Before taking your pick of hair colors, you need to ID your skin’s undertones. Most people fall into one of three categories: warm, cool, and neutral. Figuring out where your complexion lies can seem confusing, but there are a few tricks:
Look for specific colors. Cool-toned skin has pink and olive undertones, while warm-toned skin has yellow and gold. Got a combo of any of the above? You’re probably neutral.
2. Match yourself with a celeb. When you’re looking for A-list color inspiration, try to pick out people with similar skin and eye coloring to your own. It’ll give you a much better idea of how the hue will actually look on you in the end.
3. Check your wrist…You’ll see the pinks, reds, blues, greens, and yellows there, which are a great indicator of tone. If your veins are blue or purple, you’re likely cool-toned. If they are green, you are warm-toned.
4. …Or your eyes. If you have a lot of gold specks in your eyes, usually your undertones are warm. If you have a lot of blues and greens, then you are usually cool.
The rule of thumb for a hair color that will flatter your complexion? Pick a tone that’s opposite from your skin’s undertones. So, those with warm undertones might opt for a cooler color, and vice versa. The degree of importance varies from hair color to hair color, but it’s a good guideline to remember. And if you have neutral skin, you’re a lucky minority—everything looks good on you.
