Peak strawberry season may be in the past, but Grace Van Patten just made a fresh case for sporting a color reminiscent of the fruit. The actress debuted a new shade dubbed “Strawberry Suede,” courtesy of celebrity colorist Jacob Schwartz, Schwarzkopf Professional’s U.S. Hair Color Trend Ambassador, and it’s already shaping up to be one of the season’s most in-demand hair color trends.
Unlike the brighter coppers and fiery reds that have dominated red hair color for the past few seasons, Strawberry Suede takes a more understated approach. The shade blends soft strawberry tones with a radiant, velvety finish—the “suede” effect that gives it its name—resulting in a red that feels luxurious rather than loud.
Schwartz says the transformation reflects a broader shift happening in red hair color right now, with a move away from highly saturated coppers and toward softer, more dimensional shades with a refined, polished finish. As clients continue to gravitate toward more nuanced takes on red, Strawberry Suede offers an entry point that feels current without requiring the upkeep of a bold, high-maintenance red.
To create the color, Schwartz first established a softly blended foundation using a customized root smudge, then layered a dimensional red gloss throughout the hair—combining soft beige, strawberry and violet-red tones with a touch of copper. The result: A rich, multidimensional red that feels polished without looking overly saturated.
