Best Red At-Home Hair Dye - Drugstore Colors for Auburn Hair

O, The Oprah Magazine | From the March 2013 issue of O, The Oprah Magazine

Photo: Sergio Kurhajec

Dana Rowe, advertising account manager, 31

The Trick
Transform overprocessed blonde into rich auburn.

The Tools
Clairol Nice 'n Easy in Natural Light Auburn ($8; drugstores); Clairol Natural Instincts in Medium Golden Brown ($9; drugstores)

The Method
For Dana Rowe, Wellman recommends a two-step process: First, deepen the pale blonde into an orange-gold with a permanent dye in a coppery shade; then use a demipermanent dye in a golden brown to refine the color. Bleached blonde hair is extremely porous and more absorbent than less-processed hair. "If Dana put a dark dye on her blonde hair, it would turn a muddy color," Wellman says.