Which hair color suits you best? Find out the hair color that suits you best + our best tips
What hair color is best for me? How do you know the best hair color to settle for when you want to dye your hair? This article mentions some helpful tips that will help you pick either a cool hair color or a warm hair color according to your undertone; you will also find out which hair colors won’t suit you. Additionally, find some of the best hair colors for you.
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Which hair color suits me?
There are plenty of hair color ideas on Pinterest and even on our website; suppose you are interested in a particular color, how would you know it will suit you?
More info: Color analysis – what colors suit me?
Lucky enough, I have a very professional hairdresser who doublechecks if the colors will suit me, even if I wanted to get another color. Numerous hairdressers are willing to give you a cut and dye your hair to whichever color you choose (customer is King/Queen, right?) unfortunately, the color you pick may not necessarily suit you.
This article is divided in 2 parts: First, you’ll learn how to determine the undertone of your skin and get to learn the difference between warm and cool colors. Next, We’ve made a list of examples for you with all hair colors in their cool and warm variations. This will make your choice a lot easier!
1. How to determine the undertone of your skin
Look at your skin to find out its undertone; establish whether it is warm or cool. How do you find out your skin undertone? This is perhaps the most difficult question you need to ask yourself. Is your skin’s undertone cool, warm or is it neutral?
How do you recognize the right undertone? It may sound easy, but it is not. First of all, I had a difficult time establishing whether I had blue or green veins to find my undertone.
The first step before you determine your skin undertone is to make sure you remove all of your makeup. Clean and wash your skin thoroughly and never start this analysis until your skin is no longer red from washing.
Put your hair up in a ponytail or at least make sure your hair is completely removed from your face (hello, cute updo!).
Step 1. Check the color of your veins and the color of your eyes
First, check whether you have blue or green veins. I had some issues with this step because my veins are a greeny-blue… which doesn’t help me at all.
I had to hold other green or blue items up against my wrists to have a better look at what my color was; surprisingly, I found out my skin undertone to be blue.
- blue veins: cool undertone
- green veins: warm undertone
- not sure? Try checking your veins right next to green and blue pieces of clothes, the difference will stand out so much clearer!
Alternatively, according to Rachel Bodt, a New York colorist who has worked with Marisa Tomei, Andreja Pejic, Justine Marjan, and Adesuwa Aighewi, the spots in your eyes can also serve as an indicator as to what your skin undertone is.
Check whether the spots in your eyes are hazelnut or golden; if they are more golden, it means you probably have a warm undertone.
Are the spots in your eyes blue or grey? In case you have grey spots in your eyes, then probably you have a cool undertone. Do you have a combination of both blue and grey spots in your eyes? You have a neutral undertone.
- hazel or green spots in your eyes: warm undertone
- blue or grey spots in your eyes: cool undertone
- combination of both: neutral undertone
Step 2: Test your skin undertone with gold or silver items
Another helpful tip to help you find out the undertone of your skin: hold a large piece of fabric that is either silver or gold next to your face; you can also use silver or gold jewelry.
If you notice your skin looks more even with a gold item or fabric, it means you have a warm undertone.
On the other hand, if your skin looks much better when holding up a silver necklace next to your face, you have a cool undertone.
- silver: cool undertone
- gold: warm undertone
Step 3: Put on a shirt or a sweater that looks great on you
Some garments always get us compliments. This is one of the reasons why it is vital to take a quick look at the color of your blouse, shirt, or sweater (as long as you wear it near your face).
Does the sweater have a cool or warm color? The answer will determine which colors will suit you best.
Step 4: Every color can be warm or cool toned
Another strange tip I came across quite often on blogs and magazines, is that blue always is a cool color and yellow is warm by default; however, this is not the case!
Each color has different warm and cool variations, as you will clearly see in the image below:
Can anyone have black, brown, red, or a blonde hair color? Yes! But you need to look closely at them; remember not to pick a warm hair color if you have a cool undertone since it will make your skin look dull.
If you find this challenging, you are not alone! I also did this wrong for several years until I gradually learned how to do a color analysis on my own.
But, oh boy, those old pictures are very cringe-worthy to look at ,now that I know 😉
Step 5: Analyse your skin in daylight
Try to do your undertone analysis in a room with plenty of daylight. Why? When you use different kinds of lights, you can make a false assumption about your skin’s undertone.
Lamps can give warm or cool light and that may interfere with your results.
Do you need a more visual help to help you determine your undertone? Click on the image to download our helpful guide:
How do I know I’m wearing a hair color that doesn’t suit me?
What are some of the indicators that tell you have the wrong hair color for your own coloring?
- You look really pale
- People will often ask if you are feeling okay
- You have to use loads of makeup to look “healthy”
- When you look in the mirror, you realize that something is not right (but you can’t point out what it might be)
2. Cool hair colors
Now that you have determined your undertone whether it is warm, cool or perhaps even neutral, it is easier to know which shade of color will best suit your hair.
One of the most common mistakes made is combining both warm and cool shades.
All these tips and rules are just the beginning of your hair color journey. The best thing about hair color is that it is temporary and fairly easy to play around with until you get that perfect hair color regardless of your skin tone.
Cool blonde hair colors
platinum, beige blonde, and baby taupe blonde, sand blonde
Pictures: Kathy Hutchins / Shutterstock.com – Shutterstock – Shutterstock – Kathy Hutchins / Shutterstock.com – Kathy Hutchins for shutterstock – Twocoms / Shutterstock.com
Cool brown hair colors
Pictures: BAKOUNINE / Shutterstock.com
s_bukley / Shutterstock.com
dark chocolate and espresso hair color
Cool red hair colors
merlot, burgundy or subtle burgundy tones
Cool black hair colors
Other cool black hair color examples: Lupita Nyong’o.
Cool bright and pastel hair colors
The cool purple hair color of Kelly Osbourne.
photographs: DFree / Shutterstock.com
Picture 1
Cool gray hair colors
Ovidiu Hrubaru / Shutterstock.com
Cool white hair colors
Source
3. Warm hair colors
Warm blonde hair colors
wheat blond, honey blond, gold blond
Lauren Conrad is also a great example for these warm blonde hairstyles.
Warm brown hair colors
Think caramel, cinnamon, hazelnut…
photographs: Tinseltown / Shutterstock.com – DFree / Shutterstock.com –
Selena Gomez, Jennifer Lopez, Halle Berry also have been spotted with warm brown hair colors, it’s a great idea to make a Pinterest board just for yourself with the best hair colors that will suit you.
Warm red hair colors
Kathy Hutchins / Shutterstock.com
Strawberry blonde is also seen as a warm hair color: it’s a mix between blonde and red hair.
Warm black hair colors
DFree / Shutterstock.com
Tinseltown / Shutterstock.com
Warm bright hair colors
Coral, rose gold, apricot and yellow hair color:
Warm gray and white hair colors
Neutral hair colors
Jessica Biel
Tinseltown / Shutterstock.com
In the end, all these tips and tricks are just to get you started. The best thing about hair color is that it is (fairly) temporary, and fairly easy to play around with until you’ve found your perfect color – regardless of your undertone.
