What's The Best Hair Color For Your Skin

Exactly How To Pick The Best Hair Color For Your Skin

Having the right hair color makes such a big difference in how you look, which is why figuring out the best hair color for your skin tone is so important.

Except, for some reason it’s a really confusing question to answer. Why?

Well, obviously if you aren’t trained in color theory, you won’t just magically know the most flattering hues for you.

And the worst part is, most of the information you find on the Internet about hair color is either A) unclear and confusing B) incomplete or C) plain wrong.

That’s where I come in. I’ve come up with a simple, step-by-step process to determine the best hair color for you !

What’s The Best Hair Color For Your Skin?

Skin Tone Best Hair Colors Hair Colors To Avoid
Winter Dark Brown, Jet Black, Platinum Blonde Golden Blonde, Copper Red, Caramel or Honey
Spring Icy Blonde, Ashy Blonde, Ashy Brown, Platinum Blonde Honey Blonde, Golden Brown, Any Golden Base
Autumn Rich Auburn, Chocolate Brown, Honey Blonde, Golden Brown Platinum Blonde, Ash Brown, Blue, Green, or Violet Undertones
Summer Golden Blonde, Caramel Brown, Champagne Blonde, Honey or Butter Platinum Ashy Brown or Blonde, Black, Blue or Green Base Colors
best-hair-color-for-your-skin

By the end of this article, you will know the exact right hair color for you, designed to suit your specific skin tone.

Step 1: Determine whether you have cool or warm skin tone.

The first step in figuring out what hair color is best for your skin tone is to determine whether you have a cool or warm skin tone.

Now, this might sound confusing, but I promise you, it’s not as bad as you think.

Take The Quiz: What’s the best hair color for your skin tone?

Click here to take our quick (and shockingly accurate) “What’s The Best Hair Color For Your Skin Tone?” Quiz right now and find out your best hair color…

Yes, there are some hair colors that you should never go for.

Nicoletta Gauci, international hair artist known for her uncanny ability to decipher color, explained that there are two overarching categories, warm and cool.

Warm skin tones can fall into two categories: autumn and summer. Cool skin tones can fall into two categories: winter and spring.

Here’s how to figure out which of the four “seasons” you are. Below, you’ll find a checklist of characteristics for each skin tone so you can easily identify whether you’re an autumn, summer, winter or spring.

Plus, I’ve included celebrity examples to make finding your skin tone even easier. In each section, you will also find the best and worst hair colors for you.

Yes, there are some hair colors that you should never go for.

Don’t want to read this whole article? We’ve summed everything up in an awesome infographic for you, click below to view it:


cool tones

winter

Characteristics:

  • You have lighter skin

  • You have fair skin for whatever your ethnicity is

  • You have pink undertones to your skin

  • Your Eye Color: usually jewel toned eye colors (blue eyes, green eyes, emerald green, dark blue, super dark brown where it looks black)

  • You do not have hazel eyes for example

  • You do not tan easily

  • You were probably born with black/darker hair

  • You might have a harsh contrast between eyes, hair and face

Colors to Do:

Do anything with a blue, violet-red, violet base

  • Jewel toned hair

  • Really dark brown or black

  • Solid, jet black

  • White, platinum blonde

  • Dark, violet red brings out green eyes (green eyes, pale skin works beautifully with this)

Colors to Avoid:

  • Golden blonde

  • Copper red

  • Caramel or honey

spring

Characteristics:

  • You have fair skin, usually with more of a pink or yellow undertone

  • Your Eye Color: It’s flexible, but generally, you will have a lighter color, such as a very light, light blue, light green, a lighter hazel color, a light, super gold brown

  • If you have a “darker” eye color, like super dark brown or even super deep/dark blue, you’re likely not a spring

  • You can potentially tan (You can tan easier than a winter, but you cannot tan as easily as a summer or an autumn)

  • You were probably born with a dirty, ash-dishwater blonde or born super blonde (tow head)

Colors to Do:

Colors with a violet, blue or green base

  • Light, icy blonde

  • Platinum blonde

  • Ashy blonde

  • Ashy brown

Colors to Avoid:

  • Anything with an orange base or an overly golden base

  • No honey blonde

  • No golden browns

warm tones

autumn

Characteristics:

  • Your Eye Color: Golden brown eyes, hazel green with gold flecks

  • Your eyes are going to have less of a bright, jewel green color and lean more towards brown, hazel green & golden brown eyes

  • Your skin tone “glows”

  • Your natural hair color is generally rich, dark brown (so if you were born blonde, you’re probably not an autumn)

  • You can tan easily, and you could have an olive based skin tone

  • You might have pale skin, but it would have an olive base

Colors to Do:

Colors with an orange base (note: orange base does not mean orange!) or a red undertone, including…

  • Rich auburns

  • Copper or caramel tones

  • Milk chocolate/ chocolate brown

  • Rich, golden browns

  • Warm, beige blonde

  • Honey blonde

  • Golden blonde

Colors to Avoid:

  • Platinum blonde

  • Ash brown

  • Anything with a blue, green or violet undertone

summer

Characteristics:

  • You have golden, olive skin (When you tan, your skin looks bronzed with a very rich skin tone)

  • You can tan easily

  • Your Eye Color: Summers are very flexible in terms of eye color. Generally summers have hazel-colored eyes, but your eyes can be any color.

