The "Pop Star Red" Hair Trend Will Make You Feel Famous

If Hannah Montana was around today, she would definitely be a redhead. While blonde will always be famous, there's no denying that in 2024, nothing pairs better with a hit single and Mugler bodysuit than red hair. Pop star red, to be specific.

One of winter 2024's biggest trending hair colors, "pop star red" is a shade coined by Jacob Schwartz, celebrity colorist and Olaplex ambassador. A little more va-va-voom than cherry cola red, it's an in-your-face color that's just begging for a record deal—and corresponding album cover photoshoot.

Keep reading to discover everything you need to know about the shade, as well as how to get it yourself.

What Is Pop Star Red?

Pop Star Red is, quite simply, the hair color you'd expect an off-duty (or on-duty, those stage lights can only improve the look) pop star to rock. Extremely bold and pigmented, it's a red that screams "look at me" and also "have you heard my new single?"

If you need a visual example, look no further than Dua Lipa's Houdini-era makeover. Others we've seen try the color in the last year? Olivia O'Brien, Megan Fox, and Megan The Stallion—to name but a few.

“I made Olivia O'Brien red, and she looks really hot. She’s a singer, so we were really going for it. She had red hair before but it was more on the natural side. She wanted to go for more of a look so I made her, like, red. I call it pop star red," shared Schwartz while discussing winter 2024's biggest hair trends with Byrdie. "It's not your average red. If you’re a singer, musician, actress, you’re a little edgy. So is this red."

While the color is nothing new (Bowie once gave pop star red a try, and we all remember Rihanna's Loud hair), it is new for this era.

"This shade is a bit more dramatic and less natural than what we’ve seen lately trending in reds, which has been a very copper or golden story," Shvonne Perkins, a master colorist at Madison Reed, told us. "It’s a bolder take on red that can feel more exciting and like more of a statement than the soft approach of natural, warm reds from recent trends."

How to Get Pop Star Red Hair

Amazing news for anyone who has plans to show off their new color at karaoke tonight: Schwartz has a direct formula for making the color happen. When he crafted the shade on O'Brien, he used Schwarzkopf color, applying the Igora Royal line 6-88(60)+6-0(15) with 15 volume on roots. On the ends, he applied Igora Royal 6-88 with 20 volume before processing for 35 minutes.

Perkins suggests at least one overall permanent color appointment—come armed with references for the feeling of the color you want such as cherry or burgundy!—if you're going to go for the hue.

How to Take Care Of Pop Star Red Hair

To keep your red hair popping, Perkins says glossing appointments for maintenance (using something like Madison Reed Color Reviving Gloss in Barolo) will be a necessity. But remember: pop stars are cool, and they've never let a faded color or grown-out roots dim their shine.

Another tip? Practice your signature. When the autograph hounds come out, you're going to need it.