Skin undertone should pick the shade here: if silver jewelry flatters you more than gold, cool-toned plum, wine or purple burgundy will sit best, while a golden or peachy glow suits burgundy brown, maroon or mahogany.
The list starts at chocolate burgundy and runs through plum, balayage and ombre, then black cherry, which reads almost black until direct light hits it, and ends with raspberry highlights and a dark maroon angled bob.
Burgundy fades faster than most colors, so a gloss or color-depositing conditioner every 2–3 weeks keeps the shade from going dull.
1. Chocolate Burgundy
Dark brown with a red-wine glow is what makes chocolate burgundy so easy to live with. On long waves like these, the red shows up in movement and in sunlight, then settles back into brown indoors.
I like it best for anyone nervous about going fully red. Ask for a blend of dark brown and burgundy, and bring a photo so your colorist sees how much red you want.
Also known as dark red hair color, burgundy hair “is a rich hue that blends deep red and purple tones, offering a bold, wine-like undertone that sets it apart from traditional browns or brunettes,” says Jennifer Korab, celebrity hairstylist and founder of Renaissance Salon & Spa.
— Glamour
2. Plum Burgundy
Cooler and more purple than most reds, plum burgundy leans toward grape instead of copper. Ask for it by name, because "burgundy" alone can come back warm.
Curled ends suit this shade well, since waves and loose curls catch the light and show the plum and red tones that flat, straight hair tends to hide.
I’d pick plum over classic burgundy if gold tones in red hair tend to look brassy on you.
3. Burgundy Balayage
Burgundy balayage keeps your dark base and paints the color on by hand, so the red appears only where light would naturally hit. That makes it the most flexible way I know to wear burgundy.
Waves help the blend look soft.
4. Burgundy Ombre
Starting at dark maroon near the roots and brightening to burgundy through the lengths, an ombre gives you two reds in one cut. Long waves give the gradient plenty of room to read.
Be specific with your colorist about where the shift begins and how bright the ends should be.
Dark maroon sits at the roots and brightens to burgundy through the lengths, so the color shifts gradually and the top never looks flat or grown out.
5. Black Cherry
Black cherry sits so close to black that the red only appears in direct light. It’s my pick for anyone who wants color without a loud first impression.
Straight hair shows that glossy, deep finish best, because the surface reflects light evenly. Ask for "black cherry" by name, and show a photo so the red doesn’t come out brighter than you want.
6. Burgundy Hair Color with Raspberry Highlighting
Burgundy already looks rich, but a few raspberry highlights add brightness and give curls more visible dimension. Ask your colorist for subtle raspberry highlighting, not heavy streaks.
Curls and waves suit this well, since each twist shows a flash of the brighter red against the darker base. If you prefer a calmer look, keep the raspberry thin and sparse.
7. Dark Maroon Hair
Deep, glossy maroon reads as a deliberate fashion choice, not a hair color you drift into. The shine does most of the work here, so a clear gloss finish is worth asking your colorist about.
Dark maroon sits between burgundy and black, and for color that looks polished against a black top or any dark outfit, I’d pick it over the brighter reds.
8. Long Wavy Dark Maroon Hair
All-over color on long waves means one deep maroon from roots to ends, with no highlights or gradient to plan around. That keeps the request simple: ask for a single, glossy, dark maroon and bring a photo.
Waves give the shine room to travel down the length, which is why I like this on long hair. Length is the cost here: more hair means more color to keep glossy.
9. Dark Maroon Angled Bob
Chin-length and angled, this bob puts a deep maroon with a purple lean right at the jawline, where a clean edge makes the color look sharper. Ask for "maroon purple" so it doesn’t come back as plain red.
Sleek, smooth styling suits it best, because a flat, polished surface shows the shade at its richest. For color in a short, tidy shape, this is the cut I’d choose.
Maintaining Burgundy Hair Color
Burgundy fades faster than most people expect, so the upkeep plan matters as much as the color. Wash with a color-safe shampoo and use cool water, since hot water lifts red pigment out of the hair.
Between salon visits, refresh the shade every 2–3 weeks.
You can mix a semi-permanent color cream into a deep conditioner, or buy a ready-made color-depositing conditioner or gloss. A depositing mask in a bordeaux shade is a good match for burgundy.
Go easy on hot tools. When you do need them, spray a heat protectant first.
Choosing the Right Shade
Your skin’s undertone should steer the shade more than the name on the box. If silver jewelry flatters you more than gold, you’re likely cool-toned.
If your skin leans cool, with pink or blue showing through, a base with blue or purple in it flatters most: think purple burgundy, plum or wine.
Warm undertones, with a golden or peachy glow, suit a brown or red base: burgundy brown, maroon or mahogany.
Neutral skin can wear nearly all of it, anywhere from a cool plum to a warm red auburn, so pick by mood rather than rule.
If you land in that group, choose by the look you want instead of by what your skin allows.
Achieving Burgundy Hair
You can get burgundy without bleaching, and a brown or black base is the easiest place to start. Dark hair already carries the depth that makes dark red look rich, so the color adds warmth without much work.
Burgundy can go on as highlights, lowlights or all over. Pick based on how much contrast you want against your natural shade.
To keep your own roots, ask the stylist for ombre or balayage, which blends your natural color into the burgundy with no hard line at the regrowth. A shine-boosting hair product helps plum and burgundy tones look glossy.
Frequently Asked Questions
What hair color is dark burgundy?
Dark burgundy is a deep red with purple in it, close to the color of red wine. It’s not a natural shade, so a colorist creates it with dye.
What hair color is maroon?
Maroon is a dark red that sits between burgundy and black.
Dark maroon reads glossy and polished, especially against a black top or other dark outfits. To push it toward purple rather than plain red, ask for "maroon purple" so the color doesn’t land too red.
Who can pull off burgundy hair?
Nearly anyone can, as long as the shade matches their undertone.