Colors to Do:

Anything with a yellow or an orange base

  • Rich, golden blonde

  • Light, caramel brown

  • Champagne blonde

  • Toffee

  • Honey colors

  • Butter/honey platinum

  • Lighter colors normally work well

Colors to Avoid:

  • Ashy colors (ash brown or ash blonde)

  • Nothing with blue or green base

  • Black not suggested

Now that you know whether you’re a warm autumn/summer or a cool winter/spring, let’s figure out the best hair color for you.

We’re all different (and have different ideas of how we want to take care of our hair), so the most important thing is to find which hair color suits you the best as an individual.

Step 2: Decide how much time and money you’re willing to invest in your hair.

Now it’s time to decide exactly how much effort, money, and time you want to put into your hair and your hair color.

Amanda George, celebrity hair stylist known as one of the best colorists in Los Angeles reveals the secret behind having amazing hair: taking care of your scalp and paying attention to ingredients. Her line, Roil is specifically tailored to nurture your hair and you can’t go wrong with it. These products contain antioxidant rich Amla Oil and Coconut and Rose Oil, which nourish and clean your hair. Fresh, invigorating and handcrafted these products will make your hair happy.

Investing in quality products will allow you to maintain your new hair color.

For example, if you want to go blonde and you have dark hair, this requires monthly root touch ups.

Plus, when you go blonde, you will also want to invest in quality sulfate free shampoos and conditioners for color treated hair. This is because when you go blonde, you strip the pigment and moisture from your hair, and you need to use the right shampoos and conditioners to replenish that moisture.

If you want a pricey but amazing blonde-hair refresher, Oribe has a great one:
Oribe Bright Blonde Shampoo

You will also want to stock up on good quality heat protectant (blow drying and straightening blonde hair without a heat protectant is a recipe for disaster) and a solid dry shampoo to avoid having to wash your hair every day.

Washing your hair every day, particularly when it’s color treated, causes more damage.

When you go blonde, you strip the pigment from your hair.

If your hair is damaged, watch out for these hair care myths that prevent you from healing your hair.

Now, if you want to avoid having to touch up your roots every 4-6 weeks but still want some fun blonde, you can do an “ombre”.

You could also opt for some natural highlights that are not too far off from your natural color if you want to change up your look without making a huge commitment.

If you really don’t want to invest that much time and money into your hair, I would suggest sticking as close to your natural hair color as possible.

Another option is to try out a semi-permanent dye to see how you like a certain look.

Note: if you are trying to go darker, a semi-permanent hair dye could be a good idea. However, if you’re going lighter don’t try to go too much lighter at once with a semi-permanent dye because your hair might turn orange.

Before I go on to the next steps you need to know this important piece of advice:

Recently I visited notoriously “amazing” la salon, Ramirez Tran and found an angel of a colorist & specialist in anything you can imagine. Carachele (Carachele (you can find her here) and her assistant are both unicorns in the hair industry and have a genuine compassion and need to heal the health of hair. Carachele is adamant about putting hair health before color. And my biggest takeaway was: “don’t cross pollinate products”! Yes, using too many protein conditioners or reconstructing treatments can actually damage and dry out your hair. Instead of going overboard stick to a diligent consistent routine and make sure you always go to an expert for drastic color changes.

Step 3: Determine how damaged (or undamaged) your hair is.

If your hair is brittle and weak, do not go for a drastic change.

If you’re a hair virgin (meaning you have never put any dye on your hair in your entire life), then you have an ideal hair canvass.

Your hair is most likely not damaged if it’s virgin hair, unless you use flat or curling irons obsessively or over-wash it.

Do You Know These 20 Things You Might Be Doing That Are Ruining Your Hair?

If your hair is brittle and weak, do not go for a drastic change.

If your hair is damaged it’s much easier to go from lighter to darker than it is to go from darker to lighter. If you have damaged hair and go lighter – you risk damaging your hair even further.

You literally strip your hair of its pigment when you bleach it, so if it’s damaged… don’t bleach!!!!

Instead of going for a drastic color change, invest in some quality products for the meantime and get your hair looking healthy and pretty. Sometimes embracing your natural color but making your hair softer, healthier and bouncier is the trick to saving yourself from lots of damage.

Here are some products I recommend to Davines Volu Mist, $36 Healthy volume that makes your hair feel soft and sexy but never weighed down. If you have fine, limp hair this Davines product is the best product you can buy for volume. Best. Best. Love it.

Davines honestly has some of the best hair products I have tried in a long time. Here’s a roundup of some of my favorites:

And each product smells delicious. I’m obsessed and will be trying out all things Davines in the future.

Step 4: Think About Your Age.

My mom, who has been almost platinum blonde her entire adult life, has actually become a darker blonde as she’s gotten older.

I’m not going to mention her age because her heart would break, but the bottom line is: as you get older, light blonde isn’t as suitable.

No matter whether your skin tone is “cool” or “warm”, being too blonde can wash you out as you get older, because it highlights wrinkles and skin imperfections.

Are you young, want to have fun and try out some fun colors?

Then, go for it!

The moral of the story is: as you get older, you will be better off going for a softer, less harsh look.

Here are some of the worst aging hair color mistakes and how to fix them.

Step 5: Think About Your Personality & What you Want.

Is there some hair color you’ve dreamed of being your entire life? Or is there some color you really like and feel suits you, but are afraid to try it out because you don’t want people to think of you differently, judge you or look down upon you?

