Best Hair Colors for Your Skin Tone
Hair Colors for Your skin Tone
What are the best hair colors for your skin tone?
Do you know what color skin tone you have? It may be easy to tell if you’re a pale, medium or olive skin tone, but, do you know what undertones make up your skin tones. It’s a pretty easy guess to say . . . you don’t know. It’s not the kind of thing your eye is trained to see. But, the undertones of your skin determine what hair colors work best on you. Seeing that your hair is a frame on your face shape, the hair color has an immediate effect on how you look.
“It’s worth your effort to get the best hair colors for your skin tone”
It is worth the effort to determine the best hair colors for your skin tone. A good hair color can make you look more vibrant, complimenting your skin tone, or, it can make you look sickly and washed out. It’s worth your effort to try to determine where you fall in the spectrum of warm or cool and what hair colors work best for you.
Here is a new tip to help decipher your skin tone and it’s a simple one to see.
If the veins on your inside wrists are blue . . . you’re most likely a “cool” skin tone. If the veins on your inside wrists are green . . . you’re most likely a “warm” skin tone.
What do cool skin tones look like?
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True olive complexions, like most Asians. Some Latinos and Afro Americans Brown with pink undertones
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Medium with no color in the cheeks
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Medium with faint pink cheeks
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Medium with golden undertones
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Pale with no color in cheeks
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Pale with pink undertones
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Brown or bronze when tanned Golden brown when tanned
What hair color should naturally cool skin tone people avoid?
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Avoid gold, yellow, red and bronze tones, which can make you sallow and drawn.
What hair color will complement a cool skin tone?
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The best shades, depending on the depth of the colors in your skin tone are;
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Cool reds, as in burgundy or bordeaux
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Intense browns with a warm base, like red or blonde to the brown.
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High light with cool shades like, wheat, honey or taupe or a cool ash brown.
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What do warm skin tones look like?
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Some Latinos and Afro Americans Brown with golden undertones
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Pale with peach or gold undertones
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Golden brown when tanned
What hair color should naturally warm skin toned people avoid?
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Naturally warm people should avoid blue, violet, white and jet-black hair. These hair colors next to your skin can make you look washed out.
What colors will most complement warm skin tones?
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The best shades for you, depending on the depth of the colors in your undertones are;
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Deep rich browns like, chocolate, chestnut or auburns as a base. High light with warm golds and reds or copper.
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Make sure you check out my other hair skin tone articles:
- Tips for Finding Your Best Hair Colors for Your Skin Tone
- What hair color skin tone?
- The Right Hair Colors for Your Skin Tone
- Best Hair Colors for Your Skin Tone
- How to Match Skin Tones and Hair Colors
- What Hair Color is Best for My Skin Tone?
Got a question, war story or comment about this topic? Click on the "Leave Your Comments" link at the very bottom of this article. Some of my best ideas for future articles come from reading reader comments. I'd love to hear from you!
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This post is in: Chart of Hair Colors, Hair Color, Hair Colors and Skin Tone
June 15, 2007 By: Barb Quinn Hairstyle Blog Leave your comments (74), Your input matters.74 Comments »
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I seem to be a warm tone person, but I have rosacea, so how do I waer the right hair color in my skin tone w/o enhancing the ruddiness in my face?? Thanks Tam
Comment by tammy — October 8, 2007 @ 3:12 am
I’m confused.My wrist veins are blue. But, everyone says I look good in red, emerald green, black, white, light yellow, and light orange.
When I wesr hot pink lipstick my family hates it, and outsiders admire it. It brightens my face, but has a clownish look. What am I,haha?
Comment by marilyn genuardi — October 9, 2007 @ 9:02 am
what about indian skin tones? i can’t figure out if i have cool or warm tones.
Comment by maria — November 3, 2007 @ 10:03 pm
Tam, Marilyn and Maria,
All of you had good questions, so I wrot a post answering all your questions, go here: http://www.hairstyle-blog.com
Thanks for the good questions!
Barb
Comment by Barb — November 13, 2007 @ 3:02 pm
[...] Here were three recent excellent questions women asked on my article, How to Determine Your Skin Tone. If you aren’t sure if you are in the warm or cool category, check out the article. [...]
