A dye job can completely transform everything from your appearance to your perspective on life. The wrong color, however, can make you appear tired, while also drawing attention to any blemishes or imperfections you may have. Ideally, your color selection will be guided by your natural skin tone.

Determining Your Skin Tone

Determining your skin tone can be surprisingly difficult, as its classification is largely directed by undertones not always evident to the naked eye. If you have very fair skin, freckles, and blue or green eyes with few golden flecks, you probably have a cool skin tone. Cool skin tone is also likely if you burn to a crisp whenever you spend the day at the beach. Conversely, if you tan easily and have darker eyes with golden flecks, your skin tone can be classified as warm.

Skin tone can also be determined based on the color of your veins. People with cool skin tones typically have blue or purple veins, while those with warmer tones have a greenish tinge to their veins.

A few lucky individuals have neutral skin, which is not marked by any obvious undertones. These fortunate few can dye their hair just about any color and still look good. If your skin has a definite warm or cool tone, however, it may be in your best interest to follow these basic guidelines:

Basic Rule of Thumb

In general, it is best to select a color that is the opposite of your natural skin tone. Thus, if you have a cool skin tone, you’ll look best with a warmer color that lights up your features. If you have a warm skin tone, cooler colors will complement your healthy glow.

Best Hair Colors For Cool-Toned Skin

In keeping with the standard rule outlined above, it is best to pair cool-toned skin with warmer hair colors such as gold-infused shades of red and blonde. Dark hair does not have to be completely avoided; many cool-toned individuals look great with chocolate brunette locks. Terms such as mahogany and honey typically accompany hair dyes meant for cool-toned women.

Best Hair Colors For Warm-Toned Skin

If you’ve determined that you have warm-toned skin, you can now explore a whole new world of platinum blonde, dark auburn, and very dark brunette hues. A wider array of possibilities are available for warm-toned individuals, who enjoy a lesser risk of appearing washed out while using daring colors. However, warm-toned women are at greater risk of acquiring a brassy look. Common terms that accompany hair dyes meant for warm-toned individuals include ash and amber.

The right hair color can make you look healthier, happier, and more alive, but choosing the appropriate hue can be challenging. Your first step is to determine which skin tone you have. If this is a struggle, consider meeting up with a trusted stylist or blonde specialist, who can get you on the right track with a hair color that complements your natural complexion.