Icy blonde, rose gold, vivid carmine red, deep espresso brunette…..how do you know what hair color is the perfect one for you? With so many options, it can be overwhelming trying to determine which shade is the perfect one to give your hair the wow factor.
Two of the most important things to consider when determining your perfect color are: 1) your underlying skin tone, and 2) your face shape. Knowing your face shape and skin tone takes the guess work out of color selection and makes choosing the right hue a cinch!
STEP ONE: CHOOSE A COLOR THAT COMPLEMENTS YOUR SKIN TONE
Generally speaking, it is always a good idea to allow for a little contrast between your hair color and the color of your skin. Choosing a hair color that is a bit lighter or darker than your skin color will provide definition and create a beautiful frame for your face. If your hair and skin color are too similar to each other, the overall effect is bland and boring, and your facial features will look as though they’ve disappeared.
• If you have light colored skin with warm undertones, go for golden and amber shades. If your skin tone is pale and cool, go for icy blonde or champagne shades.• If you have a rosy skin tone, avoid warm reds, auburns, and brassy gold hair color. Instead, balance the warmth of your skin with shades that have cool undertones such as cool walnut browns or hues with ash or hints of violet.
• If you have a dark complexion, choose a hair color that is either darker or lighter than your skin color. Deep brunettes and almost black espresso colors look amazing next to dark skin tones. So do lighter shades that provide a dramatic contrast. Lighter Asian skin colors look fabulous with darker hair color as well.
• Olive skin tones should opt for a hair color that is cooler instead of warmer. Ebony browns, mocha browns or colors with violet undertones can be perfect for olive colored skin.
STEP TWO: CHOOSE A COLOR PLACEMENT TECHNIQUE THAT COMPLEMENTS YOUR FACE SHAPE
Having color or highlights strategically added in the just the right sections of your hair can make all the difference in the world. Correctly placed color can play up your best facial features and down play areas that are not your favorites.
• If your face is oblong (that is, if it’s more rectangular and narrow), ask your stylist for color that’s darker at the hairline and lighter from the temples down to jaw area. This creates the illusion of roundness, which is great for long or rectangular faces.• If your face is heart-shaped, ask for a color application such as ombre that is darker at the temples and forehead, and lighter from the chin area downward. This technique will bring visual balance to your face.
• Is your face round? Highlights are an excellent option for you. Try highlights above your forehead, and a darker shade at the cheeks and jawline. This will create the illusion of length.
• Triangle shaped faces are smaller at the top and wider at the bottom. To draw the eye upward and create balance, go for highlights at the temples and bangs, and use lowlights and darker shades near the sides of your face and below.
• Square shaped faces also look great with highlights. Keep your color a little darker at the temples and ask for layers and highlights at your cheekbones to add softness.
• Oval? Lucky you! Any color technique works for oval shaped faces!
Need more expert hair color advice? All of the stylists at our hair salon are accomplished colorists, and we would be delighted to help you choose the perfect hue for your hair and the best technique for applying it. From color glazing to balayage, there are so many beautiful options for giving your hair a signature look!