Pingback by » How to Match Skin Tones and Hair Colors — November 14, 2007 @ 8:48 pm
I have very pale olive skin (It’s almost as pale as ivory but with a slight “green” tint to it) and I have very rosy cheeks. I have dark eyes brows & My natural hair color is medim somewhat ashy brown and my eyes are dark brown with little green flecks. I look best in brown and purple, blue (all shades). I can really wear any colors but red or green.
Am I a warm or a cool? Each of my characterstics seems to contract the last one.
Comment by Linni — September 12, 2008 @ 4:01 pm
Hi Linni,
Try this;
Check out the color of your veins in your wrists.
Blue veins indicates cool undertones.
Greenish beins indicates warmer undertones.
Comment by Barb Quinn — October 10, 2008 @ 1:53 pm
Hi!
My veins are greenish, I am a light african woman from kenya and really want to know if i am warm or cool. I am planning on chinging my wardrobe as i feel like i have been using wrong color scheme. Could i send you a picture of myself to help me out on what tone you think i am? please
Comment by Wambui — February 24, 2009 @ 8:01 am
Wambui,
Sure you can send a picture, but try to be sure the lighting gives the truest sense of your skin tone, that the picture reflects what you think is most accurate. Also tell me what colors you have been wearing that you feel have been wrong.
Comment by Barb Quinn — February 25, 2009 @ 8:06 pm
[...] A big key to figuring out if you are cool or warm is figuring out your skin’s natural undertones. Take a look at the veins on your wrist. If they are blue, you are probably “cool,” and if they are green you are probably “warm.” Check out some detailed ways to find out your tone here, but I’ll give you a quick summary: [...]
Pingback by Makeup 101: Find Your “Tone” : College Candy — August 13, 2009 @ 10:01 am
I am definitely cool toned since the my veins are blue on the inside wrist. A long time ago, I tried to wear red lipstick (that had a warm base to it) and it was terrible. The makeup lady told me that I should try a deep red with blue undertones or deep red.
Comment by jessica — September 17, 2009 @ 11:25 am
edit: meant to say *true red* on the last part lol
Comment by jessica — September 17, 2009 @ 11:26 am
I would like to ask about veins
I was wondering what my skin tone might be if they look more aqua what skin tone am I more likely to bei am very light skinned but pull it off fair enough people would say medium but I know better please help me determine I have green hazel eys and it just looks like I have no color jusr white but I have dark features
Comment by Kristine — November 8, 2009 @ 2:11 am
I am hard to determine my skin tone. I am very light skinned, I burn in the sun easy. I have rosy cheeks. My eyes appear blue most of time with white rays. They may appear gray from a distance. I have gold/tan surrounding my pupils.
My hair is med. brown with red highlights, a little gold highlights. I am graying around temples.
HELP! I know that I am not a winter. I do not look good in black or very bold, or bright colors. Pink looks good on me if not very bright. Peachy pink is good on me, too. I am not good in bright orange or anything too bright or really dark. HELP! THANKS!
Comment by Belle — December 2, 2009 @ 11:00 am
Belle,
Your skin tone sounds like you fall into ‘cool’ range and your hair is more ‘warm’ toned. You know colors you don’t look good in and the one’s you do like fall into ‘pastels.’
Cool’s should avoid gold, yellow, red & bronze tones and ‘Warm’s’ should avoind blue, violet white and jet-black hair.
Why not try on a few wigs and see what colors you like best?
Comment by Barb Quinn — December 2, 2009 @ 1:41 pm
Okay so on my wrists i have blue veins, but in my forearms and right above the wrist area i have green. What am i? My face isnt white white, like pale, so i think im medium, but im not sure.
Comment by Sheridan — December 14, 2009 @ 4:14 pm
Oh and also , i have bluish grey eyes, and my hair is blonde right now, but im tempted to go brown, but im also very scared. Brown is my natural color by the way, a deep brown like Megan Fox brown.
Comment by Sheridan — December 14, 2009 @ 4:16 pm
Sheridan,
Sounds like you lean cool to me!
Why not try on a wig or two and see what you like?
Comment by Barb Quinn — December 15, 2009 @ 12:20 pm
OK I have a question. a tried the wrist trick, in some spots it looks blue & in others it looks green-ish. any other ways to tell?
ill tell a little about myself. my natural hair color is a medium brown. I have hazel eyes (that turn a green shade when i tear up or my allergies act up) and very light skin..
thanks so much.
