Maroon red hair is a dark, red-brown shade that's distinctly warm and earthy. You can wear it all over, as highlights through brown hair or with a freehand balayage technique. Virtually made for fall, but still eminently wearable in winter, it's the ultimate cool-weather red that harmonizes with warm skin tones, while creating a striking contrast against cool complexions.
But how does it compare to other fall-ready reds? Let's break down the key differences between maroon, burgundy, plum, cherry cola and wine red hair.
| Hair color | Undertone | Typical level range | Who it suits |
|---|---|---|---|
Maroon | Balanced red with brown undertones; can lean warm or cool. | Medium-dark to deep brunette. | All skin tones, depending on whether the red is customized warmer or cooler. |
Burgundy | Cool red with blue, violet or purple undertones. | Medium-dark to very dark. | Cool and neutral skin tones, particularly those who suit jewel-toned shades. |
Plum | Purple, violet and berry undertones. | Medium-dark to deep. | Cool and neutral skin tones. |
Cherry Cola | Deep brown with rich cherry-red undertones. | Medium to very dark. | Warm, neutral and deeper skin tones; can be adapted with cooler cherry tones. |
Wine | Deep red with burgundy, berry and subtle brown undertones. | Medium-dark to deep. | Cool, warm and neutral skin tones, depending on the balance of red and brown. |
Who Suits Maroon Red Hair Color?
Skin tone and eye color: Warmer, richer maroon reds can harmonize beautifully with medium-to-dark and warm complexions, while cooler, plum-tinged maroons can flatter cooler, fairer skin tones. It's the kind of bold shade that also helps to enhance your eye color, bringing out the depth of brown or hazel eyes and creating contrast with blue, gray or green eyes.
Base color: Natural or color-treated brunettes are well-suited to maroon, and may not need lightening for the red tones to show through (unless your base is very dark). If you have lighter hair, your colorist may need to work on building depth first, then layer in the maroon, creating a richer, dimensional red-brown color.
Gray coverage: Maroon red can be incorporated into a gray coverage formula, so if you have silver regrowth you'd like to disguise, mention it to your colorist. For gray blending, they might recommend Color Touch, which gives you up to 70% gray coverage¹. For up to 100% coverage, they may recommend a permanent formula, such as Koleston Perfect, Illumina Color or Pure Perfection.
Do You Need to Bleach Your Hair to Go Maroon?
It depends on the base color you're working with. If your existing shade is anything brighter than a level 7 (light brown/dark blonde), your Wella Professionals colorist may be able to apply a maroon red hair color on top. But, if you're a medium to dark brunette your colorist will need to assess whether a lightener is needed to help maroon tones stand out. In some cases, they may add a developer to your red shade, so the color is deposited without the need for bleaching.
8 Maroon Red Hair Colors for Inspiration
1. Deep Wine Maroon Hair
Image Credit: @mya_helmethairstudio
Color breakdown: A wine red with the brunette depth of maroon and a hint of black cherry.
Who it suits: Cool, warm and neutral skin tones, thanks to its blend of both warm brown and cool cherry hues.
Maintenance level: Low-to-medium if you're a naturally dark brunette – the depth of the color means regrowth will appear almost invisible. If your hair is naturally lighter, ask your colorist to achieve the color with a demi-permanent formula, like Color Touch, for softer regrowth.
2. Maroon Hair with Brown Highlights
Image Credit: @jem.hair
Color breakdown: A rich maroon base softened with warm brown highlights, creating subtle dimension and a more natural-looking finish.
Who it suits: Warm and neutral skin tones especially well, although the balanced mix of red and brown can also complement cooler complexions.
Maintenance level: Low-to-medium. The brown highlights blend naturally into the maroon base, so regrowth and fading are less noticeable. A color-refreshing gloss with SHINEFINITY can help to maintain the richness between appointments, while leaving hair up to 60% smoother².
3. Mauve Maroon Melt
Image Credit: @valentine_mathieu
Color breakdown: Dimensional maroon roots melt into rosy mauve tones through the mid-lengths and ends, giving hair a shimmering ombre look.
Who it suits: Cool and neutral skin tones, particularly those who suit rosy tones. If you're a natural brunette, this is a fun yet low-maintenance way to add a splash of vibrant color.
Maintenance level: Medium-to-high. The mauve tones can fade faster than deeper brunette pigments, so use a color-safe shampoo to maintain vibrancy. We love ULTIMATE COLOR Sulfate-Free Shampoo for gentle, non-stripping cleansing.
4. Cherry Cola Maroon Hair
Image Credit: @joni.wella
Color breakdown: A deep maroon that fizzes with playful dimension thanks to sweeps of cherry red through the lower layers. Koleston Perfect's varied palette of vibrant reds make this multi-tonal look possible.
Who it suits: Warm, neutral and deeper skin tones, although adding extra cherry highlights can help to complement cool skin tones.
