Feeling that your hair color could use a boost? Finding a color that flatters your skin tone is important, but it can be tricky. With that in mind, we asked celebrity colorists about the hottest hair colors of the season, which skin tones they flatter best, and the best at-home formulas (and hair-boosting tricks!) to elevate your beauty. Having the right hair color for your complexion will boost your confidence. We’ve rounded up some of our favorite flattering celebrity hair colors, complete with tips on how to make these shades work for you.
Best for fair to medium skin (warm undertones): Toffee
Julia RobertsMatt Baron/Shutterstock: Jeff Spicer/BFC
Before: “Solid yellow hair on warm skin amplifies any redness in the complexion, resulting in a ruddy look,” says Mike Petrizzi, a colorist at Chris Chase Salon in New York City who has worked with Mandy Moore and Joan Jett.
Now: A blend of light and dark blonde tones help bring out golden undertones in warmer skin for a gorgeous glow.
Get the look: First, create lowlights with a dark blonde dye (like Garnier Nutrisse Nourishing Color Creme in #72 Dark Beige Blonde, buy from Amazon, $17.86). Using a clean toothbrush (this allows for more precise placement), apply the color to different 1 inch sections of hair all over the head. let sit 30 minutes; wash. Next, saturate the hair with a light blonde dye (like Clairol Natural Instincts in #9 Sahara Light Blonde, buy on Amazon, $27); rinse after 20 minutes. This adds a sheer layer of color that tones down any old yellow highlights. Petrizzi’s tip: Treat blonde locks with a chamomile tea conditioner once a week. Its bisabolol sharpens the warm pigments, making blondes look bright and not yellow. To do: Pour 2 cups of room temperature chamomile tea onto damp hair; rinse after 5 minutes.
Best for Medium to Dark Skin: Dark Walnut
Taraji P HensonRoy Rochlin/FilmMagic: Kristina Bumphrey/StarPix/Shutterstock
Before: “Coarse hair absorbs color quickly, so it’s easy to overdo it when going lighter,” Petizzi says. The dry, straw-like result draws heat away from more golden-toned skin, leaving it looking washed out.
Now: A deep hazel brown contrasts beautifully against skin, and the cool tones of a shade enriched with blue and violet pigments enliven skin and give hair a glossy shine.
Get the look: Apply a cool-toned dark brown color (like AGEbeautiful Anti-Aging Permanent Liqui-Creme Hair Color in #4A Dark Ash Brown, shop at Sally Beauty, $10.39) from roots to mid-length and comb through the color 30 minutes down to ends for the last 10 minutes of processing time. “Pulling the color down gradually when going from a lighter color to a darker shade will keep the darker shade from looking inky and uneven.” Also smart? Because deep brunette locks can lose their shine over time, Petizzi suggests using a clear shine (like John Frieda Luminous Color Glaze Clear Shine, buy at Walmart, $9.72) twice a month. The clear gloss coats strands with transparent light-reflecting molecules that give the hair mega shine without changing the color.
Best for Fair to Medium Skin (Cool Undertones): Silver
Bette MidlerEvan Agostini/Invision/`/REX: Gregory Pace/Shutterstock
Before: The brassy tones of a buttery yellow color end up throwing an orange glow on the skin, almost making it look rash.
Now: A platinum silver with ashy blue undertones, it reflects light on skin to brighten cooler complexions. “It’s also a great way to add a modern, polished touch to graying hair,” says celebrity colorist Jordan Aaron of Ian McCabe Studio in Washington, DC.
Get the look: Start by lightening the base with a high-lift dye (like Clairol Born Blonde, buy at Walmart, $9.97). Apply evenly to dry hair from roots to ends; rinse after 30 minutes or until hair looks almost white. Blow dry, then apply a cool light blonde (like Clairol Professional True Color Permanent Cream Color in #10AV Sunrise, buy on Amazon, $7.95) from root to tip; Leave on for 30 minutes, then rinse.
Best for medium to dark skin: Deep espresso
Lucy LiuCountess Jemal/Getty Images: Evan Agostini/Invision/`/Shutterstock
Before: The overwhelming warmth of sandy brown hair paired with skin with gold or green undertones leaves the complexion looking dull and sallow.
Now: The maroon pigments of a dark coffee shade reflect on the skin and give it an instant radiance.
Get the look: Apply a deep brown color (like the Ion Intense Shine Hair Color Kit in 5CH Chocolate, shop at Sally Beauty, $10.99) from roots to ends and leave for 30 minutes; wash. Tip: Pour 2 cups of chilled coffee on damp hair twice a month; rinse after 10 minutes. The brew’s tannins (the compounds that give coffee its dark color) leave a light tint on hair to help maintain color richness — it can even help cover grays.
Best for fair skin (cool undertones): Red wine
Julianne MooreVera Anderson/WireImage: Andrew Lipovsky/NBCU Photo Bank/NBCUniversal via Getty Images
Before: The lackluster look of light, faded red hair makes light skin appear even paler.
