There are plenty of things to consider when it comes to choosing a hair color. Do you want a single-process or a double-process treatment? Do you need to lift your base shade over a number of appointments? Even your eye color is helpful to factor in. Still, one of the first things to think about when choosing a hue is how it will suit your skin’s individual undertones.
Typically, your skin can veer more cool, warm, or neutral. If you fall into the former category, that means you have both pink and blue undertones. A quick way to tell is to look on the inside of your wrist at the color of your veins. If they appear more blue, you likely fall within this group. Some other easy ways to tell if you have a cool skin tone is if you find that silver jewelry tends to look best on you or if you burn very quickly in the sun.
Now, what does all of this have to do with you finding a hair color? While there isn’t a wrong way to approach coloring your hair, there are some shades that just look undeniably right on some people. Think: Queen Latifah’s honey-blond hue or Anya Taylor Joy’s buttery blond shade. So if you’re on the market for the best hair color for cool skin tones, read ahead for some tips on how to find the one.
Hair Colors For Cool Skin Tones
The key when it comes to finding the best hair color for cool skin tones is to go to a professional. Your colorist can not only help you pinpoint which will look best on you but also how to keep your hair healthy in the process.
As for the shades themselves, there are a few categories to keep in mind for this particular skin tone, and all of them are cool-toned. “Ashy blonds, cool browns, and deep, cool reds work really well on cool skin tones,” hair colorist Aura Friedman tells POPSUGAR. “Platinum and icy blond can also look stunning.”
Friedman notes that while the hue is important, the technique that you’re going for matters as well. Unless you’re after a single-process color (meaning: one shade all over), when you have your consultation, ask your stylist if you can start with a more low-stakes color technique like babylights or balayage.
Hair Colors to Avoid If You Have a Cool Skin Tone
There are some hair colors that may not look the best on people with cool skin tones. “Steer clear of golds, caramels, or honey shades,” Friedman says. “They can clash with your skin tone and wash you out.”
The best way to tell what a color like this can look like on you is to wear a piece of clothing in that shade or hold a piece of paper in the same color family up to your face. Does it make you look sallow and dull? If the answer is yes, skip it for a cooler-toned shade instead.
Cool-Toned Hair-Color Inspiration
Still need some cool-toned hair-color inspiration? Read ahead for some examples that you can take with you to your next appointment.
