Hair Colors To Try (And Avoid) For Each Skin Tone And Undertone This Winter
For Warm Tones:
1. Light Skin With Warm Undertones:
Light skin with warm undertones works well with “light earth tones like buttery blonde, light brown, and warm strawberry blonde,” Wiley says.
2. Medium skin with Warm undertones:
Medium and olive skin tones with warm undertones work great with “honey blonde, chocolate brown and copper.” If you’re searching for a subtle change with a lot of impact, Wiley notes that a soft caramel highlight on dark brown hair can add brightness to medium skin. “They complement the tone and underlining pigment in the skin,” she says, and it’s a good idea to “avoid ‘cool’ hair colors as they will clash with their warm undertones.”
3. Dark skin with Warm undertones:
Going for a copper look will be “more natural against darker skin tones” and will give a beautiful reflective red tone without “being too much,” Wiley shares. Caramel brown “compliments dark complexions by bringing out the glow of the skin,” she adds.
General Pro Tip: For Warm Undertones — Skip Very Golden Shades
In a 2023 interview with Byrdie, hairstylist, colorist, and Matrix brand ambassador George Papanikolas told the outlet that warm undertoned ladies should generally avoid very golden shades. "If you have warm undertones, you should avoid hair color shades that are too warm or golden," Papanikolas told the publication. "Instead, look for cool, blue-toned, or ashy shades that balance out your skin's natural warmth."
For Cool Tones:
1. Light skin with Cool undertones:
If your skin is fair with cool undertones, an “icy platinum blonde or a soft dimensional cool blonde will flatter your porcelain complexion,” she adds. Ash tones work well here, but it’s best to “avoid warm blonde shades like gold or caramel,” she continues, since they can add a pink tinge to the skin, “making you appear pinker.
2. Medium skin with Cool undertones:
Cream blonde balayage, blonde and chestnut hair colors “all flatter the medium skin and cool undertones,” Wiley says, and “these beautiful tones play off the cooler, softer side” of the undertone avoid any clashing in colors. In addition, she notes to again “avoid ‘warm’ hair colors as they will clash with their cool undertones.”
3. Dark skin with Cool undertones:
Ashy blondes are a “beautiful option for darker skin tones.” The blue will offset the natural underlying pigment of red, she says, “creating a neutral creamy blonde.”
General Pro Tip: For Cool Undertones — Skip Cool Or Ashy Shades
"If you have cool undertones, you should avoid hair color shades that are too cool or ashy," Papanikolas told Byrdie. "These shades can make your skin look dull and washed out. Instead, look for warm, golden, or reddish tones that complement your skin's and help give it some natural warmth."
For Neutral Tones:
1. Light skin with neutral undertones:
Those with a neutral skin tone can carry off either warm or cool colors like “ash, gold, reds, coppers, etc.”
2. Medium skin with Neutral undertones:
Wiley dubs “medium brown” to be the “perfect tone” for medium skin and neutral undertones. “It’s flattering on all skin tones and all undertones,” she adds, “I recommend adding dimension for that extra pop of depth.”
3. Dark skin with Neutral undertones:
Medium to dark brown is the “perfect tone for dark complexions,” Wiley says. It’s flattering on all skin tones and all undertones, she continues. “I recommend adding dimension for that extra pop of depth.”
General Pro Tip: For Neutral Undertones — Most Shades Will Be Flattering (Lucky You!)
According to Papanikolas, individuals with neutral skin tones enjoy the advantage of most shades complementing their complexion due to their position in the middle of the spectrum. Nevertheless, it is recommended to examine pictures of people with comparable undertones who have already donned your preferred shade to ensure your satisfaction with the appearance.