Radiant Red Hair for a While

As someone who dyes her hair red, I certainly understand the allure of the fiery shade and why celebrities from Scarlett Johansson to Kristen Stewart to Eva Longoria Parker have been coloring their locks everything from strawberry blond to auburn. Red hair is an attention-getter, warms up many complexions and makes all eye colors pop. And I also get why these celebrities only stick with the color for a few weeks.

Red hair is notoriously hard to maintain. It fades quickly, especially in the sun. To maintain the vibrant hue between dye jobs, I try to wash my hair as little as possible (dry shampoo is my best friend), use hair products that contain UV protectants and religiously color my hair every six weeks. I’ve also learned to appreciate the way it fades; unlike my blond that went brassy after a few weeks, my red hair transforms from a bold auburn to a softer strawberry blond gradually after each shampoo. Does that sound like a lot of work? It can be, but for me, it’s worth the payoff. For actresses who are regularly in the public eye, I guess it’s not.