Are you reading this article, hoping that you’ll get a certain answer (like x color matches your skin tone) in order to get the go-ahead to do it?

If so, please… please … realize that you only live once, and that you should just go for it

I cannot end this article without a few key realizations about hair color and how it impacts your life.

It might seem crazy to some people, but for me, hair color plays a huge role in feeling like “myself”.

I wanted to be blonde my entire life, but was naturally a brunette. People close to me insisted I would look horrible as a blonde and that I shouldn’t do it, and their words really hurt me.

It’s just hair color, right? Why does it matter?

Well, to me, it did. My hair color represented something to me. Blonde made me feel more like myself.

Do not let anyone tell you what your hair color should be. If you have a color in your mind that you really want to try, I truly, from the bottom of my heart, urge you to go for it.

Be who you want to be, not who an article tells you to be.

Be yourself. You can find a way to make it work.

Life is way too short to not go for it.

So now that you’ve read this article, you should have a much better idea of which hair colors will work best for you. Go out and try the hair color you’ve always wanted to have, and let me know how it goes in the comments!

112 comments… add one
  • Jacqueline Hudson May 22, 2021, 11:27 pm

    I kind of want to go Pink or rose gold. I’m 40 and a spring. Thoughts?

  • parfumerie eternelle February 23, 2021, 2:32 am

    I have dark skin so, now I can choose hair color wisely for myself. thank you for sharing this.

  • Bonnie Lou January 9, 2021, 1:59 am

    I was born a REDHEAD (light red between a Strawberry and Auburn), NO FRECKLES, with light GREYISH BLUE eyes and BLUE veins. Also, my Heritage is German, Irish and 1/4 Sioux Indian so my skin burns first then will tan. So, I think my skin tone is light because I do tan after burning. I can wear silver, gold and rose gold jewelry. I can wear clothes that are lavender, purples, army green, blues, grays, browns and some yellows. I DON’T want to change my natural RED hair color but want to know what OTHER SHADES of RED will best SUIT me and what SEASON am I?

  • Haleynicole November 29, 2020, 1:18 am

    Wow I’m so confused…
    I’ve always been told I’m an autumn, but the quiz said I’m a summer. I had honey blonde hair and freckles when I was young, and then my freckles faded and hair got darker to kind of medium mousey brown, But it would get gold highlights as it grew and take on a honey color like my younger self. My eyes are green, and my skin is gold tone, but the wrong shade of blonde makes me look red and angry, the wrong brown makes me look dead. I have honey blonde like my baby pics but want to go dark and this scares me.

  • Kat October 29, 2020, 3:16 pm

    I have cool toned skin but brown eyes lol. I fit in none

  • Liza September 28, 2020, 9:59 am

    Great Article! The tips you have mentioned in this article for the best hair color are impressive. Thanks for sharing this valuable information!

  • Mihrican Abu Asad June 15, 2020, 1:52 pm

    This is a great article! I also took the quizzes, they helped a lot. Thanks a lot!!

  • Celebrian March 2, 2020, 4:18 pm

    Oops, I too come from the school of ‘spring is warm, summer is cool’ because that is what I have read the vast majority of the time.
    But now I am wondering if am Summer, having never felt fully at home in Autumn.
    It’s compounded by my skin tone becoming more neutral as the years pass!

  • Joy Johnston December 29, 2019, 6:12 pm

    This confirmed a bit of what I had figured out playing with some of those “try on color” apps. It surprised me but now makes sense that I need to stay away from golden tones. In your quizzes I came out as a spring. It is interesting that other similar articles label the seasons differently although the outcome based on skin tone and eye color are similar. Yours seemed the most straightforward though. I don’t know if I will ever color my hair but may seek a consultation. I am middle aged and my blonde has darkened as i have gotten older. I have thought I would like to do something for a bit of oomph at some point. I don’t have a regular hair person and feel like I would need to get to know a hairdresser (and let them get to know my hair) before having them color it.

  • Terry Sims December 19, 2019, 4:36 pm

    I am an autumn. However, my hair color has frequently changed since birth. When born, my hair was black. By the age of four, it was blonde. By the age of six it was light brown. By the age of twelve, it was red. My hair has stayed in the red range to the present. Another quirk is that my eyes are an odd shade of dark blue with brown and golden stripes in my iris. All of this made it a little difficult to answer questions on the test.

  • Rose November 16, 2019, 5:59 pm

    I have blue veins, freckles, pale skin, greenish eyes that so.etimes look real dark, other times look kind of hazel. My natural hair color is very dark brown, almost black but not jet black. Can I wear dark red, almost burgundy hair color?

  • Smita October 21, 2019, 2:39 pm

    Loved the article.. Very informative.

  • No September 17, 2019, 10:58 pm

    Hey, it think i’m a spring (hazel eyes, tan a little bit) but i have brown hair (ashes tone) and they only list ashy-blonde, do it still works with ashy-brown?

  • Jacob August 30, 2019, 10:48 pm

    I naturally have boring brown hair so I wanted to change it up, so I dyed it blue but that was not me. So I cut it off and let it grow out and I dyed it copper red and I love it. Some people even compliment it. (Even though according to the quiz that’s supposed to be the opposite for me)

  • jules July 15, 2019, 9:26 pm

    i have pale skin with pink undertones and lots of freckles, i was born with light brown hair with red undertones, i have grey eyes that turn silver or a VERY light blue. (no irish relations) my freckles arent the normal red tint but more brown.