Comment by bryttani j — December 29, 2009 @ 10:12 am
by the way, the reason i am asking is i am considering coloring my hair to a dark honey/caramel-ish color…
Comment by bryttani j — December 29, 2009 @ 10:14 am
Bryttani,
Sounds like a the dark honey/carmel-ish color would work great as a highlight in your medium brown hair.
Try it that way rather than as an over-all color, which might be too light.
Comment by Barb Quinn — January 8, 2010 @ 2:54 pm
hi
is there any other way to determine our undertone except dis veins thingy coz
i rele cant decide either my veins are blue or green ………..sumtimes they look green n sumtimes it luks like blue
gosh i m tired of lukin at ‘em
plz lemme kno ifthere is any!!!!!!!
loads of thankx^^
Comment by alyana — January 9, 2010 @ 6:57 pm
I have Indian skin tone, its pale brown, what am i?
Comment by Sirjana — January 21, 2010 @ 8:47 pm
and btw I have very dark brown hair, and dark brown eyes, and I want to change my hair color that is the reason I am asking.
Comment by Sirjana — January 21, 2010 @ 8:49 pm
Hi Sirjana,
Your hair color and eye color fall into the cool range but your skin-tone may be warm.
Check out my answer to that here;
http://www.hairstyle-blog.com/how-to-match-skin-tones-and-hair-colors.html
Hope it helps!
Comment by Barb Quinn — January 25, 2010 @ 1:32 pm
Hi!
I’m so confused idk what hair color will fit me right, I have green eyes light skin & my hair is dyed dark brown but people tell me a lighter hair color will look better, I’m so confused idk what color will match with my skin, I get red but then it turns tanned. & when I look at my veins they look green. What hair color might look good, anyone?
Comment by sheila — January 30, 2010 @ 7:39 pm
Sheila,
Your friends are right. Avoid dark hair with blue, violet tones. Try rich golden browns and auburns, warm gold and red highlights and golden blonde shades.
Highlights are a great way to add warm tones to your hair.
Comment by Barb Quinn — February 3, 2010 @ 2:03 pm
Hello, I was wondering if you could help me with my skin tone! My veins look like a purplish blue and shade away with a greenish hue. I have light skin but I’m not pale. I would say light-medium. My natural hair color is light brown. Any suggestions??
Comment by Jacqueline — February 9, 2010 @ 4:54 am
Hi,
Could you help me determine if I am cool toned or warm toned? I have blue veins, but I’ve always thought of myself as warm toned, because whites/blacks/jewel tones make my skin look sallow and my freckles stand out.
According to the coloring seasons I am a Spring and those colors do look good on me. I have green eyes, pale skin with freckles that is very sensitive- my cheeks gets red easily. My hair is light brown/auburn color. I’ve been considering getting highlights in my hair but I’m not sure what color would look good with my skin tone. Any helpful advice would be great! Thanks
Comment by Marie — February 10, 2010 @ 6:52 pm
i can’t see what cloor my veins are,any other short cut
Comment by ty salihu — February 15, 2010 @ 4:12 am
Marie,
There are kiosks now in malls, or beauty stores that sell hair pieces, extensions, wigs etc; why not try some different colors on and see what appeals to you before highlighting?
Comment by Barb Quinn — February 16, 2010 @ 12:35 pm
Jacqueline,
Hard to say without seeing you but two out of three of your colors say warm.
Why not try-on some hair at the mall and see what you like . . . bring a friend for input!
Comment by Barb Quinn — February 17, 2010 @ 2:29 pm
Hello
I’m a little confused because my veins on my wrist look purple but going down on my forearm its green, what am I. I have kind of medium skin color with a hint of yellow tone i think and dark brown eyes with dark dark brown hair color, please help me i tend to go with the wrong color of foundation!!
thanks
Comment by lucy — February 19, 2010 @ 11:54 am
Hi Lucy,
Your skin, eyes and hair colors fall into the cool category. Make-up foundations are tricky, I suggest having a consultant help you pick out the right color. If you don’t want to purchase from them, you will at least have a better idea of what they are directing you towards.