Now: Rich reds in a shimmering auburn hue enhance the peachy-cream glow in porcelain skin, says colorist Rick Wellman, who has worked with Tina Fey and Brooke Shields. “And the bold, vibrant shade makes the hair look soft and shiny.”
Get the look: Apply an auburn color (like Garnier Olia Permanent Hair Color in #6.43 Light Natural Auburn, buy at Walmart, $16.45) from roots to ends and leave on for 35 minutes. wash. For lasting color, Wellman suggests treating tresses with a cranberry juice “mask” every two weeks. The red pigments of the berry give the fiery color back its liveliness. Simply pour 2 cups of cranberry juice onto wet hair, cover and leave for 10 minutes. wash.
Best for Fair to Medium Skin (warm undertones): Pink Lemonade
Tanya TuckerEthan Miller/Getty Images for MGM/Mirage: Evan Agostini/Invision/`/Shutterstock
Before: The strawy, deep look of overworked blonde hair leaves an unflattering yellow tinge on fair skin.
Now: Adding subtle highlights of pastel pink to light blonde hair is a fun, youthful way to enhance skin’s natural blush, says celebrity colorist Mike Petrizzi. “Plus, the dimension of the rosy tones helps the hair look twice as thick right away.”
Get the look: Apply soft pink highlights with a semi-permanent color (like L’Oréal Paris Colorista Semi-Permanent Hair Color in #300 Soft Pink, buy at Target, $10.99) on 1-inch sections of hair. Leave on for 15 minutes, then rinse. To prolong the freshness of pink tones without having to reapply highlights, Petizzi suggests using a color-enhancing conditioner (like Overtone Original Rose Gold Daily Conditioner, shop at Overtone, $18) after shampooing. It leaves rosy pigments on the strands.
Best for Medium to Dark Skin: Caramel-Kissed Mocha
Queen LatifahMichael Loccisano/Getty Images for VH1: Nicholas Hunt/Getty Images for the Tribeca Film Festival
Before: Highlights that are too bright, too bright, and too brassy will create an annoying contrast with bronzed skin.
Now: A toned down beige-brown complements the deeper warm skin tone for a softer, more youthful appearance.
Get the look: First, darken the base with a light brown shade (like Revlon Colorsilk Beautiful Hair Color in #46 Medium Golden Chestnut Brown, buy at Walmart, $3.47) from roots to ends. let sit 25 minutes; wash. Then use a dark hair highlighting kit (like Clairol Nice’n Easy Balayage for Brunettes, buy from Amazon, $16.49) to paint ½-inch and 1-inch sections of hair around the face; Leave on for 15 minutes, then rinse.
Best for Fair to Medium Skin (Cool Undertones): Roasted Chestnut
Geena DavisVivien Killilea/Getty Images for the Bentonville Film Festival Credit: Steve Granitz/WireImage
Before: “Bleach-blonde locks have a way of bringing out the dull tones of mature skin,” says colorist Rick Wellman. “This is particularly noticeable with cool skin.”
Now: “The blend of gold, red, and brown pigments in a maroon hue adds radiant warmth to the skin,” says Wellman. “The kaleidoscope of tones also adds a volume-boosting dimension.”
Get the look: Apply a medium brown color (like L’Oréal Féria in #51 Bronzed Brown, buy from Amazon, $14.99) to dry hair from roots to ends. let sit 30 minutes; wash. Then, to increase the shine of the strands: mix 1 cup of apple cider vinegar and 1 cup of water and pour it on the wet strands; rinse after 1 minute. Do twice a month. The acetic acid in vinegar loosens buildup that dulls dark hair and seals the cuticles to keep the color from seeping out.
Bonus Tips for Gorgeous Hair Every Day
Over-washing your hair is a surefire way to quickly fade color. To the rescue: water-free solutions for voluminous, hydrated and fresh hair – no shower required.
Greasy, sagging roots?
Opt for a dry shampoo foam. Unlike powder sprays that just coat the hair, a mousse formula moisturizes the roots so they dry with a little lift. Look for one that has tapioca starch (it soaks up dirt and oil) and vitamin B-5 (it thickens hair), like Pantene Cheat Day Dry Shampoo Foam (buy on Amazon, $19.88) for clean hair with bounce.
Straw strands?
Hair that has been colored is much more likely to become dry and brittle. For anhydrous hair moisture, try a dry conditioner like Kristin Ess Style Reviving Dry Conditioner (Buy at Ulta, $15). Nutrients in the spray, like sunflower seed oil and avocado oil, seal in moisture in the hair’s cuticle to hydrate it from within. And it won’t weigh hair down like leave-in conditioners can.
Smelly locks?
From the sweat on your scalp to the onions you just sautéed, porous hair easily absorbs the odors around it. Instead of using a scented hairspray that temporarily masks odors, try a hair “deodorant” like Dove Care Between Washes Go Active Hair Perfume (Buy at Dove, $4.99). It consists of special molecules that mix with odors and neutralize them, making them disappear forever. Bonus: The alcohol-free formula doesn’t dry out the curls.
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A version of this article originally appeared in our print magazine, First For Women.
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