  • Emma Allen May 22, 2019, 4:23 pm

    I have a winter skin tone, black eyes, and I was born with black hair. I’m a teenager now and my hair turned to brown. I really need a change, and i can’t decide between going darker (dark brown or black) or going lighter (blonde but keeping my roots a little bit brown so it looks natural) Any advices ??
    I really like that article by the way :)

  • Kelsey January 24, 2019, 12:39 pm

    Hi, i have pale skin with both yellow and pink undertones, but leaning more with the yellow tones, i got badly burnt in the summer and tanned a little, now that its winter the tan is fading, i have green and blue vein color on my wrist, and i was born with light golden blonde that looked almost white in some photos and then it turned darker and now its a dirty blonde with some golden copper undertones, i have hazel eyes that look more brown then green, but appears an avacado color in the sun, i’m a teenager and want my hair darker, something that would make my thin hair look fuller, i have no clue what darker hair color would look best on me. Any suggestions would be helpful, thanks

    • Emma Allen May 26, 2019, 8:05 am

      I think that a dark brown would be really nice on you

  • Intan January 12, 2019, 10:08 am

    I really love this article.

  • Daniella December 26, 2018, 2:35 am

    I was born with red/strawberry blonde hair which turned platinum blonde when I was 4 yrs old. I didn’t see any description like that +, since the hair color I was born with appeared to be missing, I couldn’t match my eye color (hazel which is closer to Brown w/ gold specks unless I cry, then my eyes are a lighter green) w/ my birth hair color.

    My hair was either bleached blonde by chlorinated pool water as a competitive swimner + lifeguard/swim teacher + I used to tan easily until I was in my late 40s. I’m noticing, as the article pointed out, that I look more washed out w/ colored platinum blonde hair + I burn vs tan now. I don’t get to be active outdoors any more for health reasons. I’ve let my natural hair color grow out, which is more “dirty blonde” or “light brown.” I can see blue veins on the under side of my arms below my palms.

    I’m considering coloring my hair its current natural color, get rid of some grey, add body, but not damage my hair. Or should I color my hair its birth color – reddish, strawberry blonde? Thanks in advance for recommendations.

  • srnsuki December 16, 2018, 7:38 am

    I was born with a dirty blonde color (some parts darker blonde some parts with highlights) and dark blue eyes. What category is that if winters are born with dark hair and springs are not likely to be born with dark blue eye color?

  • Sarah September 13, 2018, 3:32 pm

    The best hair color for your skin is the one you were born with.

  • Lily August 18, 2018, 12:30 pm

    I can’t really identify myself with this classification, I have very pale skin, medium brown hair, and very dark eyes. I must be in summer/autumn range beause warmer colours look better on me but I have no clue what’s the actual difference between the two types. It’s a bit vague.

  • Lulu July 29, 2018, 7:53 pm

    This has Spring and Summer mixed up.. Spring people have warm undertones while Summer people have cool undertones. Spring and Autumn are the warm palettes, and Summer and Winter are the cool palettes. If you’re not convinced, Google it more.

    • celebrian June 10, 2019, 5:32 pm

      Yes, I agree. Spring and Autumn are warm, usually – and Winter and Summer are cool. As far as I’ve always understood it these last 20 years! Are we wrong? Perhaps, lol. X

  • Olga June 26, 2018, 8:06 am

    Summer is cool and spring is warm. Giselle Bundchen and a few others are Autumn and not summer. Winter is right (almost), but one with dark skin can and most likely will be a winter (if that skin has a cool undertone). Jennifer A. is a Summer (soft summer can tan easier because they have autumn influence but usually summers DO NOT tan easily) also… light springs, that are warm – because spring is a warm season, who are very fair, won’t tan easily, they will burn easily because of the fairness. Springs need to AVOID ashy tones and summers NEED them.

    • Erica mark July 9, 2018, 4:52 pm

      You can not just put a dark brown on your hair. You put back in what you took out. When you bleached your hair you probably took out some reds that you must put back in and your base color as well. Because you are platinum, your hair is an empty canvas and you will muddy it by just throwing on dark brown, you must add a red or gold color to your brown color. Second decide if you plan to go light again in the near future, if yes then use a demi or semi permanent color that way bleaching isn’t a long process in the future. Do lots of research or go to salon.

      • Kimberly Zinzow February 6, 2019, 11:16 am

        Hey you seem VERY knowledgable! I am 47 years old, I have natural coily curls. I have yellow toned skin brown eyes and dark brown natural hair. What is best for me to try? I want a change but not to drastic.

  • Stephanie June 22, 2018, 10:48 pm

    I. Have light blue eyes and natural dark brown hair. I have bleached my hair to a platinum blonde. (2 months ago) i want to go back to a dark brown. So my question is can i put perminant dark brown hair color over the platinum blonde to get a dark brown color?

  • Margaux Ford February 23, 2018, 11:31 pm

    Thanks for the awesome tips on which color would suit best for cool skin tones. I’m planning to have my hair colored for a change, and the idea of having a light, icy blonde hair color sounds great. I appreciate the advice not to go for anything with an orange base or an overly golden base, as well as honey blonde or golden browns. These colors will not be a good compliment for my light skin. I’ll be looking for a professional hairdresser to get started. Thanks!

