New Hair Color? Your Makeup May Need A Makeover

Every year, I gear up for summer with a hair salon appointment to add blonde highlights to my normally dark brown hair. The first time I changed hair color, I noticed that something about my overall look seemed slightly off. That's when I realized that my old makeup didn't complement my new hair color.

Why? The color of your hair actually changes the way your complexion looks, and your favorite makeup colors may no longer be flattering.

Here are some makeup tips pointers to keep you looking your prettiest, whatever hair color you choose.

Makeup Tips: Blonde

Whether it's platinum, golden, or ash, you'll need to switch to soft, pastel makeup shades that complement the lightness of your new hair color. The dark shades you were probably using, such as plum blush, wine lipstick, or black eyeliner, may now contrast too harshly. Adding a few blonde highlights gives your skin a lift, so soften up your regular makeup palette with pastels. For your cheeks, try pale pink or peachy pink shades of blush. On your lips, go for light to medium tones of pink, peach, or rose. On your eyelids, pick bone, ash, or pale pink eye shadows and dark brown liner and mascara.

Makeup Tips: Dark

Dark brown and black hair color can make skin look pale, so you need to drop the pastels and add deeper color to your cheeks and lips to keep from looking washed out. Rosy pink, rosy brown, and brownish pink will look great on your lips and your cheeks (though you may want to try bluish reds, too). On eyes, try light brown or mocha eye shadows and dark brown or charcoal liner and black mascara. These neutral shades give eyes definition without adding darkness. As a brunette, you'll find that you can wear a wider range of colors, so play.

Makeup Tips: Red

The burnt amber tone of your hair color will warm up your complexion, so choose warmer tones of makeup as well. For cheeks, try medium brown, rosy brown, or apricot shades of blush. On your lips, go for peach, light brown, brownish pink, or red. (Yes, even redheads can wear red lipstick.) For eyes, pick bone, taupe, or mossy green eye shadows and reddish brown to dark brown liner and mascara.

Makeup Tips: Gray

Gray hair color can drain color from your face, leaving you looking pale and washed out. You'll need bright makeup colors in cool tones on your cheeks and lips. This will give your complexion a real boost.

Choose soft pink, apricot, or red shades of blush, and pink, coral, or red lipstick. On your eyes, stick to white and gray eye shadows and slate or navy eyeliner.

MORE: How To Make Gray Hair Look Gorgeous

Should You Color Your Eyebrows?

If you've made a subtle change in hair color, all you need to do is tweak the shade of powder shadow or brow pencil that you normally use. There's a flattering brow color for every hair color.

If you've made a really dramatic change (such as going from dark brown to light blonde), ask a colorist at your salon to dye your brows to match. More often than not, there will be no charge.

Here's how to match your brows to your hair color: