In short: real copper formulas using Wella Professionals colour — from soft-lift and gloss services to Koleston Perfect and Color Touch copper, plus copper toners and glazes. For the fundamentals of copper — the shade spectrum, placement and aftercare — see our copper hair colour guide.
Written for salon professionals. Formulas are shared as inspiration: always adapt to the client's starting level, percentage of grey and hair condition, follow the manufacturer's instructions, and carry out the recommended tests before any colour service.
Mixing Wella for copper
Each Wella line has its own developer: Koleston Perfect and Illumina use Welloxon Perfect, Color Touch uses Color Touch Creme Lotion, and Shinefinity uses Shinefinity Activator. Where a colourist hasn't shared a detail, we've left it out rather than guess, and any notes we've added are marked as ours.
The Wella copper method: soft lift, then gloss
Two of the strongest Wella copper results we've seen follow the same pattern — a gentle lift with Blondor Plex to brighten the base, then a gloss to lay the copper tone.
Bright copper gloss:
- Pre-lighten: Blondor Plex, root to ends, with 10–15 vol for a brighter copper
- Gloss: Shinefinity 06/43 + 07/34, mixed 1:1 with Shinefinity Activator
- Apply: to towel-dried hair — as dry as possible for the best result — and process for 20 minutes
Our note: Welloxon Perfect is available in 4% (13 vol), which falls within this range.
Credit: @diana.bernal.color
Copper with a root shadow:
- Root shadow: Shinefinity 05/3 + 06/0, mixed with Shinefinity Activator
- Lighten: Blondor Plex with 1.9% (6 vol)
- Gloss: Color Touch 7/73 + 7/43 + 0/34 with 1.9% (6 vol)
Our note: Wella's 1.9% for Blondor is Welloxon Perfect Pastel; for Color Touch it's Color Touch Creme Lotion 1.9%.
Credit: @wellaprofessionalsuki
Koleston Perfect copper formulas
Copper Cinnamon:
- Wella Koleston Perfect 7/47 + 6/34
Credit: @gphairexperience
Cinnamon Copper:
- 8/34 + 8/43 + 0/33
The colour line isn't named in the original post; 0/33 is a Koleston Perfect Special Mix shade.
Credit: @gphairexperience
Autumn copper:
- Wella Koleston Perfect 7/34 + 7/43 + 6/73
Credit: @wellaprofessionalsuki
Color Touch copper formulas
Glossy copper:
- Wella Color Touch 7/43 + 8/43 + 6/4 + 0/34
Credit: @wellaprofessionalsuki
Copper toners and glazes
A demi or gloss is the quickest way to refresh faded copper between full colours.
- Toner: Color Touch 9/75 + 7/47 + 55/65 (15g + 7g + 3g) with 1.9%
- Glaze: Shinefinity 08/34 + 09/73 (20g + 10g)
- Toner: Illumina 9/43 + Opal Essence Copper Peach (1:1) with Welloxon Pastel
- Speed glaze: Shinefinity 09/73 + 06/43 (20g + 7g)
Our note: Shinefinity shades are mixed 1:1 with Shinefinity Activator; the original post gives shade weights only.
Credit: Spela via @wellaprofessionalsuki
Copper across the Wella range
- Illumina: 9/43 + 8/37
- Shinefinity: 08/34 + 08/38
- Koleston Perfect: 77/43
- Color Touch: 10/34 + 8/43
Credit: @wellaprofessionalsuki
Copper red:
- Shinefinity: 05/43 + 09/65
- Illumina: 7/43 + 8/05
- Koleston Perfect: 8/34 + 8/45 + 0/33
- Color Touch: 7/43 + 8/41
Credit: @antonioswella via @wellaprofessionalsuki
More copper formulas
For the copper shade spectrum, aftercare and more formulas — including Koleston Perfect and Color Touch looks — see our copper hair colour guide. Working with L'Oreal? See our L'Oreal INOA copper formulas.
Frequently asked questions
Which developer goes with each Wella colour line?
Koleston Perfect and Illumina use Welloxon Perfect; Color Touch uses Color Touch Creme Lotion (1.9% or 4%); Shinefinity uses Shinefinity Activator. Blondor lighteners use Welloxon Perfect, including Welloxon Perfect Pastel 1.9% for a gentle lift.
Koleston Perfect or Color Touch for copper?
Koleston Perfect is permanent — for lasting copper and grey coverage. Color Touch is demi-permanent — for toning, refreshing faded copper and a softer regrowth line.
Can Shinefinity refresh faded copper?
Yes. Shinefinity is a zero-lift glaze, so it can revive copper tone and shine between full colours without changing the natural base.
Written by Charlotte Read, Content Writer at Hairco & Beauty. Charlotte has over six years' experience in professional hair and beauty, and our guides are informed by colleagues with 100+ years of combined salon experience and by insight from the trade customers we supply. More about our content.
