Hair Colour
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31.10.2025
10 Cowboy Copper Hair Colours to Saddle Up
By: Zara Kenyon
From thigh-high boots to tasseled suede jackets to cow-print denim, the Wild Western aesthetic has taken over the runway and our wardrobes in show-stopping style. But it’s not just fashion that’s saddling up. Say “yee-haw” to cowboy copper – a red-brown hue so sun-kissed, your clients will be racing to ride the trend.
What is Cowboy Copper Hair Colour?
Cowboy copper red hair draws inspiration from the rustic tones of the American Old West – a country aesthetic that captures the glow of desert sunsets and the richness of aged leather. It’s a blend of copper and warm brown hues that creates a radiant, sunlit finish. But this look isn’t just about the colour; soft, textured waves complete that effortless cowboy-inspired style.
To recreate the look for your clients, reach for the most captivating red-brown shades in your Wella Professionals product of choice – whether you want the uncompromising vibrancy of Color Touch or the zero-damage, zero-lift glow of SHINEFINITY.
What is the Difference Between Cowboy Copper and Cowgirl Copper?
Honestly? There is no difference. Cowboy copper and cowgirl copper are just two names for the same rich, red-brown shade. Some call it cowboy, some call it cowgirl – but the star is the colour itself.
Who Suits Cowboy Copper Hair?
Whether your client suits cowboy copper hair tones depends on the look they’re going for. For a harmonious effect, warm skin tones pair beautifully with its golden-red warmth. For contrast, cool undertones pop strikingly against the rich copper-brown base. And if your client has neutral undertones? They can pull off this trend effortlessly, leaning into its rustic richness with a sun-drenched balayage or seamless ombre finish.
Hair Inspiration: 10 Cowboy Copper Looks & Formulas
1. Ultra-Glossy Cowboy Copper
Your dream team for vibrancy is shining through in this captivating cowboy copper, which features permanent Koleston Perfect and demi-permanent Color Touch. Koleston is your answer to intense colour with natural depth and shine, setting the scene for a rustic russet base with reduced metal damage, thanks to the built-in Metal Purifier. Meanwhile, Color Touch seals the deal on this look with true-to-tone radiance, in a vivid, vegan formula that fades beautifully over 28 washes.
Formula:
Base: Koleston Perfect 7/31 + 8/2 + 9% Welloxon Perfect
Toner: Color Touch 8/43 + 7/75
Image Credit: @danielmbeauty
2. Cowboy Copper Auburn Hair Colour
Striking that middle ground between a fall-ready auburn and a cowgirl copper, this expensive-looking hue was crafted with Blondor and a carefully chosen selection of blonde and red toners. Illumina Color is delivering a lit-from-within glow with a smouldering sienna brown base, while a SHINEFINITY Colour Glaze is locking in up to 50% smoother, softer hair¹ with shine you can feel.
Formula:
Base: Illumina Color 8/38
Highlights: Blondor Freelights + 9%
Glaze: Shinefinity 08/34 + 08/38
Image Credit: @danielmbeauty
¹ Instrumental testing versus our regular demi-permanent colour.
3. Cowboy Copper Balayage
If your client has ultra-dark hair and they want to side-step heavy maintenance, balayage is the ideal technique, as it lets them enjoy the softest regrowth. So, keep their root natural – or gently enhance it with their closest shade match from SHINEFINITY – then focus all the lightness and brightness through the mid-lengths and ends of their hair. This high-shine copper shows just how flawlessly red can blend with almost-black roots. As for the metallic finish, you've got Illumina Color and SHINEFINITY to thank for that.
Formula:
Roots: Shinefinity 07/34
Lengths: Illumina Color 10/05 + 9/43 + 12% Welloxon Perfect
Glaze: Shinefinity 00/00 + 08/34
Image Credit: @jaripekka.wella
4. Cowboy Copper Ombre Hair
This stunning graduation of copper brown tones reminds us why we first fell for ombre hair. Rusty red hues and dark roots come courtesy of Color Touch and its show-stopping, true-to-tone vibrancy. Try it on those clients with grown-out highlights that need a quick hair colour correction. You can make the most of the existing lightener by refreshing their lengths and ends with a fresh veil of colour.
Formula:
Toner: Color Touch 5/74 + 6/77 + 6/05 + 1.9% Welloxon Perfect 6vol.
Image Credit: @artetcoiffuremontussan
5. Cowboy Copper Chocolate Hair Color
For clients who want cowboy copper shades on the brown end of the spectrum, this chocolatey hue is the dream – soft and sultry with a subtly smoky haze. Color Touch is bringing all the vibrancy in this lustrous yet live-in mane. It's like the leather jacket that goes with everything – and just gets better over time.
