Look at the veins on the inside of your arm. People who are warm toned have green veins. People who have warm skin tones generally have dark eyes, such as brown, black, or hazel. Their hair is black, brown, blonde, red, or strawberry blonde. [1] X Research source If you hold a white paper next to your clean face, your skin will look yellow or golden next to the paper if your tone is warm. An alternate way to determine if you have warm tones is to hold a yellow or red paper beside your clean face. If it looks flattering, you have warm tones.
People with cool skin tones have blue veins on the inside of their arms. People with cool tones generally have light colored eyes, such as blue, green, or grey. They have blonde, black, or brown hair. If you hold a white paper next to your clean face, your skin will look blue compared to the paper. Another way to determine cool skin tone is to hold a blue, silver, or green piece of paper next to your face. If it looks flattering, you have cool tones. Do a comparison with yellow/red paper to check the difference. [3] X Research source
For warm tones, dark browns, warm browns, chestnuts, rich golden browns, auburn, warm gold and red highlights, and golden blonde shades will look best on you. Go for colors with a red orange or gold base; those will look good on you. Avoid blue, violet, and ash based hair colors which will wash out your skin color. For cool tones, try shiny raven-wing blacks, cool ash browns, or cool blondes in shades ranging from mink to platinum and icy white. Avoid gold, yellow, red, and bronze tones in hair color. These warm tones have a tendency to make you look washed-out. You also may be able to wear many exciting bold, unnatural hair colors like lipstick red, cherry red, blue, and burgundies.
With paler skin, lighter shades work. For light skin and warm tones, try butterscotch, strawberry blonde, or honey. For light skin and cool tones, try platinum, flaxen, or champagne blonde. Medium skin provides more versatility. Medium skin and warm tones can go tawny blonde, golden caramel, or copper. Cool tones with medium skin should try ashy tones, such as sand, wheat blonde, and walnut brown. Olive skin looks great with rich browns or earthy shades. Cool tones should try auburn or cinnamon, while warm tones can go with ebony brown and mocha. For dark skin and cool tones, go for espresso and inky black. For dark skin and warm tones, try maple brown, mahogany, or toffee. [4] X Research source
If you want to go natural, only go 2-3 shades lighter or darker than your natural hair color. [5] X Research source Choose a color that will look good on you. Maybe you’ve always liked red hair, but is it right for you? If you love blue but have warm toned skin, consider another drastic, bold color.
Permanent hair color won’t wash out and will allow you to go lighter. Going lighter will probably require bleach. It’s harder to reverse permanent dye, and you will have to retouch the roots as your hair grows. Semi-permanent hair color fades away with washes. It’s great for highlighting, changing color tones in hair, adding depth, and covering grey. It cannot lighten the hair significantly. Temporary hair color washes out within 25-30 washes. It’s good for adding shiny, vibrant colors to hair in a darker or brighter color. It also allows you to change your hair tone. They can’t lighten your hair. [6] X Research source
Make sure to bring a photo of the particular color you want if you have a specific one in mind. That ensures that there is little confusion. Terms like brunette, red, and blonde aren’t very descriptive, but be mindful of using terms like ash, honey, caramel, and espresso unless you know what they mean.
Lowlights are another way to add color to your hair if you want a subtle change that has an impact on your looks.
