WHICH HAIR COLOUR WILL SUIT MY SKIN TONE?

Choosing a new hair colour is exciting - but it can be tricky to know which shades will flatter you most. The quickest way to narrow it down is to match your colour choice to your skin’s undertone.

Once you know whether you lean cool, warm, or neutral, it’s much easier to pick blondes, brunettes and reds that brighten your complexion - instead of washing it out.

Use the undertone guide below, then scroll to find the most flattering shade families for your skin tone.

What is my skin tone?

Your undertone is the subtle hue beneath the surface of your skin. It doesn’t change with the seasons (even if you tan), and it’s the key to choosing hair shades that look naturally 'right' on you.

• Cool undertones often look best in jewellery that’s silver, and may have skin with pink, red or bluish tones.
• Warm undertones often suit gold jewellery, and may have skin with peachy, golden or olive tones.
• Neutral undertones are a balance of both - you may suit silver and gold equally, with no strong pink or golden cast.

Quick ways to check your skin's natural undertone

• Vein test: Blue/purple veins can suggest cool undertones; green can suggest warm; a mix can suggest neutral.
• Jewellery test: If silver brightens you, you may be cool; if gold glows, you may be warm; if both work, you may be neutral.
• White tee test: Bright white can look crisp on cool undertones; creamy off-white can flatter warm undertones.

The best hair colours for cool skin tones

Cool undertones are complemented by shades with ash, beige, neutral-cool or icy notes. Think clean, smoky and refined rather than overly golden.
 

Blonde hair with a cool skin tone

• Choose ash blonde, beige blonde, champagne or icy tones.
• Avoid very warm, buttery blondes if they make skin look sallow.
• Consider subtle highlights around the face for a brightening effect.

Brunette hair with a cool skin tone

• Look for cool browns like ash brown, mocha, espresso or soft chocolate.
• Cool-toned brunettes can add definition without emphasising redness.
• If going darker, keep the finish glossy for a healthy, polished look.

Red hair with a cool skin tone

• Opt for cool reds such as cherry, cranberry, burgundy or auburn with a blue-red base.
• These shades can make cool complexions look brighter and more even.
• Skip overly orange coppers if they clash with pinkness in the skin.

The best hair colours for warm skin tones

Warm undertones glow in shades with golden, honey, caramel and copper notes. These tones echo the warmth in your skin and create a naturally sunlit look.
 

Blonde hair with a warm skin tone

• Try honey blonde, dirty blonde, golden blonde, butterscotch or toffee tones.
• Warm highlights can add dimension and make skin look radiant.
• Avoid very icy blondes if they make your complexion look flat.

Brunette hair with a warm skin tone

• Choose warm browns like chestnut, caramel brown, rich chocolate or golden brown.
• Subtle warm balayage can enhance warmth without looking brassy.
• If you notice brassiness, use a tone-correcting routine to keep colour looking fresh.

Red hair with a warm skin tone

• Go for copper, cinnamon, ginger or warm auburn shades.
• These reds can make warm skin look luminous and healthy.
• For a softer result, choose a strawberry-copper rather than a bold orange-red.

The best hair colours for neutral skin tones

Neutral undertones are wonderfully versatile - you can often wear both cool and warm shades. The trick is to choose a tone that matches your desired result (brighter, softer, bolder) rather than fighting your complexion.
 

Blonde hair with a neutral skin tone

• Try neutral blondes like beige blonde, sand, soft honey or champagne blonde.
• If you’re unsure, pick a shade that sits between golden and ash for the most natural finish.
• Face-framing highlights can lift your look without leaning too warm or too cool.

Brunette hair with a neutral skin tone

• Choose balanced browns such as medium chocolate, cocoa, or neutral espresso.
• Add subtle dimension with highlights that are only 1–2 shades lighter for a polished look.
• Neutral brunettes tend to look best when they’re rich and glossy rather than overly ashy or overly golden.

Red hair with a neutral skin tone

• Neutral undertones can suit both soft coppers and deeper auburns.
• For a natural finish, choose reds with a balanced base (not too orange, not too blue-red).
• If you want a statement look, go deeper; if you want subtle warmth, go lighter and softer.