Formula:
Toner: Color Touch 7/4 + 7/73 + 7/3 + 1.9% Welloxon Perfect 6vol
Image Credit: @marley_thediscosalon
6. Cowboy Copper Air Touch Balayage
Air touch balayage is the technique behind the most seamless 'lights around. To create the look, you swap backcombing for your hair dryer, which is used to gently blow away your client's shorter hairs. Then, you apply a hair lightener, like BlondorPlex, to the longer, healthier sections of hair only, resulting in the luminous highs and dimensional lows that make cowboy copper so coveted.
Formula:
Lightener: Blondor BlondorPlex
Glaze: Shinefinity 8/35 + 7/59
Image Credit: @friseur_brian
7. Cowboy Copper Color Melt
A Color Touch Melt + cowboy copper hues = a match made in hair heaven. The service involves painting up to five similar tones side by side, so they melt into each other for low-contrast luminosity. So, when your client wants their red mane to appear as naturally radiant as possible, this technique – plus the vibrancy of Color Touch – will result in a cowgirl glow like no other.
Formula:
Depth: Color Touch 5/4 + 6/47 + 1.9% Welloxon Perfect 6vol.
Color melt shade A: Color Touch 7/47 + 4% Welloxon Perfect
Color melt shade B: 7/43 + 4% Welloxon Perfect
Image Credit: @byalexmk
8. Light Cowboy Copper Hair Colour
For clients who want a copper blonde mane with that cowgirl-inspired finish, combine lighter lengths with darker roots to create a lived-in effect. Illumina is the product behind this inimitable ginger suede shade; a formula that protects the clarity of the cuticle, so light can enter the hair shaft and beam from within.
Formula:
Roots: Koleston Perfect 7/73 + 8/4 + 6% Welloxon Perfect
Lengths and ends: Illumina Color 9/43 + 8/05 + 6% Welloxon Perfect
Image Credit: @dudugimenez
9. Cowboy Copper Hair with Lowlights
Can we get a "yee-haw" for this dramatically dimensional look? If you're working with a client who already has copper hair, consider adding lowlights – plus highlights – to elevate the movement. Slices of Koleston Perfect are bringing the depth to this red-brown mane, while Blondor highlights and a SHINEFINITY Colour Glaze are giving the finished look a fiery edge.
Formula:
Lowlights: Koleston Perfect 4/0 + 4/3
Highlights: BlondorPlex + 6% Welloxon Perfect
Final glaze: Shinefinity 06/43
10. Cowboy Copper Curly Hair
We're obsessed with the radiant glow of these cowboy copper curls – the masterwork of none other than Wella Professionals Global Ambassador James Earnshaw. Hints of mocha brown at the root let the red tones through the lengths stand out. This dual-tone colouring trick ensures ringlets appear bouncier and more defined. When it comes to styling, take curls to the next level with NutriCurls Curlixir Balm; a texture-loving, nourishing formula for soft, shape-enhancing hold.
Image Credit: @jhair_stylist
How to Maintain Cowboy Copper Hair
Don't let your client leave the salon without three golden rules of colour maintenance. These essential tips and products will ensure their cowboy copper mane stays fresher for longer...
1. Boost Shine From Root to Tip
A rich, radiant cowboy copper shade looks its best on glossy, healthy hair, so encourage your client to start every wash day with shine-boosting care. ULTIMATE SMOOTH Shampoo and ULTIMATE SMOOTH Conditioner are their go-to duo for sleek, luminous strands. Infused with Squalane and Omega-9, they deeply nourish and tame frizz, revealing a mirror-like finish that enhances copper tones. A mask is also essential for colour maintenance. ULTIMATE SMOOTH Mask is a creamy, concentrated formula that leaves their hair soft, silky, and glowing with warmth.
2. Refresh Copper Warmth Between Salon Visits
While regular salon visits are a must for keeping cowboy copper hues bold and burnished, your client can top up their tone in between salon visits with the Color Fresh Mask in Copper Glow is the ideal shade for reviving depth and dimension in 10 minutes. All they have to do is:
- Wash their hair with their favorite colour-safe shampoo, like ULTIMATE SMOOTH Shampoo.
- Squeeze out excess water and apply Color Fresh Mask in Copper Glow from roots to ends.
- Let the colour-depositing mask develop for 10 minutes before rinsing thoroughly. Once styled, their cowboy copper mane will boast a salon-fresh, sunlit sheen.
3. Repair, Smooth & Protect Your Glow
Copper tones shimmer brightest on healthy, strong strands — so combat frizz and damage with this repair-and-shine routine.
- First, mist ULTIMATE REPAIR Miracle Hair Rescue from roots to ends. This ultra-fast leave-in treatment strengthens and repairs hair damage in just 90 seconds² with a blend of AHA and Omega-9.
- Follow with ULTIMATE SMOOTH Miracle Oil Serum to lock in smoothness, tame flyaways, and boost radiant shine. It also offers heat and UV protection, keeping your cowboy copper shielded from dawn to dusk.
² When using ULTIMATE REPAIR Miracle Hair Rescue.
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