Let usa guess — you asked yourself, "What colour should I dye my pilus?" and were hoping that Google would bring y'all the answer? However, your ideal hair colour isn't that piece of cake to find. You accept to consider a lot of factors, like how much maintenance you're willing to put up with and how long you lot want your hair color to last.

You also have to consider what colors flatter yous the most. Features similar your peel undertones and your natural hair color affect this decision. But let's get one thing straight — having a sure hair color, texture, or pare tone shouldn't limit your new hair colour. However, these factors can help y'all find dyes and shades that work best with your hair.

The nuances of finding the right hair colour tin can exist disruptive. That'south why we put together this quick quiz to help you detect your ideal hair colour. Nosotros as well included a guide and some hair colour inspiration then you tin can understand everything y'all demand to know about dyeing your hair.

5 QUESTION QUIZ

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What color should you dye your hair?

Have our quiz to see what color could be your next new shade

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What should I know before I decide on a hair colour?

Whether you're booking an date with a hair colorist or you're planning to color your pilus at home, you lot should have all of the same factors into consideration. Effigy out these details most yourself before you even think near picking a new hair colour.

Pilus texture

Your hair texture can make up one's mind how well your hair tin can have in colour. In this case, nosotros're speaking across your coil pattern. Your pilus's porosity and thickness can also determine how well your hair tin take in colour. Thicker pilus more often than not takes longer to dye. Porosity, on the other hand, refers to how well your hair absorbs and retains moisture.

For example, high porosity hair tin can quickly absorb wet merely isn't bully at retaining it. This ways hair color can fade quickly and stop up looking uneven if it's not properly practical.

That's where information technology pays off to see a hair colorist or to at least go in for a consultation. They can take a look at your pilus and walk you through the steps to become to your desired colour.

Pilus wellness

In addition to your hair type, the level of damage, past pilus coloring, and past chemical processing besides bear on your potential colors. Damaged pilus is more at risk to get damaged after coloring, especially if you aren't swell with maintenance.

Previous processing and coloring can too impact your hair's ability to have in colour. And yeah, that box dye task you lot did in higher counts. Be prepared to share your hair history with your colorist so they can make the best recommendation for you.

If y'all're concerned near your hair health, you can ask for a strand test to double-check your hair's strength. Strand tests can also help you lot come across what the final result volition expect like, if you're allergic to the dye, and if you demand to make any adjustments.

get a strand test before dyeing your hair to see how the final result will look

Current and natural hair color

Your current hair color dictates what shades are achievable for your next hair color. If yous're starting with jet black hair, y'all won't get to platinum blonde pilus in one sitting. You'll demand to gradually work your style to that pilus color to go it right without dissentious your hair in the process.

Your babyhood hair color can also assistance you decide what colors look natural on you lot. Your hair color equally a kid is usually the richest since it still has lots of collagen and other proteins. If yous're nigh interested in dyeing your hair a natural color, dig upwardly some old photos to get some childhood inspiration.

Pare tone

Your skin tone and undertone can help you make up one's mind what shade to cull. We'll cover in the next section how both peel tone and undertones dictate your most complementary colors.

In that location are many skin tones out there with many means to categorize them. For this guide, we'll focus on these general categories: low-cal, medium, and deep.

  • Light pare is pale and is nearly prone to sunburns.
  • Medium skin tends to accept an olive tone and more than easily tans.
  • Deep skin has a darker tone and is to the lowest degree prone (merely not invincible) to burns.

Skin undertones

The iii main skin undertones are warm, cool, and neutral. You can try to effigy out your undertones past looking at the color of your veins or by seeing how your skin looks when you're wearing a white shirt.

Here are some characteristics to watch out for when you're trying to find your undertone:

  • You have a warm undertone if you have green veins and your pare looks a little yellow with a pure white shirt.
  • Yous have cool undertones if you take blue or purplish veins and your skin looks rosier with a pure white shirt.
  • Y'all accept neutral undertones if you have veins that are a mix of all of those colors and if your pare doesn't seem to modify with a pure white or fair shirt.

Generally speaking, warm undertones look great with warm pilus colors and cool undertones look corking with absurd hair colors. Even so, you want a hair color that complements both your undertone and skin tone.

For example, if you have dark skin and a warm undertone, warmer hair colors tin complement the natural reds and yellows in your peel. Nevertheless, people with light skin and cool undertones besides await great with warm hair colors.