  • RLP November 29, 2017, 2:45 am

    I feel so bad for folks being mislead by a HUGE MISTAKE the author made or the graphics department for this article, but SUMMER season here is labeled incorrectly as SPRING, and the SPRING description here is actually for SUMMER SEASON. Winter and SUMMER are cool seasons for cool skin tones, and Spring and Autumn are warm toned seasons. PLEASE MAKE SELF CORRECTIONS. I wrote on another webpage here that these 2 seasons were mixed up and reversed from one another — and very bad for ladies, especially when coloring hair. Always select hair color via your skin tone. Winter and Summer seasons are cool beige to pinkish or ruddy skin shades (check for blue veins at inside of wrist), so medium to light shades of brunette to pale ashy to platinum blondes, think ‘cool’ and NO REDs or brassiness is best. Some Summers can have some red highlights in natural shades of hair, but not dominant. And Autumn and Spring, have ‘peachy’ skin tones (check wrist for greenish looking veins), so gold tones and warm red are fine for hair, golden and strawberry blondes look best for you. Good luck to all! :)

    • Skylar June 14, 2018, 5:17 am

      I agree with this. Summer is a cold color and Spring is warm. But besides that it is a great article!

  • Izzy October 22, 2017, 3:50 am

    Hi, I’m really sorry, but I can’t find a category I fit into, because on the eye-colour question, there wasn’t a grey, or grey-blue option, which is my eye colour, or on the what hair colour where you born with, there wasn’t an option that was like my hair- I have light brown hair with blonde and red highlights, and the closest was either ashy dishwater-blonde or dark brown. I’m sorry to be of any inconvenience , I’m just not sure what category I exactly fall into.. :)

    • Michela October 23, 2018, 9:28 am

      I feel you, as i have the same situation but i am a neutral so everything suits me

  • Akos White. September 20, 2017, 6:57 am

    what hair color goes with dark brown skin? i was born with a dark brown hair. i live in Accra Ghana. i want to try other hair colors.

    • Emma Allen May 26, 2019, 8:08 am

      try blonde highlights, it looks great on dark skins

  • Lanie August 3, 2017, 12:25 pm

    This article is great i am an asian w/ brown skin . In your quiz it says i am “Summer’.
    Is it okay to mix a Burgundy shade (5.26) and a light Golden blonde shade(8.3) ? Can this shade cover gray hair? For years now i would color my hair a lighter brown shade. Thank you!

  • Arya July 25, 2017, 10:50 am

    Also meant to mention this article is really great, and very informative. by no means am I invalidating that, just wanted to shed some light for people who were confused about how this article labels the seasons versus the older ‘Color Me beautiful’ theory that many people are already familiar with, as well as address the questions about darker skin tones/ Asian skin tones. And Im not an expert, just a color obsessed artist and graphic artist with a hair hobby :P

  • Arya July 25, 2017, 10:45 am

    This color theory may have come from Paul Mitchell, but its true that the original one was called ‘Color Me Beautiful’ and it was a book that came out in the 70’s or 80’s I believe (sorry not sure exactly!! :). My mom had it and we read it cover to cover.
    It does have Summer as a cool category and Spring as warm. It goes Winter/cool, Spring/warm, Summer/cool, Autumn/warm, so the warm and cool seasons alternate. Its not about temperature, :P
    They also do mention dark skin tones and Asian skin tones as well which is nice. Most East Asians fall under the ‘Winter’ category which makes sense because they do look amazing in jewel tones like crimson, stark white, sapphire blue, emerald, etc. Also they mention most of the time dark or African skin tones are also Winter, they can pull off those intense jewel like colors and look amazing in pure white.
    However I think such a book needs to be redone for the modern age to include all the varieties of coloring, both ethnically but also we are just kind of mingling and evolving and there are complexities in coloring that are changing. And some people dont fit. For instance I have a half Indian friend who has olive skin and greenish eyes, you would think she has to be an autumn but she also looks incredible in lavendar, bright red, etc. I also dont seem to fit because I have been every hair color under the sun, even though I am a cool ‘Summer’ with pinkish cool skin and medium bluish gray eyes, ashy brown washes me out whereas a warm medium brown looks amazing on me. Ashy blonde looks ok on me whereas a golden tone looks spectacular as long as its not reddish or brassy.
    Also, my husband is Indian and I can pretty much say that he and all the Indian people I know and have met look amazing in any color. From rusty red and orange, fiery red, to hot pink, delicate dusty pastels, warm, cool, literally any color looks great on them. But especially I love them in oranges, and lavendar, red, pink, and teal…So how do you label that?
    point being, can someone come out with a new and more detailed book! <3 love to all of you , you were created beautifully

  • Name July 16, 2017, 9:28 pm

    I was born with red hair and am a winter tone.

    • celebrian June 10, 2019, 5:36 pm

      No, some red hair can be quite cool to neutral I think. X

  • Krysta Gudgeon June 22, 2017, 1:29 am

    I have read SO many hair color blogs and articles it is too embarrassing to tell you! This is HANDS down the BEST article I’ve ever come across!!! I applaud and Thank you!!! <3

  • Mrs nazir June 12, 2017, 6:34 am

    Superb Very use ful artical but i am still confuse about selection of hair color for my warm and full skin tone with brown eyes. Do you suggest me the right hair color reply

  • .. May 15, 2017, 8:04 am

    Hii i have colored my hair but now m bored of it wabt to remove it should i clr my hair black or is there any other eay

  • Salima May 6, 2017, 7:07 pm

    So black hair only is good for pale skin doesn’t that go against genetics ‍♀️

  • Lynne May 1, 2017, 4:04 pm

    I am a Winter. Dark brown hair and eyes as a child. I am turning 63 this year and have stopped dying my hair..too much maintenance. My hairdresser has been putting highlights and low lights on the top layer as the grey grows out.
    It is now mostly warm blonde on the ends and steel grey as the roots grow in. I get highlights and gloss done every 8 weeks. I feel this color washes me right out. My skin and hair look the same. No color I wear brightens me up or looks good on me now. What do I do?

