Aisling on Beauty: Ravishing reds – how to make your hair rich and lustrous

When I was younger I longed for red hair. I was sick of my boring dark-brown hair and I coveted my best friend's shiny, deep-red locks. She was a natural "ronze": the bronzy copper tone that has most definitely been the shade of 2015. We've seen ronze on the catwalks and celebrities such as Emma Stone, Julianne Moore and Christina Hendricks of Mad Men wear it so well.

Only 1-2 per cent of the population worldwide have red hair, but in Ireland we are the champions of the rua. More than 10 per cent of the population proudly sports various shades of red hair. About 46 per cent of Irish people carry the recessive gene for red locks, which means we can potentially pass on the colour. Those scare stories about red hair dying out have been rubbished; the colour is most definitely here to stay.

An Irish Redhead Conference takes place in Cork every year, which looks like gas craic, and there are redhead days celebrating the rarest hair type in a number of countries. Websites have sprung up to inform us of every facet of redhead or "ginger" life, including everythingforredheads .co.uk, gingerparrot.co.uk and howtobearedhead.com.I spoke to the founders of How to Be a Redhead – sisters Stephanie and Adrienne Vendetti – to pick up some of their best haircare tips. They are both natural redheads, and fans of hair oils to keep locks lustrous. Pureology Reviving Red Illuminating Caring Oil is a favourite.

For added vibrancy they advise using a colour-depositing shampoo, which creates intensity and shine. Although not all of their recommendations are available this side of the pond, there are alternatives. Wella Professionals Colour Recharge Red, Pureology Reviving Red and John Frieda Red Colour Magnifying Original are three to try.

If your hair is feeling lacklustre, adding a sealing product such as Pureology Reviving Red Seal Glaze, or Nice'n Easy ColourSeal Gloss for Radiant Reds will also give it shine.

Natural red hair often fades as the years go by instead of going completely grey. If you'd like to add some richness back, Colour Restore Deep Red Hair Toner will do the trick, albeit temporarily. However dark-auburn redheads do get grey roots, and, if your hair is not naturally red you will obviously see regrowth too. Great quick fixes are Kazumi Root Vanish and Colour Wow Red. If you've decided to take the plunge to go red or ronze, take a picture of a celebrity or a model so the colourist can see the colour you're after. Be warned: red hair fades more quickly. Using the tips above for natural redheads will also work for you.

• amcdermott@irishtimes.com
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