Eye color

Eye color is another factor to consider if you're having problem deciding between shades. The right hair color can brand your eyes pop or make them appear harsh. For instance, blue eyes await great with ash or platinum blonde hair, but can await muted when paired with strong gold blonde pilus.

examples of complementary hair colors for each eye color

Delivery level

Lastly, you need to be honest with yourself on how much fourth dimension, effort, and money you're willing to invest in your hair color.

Going from a medium dark-brown to a dark red isn't as dramatic or equally fourth dimension-consuming as going from a dark dark-brown to a bully blonde. Dramatic changes will take time to accomplish and upkeep to maintain your color for a long time. Upkeep also involves touch-upwardly appointments.

This doesn't mean yous can't go for a lighter color if you lot're strapped for time. Instead, you tin work with a pilus colorist to find a style and colour that works with your budget and your commitment level.

Ombrés are a great option since the colour is more often than not applied toward the bottom of your hair. Since yous don't demand to worry about your roots, yous don't need to go to the salon as often for affect-ups.

Yous besides need to decide how long you lot want to stick with the hair color. There are three types of dyes you can choose from:

  • Semi-permanent lasts between four and 12 washes
  • Demi-permanent lasts upward to 24 washes
  • Permanent doesn't wash out, merely you'll need to affect up your roots when your hair grows

These factors aren't a set up of hard stops that y'all must follow. It all comes down to your hair goals. If your goal is for your pilus to come out as healthy equally possible, so y'all may need to rethink your dream color or reassess how much time yous're willing to put into maintenance.

Regardless of your terminate goal, y'all should plan to pick a color that's two shades within your current color. It'll expect more natural and is less damaging to your hair. Trying to achieve your dream color besides fast tin upshot in damage.

questions to ask yourself before dyeing your hair

What should I apply if I want to heighten my natural color?

You can use hair gloss or glaze to enhance your natural hair color. These are good alternatives if you lot're having second thoughts about irresolute your color. Both of these treatments brand your hair shinier and your hair color more vibrant. Hither are the main differences betwixt the ii:

Hair gloss is a demi-permanent treatment normally done in salons. Information technology can comprise ammonia and uses peroxide to help penetrate your hair's cuticle. It's potent enough to subtly right color, similar if your color has go brassy or dull, and can cover grays.

Hair glaze is a semi-permanent handling that doesn't typically contain harmful chemicals. It tin can enhance your color and cut down on frizz.

What if I simply want to comprehend up grays?

You can apply a root concealer or root spray if you want to cover up grays without dyeing all of your pilus. Y'all can get a product that's permanent or washes out over fourth dimension.

The best pick depends on how long you're willing to commit and how much time you have on paw. For example, powders are nifty if yous want a quick fix and don't have the time to sit and colour your pilus.

Yous tin can as well expect into grey blending, balayage, and other types of highlights if you're open to coloring some parts of your hair. These methods tin can hibernate your grays while likewise enhancing your electric current color.

Hair color inspiration

It'due south fourth dimension to take all of the information you've learned and see some examples of pilus colors. Bank check out these boards for inspiration. We rounded up some examples to compare and dissimilarity the differences between the hair colors that best fit each undertone.

Warm undertones

If you lot have warm undertones, then you should focus on rich colors that bring out the warmth in your skin. For instance, aim for a golden or honey shade if y'all want a blonde hair color.

Caramel and mahogany work well as brunette shades. If your center is set on going red, lean toward colors with red tones like blood-red and russet. Icy and cooler colors tin can disharmonism with warm undertones. These shades can launder you out and make your peel appear dull or stake.

mood board showing photo examples of hair color for warm skin tones

Neutral undertones

Do you accept neutral undertones? You're in luck! Yous can rock virtually warm and cool undertones. Use other factors like your eye color, skin tone, and commitment level to help narrow down your hair colour choices.

mood board showing photo examples of hair colors for neutral undertones

Cool undertones

Your goal with libation undertones is to complement the blue and pinkish tones in your peel. For example, ash or baby blonde looks dandy against cool undertones.

When going with brunette shades, night and deep colors look best. Reds that lean more violet or pink than red are besides your best bet. Warm shades on cool undertones can make you look washed out or tedious.

mood board with photo examples of hair colors for cool undertones

Hopefully, you're now a lot closer to figuring out what color you should dye your hair. We know that that still leaves lots of options if your middle isn't already assault a color. When in doubt, await for a hair colorist near yous to go advice tailored to your goals and your hair.