Maintenance level: Low-to-medium. Its dark base makes regrowth relatively subtle, although the cherry-red tones may need an occasional color refresh to prevent the shade from looking flat. Try applying Color Fresh Mask in Red to just the cherry highlights for a 10-minute, at-home refresh.
5. Plum-Tinted Maroon Hair
Image Credit: @loickdambrine
Color breakdown: A deep maroon infused with plum and violet tones for a cooler finish.
Who it suits: Cool and neutral complexions craving a hint of berry-toned purple hues.
Maintenance level: Medium. Plum and red tones can lose vibrancy quickly, so preserve the tone with sulfate-free shampoos, lukewarm water when washing, and UV protection (which is built into ULTIMATE COLOR Miracle Leave-In Mask).
6. Glossy Maroon-Brown Hair
Image Credit: @danielmbeauty
Color breakdown: A rich, maroon-tinted chocolate brown finished with a glass-like sheen. Your colorist may layer formulas to achieve this look, using a color like Koleston Perfect to achieve the vibrant base, followed by a clear SHINEFINITY gloss to seal in shine.
Who it suits: All skin tones. Turn up the brown if you prefer to lean warmer or ask your colorist to accentuate the red for cooler complexions.
Maintenance level: Low-to-medium. The brunette depth keeps regrowth subtle, while regular gloss treatments can restore shine and refresh the maroon tones as they fade.
7. Cool-Toned Maroon Hair
Image Credit: @timahairart
Color breakdown: A violet-tinted take on maroon, brimming with cool berry tones, giving the shade a deep, jewel-like clarity.
Who it suits: Cool and neutral complexions will love this shade, especially those who prefer cooler, blue- or violet-based reds.
Maintenance level: Medium. Cool red and violet pigments can gradually lose intensity, so your colorist may recommend a permanent color for long-lasting vibrancy, like Koleston Perfect.
8. Maroon Balayage on a Dark Base
Image Credit: @hairbyangelaalberici
Color breakdown: A subtle take on maroon, featuring soft red ribbons through a dark espresso base. Give it extra glow by asking for Illumina Color, which harnesses Microlight Technology to allow light to enter the hair shaft and illuminate it from within.
Who it suits: All skin tones. Tailor the undertones of your brunette and red to suit your complexion, whether warm or cool.
Maintenance level: Low. Natural brunettes can pull off this silky balayage with minimal maintenance, as the dark base is left intact and the color is focused through the lengths and ends.
"FOR ME, ILLUMINA COLOR IS A PREMIUM COLOR WHERE I CAN ACHIEVE INCREDIBLE NATURAL RESULTS WITH A LOT OF DIMENSION AND SHINE."
– Romeu Felipe (@romeufelipe), Wella Professionals Global Ambassador
What are the Best Color Techniques for Maroon Red Hair?
You can wear maroon red from root to tip, in highlights or with a balayage technique. But before you choose the right technique for your look, here are a few things to consider...
Maroon all over: Depending on your natural base shade, a maroon color drench may make lighter regrowth more noticeable. In this case, your colorist might recommend a demi-permanent formula for softer regrowth, like Color Touch, which fades beautifully over 28 washes.
Color glossing: Red hair colors can lose their vibrancy quicker than brunettes and blondes, so you may want to book a glossy refresh in between your 'proper' color touch-ups. A SHINEFINITY gloss is ideal, as it revives red with a zero-damage, translucent veil of color, while its Hyaluronic Acid Complex also boosts hydration.
Balayage: This is one of the lowest-maintenance ways to wear maroon hues, keeping your roots natural (or as close as can be) and focusing red ribbons through the mid-lengths and ends. It makes regrowth a non-issue, so you can focus your attention on retaining vibrancy through the lengths.
Highlights: If you want more visible dimension than you’ll see in a balayage, combine a brunette base with maroon highlights, strikingly swept from root to tip. The contrast is up to you; go low for a more diffused, melted finish, or ask for brighter, bolder sweeps if you want color that makes a statement. For softer regrowth, add a soft root tap in a shade close to your natural base.
How to Maintain Maroon Red Hair Color
Red hair colors can lose vibrancy faster than most, and maroon is no exception. When you're starting with a shade that relies on a level of boldness, fading may be more noticeable. So, how do you preserve its intensity? Here are six non-negotiable steps, featuring a color care routine that maintains vibrancy for up to 10 weeks³.
1. Adjust Your Washing Schedule
There's no one-size-fits-all rule for washing frequency. The guideline is simple: wash as infrequently as possible, but enough to keep your scalp clean and healthy. This will differ for everyone. Some might find their hair needs washing every other day to keep oily roots at bay, and others may be able to stretch out the gap to 3-4 days. It's all about 'listening' to what your scalp is telling you.
