To find the hair color that will suit, the most important factor is to determine the skin tone and undertone. Hair colors that complement and harmonize with your skin’s undertones generally look best. Here are some general guidelines based on skin undertones:
- For cool undertones (skin with hints of blue, pink, or red; veins look blue): Best hair colors include platinum blonde, ash blonde, cool browns, mocha, and jewel-toned shades like burgundy, violet brown, or cool black. Avoid warm colors like yellow, orange, or golden shades as they can clash or wash out the complexion.
- For warm undertones (skin has golden, peachy, or yellow hues; veins look green): Choose warm hair colors like golden blonde, honey blonde, copper, golden brown, rich auburn, or warm chestnut. Avoid cool shades with blue or green bases.
- For neutral undertones (a balance between cool and warm; veins appear blue-green): You have the flexibility to try shades from both warm and cool palettes such as chocolate brown, caramel highlights, beige blonde, or light auburn.
Also, skin tone depth influences the choice:
- Fair skin: Ashy, platinum blondes, cool browns for cool undertones; golden blondes, strawberry blondes, and warm reds for warm undertones.
- Medium skin: Mocha, chocolate brown, caramel highlights for neutral undertones; honey blonde, golden brown for warm undertones; cool dark brown and blue-black for cool undertones.
- Dark skin: Rich espresso, warm auburn, dark cherry, or jewel tones like burgundy and violet for cool undertones; golden brown, rich copper, toffee for warm undertones.
Identifying your specific skin undertone first (checking vein color, how your skin reacts to sun exposure, or consulting a color professional) will help pinpoint the hair color most flattering to you. For a tailored recommendation, revealing the skin tone or undertone (cool, warm, or neutral) or sharing an image can help further refine the best hair color options that would suit best. These findings align with expert recommendations from Revlon, StyleSeat, and Clairol sources.
