Have you been told to always fill with Red when going from blonde to brown? What if I told you… that advice could be sabotaging your results?

As hairdressers, we’ve all been taught certain rules early in our careers — but what if one of the most common colour rules is setting you up for disappointing results?

This week on the Colour Kristina Talks Podcast for Hairdressers, I’m unpacking a big one: the belief that Red is the best filler when going from blonde to brunette. The reality is, unless you’re intentionally creating a red or red-brown result, Red might be the wrong choice, especially if your target level is lighter than a level 6. In this solo episode, I’ll walk you through when Red is useful, when it’s not, and what to use instead for more predictable, client-approved results.

Show notes for episode 196

PODCAST AWARDS ANNOUNCEMENT!

I’m beyond excited to share that the Colour Kristina Talks Podcast for Hairdressers has been ranked in the Top 10 on both the Top 30 Hair Podcasts and Top 30 Hairstylist Podcasts lists by FeedSpot!

This recognition is such a proud moment, and it wouldn’t have been possible without you, my listeners, students, and industry peers. Thank you for downloading, listening, subscribing, sharing episodes with your hair besties, and for making this podcast a trusted source of hair education around the world.

If you’d like to explore the full lists, you’ll find the links in the Resources section at the end of this blog. There are some incredible shows included that can help you grow your career, feel inspired, and stay connected with our vibrant industry.

Stop using RED to fill hair. Here’s why…

The idea that Red is a “one-size-fits-all” filler when taking hair darker is something many of us learned in beauty school or on the salon floor. But as we evolve in our careers, it’s important to revisit those foundational beliefs and ask: Is that really the best approach?

Red sits at level 6 on the scale of lightening. So if your target is lighter than level 6 — say a soft level 8 brunette or a neutral level 7 — you don’t need Red in your formula. Using it can lead to overly warm results, root glow, and ongoing toner issues that require correction after correction

PRO TIPS FOR FILLING HAIR WITHOUT RED:

• Red lives at level 6, so it should only be used when creating a level 6 or darker red-based result.
• If your target is level 7–9, focus on filling with gold, orange-gold, or neutral brown-gold, depending on your desired finish.
• Using Red when it's not needed can trap you in a toner cycle of green or blue-green ash corrections, which darken the result over time.
• Always base your filler choice on what undertones are missing for the specific target level.

RELATED PODCAST EPISODES YOU’LL LOVE:

For even more insight into filler theory, creative corrections, and colour success:

🎧 EP 61: Creative Filling (with direct dyes) Made Easy
🎧 EP 167: How to Fill Hair for Warm, Ash and Natural Results
🎧 EP 168: Gold is for Filling Hair – Not for Grey Coverage

Listen to episode 196 of the Colour Kristina Talks Podcast to learn why Red is NOT the Best Filler.