Choosing a hair color is more complicated than it seems, especially since today there are a multitude of shades and variations. The good old days of “brunettes – blondes – redheads” are definitely over!
So, how do you navigate the jungle of coloring? And above all, how can you be sure not to make a mistake? A quick guide to choosing the right hair color:
Cool complexion or warm complexion? Determine your skin tone type
Yes, that’s the first thing to take into account! Depending on whether your skin color is cool or warm tones, this or that hair color will enhance your complexion or give you a terrible look!
Yes, you will tell me, but how do you know? Rest assured, there are several ways to achieve this:
1. Examine your face in a well-lit room
In daylight, look at yourself in a mirror and try to identify the dominant colors of your complexion. Generally, cool tones come out as pink and olive, while warm tones come out as yellow and gold. Do you present a mixture of the two? Lucky! You have a mixed complexion, which means you can get away with almost anything.
2. Look into each other’s eyes!
Beyond the color of these, it is important to spot any golden flakes, which indicate a warm complexion. In addition, blue or green eyes generally correspond to cool complexions, while hazel eyes tend to indicate warm complexions. Be careful though, this is not systematic!
3. Observe your veins
Look at them on the inside of your wrist: if they are bluish or purple, your complexion is cold. If, on the other hand, they are rather green, you have a warm complexion.
4. Take the T-shirt test
Take a blue T-shirt or piece of clothing and hold it against your face. Do the same with a red fabric. If the first seems to enhance your skin, you probably have a cool complexion. If the second suits you better, your complexion is probably warm.
5. Classification by season
Another way to determine your complexion, even more precise, is that of classification by season:
- Warm autumn complexion : your skin is more or less dark, but more olive in color; your eyes are usually brown, hazel or green with gold flakes; you tan easily; your natural hair color is dark.
- Warm summer complexion : your skin is golden with olive undertones; your eyes can be any color; you tan very easily.
- Cold winter complexion : your skin is fair, with shades of pink; your eyes are blue, green or brown but not hazel; you tan with great difficulty; you were born with dark hair.
- Cold spring type complexion : your skin is fair with pink and yellow undertones; your eyes are also clear; you do not tan easily; you were born quite blonde.
Choose your color
Now comes the fun part: finding, among the countless shades of hair color, the ones that will suit you best according to your complexion!
1. Basic rules
The first is simple: choose a warm color if you have a cool complexion, and vice versa. Then, here are some tips to remember:
- Cool blondes neutralize facial redness
- Warm blondes go well with cool or olive-toned skin
- Reds should be avoided with olive-toned skin, but enhance fair and red complexions
- Browns can suit all skin tones, however choosing warm shades on a cool complexion and vice versa
- if you have a cool skin tone and opt for black, choose one with warm undertones
2. Fall complexion
You can choose auburn, chocolate, caramel color, copper or golden shades. On the other hand, absolutely avoid platinum blonde and blue, green and purple highlights.
3. Summer complexion
Choose rich colors: champagne, honey, caramel… but also lighter shades. Ashy colors, black and blue or green highlights should be avoided.
4. Winter complexion
You can go for very clear colorings: jet black, white or platinum blonde, red-purple (especially if you have green eyes). Avoid: golden blondes, copper, caramel or honey tones.
5. Spring complexion
Ideally, opt for an icy, ash or platinum blonde, or an ash brown for example. On the other hand, avoid orange and gold bases.
Determine the time and budget you want to devote to your coloring
We don’t usually think about it, yet these are criteria to take into account to enjoy your new color for the long term! To put it simply, the further you choose a shade from your natural color, the more often you will be forced to renew your coloring. In addition, colored hair requires the use of suitable shampoos, as well as sometimes care and conditioners. Discolorations, in particular, are more likely to damage your horses and attack your scalp if you do not take care of them. Finally, be aware that cheap coloring is often more harmful than more expensive ones. There are also natural or even organic products, but which generally need to be renewed more often because they do not contain ammonia.
In summary, the range of colorings currently available gives you the right to almost any fantasy. But be careful to pamper your scalp and hair, otherwise you risk spoiling your beautiful, lovingly chosen color with brittle, split ends!