21 Gorgeous Examples of Black Cherry Hair Color

Black cherry hair color can range from super subtle to extremely vibrant. The pigment combines deep violets and burgundy and can serve as an all-over natural-looking base with an amethyst sheen, or it can be a more playful pop of color mixed into your naturally dark hue.

It's a popular choice amongst those with dark bases, but lighter base colors and blondes might pick up more of the vibrancy and give off a brighter tint than we usually affiliate with this moody tone. Still, you can find plenty of black cherry semi-permanent options at drugstores, which is easy to achieve on your own time. Whether you're going to the salon or experimenting at home, we found examples of black cherry hair color to get inspired by.

Black Cherry Hair Color

Choosing a Shade: Since this color requires a dark base, the more "cherry" color you include, the more strands you'll have to highlight first. Assess your hair health with your colorist before deciding how red you want to go.

Maintenance Level: If your hair is naturally dark (or if you use your natural base), you'll see subtle grow-in and fade out. If your hair is naturally light, you'll need regular appointments (about every other month) to touch up your roots and cherry highlights.

Goes Great With: Red lips, mauve lids

Similar Shades: Dark hair with highlights

Price: $150+ if you use your natural base and add the cherry highlights, $200+ if you dye your base darker and add the cherry highlights.

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A Playful Pop of Color

Black Cherry Hair Color Pop — @wellahair

Having a playful pop of hair color is enough of a statement, so you can keep the rest of your beauty routine low-maintenance. But if you're still looking to get dolled up or take things up a notch, pair those newly tinted strands with a bold pout to match.

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Vibrant Ends

One creative way to wear a black cherry ombré is with a pop of vibrant purple at the ends. This A-line cut really lends itself to having those front ends stand out.

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Natural Regrowth

Naturally, dark bases grow out well against black cherry color in a way that appears intentional, like an ombré. So if you're looking for a low-maintenance color change for your dark strands, consider black cherry.

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Naturally Rich

Black Cherry Hair Color Rich Ashley Greene — Getty Images

This hair color is a rich, creamy blend of cherry cola. By keeping close to a dark color level, these cherry hues are effortlessly subtle, and the proper lighting or clothing contrast creates a playful surprise.

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Keep Things Soft

This black cherry blend has a softer edge to it than some of the others on this list. With softer colors that are less sharp or vibrant, try pairing them with softer styles. Turn to a round brush for straight hair blowouts, or run a brush through your waves.

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Tantalizing and Tousled

Black Cherry Hair Color Tousled — @goldwellus

A cut and color stand out when they complement one another. This tousled A-line haircut and rich hair color are a great duo.

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Hinted Hues

Black Cherry Hair Color Subtle Hints — @wellahair

Replace your typical highlight considerations with random hints of black cherry hues for a subtle (yet somehow still bold) color choice. For a similar look, ask your colorist to place these subtle streaks below the surface so they peak out in all the right places as your hair moves.

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Violet Cherry

Black Cherry Hair Color Violet Katy Perry — Getty Images

This violet cherry look incorporates a root shadow for a soft, gradual grow-out ideal for those who can't commit to regular touch-ups at the salon.

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Black Cherry Fulani Braids

Black Cherry Hair Color Fulani Braids — @braidsgang

Adding color to your braids is a great protective hairstyle that doesn't risk the same potential damage as coloring them would. Fulani braids, like the ones seen here, can give the illusion that black cherry is your hair color because they are woven tightly at the scalp.

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Marbled Shine

Black Cherry Hair Color Marbled — @wellahair

This marbled blend of black cherry looks natural and effortless. With magenta and violet tones shining through in the light, you're sure to turn a few heads.

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Red Velvet

If you apply dark cherry hair color to pre-lightened strands, your first color attempt will pull some of the brighter tones in the bunch, like magenta, which is a beautiful contrast to your base color.

Byrdie Tip

With black cherry hair color, try using color-preserving shampoos, conditioners, and heat protectants before styling to keep your color vibrant.

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Amethyst Sheen

Black Cherry Hair Color Amethyst — @aloxxihair

A little sheen goes a long way. To cheat your way there as your color begins to fade, pick up a shine spray and gloss over your strands to make those amethyst tones pop out.

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Just the Tips

Black Cherry Hair Color Tips — @goldwellus

Sometimes baby steps are the best way to transition your hair color. Test some color on your hair's ends if you're unsure. If you don't like it, it's an easy fix to snip those ends off and never look back.

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Healthy Strands

There's a lot you can do to keep your strands healthy despite having undergone a color transformation. To avoid frizzing, squeeze the moisture out of your hair after showering instead of rubbing it together, and be sure to use a nonabrasive fabric like jersey, cotton, or a microfiber towel. Sleeping on a silk pillowcase will also support your strands to be silky smooth.

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Balayage Bits

Black Cherry Hair Color Balayage — @overtonecolor

Curly hair is a great candidate for balayage hair color. The balayage technique will naturally find the best placement for your color to exist, giving dark cherry bits like this the ease to manage and maintain.

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Easy Glaze

Black Cherry Hair Color Glaze — @wellahair

To get all-over black cherry hair color, you might need an easy all-over glaze that you can do yourself at home. Brands like Garnier, L'Oreal, Overtone, Wella, and plenty of other renowned companies make permanent and semi-permanent color options in black cherry that are easily accessible at your local drug store or online. Follow the manufacturer's directions and cover things up to avoid staining.

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Curly Cherry

Black Cherry Hair Color Curly Kandi Burruss — Getty Images

Black cherry hair color looks great on any type of texture: straight, wavy, curly, coily, and everywhere in between. When you add vibrant color to preexisting texture, your result is low-maintenance hair that's ready to go as-is.

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Cherry Pop Box Braids

Don't box yourself in when it comes to playing around with the black cherry color spectrum. In this look, you see incorporating brighter bits of magenta throughout your protective style still creates a moody vibe that pops.

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Black Cherry Coils

This curly coif is the perfect example of black cherry hair in its glory (without having to dye your base). You can use an at-home glaze or rinse to mimic a similar look and saturate your curls thoroughly.

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Cherry Cola Ends

If you have highlights that are growing out, you can slather on a color-depositing hair mask that'll transform them into cherry cola ends.

FAQ

Is black cherry hair color hard to maintain?

Whenever you decide to dye your hair, the level of maintenance will always depend on how drastic of a change you are making. In the case of black cherry hair, those with a naturally light hair color will require more maintenance as any new growth will be obvious at the root. However, if you naturally have a darker tone, it will be easier to maintain the black cherry color.
Do you need to bleach your hair to dye it black cherry?

Black cherry hair has a dark base to the color. This generally means that it is not likely that you will need to bleach your hair to achieve the shade. Those with naturally dark hair will have an easier time achieving the deep berry accents while those with naturally light hair will need to create a dark base first.
What color is black cherry hair?

Black cherry hair color refers to a black or dark base with deep violet and burgundy undertones and highlights.