Expect the Foxtail Hair Trend to Start Blowing Up

Cosmopolitan

2 days ago

Considering I write about beauty for a living, I'm consistently shocked that my TikTok algorithm is rarely anything but pure brain rot. But I recently started noticing an onslaught of red hair content on my FYP. I adore being a redhead because I naturally standout—hello, it's the rarest hair color in the world!—but TikTok proved there's a way for gingers to shine even brighter, and it's all thanks to the new foxtail hair trend.
Like the name suggests, this summer hair trend mimics the coloring of a fox's tail, creating a gradient that shifts from red to black at the tips. "Foxtail hair is different from anything you've ever seen before—it's almost like an edgier, more modern spin on ombre,' says colorist Sarah Nicole. Not to mention, this trend is pretty much made for redheads.
For the past decade, I've routinely painted my strands a fiery copper. While I have no intention of ever going back to my natural color, I had been yearning for a way to spice things up a bit (pun unintended). I was drawing a blank on how, until I came across foxtail hair. Yup, all the TikToks convinced me. Lemme show ya, and explain if you should try it yourself.
Foxtail hair can look soft and billowing, or punchy and statement-making, depending on your red and the technique used to incorporate the black. Red hair, generally, is already extremely nuanced and distinct shades come into style every year, Sarah notes. But as we've advanced to "cowboy copper," "cherry Cola," and "ginger spice," red hair trends are getting even more special. Enter: Foxtail hair, which combines a mix of deep red, orange, and dark brown or black depending on the depth of your natural color.
TBH, you also could totally foxtail your ends even if you aren't a redhead (see below). But it's a fantastic way to give red hair dimension and looks much more blended. Another key component of this trend is layers, which brings us to...
Anyone can try out (and rock) the foxtail hair trend, regardless of their haircut. That said, the color adds more dimension to your hair when you have a layered haircut. "For the most clean, even results, your colorist should go section by section up the hair from your ends, following your natural haircut," Sarah says. Buuut she also thinks that the foxtail color looks killer on a blunt bob. 'The black tips are a perfect way to edge up a classic look," she says. You best believe it would take your FAB to a new level.
'The trend is also especially great for anyone who wants to get out of their comfort zone, but doesn't want to fully commit to a color because you can literally just cut it off," Sarah adds. If you're on the fence, a really nice thing about this cut is that you don't really have to use any bleach to achieve it, which seriously saves your ends from a whole lotta damage. Granted, any hair dye process can potentially dry out your hair, so keep that in mind if you already have damaged strands.
Nope! 'It's super customizable, so if you don't want a harsh black, a dark brown can also work for foxtail hair,' says Sarah. A deep brown will give you a softer effect, versus the striking look of a stark black. But to execute the full foxtail look, you shouldn't go much lighter than a deep brown, she says. 'It all depends on your red hue, but if you go with brown over black, you want to make sure it's deep enough to pop." Black, for example, is great for a really deep contrast on blonde or light brown hair if you're not a natural redhead or don't wanna do a full dye job.
Even though I was ready for a hair transformation, I'd be lying if I said I wasn't nervous leading up to my appointment. I'm a very particular about my color and have spent 10 years perfecting the auburn tone (FWIW, I always use Madison Reed—I even gave it a Holy Grail Award). But to manage my worry, I knew that if I hated the results, I could just chop it off. Lucikly, all of my anxiety melted away as soon as I sat in Sarah's chair.
I came with a few foxtail TikToks to show Sarah, showcasing a wide assortment of varying transformations ranging from wispy hints of dark brown to chunky black layers. Personally, I wanted something in the middle that would give my red hair a lil oomph and dimension that wouldn't be jarring against my fair skin.
Immediately, she began mapping out exactly where she planned on painting my strands, focusing on my face-framing layers and about three inches from the bottom of my hair. Then, she mixed up a deep cool-toned brown—about three shades lighter than black. Sarah carefully took small sections of my hair and delicately painted the brown color along the tips and folding it into a foil to set. The technique was similar to painting on highlights or balayage. The ~foxification~ process took about an hour and a half, but from start to finish was around four hours (including a quick root touch-up and some time at the shampoo bowl).
I couldn't see the results until Sarah blew out my hair, but once my hair was dry and styled, I was immediately obsessed. The little tweak in color added so much dimension to my hair and really made my cut look fresh too. Peep the before and afters:
Two weeks later, I still feel like a badass, ~foxy~ (sorry, I had to!) lady every time I look in the mirror. I can't believe I even considered chopping my hair because now I want to keep it like this all season long.
For any redheads searching for a way to make their fiery mane even more exciting, the foxtail trend is a surefire way to do so. Consider it 2025's ombré. And who doesn't wanna feel a lil spicier going into summer? Best part: If you hate it, just cut it all off and try the 2025's biggest hair trend, the Gracie Abrams bob.