Comment by Barb Quinn — February 20, 2010 @ 12:45 pm
Hi
I have blue veins, Also I have A bronze skin like kim kardashadian/ taylor launter. I’m still not sure what colors look good on me. Help?
Comment by Julia — February 26, 2010 @ 12:11 am
Julia,
How about trying color’s you think look best on K.Kardashian? She wears mostly cool tones and pastels.
Then ask some trusted friends!
Comment by Barb Quinn — February 27, 2010 @ 2:44 pm
i am cool skin toned but i would like to know if i would look good with black hair, my hair is a gold color and when wet is dark brown and i like that so i was thinking black or dark brown?
Comment by brooke — March 7, 2010 @ 12:05 pm
Brooke,
If you are cool skin toned a cool hair color will be better than the warm gold you are wearing.
Why not play it safe and go to a brown first. Much easier to change brown hair vs. black hair.
Comment by Barb Quinn — March 10, 2010 @ 12:10 pm
Hello!
I want to know what makeup colours would best suit my skin tone. Its hard to tell if my veins are blue or green. I am quite pale although in summer i get a light tan, although i burn easily.I have blue/green eyes, i have natural strawberry blonde hair and lots of freckles.Very rosy cheeks.
thanks x
Comment by Emma — March 18, 2010 @ 9:35 am
Emma’
Sounds like you fall into ‘warm’ category.
For make-up colors I would direct you to your local mall. Talk with those who do this everyday- they are sure to point you in the right direction.
Comment by Barb Quinn — March 19, 2010 @ 12:44 pm
Here’s a stumper for you. My veins have a greenish tint to them at my wrist, but I burn very easily and don’t tan. I have hazel eyes (leaning more to the green than the brown) with light brown flecks in them and my natural hair color is a very dark blonde to light brown color. So am I a cool or a warm? Please help!
Comment by Kelly — March 25, 2010 @ 3:30 pm
Hi Kelly,
Sounds like you are more warm than cool to me!
You can always check out some hair pieces next to your skin to see what you like.
Ask a friend with a good eye to come along and give you some objective advice.
Hope this helps!
Comment by Barb Quinn — March 26, 2010 @ 2:03 pm
I’m a cool skin tone and I am a natural blonde, not platnum blonde but kinda dirty blond. I have pink undertones in my skin I currently have red-y purple highlights and they look good with the pink in my skin but I REALLY want to die my hair a burgundy red color, do I think I can pull it off??
Comment by Alanna — March 28, 2010 @ 1:49 am
hey,
im really confused with this wrist thing. well at my wrist they’re blue but at the forearm appear to be more greenish. but at the crease like on the other side of my elbow they are blueish purple.
i’ll tell u more about my features okay i’m latin-american i would say im medium-tan i have dark brown eyes and dark brown hair
plz help! im looking for a color to dye my hair
Comment by jasmin — April 12, 2010 @ 8:31 pm
Hi, my skin tone is very confusing to me to say the least. I am a light skinned Latin woman and my skin tone is very yellow, but I have freckles and some redness in my cheeks that only shows up sometimes like when my skin is irritated. I have naturally very dark brown hair and eyes naturally. My wrist veins are green, but to be honest, I can’t say there is any color that I can’t wear except for bright yellows. I recently went blond and the stylist used an ash based color, it is very light and looks off, I still want to be a blond but I am unsure what blond I should use. What is my skin tone and what blond would be good for me? Sorry for the long post!
Lucha
Comment by Lucha — April 15, 2010 @ 2:16 pm
Ok so the veins on the inside of my wrist are blue, I have green eyes and a medium olive skin tone, and my hair is dark blonde, almost a honey brown. Am I warm or cool? And do you think I would look good with auburn hair?
