How to Choose The Ideal Hair Dye According to Your Skin Tone
Choosing the ideal hair color isn’t always easy. There are many factors to consider, such as your skin tone and eye color.
Precisely because it’s not easy to find the perfect color for your hair, today we’re going to talk about colorimetry and how this science can help you get closer to the perfect look you want. If you’re looking for a change or have already been disappointed several times that it hasn’t turned out the way you expected, then read on!
Colorimetry can help you choose your ideal hair color
Colorimetry is a science that focuses on analyzing color. Thanks to this science, we can see the different shades on a numerical scale, like the one we see in the hair dyes we buy. Under this scale, the colors are measured and mixed according to the expected results.
Hair colorimetry, on the other hand, is the branch that uses this science to know how to dye the hair, according to the desired saturation, intensity, and brightness. It’s also used to determine the ideal shade according to your skin tone, eye color, and the current state of your hair.
University publications dedicated to hair colorimetry point out that, when dyeing hair, you must consider the state of your hair, whether your hair has been previously treated or not, and whether the current shade is even or has some gray in it.
The results will depend on all these factors. Amazing, isn’t it?
Colorimetry basics: How to choose the ideal hair dye
To understand the usefulness of colorimetry to choose the ideal hair color, you need to know the basics. Here’s what they are.
The chromatic circle
The chromatic circle was discovered by Isaac Newton and has been the starting point for thousands of color applications in marketing, advertising, and even psychology. It’s based on a circle with six shades reflected in the decomposition of light against the solar spectrum: red, yellow, and blue (primary colors), followed by dark blue, green, and purple.
From these shades, however, color families emerge, whose variations depend on the intensity. In a complete chromatic circle, up to 12 different shades can be observed.
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Color variations
The variations of a color are defined according to its depth or variation, which is measured on a numerical scale that goes from 1 to 10. 1 is the darkest (black) and 10 is the lightest (platinum or extra light blond).
This is the complete scale:
- Black
- Dark brown
- Auburn
- Medium brown
- Light brown
- Dark blonde
- Medium blonde
- Light blonde
- Very light blonde
- Platinum or extra light blonde
So, when choosing the ideal hair dye for your skin tone, you should consider what shade variation you want. Your change of look will be darker or lighter based on this.
Color reflection
Another numerical scale of hair colorimetry to consider is the reflection or hue.
In this category, we find the following:
- Blue – ashy
- Violet – iridescent, pearly
- Yellow – gold
- Orange – copper
- Mahogany – auburn
- Red – reddish
- Green – green
How to choose the ideal hair color for your skin tone
With the knowledge we have shared with you, you will have discovered the meaning of the numbers that accompany the dyes. Here’s an example, for instance: blue-black hair dye will have a nomenclature of 1 – 1.
The first thing to choose is to consider your current hair color, which is called your “base”. You also need to decide whether you want to lighten, darken or tone it down, which you can do by looking at the scale of variations.
Note that for a longer-lasting, more natural tone, you should choose a color that’s two levels lighter or darker than the base of your hair. But if you want to look warmer, then go for auburn, bronze, or gold. For a cooler tone, choose from ash or smoky tones.
How do I choose between warm and cool tones depending on my skin tone?
This is a great – and common – question. There are several tips to identify whether cool or warm tones are your thing.
- Go out in the sun for a while. If you turn red and don’t tan, cool tones are the way to go. On the other hand, if you tan easily, then you should choose warm tones.
- Look in the mirror while putting a gold piece of paper on one side of your face and a silver one on the other. Identify which one makes you look better. If it’s gold, warm colors are your thing.
- Check the tone of your wrist veins. If you notice that they’re bluish or violet-colored, cool shades are right for you. Do they look greenish? Then warm shades are best.
- Get professional advice. Hair color management has its complexities. So if you have the budget and want some extra help, don’t hesitate to approach a color professional.
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Color recommendations for every skin tone
We know it isn’t easy to understand the nomenclatures and basics of hair colorimetry. So, we’d like to conclude this note with some general recommendations that will lead you to the ideal hair color according to your skin tone:
- Light: brown tones with honey and golden hues are ideal.
- Light and pink skin colors look great with ash blonde, champagne, and even platinum hair.
- Light brunette goes well with brown tones with caramel, auburn, or auburn highlights.
- Dark brunette skin benefits a lot from shades such as deep brown, black, wine, or burgundy.
Now you can choose the ideal hair color for your skin tone and look the way you’ve always wanted without any fear.
Remember that you can use a color that doesn’t match your skin tone if you wish, but it’s a good idea to consider these aspects. After all, they’ll lead you to enjoy incredible results.
All cited sources were thoroughly reviewed by our team to ensure their quality, reliability, currency, and validity. The bibliography of this article was considered reliable and of academic or scientific accuracy.
- Esquerre Mendoza, Y. L. (2017). Colorimetría capilar. https://repositorio.ucv.edu.pe/handle/20.500.12692/17498
