Knowing the right hair color for your skin type

In today’s world, more and more women are opting to color their hair. Whether a woman wants to enhance her natural color, cover grays, add highlights, or swing for something dramatic, there are a few good tips to consider before choosing a hair color.

The most important factor in choosing a hair color is picking a shade that goes well with your natural coloring. This doesn’t mean you can’t drastically change the color of your hair, but it does mean choosing a shade that will compliment the coloring you already have. Decide whether the natural coloring of your hair, skin, and eyes is cool or warm. Eye colors that fall into the cool category include deep blue, gray, and dark brown. Warm eye colors include golden brown, green, and turquoise. If your skin tones are dark brown, olive, medium, or pale with pink undertones, then your skin color is cool. Warm skin tones include brown with a pink or gold undertone, pale with peach or gold undertones, freckled skin, and skin with ruddy coloring. Cool hair colors include blue-black, deep coffee brown, medium ash brown, medium golden brown, dishwater blonde, golden blonde, and white. Hair colors that fall into the warm category are deep brown with red or gold highlights, red, strawberry blonde, and gray that has a yellow cast.

Shades of color that compliment those with natural cool coloring include raven blacks, cool ash browns, and cool blondes. If your coloring is cool and you would like to do something dramatic, consider a color with burgundy or fire-engine red shades. Those with cool coloring should avoid yellow, gold, bronze, or red tones. These can give you a sallow look.

If your natural coloring is warm, the best colors for you include deep chocolate, golden brown, auburn, golden blonde, red, and colors with orange highlights. Avoid violet, blue, and white colors, which can wash out your natural coloring.

Reds are becoming more and more popular, in all types of shades and tones. Unfortunately, red is also the color that fades the fastest. If you’re looking for long-lasting color, choose a red with more brown in it. These shades will hold longer, even though they aren’t as vibrant.

If you are looking for something less dramatic and more natural, choose a color that is within two shades of your natural color. This will be a pleasant change, but you’ll still recognize the person you see in the mirror.

For the women who want to cover grays, permanent hair color is the only way to go. This is the only type of color that will cover gray. Don’t worry about extra damage, since most permanent hair colors have improved formulas that are safer on hair. Permanent color can even make gray hair less wiry.

If you have frizzy hair, there are a couple extra things to consider. Darker colors can mask frizzy hair by giving it a healthier, smoother look. Avoid extremely light highlights, and choose warmer tones that reflect more light and take the focus off the frizz.

There are a few tips for avoiding the brassy tones often associated with hair coloring. First of all, avoid exposure to sunlight. Direct sunlight and swimming are common causes of brassy coloring. If you are concerned about brassiness, choose a color with an ash base instead of a gold base. Maintain your new color by using a mild shampoo, preferably one formulated for colored hair.

Also, remember that the color on the front of the box isn’t necessarily the color you will get. Always look at the back of the hair color package. There should be a chart that can help you find your starting color and the result you will see if you use that particular shade of color. Your color will be a combination of your natural or current color and the color you apply.

Coloring your hair can produce dazzling results, but it can also be extremely frustrating if it turns out looking different from what you expected. Take your time in choosing a new color or even talk to a color specialist at your local salon. This will help ensure that you will be satisfied when the job is done.