Discovering the perfect hair color to match your skin tone is not easy, especially if you are new to dyeing your hair. It's not just about picking a color that seems cool or trendy—it's about finding one that complements your natural undertones.
Your skin tone, whether it's light, medium, tan, olive, or deep, plays a vital role in this decision. But what really matters are the undertones—those subtle hints that shape how your skin tone appears and how different hair colors will complement you.
Each hair color has the power to transform your look, accentuating certain features and even influencing how your skin undertones are perceived. So, how do you choose the right hair color for your skin tone?
Determining Your Undertone
Knowing your undertone is important for picking the right hair color. Undertones are the subtle colors under your skin that affect how different shades look on you. If you figure out if your undertone is warm, cool, or neutral, you can find hair colors that suit you well.
Cool Undertone
If you have a cool undertone, your skin might have hints of blue, pink, or red in it. Check the veins on your wrist in natural light; if they look bluish, that's a sign that you have a cool undertone. Your eyes might have shades of blue or green in them. And when you're out in the sun, your skin tends to burn instead of tan, so remember to use sunscreen!
Warm Undertone
If your undertone is warm, your skin might have hints of yellow, peach, or gold in it. Check the veins on your wrist in natural light; if they look greenish, that's a clue. Look at your eyes; if they have lots of gold specks, it's another sign your undertones are warm. Your skin usually tans in the sun instead of burning, but don't forget to use sunscreen to protect it.
Neutral Undertone
If your undertone is neutral, your skin doesn't show any obvious warm or cool tones. Both warm and cool colors look good on you. Similarly, neutral hair colors work well for everyone, so they're a safe choice :).
How to Find the Perfect Color?
Buckle up, because this is a long ride that will end with your hair looking better than ever! Finding the perfect color is no easy job, but it is equally rewarding. Let's look at which colors suit which skin tones and undertones:
Light Skin - Cool Undertones
If you have fair skin with cool undertones, a bold, icy platinum blonde or an ashy shade can look stunning on you. You can also experiment with cool shades of purple and red if you prefer darker colors.
It's best to steer clear of yellow or brassy hues if you have pale, cool-toned skin. These colors can make your complexion appear dull, and that's definitely not the goal!
Light Skin - Warm Undertones
If you have light hair and fair skin with warm undertones, warm blonde colors such as honey and golden hues will suit you best. These colors complement the warmth of your skin. If you have fair skin with warm undertones and naturally darker hair, warm brunette shades like silky chocolate brown, caramel brown, and golden brown will look great on you.
Light Skin - Neutral Undertones
If you have fair skin and neutral undertones, you're in luck! Lighter colors of any tone will make you look radiant. Whether it's reddish-blondes, caramel shades, cool, neutral, or light auburn shades, they all complement your complexion beautifully.
Medium Skin - Cool Undertones
If you have a medium complexion with cool undertones, darker shades with cool tones will look fantastic on you! Rich brunettes and darker blondes will help neutralize any redness in your skin and will enhance the beauty of your deep brown or blue eyes.
Medium Skin - Warm Undertones
If you have medium skin with warm undertones, you can enhance your warm, medium skin tone with honey-brown, warm reds, or caramel colors to achieve a vibrant tan look.
If you prefer lighter tones, skip the super light or platinum blonde and choose a warm shade that matches your bronzed complexion.
Medium Skin - Neutral Undertones
If you have a neutral complexion and a medium skin tone, you can choose between warm or cool colors. There's a variety of flattering colors you can experiment with to enhance your skin's natural radiance :).
Dark Skin - Cool Undertones
You get the gist by now: cool undertones go well with cool hair colors. If you have cool, deeper skin tones, a cooler dark brown or black hair color is chic, elegant, and very flattering—especially if your natural hair color is already dark.
Dark Skin - Warm Undertones
If you have deep skin with warm undertones, you have plenty of options with warm hair colors. You can try honey-blonde tones, warm reds, or golden brunette shades.
Dark Skin - Neutral Undertones
If you have darker skin tones with a neutral complexion, you have the freedom to experiment with a wide range of hair colors. From ashy tones to fiery reds, the options are endless.