The rise of red: how this bold colour dominated fashion and beauty in 2024
Red has always been known as a dominant colour. Whether in a beauty product like lipstick or in a fashion piece like a dress, it is always daring.
While fashion trends evolve along with colours for the season, red remains at the top.
“Red has always been a staple in the beauty scene, but something we would typically associate with the festive season. However, this year, it seems the vibrant colour is dominating hair and make-up trends in a way never seen before.
“From Dua Lipa’s hot red hair to Taylor Swift’s iconic lip look, there’s no doubt that it has been the ‘it’ colour of 2024,” said Nick Drewe, a trend expert at Wethrift.
In the past four years, we’ve seen a decline in people wearing lipsticks because of Covid 19. The dark lipliner and lipgloss trend which was at the top has taken a backseat.
Beauty enthusiasts are back at wearing lipsticks and red could not be left off.
“With the YSL lipstick in the shade ‘Slim Velvet Radical’ becoming a viral sensation on TikTok, it’s evident that red lips are certainly stealing the limelight,” Drewe explained.
“While red lips are timeless and classic, in 2024, they're taking on new dimensions. The next generation of make-up lovers is taking the classic red lip look and making it their own.
“Once associated with more formal occasions, we are seeing more make-up artists dressing down red lips, and making it more applicable for day-to-day looks.”
We’ve also seen red take centre stage in blushes. More girls jumped on the bandwagon and tried the red blush trend popular among celebrities like Tems.
In South Africa, girls had the opportunity to master this trend at the L'Oréal Paris Masterclass, where make-up expert Uche Natori showed them how it’s done.
"Similarly, after the 'burnt blush' aesthetic became popular on social media, red can be used to create a more striking blush look.
“By using a deeper and more red tone, it imitates the flushed cheeks you get after being blasted by the winter weather, giving your skin a more natural look - after all, 2024 has been the year of the ‘no make-up, make-up look’.
“With blush amassing over 14 million TikTok views, red is evidently taking over every element of make-up,” Drewe added.