Most hair and beauty articles are focused on warm and cool complexions when it comes to dishing out advice, and with good reason. Hair color and makeup pallets should always be catered to the skin tone for best results. Otherwise, you get a color clash that will have unattractive results. For example, we've all seen someone with a hair color that completely washes them out or, on the other hand, is way too bright for their face. When it comes to makeup, wearing shades from the wrong spectrum can make you look ruddy, tired or just simply add on the years—no thanks!
It's easy enough to find out what hair and makeup color will look best on your cool or warm skin tone, but what if you are a neutral? Neutral skin tones can pull off both warm and cool color with ease—you know, they're the ones who look good in everything! But there are still optimum shades for neutrals to use. If this applies to you, then read on to find out how to determine the best hair color for your neutral skin tone.
Determine Your Secondary Tones:
Use this guide to find out if you have underlying cool or warm tones.
1. Blue vs. Green Veins- Neutral complexions will have both blue and green veins on the underside of their arms. However if you look closely, more than one color will be more prominent. More green veins means you should go for warmer color. More blue means you should stick with cool hair colors.
2. The White Robe Test- In the morning, once you have cleansed your face, tie your hair back and don your white robe (if you don't have a white robe drape a white towel across your shoulders). If your face looks more yellow, go for a warm hair color. If you are rosy or pink, go for a cool hair color.
3. The Eye Test- Carefully examine your eye color and look for flecks of gold or grey. Again, gold means warm, grey means cool. You get the idea by now!
Once you have determined your secondary skin tone, it's time to get creative with your color!
Warm Undertones: The best way to perfect your hair color is to add warm, sun-kissed highlights throughout your natural base tone. This will keep the neutrality of your natural color and highlight your secondary warm tones with hints of gold throughout. This is the perfect technique to make your complexion glow and your hair will have added shine and gloss. All three of these ladies benefit from a warm glow, thanks to their subtle sun-kissed highlights.
Cool Undertones: Of course, neutrals look great in everything, but if you have cool undertones then you will look extra fabulous in icy blondes, cool red and sleek black shades. Naomi Watts' complexion is instantly brightened when she goes for a platinum blonde, compared to her usual golden blonde.
Emma Stone's skin looks ruddy when she goes honey blonde, but porcelain-like in cool auburn hair.
Zoe Saldana's complexion glows when she flaunts an icy cool black, free from any red tones, compared to the warmer shades of dark brown she has worn in the past.
Consider yourself lucky if you have a neutral skin tone as you can pull off anything and look great. But remember, you can look even better if you work with your secondary skin tone and bring out your underlying warm or cool hues with your hair color.