Comment by Hannah — May 1, 2010 @ 2:51 pm
Hi, I have been trying to figure out my undertone and have tried all the tricks but still don’t know. I have very white, pale skin with freckles. My hair is very dark brown, almost black and my eyes are golden brown. My wrist veins are purple. I tried the silver and glod test but they look the same. But I look really bad in pink! I go back and forth from blonde to brown, the brown makes me look dead since I’m so pale but I look washed out as a blonde too. Help! Sorry so long. Thanks! ~Nikki
Comment by Nikki — May 5, 2010 @ 12:36 am
my Veins say green but when i wear red or yellow i look sickley my hair is black eyes are brown with a hit or red im usally a pale yellow toned skin but when tanned it looks wierd i would like to know if im cool or warm tone and which hair color will go with me
Comment by Maria — May 18, 2010 @ 9:00 pm
I have greenish tint to veins, which means Im warm tone and I have light green eyes with blue and yellow specks, freckled skin and told I have pale yellow/green tinted skin. I tan fairly decent but sometimes burn a lil. I have been told to stay away from gold, auburn or copper highlights because it gives my skin a ruddy color. I want a rich brown color that pops but having difficulty choosing.
Comment by kris — August 20, 2010 @ 3:55 am
hi, i couldn’t make out my skin color but i am an indian with fair but not very fair skin but here in india i am considered as fair. i have black eyes. which hair color should i go for? will light brown do?
Comment by samreen — December 7, 2010 @ 7:04 am
Hi Samreen,
I would suggest starting with face framing highlights with a golden brown, 2 shades lighter than your hair. You will be surprised at how much a subtle change in hair color like this can make.
Good Luck!
Comment by Hairstyle Blog — December 7, 2010 @ 7:22 pm
Hi
Please can you help me! I have no idea what skin tone I am. I have ash blonde hair but have brown eyes and i think my veins are blue although they appear to have a bit of green. but in the sun i tan very bronze – for this reason I am confused because I tan very easily but I think I am a cool skin tone.
please help me!!
thank you
Comment by kat — December 11, 2010 @ 4:36 pm
Kat,
It may help to ask a couple of resources face to face for your best evaluation; hairstylists and professional makeup artists.
Comment by Hairstyle Blog — December 13, 2010 @ 1:04 pm
Please tell me what category I fall under…Some of my veins appear blue…while some…green. I have dark brown hair with red tinting, dark brown eyes, and when I wear a peachy pink dress or shirt…my cheeks turn pink. People always tell me I have a beautiful “olive” complexion, but I get confused because my skin tone changes based on what I wear! Help,please!!!
Comment by Mary — December 26, 2010 @ 9:12 pm
hi i cant seem to figure out what skin tone i have, i am latina with dark brown eyes (in the shade and light in the sun), i have medium brown hair. my skin color is a pale olive color. i go red easily, sometimes my cheeks go a rosy color. my viens seem to be bluish greenish, i can wear every color except musturd yellow cause it makes my skin look very yellow and dark. my skin tone changes every time depending on the weather, what i wear etc.
Please help me
thank you
Comment by maffy — January 2, 2011 @ 10:47 pm
Maffy,
Sounds like you should get some face to face consultations for your best advice. Try some makeup artists at reputable department stores and/or a reputable colorist consultation.
Comment by Barb Quinn — January 5, 2011 @ 6:34 pm
My veins are greenish. I am very pale and have freckles.I burn but do not tan.As A child I had light auburn hair that has gone browner and now grey as I age. I have blue eyes that sometimes appear green and other times appear grey. I tried to match back to the color I had when I was younger but it looked to severe.
Comment by Jacqui — January 25, 2011 @ 2:50 am
I am blonde my whole life, my friends and I say I am rather pale. My checks sometimes are red, but it’s after rubbing it or taking off makeup( that’s probably how it is for everyone though…) I wear a brozned everyday eye, it looks good to me. I have blue eyes and when I wear blue my eyes stand out( idk if that has to do with warm or cool toned) I burn very easyly but I can get a little tan, but never as tan as friends. I don’t look good in yellow, and red makes me look pale, I look good in a white tshirt it makes me look tanner. My vains on my wrists have a blue and green tint but a little more blue. HELP! I need to know if I’m cool or warmed toned because I’m buying a new foundation. I now wear a tinted moisturizer from help in light beige. Please help me!!!!!
Comment by Autumn — April 3, 2011 @ 3:48 pm
I have naturally dark brown hair and my skin is medium olive. Can’t figure out if I am warm or cool. My veins are greenish but I tend to look pale and washed out easily at the same time. I wear bronzer to help my face look less washed out. I don’t have colour in my cheeks. When it comes to clothing, yellow, tan, orange and warm colours do not help at all; make me look more washed out, pale and yellow. However, blue, pink, gem colours look way better on me. My dilemma is whether i am warm skin toned or cool.
