This melt runs from copper brown through penny copper to fiery copper, and it depends on all 5 components going in at the stated amounts.
Orange Kicker, 1/3 oz, is the one that isn’t a numbered Shades EQ shade. Skipping it or swapping any shade changes the whole melt on long, wavy hair.
The Bright Orange Copper Look
Three coppers share one head of long, wavy hair, and none of them stays put.
The color begins in copper brown, warms to penny copper, and finishes in fiery copper. Because it’s a melt rather than a stripe, you never see where one tone hands off to the next.
The waves do the rest. Each bend turns a different shade toward the light, so the brown reads deep in the curves while the fiery ends flare wherever the hair lifts.
On wavy hair I’d choose this over one flat orange every time. A single even tone can look painted on, while three tones read as depth.
The Five-Part Redken Shades EQ Formula
This is the professional Redken Recipe behind the bright orange copper look, a long, wavy copper-brown to penny-copper melt that ends in fiery copper. It uses five components:
- 1/3 oz Shades EQ 06CR
- 1/3 oz Orange Kicker
- 1/3 oz Shades EQ 07C
- 1/2 oz Shades EQ 010G
- 1/2 oz Shades EQ 06AA
A few notes on using it:
- The first three amounts are equal thirds, and the last two are halves, so measure each one rather than eyeballing.
- Orange Kicker is the only item here that isn’t a numbered Shades EQ shade, and it sits in the middle of the list for a reason, so don’t skip it.
- If you take this to a stylist, give them all five components by name and amount. Swapping one shade changes the whole copper melt.
Frequently Asked Questions
What skin tone is good for copper hair?
Copper hair flatters warm and neutral skin tones best, particularly those with golden, peachy, or olive undertones.
The warmth in copper shades can clash with very cool or pink-based skin, making it look sallow. If you have warm undertones or a bit of natural flush, orange copper will amplify that glow rather than fight it.
Does copper hair make you look older or younger?
Copper hair tends to make most people look younger because warm tones add brightness and softness to the face.
Cool or ashy shades can read severe and emphasize lines, while copper reflects light and brings warmth to the complexion. The effect depends on your natural coloring, but orange copper generally works in your favor.
What hair color is brownish orange?
Brownish orange hair is copper, and it sits between auburn and ginger on the warmth scale. The brown base keeps it from looking flat or overly bright, while the orange keeps it from reading as standard brunette.
