Cowboy Copper Is the Fiercest New Hair Color Trend You Need to Try

Ready for a change? Bring up this fiery shade to your hairstylist at your next appointment.

Cowboy copper is a rich new hair color trend that has been growing in popularity throughout the fall and into winter. While we’ve seen plenty of hair trends come and go and come right back again (looking at you 90s bangs), one thing seems certain: cowboy copper hair isn't going anywhere anytime soon.

What Is Cowboy Copper Hair?

"Cowboy copper is the perfect warm blend of copper and brown," explains New York City hairstylist and owner of Hair By Tina M, Tina Malhotra. "It’s definitely in the brunette family, but embraces tones of gold and copper, giving the hair a beautiful rich color," And thanks to its darker undertones, it also has hues that are close in color to leather and, well, cowboy hats—hence the name.

Why is it so popular? Well, it has everything to do with how flattering it is to just about everyone, no matter your hair type or texture and skin tone.

"It’s much more versatile than traditional copper, and it fades much slower," Malhotra says. "A lot of my blonde clients are opting for this in-between tone instead of going fully brunette. It still keeps the warmth and gold, but also adds a bit of richness to their hair for fall & winter months."

However, there is a complex process to achieve this look. If the color doesn’t have enough golden warmth to it, the copper tones can get swallowed up by the brown and your hair can turn brassy, which is why this job is probably best for professionals.

How to Maintain Cowboy Copper Hair

After you walk out of the salon feeling great about your new do, you’ll want to keep your hair looking its absolute best. While your stylist will have plenty of tips to share with you, we also have a few to consider.

Use Color-Treated Hair Products

Using products that are not for color-treated hair can strip the color you worked so hard to achieve. Be sure to use color-treated hair products, such as daily shampoos and conditioners, to help keep the color rich and avoid fading.

Lock in Moisture

It’s important to keep your hair healthy by retaining moisture so the color lasts. You can easily do this by using a heat protectant before using your blow dryer. Leave-in conditioners and hair masks also help add moisture when needed, and a toner gloss can also help not only add shine, but prevent your hair from fading. "Once you’ve transformed your hair to cowboy copper, you should visit your colorist for regular glosses every few months," Malhotra recommends. "But you can upkeep the rich tones at home using a color-depositing conditioner (no more than once a week). One of my favorites is by Wella called their Color Fresh Mask."

Limit Heat-Inducing Tools

We all have our go-to hairstyling tools, but they tend to produce a lot of heat on our strands. Whether it’s a hairdryer, curling wand, or straightener, our hair can lose its luster after too much use. This is why it’s important to not overuse these heat-inducing tools. That way, your hair will stay healthy with limited breakage and keep the color looking its best for longer.

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