    • Jacke Rose B May 5, 2017, 7:53 pm

      Hi I’m 64 and I have very fair skin and platinum white hair now so I have to make sure that I apply some make up every day. Aside from the basics I make sure that I have eyeliner mascara eyebrows lipstick bronzer it really makes a difference and it is subtle and natural looking

  • Kira April 16, 2017, 11:50 am

    I’m somewhat confused, because I’m not sure if I’m a Winter or a Spring…
    I mean, my skin is pale, and I tan somewhat easily, which fits under Spring, but my eyes are dark blue-grey, which fits under Winter, and my hair is dark blonde, and I forget what that falls under and what it doesn’t…
    If someone could let me know that would be great <3

  • Danielle April 6, 2017, 1:14 am

    Until this article..I have always read..been told..that summer and winter were the cool tones..and spring and autumn were warm. There are even books on the color “seasons”. and your “border color”..like when you are a summer,but closer to a spring than any of the other seasons..etc..

  • Pf March 26, 2017, 7:46 pm

    So I’m kinda confused…Even though my skin tone is definitely cool (I am very pale), I’m not sure if im a winter or a spring. I have natural medium to dark brown hair, which contrasts with my skin tone…HOWEVER I also have very light brown eyes (sometimes, depending on the lighting, they appear golden or greenish) and according to your articule, people with eyes this ccolor are NOT winter.

  • Chika March 6, 2017, 5:23 pm

    First… I’m sorry for all of u that falls into spring & summer category caused of confusion that 1 and another r in opposite way. In my opinion, this is such helpful articles specially peeps like me ( color confusion,haha ). Even though she wrong, at least it can be one of your references before/ after destroyed your hair.
    But, what some says tht summer is cool tone i think it also correct.. somehow…
    Like i said earlier, im not color blind but I’m totally blind of color knowledge.. and u was right about those articles out there that unspecified, incomplete, and looks pretty and so easy, which is disaster when I applied it in reality and be one to blame for me hair suffered and ugliness,LOL..
    I have medium skin color and proudly member of autumn.. for years i love to do some experiments with my hair color, mostly doing unnatural and some -ish shades. Now i know why i looks good under orange based color, but i always keep it 1-2 levels lighter than my skin to make me natural color & me cheerful personality popped out (oh please.. ). Few days ago.. i just pick random color, out of random shop, dyed me self coz i was too bored with me black hair. Once it’s done, i wonder me self if i looks good or dull.. it was Golden copper blonde, well after reading this, im confident of the result. But its just lilbit too dark, anyone wanna share the safest way to lighten it? Appreciate it ladies, and thank you..

  • Shivani March 2, 2017, 2:15 am

    I bleached my hair once…i have black hair and now its kind of damaged but im really planning to colour my hair again but this time juat colouring and not bleaching so is it ideal to colour again?

  • Corrie February 24, 2017, 6:52 am

    My problem is I’m definitely a spring or was, but through a degenerative illness I’ve developed,my skin tone has gone quite yellow in tone and I constantly look washed out. I’m a vey light ash brown at the moment. What should I do? Oh…also I’ve gone Snow White, except at the back which is coming in salt and pepper and I’m finding when the root is tinted to cover the white it goes yellow toned, if not right away then definitely within a couple of weeks. I’m 45 Scottish blue/grey eyes with a touch of green around the centre. I do tan but burn too if not really careful. I can’t go lower than factor 30 and wear 50 on really sensible places. Natural hair colour was dirty blonde/brown that would go blonde around hairline and ends in summer. I’ve given so much detail because it’s been years since I’ve saw my natural hair and skin tone since taking I’ll about 15yrs ago and my more pinky freckle skin tone going yellow, still have loads of freckles on my body though, had them since I was a child. Any advice would be appreciated, because I think if I could look better/healthier I’d feel so much better. Thank you.

  • Jennie February 5, 2017, 9:55 pm

    I don’t care what Paul Mitchell teaches. Spring is warm toned. Summer is cool toned. I’m a Summer and I don’t have yellow or OLIVE skin – as your inaccurate article states. I have pink skin and purple veins.
    Every other website I’ve been on about seasonal colours states Summer/Winter as cool and Spring/Autumn as warm. So you are saying that every other website are wrong, but your article is correct?
    This is wrong. Admit it and fix the article.

    • Linda May 26, 2017, 8:27 am

      I agree! I have pink undertones in my skin (cool) and was born with blonde hair and brown eyes. I have had my “colors” done and I was told I’m a SUMMER.

  • Misha Johanna December 30, 2016, 9:18 pm

    What’s the skin tone for South East Asian women (in general)? I’m talking about Indonesians and Filipinos for example, more for Malay archipelago instead of Indo China area. We normally have light to medium brown skin, very dark brown eyes, and natural black hair. We tan quite easily and do not become “red”, just darker. So is it summer or autumn?

