highlights on curly hair. The technique here is a hand-painted balayage applied to individual curls, not sections, so the highlights hit the high points of the curl pattern naturally. The dark brown base grounds the look, while the warm caramel tone lifts it without bleach damage. The length is shoulder, the texture is curly, medium density, and the side part breaks up the color distribution so it feels dimensional.
Final Thoughts
After seeing all these reds, I’m convinced winter is the season to go warm. What surprised me is how different each shade reads – auburn on one curl pattern looks completely different on another. I’m booking the deep dark red next month. It’s the one I keep coming back to.
