How to Choose Hair Color for Your Skin Tone

Typically, when I grow tired of my hair, I switch up my cut or style. But never have I ever experimented with color — until now, that is. To get myself ready, I spoke to celebrity colorist Rita Hazan, who confirmed that the key to sporting a new hair color — that looks great — is choosing one that complements your skin tone. 

"Anybody can wear any hair color, but you have to make sure the color is adjusted to suit your skin tone and hair type," explained Hazan. "I've made Beyoncé super blonde over the years, but I use a honey blonde that works well with her skin tone rather than a baby blonde."

Ahead, Hazan shared more tips to keep in mind before choosing your next hair color.

Finding Your Shade

Know Your Undertone

To get a general idea of what hair color will suit your skin tone, it's best to start by determining your undertone. Undertones, as the name suggests, are the colors underneath the surface of your skin. Knowing where you fall in this spectrum and choosing a hair color to complement this tone will give you the best results and a vibrant color that enhances your overall appearance.

Most people fall into one of three categories: warm, cool, or neutral. If you're not sure what yours is, there are a few simple ways to find out. Hazan suggested looking at how your skin reacts to the sun. 

"Those who burn easily in the sun usually have cool undertones, and those who tan easily usually have warm undertones," she explained.

Consider Your Skin Tone

Now that you know your undertone, choosing a hair color to suit your skin is a much easier task — and your colorist should be able to show you different options.

"Honey, toffee, and caramel tones work well with darker skin tones," said Hazan. "The lighter your skin, the blonder or more platinum you can go." She also suggested looking at images of people with your skin tone and hair type to get an idea of which colors will suit you.

"I'm Egyptian. If I look at an image of a white girl, I know the color will not be the same; a different hair texture and ethnicity will result in a different color altogether," she said. "Look for people of the same race and pick a color that works for them that you like."

If you want to start with a subtle color change, Hazan recommended staying close to your natural color and going a few shades lighter. 

"A lot of brunettes have issues with getting brassy," she added. "If you are a brunette, it's best to keep your natural color in a light brown category and make it blonder with highlights."

Factor in Where You Live

Different seasons and where you live also play a big part in what hair color will suit your skin tone. 

"If you live in a warm climate like [Southern] California, you can continuously be blonde, and it will suit your skin tone," said Hazan. "But if you live somewhere like New York, where there are four seasons, you'll want to change your hair color to suit each season. This can be done by going warmer in the winter and lighter in the summer."

Post-Color Maintenance

"Make sure you use products for color-treated hair," advised Hazan. "They help to lengthen the life of your color. No matter what happens, it's natural for your hair color to fade. It's similar to when you first get a manicure. It starts off shiny, and the color is bright, but toward the end of the week, it gets dull because of natural oxidation."

She added, "Using a gloss in the shower between shampooing and conditioning is like applying a top coat to your hair; it helps to keep the hair shiny and revitalizes the color. Glossing is the salon secret to keeping your color vibrant and your hair as shiny as the day you got it colored." Her product pick? Rita Hazan True Color Ultimate Shine Gloss.

Hair Color Inspiration

Below, Hazan shared a few examples of how she adapted various shades of blonde on different celebrities to match their skin tone.

Olive Complexion: Bronde

"This is a great way to go blonde for more olive complexions," the stylist said. "Her [Beyoncé] base color is a bit lighter, more of a milk chocolate with honey highlights to give her the effect of being blonde without washing out her skin tone."

Fair Complexion: Baby Blonde

"This baby blonde is perfect for lighter skin tones with brown eyes," said Hazan. "It works great for Jessica's [Simpson] complexion, and it's still sun-kissed to give her a beach vibe. Since Jessica has darker hair, she needs a more buttery blonde tone to look natural and pretty."

Neutral Complexion: Chocolate Brown with Natural Highlights

"This color is great for a lighter skin complexion with hazel eyes," Hazan explained. "For this look, I kept her [Thalía] hair a rich chocolate brown and added very natural highlights to add dimension, keeping her warm but not brassy brunette."

Neutral Complexion: Honey Blonde with Lived-In Roots

According to Hazan, "This is a great way to be blonde as a Latina. She has darker roots to give her depth combined with a honey blonde color."

Dark Complexion: Warm-Toned Platinum

"This works because it's a warm-tone platinum," said Hazan. "The warmth in it works well with her [Solange Knowles] darker complexion and keeps her looking glowy, not sallow."

The Final Takeaway

Considering your skin's tone and undertone can help you find a hair color shade that's flattering for you. However, this is more of a guideline than a rule. If you're curious or set on a certain hue, talk to your colorist first to get their professional feedback. Also, don't overlook maintenance and aftercare post-dye job. Color-treated hair needs TLC for it to look and feel its best.