    • Chika March 6, 2017, 4:05 pm

      autumn

  • Pamela Elaine Pendon December 27, 2016, 4:28 pm

    And what hair color should I try since there was a light brown or dark reddish brown color on my hair right now? Any suggestions? thanks!

  • Pamela Elaine Pendon December 27, 2016, 4:27 pm

    Hi. the color of my veins is green however I am currently a morena I’d say because I was not afraid to go out under the sun so I got a darker skin now compared before. My skin color is like Nicole scherzinger’s right now. My hair just got rebonded and tried to put on ash blonde but the hairstylist that I got put on I think light brown instead and it made me look darker than before. What should I do to fix this problem? Hoping to here something from you? Thanks!

  • Caroline December 11, 2016, 6:09 pm

    I wonder if u could help me my hair colour at the minute the roots are slight darker with a golden tone and a n8ce rose pink in places but getting g very with it I want to go much darker clone to don’t want dark brown I have a cool sk8n tone with l8fht green eyes really don’t know what to do thank u

  • Marilyn October 17, 2016, 9:19 am

    Sorry, but springs are a warm season, not a cool season…Summer and Winters are cool.While Autumns and Spring are warm…

  • Korbi September 24, 2016, 3:36 pm

    It is true springs are cool and summers warm. I know because I recently had my hair done, I’m a spring and she used warm tones, despite my request not to and now I’m a strawberry blonde and it looks awful! It may be the opposite for clothing and such but for hair color spring is COOL !!!! End of story.

  • Rebecca August 12, 2016, 4:44 pm

    Actually this article has summer and spring colors backwards…..a summer is always cool and springs are warm….believe me I know and hae dealt with is for years…as well as its in the color me beautiful book.
    whoever wrote this made an error…and got it opposite

    If you are a summer you should avoid all golden tones et.
    Summer’s and winters are the cool seasons. And spring ans fell the warm. Period.
    Someone seriously need to fix this article

    • Britney Valentine August 15, 2016, 4:15 pm

      Well, just to shed some light on what you brought up… To create this article, I interviewed a specialist who deals with skin tones, face shapes and general image consulting.

      Opinions and personal preference can often be taught as fact. Maybe your education was different but that’s the beauty of the fashion and beauty industry, it’s all objective and there is lots of room for interpretation.

      The fact of the matter is… this information is based on official color theory taught by the Paul Mitchell school. Summer by definition is a warm season. Summer’s have golden undertones In their hair and skin. Springs favor pastels and cooler tones and have pink undertones.

  • Olga June 30, 2016, 2:53 am

    Wrong. Spring colors are warm, summer colors are cool. Don’t you believe me? Go out in summer time and look at the nature colors (cool greens, reds, pinks, buterflyes with blended colors, watermelons, zinnias, Hydrangeas, greyish Sky, foggy air, rains (muddy colors). From where do you think this color theory came after all??? Do the same in winter (snow, White, dark rocks and trunks, pansies), and autumn(red warming green leaves, the greens turn earthy, pumpkins, olives, ground/earth being more visible) and you’ll see it. After that, if you still thinks that this article is right, could you at least tell your sources?

    • What August 8, 2016, 9:55 am

      No the article is right (and probably the best written I’ve found on the internet so far…) It’s based on the exact hair color theory used by professional hair color specialists.

      Your comment is your opinion on how you’d categorize colors but is not accurate to the official groups used by professionals.

  • Laurie March 31, 2016, 1:05 am

    Nothing for dark skin ? C’mon it’s 2016 !

    • Beth May 2, 2016, 2:50 pm

      Ummm did you read the article? Or look at the pictures?

      It addresses all ethnicities and there’s even pictures of women of all different races!

      I agree with you about your “It’s 2016” comment though… 2016: the year everyone decided to be offended by everything… smh lmao

  • Lisa-Marie March 9, 2016, 4:49 am

    This article is inaccurate. Springs are warm and summers are considered cool.

    • Candice March 11, 2016, 9:03 pm

      No, you’re wrong Lisa-Marie. Springs are on the cooler side (but warmer than winter) and summers are warm. Come on.

  • Holly Temple January 19, 2016, 6:38 pm

    Best article for me right now. I cannot wait until summer to change my hair color again!

  • Samantha Blaylock January 18, 2016, 2:55 pm

    Great tips and I didn’t even have to consult a hairdresser!

    • Rita Milligan January 19, 2016, 6:45 pm

      I never do. There is so much information online, why pay anyone else to tell you the same things?

  • Emma Bond January 18, 2016, 2:46 pm

    What about dark hair with natural red highlights in it? I have real pale skin and I think my natural hair color looks good. My friends want me to try something else. But what?

  • Mavis Smith January 15, 2016, 8:25 pm

    Dark hair and eyes is the best combination that I could find!

  • Candace Wright January 14, 2016, 9:05 pm

    I have very pale skin and I really like the natural, dark brown hair that I have. It stands out against my skin and really makes me look unique.

    • Ruth Speller January 15, 2016, 8:36 pm

      I love pale skin! It makes a person with darker hair look even sexier.

  • Jeanette Edwards January 13, 2016, 11:21 am

    I did not think it would be that easy as figuring out your “tone”. But if there are only to options to start out with, that leaves you a 50/50 chance.

  • Alice Gravatt January 12, 2016, 5:50 pm

    Having gone through schooling to specialize in hair coloring, I am glad that you wrote this. The information is very good and would be helpful to those looking to try something new!