2. Stick to a Gentle Hair-Washing Method
Wash your hair with lukewarm water – never hot or cold – and use a gentle, sulfate-free Shampoo to cleanse without stripping away pigment. We love ULTIMATE COLOR Sulfate-Free Shampoo, which features a delicate, creamy lather that harnesses Metal Purifier to neutralize shade-distorting metals in your hair.
3. Reduce Your Rinsing Steps with Leave-In Treatments
The more your hair is exposed to water, the faster maroon red tones will fade, so try swapping rinse-out conditioners for leave-in treatments. ULTIMATE COLOR Miracle Leave-In Mask may be called a mask, but you can use it on every wash day. Smooth it through clean, damp hair, and the blend of Glycine and B5 will lock in moisture from roots to ends. Bonus: it also has UV protection built in to ward off one of the biggest culprits behind fading color.
4. Always Use Heat Protection When You Style
Hot tools can burn out color pigments or strip the cuticle, so always apply heat protection before blow-drying, curling or flat ironing your hair. EIMI Thermal Image is a great option for red hair, as it combines shielding with shine. Because, let's be honest – the best reds are glossy, glowy and gleaming with health.
If your hot tools feature a temperature dial, you should also adjust the heat based on your hair's condition.
Bleached or chemically lightened hair: 100°C – 120°C
Fine, porous, or colored hair: 120°C – 140°C
Normal, untreated hair: 140°C – 180°C
Strong, resistant, untreated hair: 180°C – 200°C
5. Top Up the Tone with a Color-Depositing Mask
If your maroon red starts to fade, and you've still got weeks until your next salon visit, refresh the tone at home with the Color Fresh Mask in Red. Simply:
- Wash hair with a color-safe shampoo first, like ULTIMATE COLOR Sulfate-Free Shampoo.
- Squeeze out excess water so hair is damp, not wet.
- Apply the mask evenly through your hair or just on maroon red sections if you have a balayage or ombre.
- Leave it on for up to 10 minutes – less if you want a subtler refresh.
- Rinse thoroughly to reveal your maroon color – brighter, fresher and glossier.
6. Time Your Touch-Ups Right
How often you need to refresh your maroon depends on whether you're tackling root regrowth or fading through the lengths. Follow these timelines…
Root regrowth: For all-over maroon, book a root retouch every 4-6 weeks, depending on how quickly your hair grows and how noticeable the contrast is.
Tonal refresh: Red and violet pigments can fade before your roots need attention, so book a gloss or tonal refresh around every 6-8 weeks to revive vibrancy and shine. A SHINEFINITY gloss is ideal for refreshing the tone without a full color service.
If you have maroon balayage, you may not need regular root touch-ups at all – simply ask your colorist to refresh the tone through the lengths when needed.
- Ultimate Color Shine Spray
Ultimate Color Shine Spray
Spray that adds smoothness and shine to color-treated hair.
- Ultimate Color Miracle Leave-in Mask
Ultimate Color Miracle Leave-in Mask
Color vibrancy and revitalized hair, 3-in-1 formula moisturizes, provides UV protection and up to 4x more resistance to breakage.
- Ultimate Color Conditioner
Ultimate Color Conditioner
Adds moisture, helping reduce porosity to seal pigments in. It revitalizes colored hair and reduces hair breakage.
- Ultimate Color Sulfate-Free Shampoo
Ultimate Color Sulfate-Free Shampoo
Soothes the scalp while gently cleansing to minimize color fade, moisturizes and detoxes hair from color-distorting metals.
Maroon Red Hair Color: FAQs
What is Maroon Hair Color?
Maroon is a dark, red-brown hair color that's inherently warm and earthy, although it can be customized with plum and wine tones for a cooler finish.
What's the Difference Between Maroon and Burgundy Hair?
While maroon is traditionally a warmer red-brown hair color, burgundy leans cooler with blue or purple undertones.
Does Maroon Hair Color Fade Fast?
Like all red hair colors, maroon can lose vibrancy quickly without the right color care routine. To preserve its rich, radiant intensity, wash with a sulfate-free shampoo, use leave-in treatments to reduce rinsing steps, and always apply heat and UV protection when styling your hair.
Can You Get Maroon Hair on Dark Hair Without Bleach?
Some dark brown colors can carry off maroon without the need for bleach, while very deep tones may need lightening to ensure the red tones show through. Your colorist will be able to advise on the best approach for your hair goals.
How Long Does Maroon Hair Color Last?
This depends on the color product your colorist uses and your at-home maintenance regimen. To give maroon red tones extra mileage, follow the ULTIMATE COLOR regimen. From Shampoo to Miracle Leave-In Mask, the protective, shine-boosting range maintains color vibrancy for up to 10 weeks³.
Ready For Your Maroon Red Transformation?
Save these looks and take them to your nearest Wella salon to recreate your own maroon red hair color. Use the Salon Finder to discover your closest location.
¹ With Color Touch Plus.
² Vs. untreated hair, based on expert grading clinical study.
³ With regular use of ULTIMATE COLOR regimen from salon to home.