Comment by Kelsey — May 4, 2011 @ 4:14 am
Hi Im really confused! When I look at the inside of my wrist, left side has more green and right side has more blue! Its also pretty noticible! My skin is very pale and my cheeks and chin have rosacea and brown eyes.
Comment by Susan — May 10, 2011 @ 7:33 am
oh yeh my hair is also dark brown-black
Comment by Susan — May 10, 2011 @ 7:34 am
Susan,
I bet you fall into ‘cool’ coloring. Deeb brown eyes are considered ‘cool,’ pale skin with pink is ‘cool.’ You can always ask reputable colorists and makeup artists, who can see you in person, and see what the majority votes!
Comment by Barb Quinn — May 17, 2011 @ 10:51 am
Kelsey,
From what you’ve noted you sound like you are cool skin toned to me. Get a second and third opinion from stylists and makeup artists.
Comment by Barb Quinn — May 17, 2011 @ 11:05 am
[...] Hair Styles | Short, Prom & Celebrity Hairstyles | Hair Care- TheWhat are the best hair colors for your skin tone? … It is worth the effort to determine the best hair colors for your skin tone. A good hair color can make you look more vibrant, complimenting your skin tone, or, it can make you look sickly and washed out. … Celebrity Hairstyles: Want to get Noticed? Change Your Hairstyle! [...]
Pingback by Hairstyle colors | Profcharles — June 9, 2011 @ 3:03 am
Hi im a cool tone quite pale usually am all year round. I have hazel eyes that are like greenie grey. I want to dye my hair unnatural. I wanted to dye it blue would that look good with my tone and eye color? If not what unnatural color would you suggest?
Comment by kym — June 27, 2011 @ 12:54 am
I can’t determine my skintone.I have a honey complexion,never burn or tan,my veins are a blue green,my eyes are hazel and my hair color is chestnut red.I am thinking of changing it and a friend suggested natural blonde.I am not sure.help
Comment by christa — July 25, 2011 @ 4:11 pm
Hi Christa:
The problem is your having trouble seeing yourself objectively. You need an independent third party. Just stop in any hair salon and any good stylist should be able to help or stop by a cosmetic counter at a major department store.
Comment by Barb Quinn — July 27, 2011 @ 10:44 am
Thanks for help. Today I know that my skin tone is warm also know what colors are match with me. Thanks a loti.
Comment by Suparna Sarkar — August 17, 2011 @ 8:39 am
Hi :)
I have purple vains on the inside of my wrist but I Aldo have warm eyes. I was wondering how I could tell if I have warm or cool skin.
Comment by Tessa — August 31, 2011 @ 12:16 am
Hi,
I have blue veins (some green), but I have brown-gold eyes and I was born redheaded. My hair now has gold tones to it naturally. I have some freckles, warm tones to my skin, and some peach-pink. I am told to avoid reds and golds on this page even though my hair color suggests otherwise.
Comment by Marissa — November 12, 2011 @ 11:04 pm
Hi Marissa:
Color advice needs to be done face to face. There is just too much room for error trying to do it from a written description or even from a good color photograph. Stop in almost any salon and they are likely to be able to help you with this free of charge. Most salons welcome doing a quick freebie consultation as they know there is a strong chance that you’ll become a customer. Of course if you have a regular hairdresser that you use take their advice above all others.
Comment by Barb Quinn — November 13, 2011 @ 11:39 am
It so happens both blue AND green veins appear on me…
Help???
Comment by Melissa — November 22, 2011 @ 12:22 am
Hi, I’m not sure what color tone I am/ also what hair color would look best on me. I have blue veins, I am natuarlly a golden blond-but it gets dark like a light brown in winter when I do not see the sun, I have green eyes and freckle easily. I really like red hair colors but I feel like I get washed out by my blond hair. Please help me decide.
Comment by katy — January 28, 2012 @ 8:01 am
Hi! i have a dark brown shade of hair and i/e tried red, blonde, and purple highlights. my veins look blue most of the time. i’m not pale. i’m not a medium color either. people say this honey-mustardish color of clothing looks really good on me. black and most pink shades look good on me. what am i?
Comment by Kat — February 3, 2012 @ 12:03 am