  • Louvenia Steves January 11, 2016, 9:41 pm

    Excellent tips! This is a great guide to follow if you are in a position to get your hair colored for the first time in your life.

    • Juanita Manning January 14, 2016, 9:15 pm

      The odds are pretty good that we have all been there and even in a situation where the hair could be ruined for a long time.

  • Monique Maxfield January 8, 2016, 1:27 pm

    This is one of the best resources that i have read in a long time. thank you for posting this.

    • Melba Gregory January 12, 2016, 5:58 pm

      Me too. I have been hoping to find information like this so I wouldn’t have to “guess” what color looks good.

  • Cherrie Miller January 7, 2016, 10:27 pm

    I have very fair skin and darker hair than most. I really like it the natural color, but once in a while I would like to see it with some highlights in it.

  • Tommie Flynn January 6, 2016, 2:53 pm

    There is just something so sexy about natural, dark, brown hair with natural red highlights that really catches my eyes. Blonde or really light hair just does not seem to have that dimension.

  • Julia Penning January 5, 2016, 9:58 pm

    I was always real fond of my light skin tones and super dark hair, but the one time I went with a lighter tone, everyone loved it. Was that because they just are nice and seeing something “new”?

    • Rebecca Hartman January 8, 2016, 1:35 pm

      Possibly.

  • Felipa Peterson January 4, 2016, 9:30 pm

    It is also different the type of nationality you are. It will go with your skin tone, but there is a reason that Spanish people do not look “normal” with blonde hair.

    • Benjamin Swiney January 6, 2016, 3:21 pm

      That is true. There are so many different types of hair and styles that you can have. Mix it up a little and see which one works for you.

  • Callie Gordon January 1, 2016, 10:09 am

    Looks like you can leave blonde out of the picture regardless of the season :) Plus, when you have to bleach your hair, it is just going to get wrecked.

    • Maria Romeo January 7, 2016, 10:36 pm

      That is good, I never really liked the look of straight, blonde, boring hair.

  • Mikaela Colon December 31, 2015, 8:48 am

    I always have loved the natural way that Liv Tyler’s hair looked. So beautiful.

  • Wanda Pringle December 30, 2015, 9:33 am

    Many of my friends will change up their hair color for the seasons. I just never really did that.

    • Margie Cook January 13, 2016, 11:43 am

      yeah, I really never wanted to do that either.

  • Stephanie Turpin December 29, 2015, 8:36 am

    Of course, everyone has a “natural” look and that should go without saying that some hair colors are just not going to work for you.

    • Marcia Martin January 1, 2016, 10:23 am

      Like the bleach blondes that walk around with super dark eyebrows?

  • Audria Alcala December 28, 2015, 1:04 pm

    i wish i would see more people with knowledge like this BEFORE they color their hair. they are always coming into my salon wanting me to “fix” the disaster.

    • Adele Sapp January 5, 2016, 10:09 pm

      Me too, it is sad to see people trying to have blonde hair when clearly they have a very dark shade of brown.

  • Danita Fizer December 27, 2015, 9:39 am

    I think hair color and style have a lot to do with your personality. I like to see people change things up as a way of showing how they feel!

    • Christine Pumphrey December 30, 2015, 9:41 am

      This is very true. Sometimes when a person goes “natural”, but I have not seen them that way, it just does not look that normal to me if I got to know their personality.

  • Sara Grooms December 27, 2015, 9:26 am

    I feel like I have warm tones, but when I compare my image next to a few on this page, I am thinking otherwise. Thanks for posting this!

    • Amber Hall December 29, 2015, 8:46 am

      Well, it is good that you learned something from this then. It will really help you decide on a new color.

    • Veronica Rowden January 4, 2016, 9:39 pm

      It is amazing once you look at a few photos how your perspective can really change.

  • Barbara Widger December 26, 2015, 12:14 pm

    This is a great resource! Thank you so much for posting this, I have been looking for a new hair color and did not want to go too unnatural if possible.

    • Celeste Lamarr December 28, 2015, 1:19 pm

      I know it is. I cannot believe I have been looking at my hair color the wrong way the entire time.

  • Janet Kramer December 24, 2015, 12:30 pm

    Having just completed hair dresser school, I can say that many of these tips are good ones to follow. At the end of the day, it will come down what look you are going for.

  • Veronica Jarrell December 24, 2015, 12:21 pm

    I have never been real good at choosing a different hair color than my natural color. This is very helpful!

    • Christine Patrick December 26, 2015, 12:30 pm

      me either. I was always afraid to ask friends too, but they were the first to comment AFTER it was done. What good is that?

  • Kelly Maestas December 23, 2015, 10:00 am

    I love this. I have been wondering how I am going to know how I look with certain colors without actually doing them first. These tips are a great starting point!

    • Marsha Nagel December 31, 2015, 8:57 am

      I have been using tips like these for a long time now. I used to just get whatever colors I felt like back in the day, but there are some that just do not go well with my normal “look”.

  • Theresa Ortiz December 23, 2015, 9:49 am

    This is probably the best resource I could find with information about choosing a hair color. Most of the other sites are too general, but this is very in depth.

    • Nancy Hill January 11, 2016, 9:50 pm

      Totally. I would hate to ruin my natural hair, but once in a while I want highlights of some kind. Using this guide, I can at least keep it more natural.

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