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‘Ariel red’ is the urban mermaid hair trend you’re going to want to try ASAP

“I want to be where the people are..”

By Briar Clark

BEAUTYcrew Beauty Editor / August 08 2022

In terms of famous redheads, there's something sweetly nostalgic about the lobster red hue of The Little Mermaid’s hair. And now, Ariel’s seriously impressive crimson mane is jumping off of our screens and out of our childhood imaginations, landing straight into the streets of the cities we live and walk in everyday.

The irony that someone so obsessed with legs would have such an influence over street style is definitely not lost on us. In fact, we’re dubbing this fiery hair hue the ‘urban mermaid trend’ in honour of the underwater princess and her glorious strands.

Here are some modern interpretations of the mermaid’s memorable shade of ruby red for you to try.

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Need something a little more natural to get away with a strict office dress code? This hue leans copper for that hard-to-detect natural look that’ll have HR doing double takes.

Image credit: @getty

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Amp up the volume of your curls with a stunning shade of fire engine red. Just be prepared to stop people in their tracks when the light hits your crimson curls.

Image credit: @lizzobeeating

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Make the most of a dye job gone wrong by taking cue from singer Shakira who tried to dye her hair pink only to have it go a little darker than intended. The happy mistake just happened to eventuate in a stunning shade of magenta.

Image credit: @shakira

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Got some stunning blue peepers like Aussie model Abbey Lee? Red’s your best friend and will only amp up your icy blue ocean eyes.

Image credit: @getty

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The key to dark brunette to red headed transitions? Luminescent shades that look like they’re lit from within regardless of your lighting situation.

Image credit: @hoooooyeony

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Get streaky with it: Have your colourist apply red highlights through ends and around the face to amp up red-leaning brunette shades.

Image credit: @rawanthonynader

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It may be 2021 but balayage is not going anywhere, that’s for sure. Mix things up and ditch blonde ends for an unexpected ruby red shade.

Image credit: @mami_isaka

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We’re loving these muted pastel tones! Looking like an urban mermaid fever dream if we do say so ourselves.

Image credit: @momoko_takamine

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Settling between a rosey red and a peachy hue, this muted colour is a modern take on strawberry blonde and we’re loving it.

Image credit: @momoko_takamine

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She may have only been a redhead momentarily but this stunning garnet shade is *made* for model Bella Hadid.

Image credit: @bellahadid

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Not sure if you want to commit to red hair? Why not try a colour rinse instead. Concentrate colour through ends and let the hue fade into the natural shade of your roots.

Image credit: @sheeching

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She may be small but Penelope Disick is making mighty moves at the tender age of nine. The reality star just dyed her locks for the first time and she selected a particularly impressive shade of scarlet (very on trend P, we see you). Penelope modelled the transformation for the world to see on her mum’s Instagram and it is very evident that P is feeling her oats in her new look – as she should TBH – make them eat it P.

Image credit: @kourtneykardash

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Florence Pugh may have made waves when she chopped her brown locks off to rock a bixie hair cut earlier this month, but the actress just took things a step further by dousing her strands in fire engine red hair dye. We’re waiting on bated breath to find out if this new look is connected to an upcoming role (the next Black Widow movie perhaps?), but until we get clarification on the ‘why’, we’re more than happy to just stare at the 25-year-old and her fresh dye job.

Image credit: @florencepugh

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It seems Euphoria star Barbie Ferreira is celebrating the wrap of the show's second season with a fresh hair hue: vibrant garnet. The star shared a snap of her chic new shade via Instagram Stories, and while we were obviously downright obsessed with her OG jet black colour, this may be our fave look on her yet.

Image credit: @barbieferreira

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The latest star to switch to Ariel red? Karol G, who debuted this fiery scarlet shade via Instagram Stories.

Love a beauty trend? The yellow eye makeup trend will have you looking like a pocketful of sunshine.

Main image credit: @getty

Briar Clark

Briar Clark got her start in the media industry in 2017, as an intern for Marie Claire and InStyle. Since then, her keen interest in fashion and beauty has landed her gigs as a Digital Content Producer and Beauty Editor with titles like Girlfriend, Refinery29, BEAUTYcrew and beautyheaven. She loves the way seemingly innocuous topics like skin care and style have the ability to put a smile on people’s faces or make them think about themselves a little differently. A big believer in self love and experimentation, Briar has made a point of becoming the Australian beauty industry’s unofficial guinea pig for unusual treatments and daring hair trends. When she’s not testing out the latest beauty launches, Briar is big on broadening her horizons, mostly in the form of food but she’s also partial to travelling to new destinations both near and far (and of course, allocating an extra bag to bring their best beauty offerings home with her).