Scarlet women: From copper to cherry, why red hair is the celebrity trend of the moment

It requires a little more commitment than slipping on the latest dress or shoes - but that hasn't stopped Kristen Stewart and Rihanna from indulging in the latest celebrity must-have.
They are two of the many stars that have debuted red hair in the past week. Eva Longoria showed off her new colour this week at the launch of a new fridge, and Christina Aguilera's normally peroxide locks had been dyed an unusual shade of coral.
Even Sharon Osbourne, a longtime fan of the colour, appeared in a traffic-stopping hue far brighter than her normal shade.

Red alert: Rihanna and Sharon Osbourne have both gone for bright scarlet hair in recent weeks

And it's no surprise they are all so taken with the colour. Stars from Nicole Kidman and Marcia Cross to Doctor Who's Karen Gillan and model Lily Cole are all as famous for their hair as they are for their professional achievements.

Flattering: The new russet hint to Kristen Stewart 's hair is a less severe look for the actress

And though Mad Men's Christina Hendricks and Sex And The City's Cynthia Nixon are both natural blondes, we know them better as redheads thanks to their famous on-screen characters.

 

In fact it's such a fun and flattering fashion statement that countless stars have enjoyed a flirtation with red hair.
Cheryl Cole and Hayden Panettiere both looked great when they tried the colour last year, while Scarlett Johansson, who wore a vibrant deep shade as the sexy Black Widow in Iron Man 2, sparked countless imitations.
But while red is a colour that suits most skin tones, it's still a brave, high-maintenance commitment to make, requiring a visit to the salon every two weeks, according to Toni & Guy Technical Artistic Director, Francessco Fontana.
'To achieve that kind of colour intensity on a dark natural shade, like Rihanna, hair often needs to be pre-lightened to create the intensity of the colour and a professional salon visit is a must,' he said.
'For the more faint-hearted, under-colour techniques are perfect, with carefully-placed glimmers of bright colour rather than an intense statement.'

Attention-seeking: Eva Longoria dyed her hair red for the launch of a new fridge, while Christina Aguilera's unusual new look comes ahead of the launch of her latest album

But not all celebrities are as successful as Kristen, Rihanna and co in their attempts.

Charlotte Church's dye job did her no favours - nor did her 'Croydon facelift' hairdo.
And male stars are by no means exempt. 73-year-old Robert Redford wasn't fooling anyone with his unconvincing hair dye attempt earlier this year. Whatever happened to ageing gracefully?
And what was David Gest thinking with his red tips back in 2008? Clearly, in some cases, the fashion statements are best left to clothing.

Red hot: Scarlett Johansson in Iron Man 2, Cheryl Cole and Hayden Panettiere both dyed their hair last year...

...and not: Charlotte Church's bad dye job is highlighted by her 'Croydon facelift' - and male stars are not exempt - neither Robert Redford or David Gest can convincingly pull off the colour