The Ultimate Guide To Finding Your Perfect Hair Color
Finding your perfect style or combination of looks is key to feeling more confident and happy in your own skin. What better way than to start at the very top– your hair! Choosing the perfect hair color that not only accentuates your natural looks, but also acts as an extension of your personality, is no small task. That’s why we’ve created this comprehensive guide to help you navigate the complex world of hair color to find that irresistible dream hair you’ve always wanted. We’ll take you through the essential steps, covering everything from skin tone, facial features, aesthetic preferences, and lifestyle.
Let’s get started!
Hair Color 101
Before we dive deeper into the complexities of choosing the right hair color, we should first understand the very basics of hair color. Hair colors are grouped into 4 categories: blondes, brunettes, red, and unnatural. Then, these categories can be further defined into undertones: cool (C), warm (W), or neutral (N).
Another way that hairstylists identify hair color is by using a hair depth scale, ranging from 1 to 10. So if you have black hair, your hair level would be a 1, and if your hair color is platinum or even lighter, your hair level would be a 10. Simple, right?
Skin Tone and Overall Complexion
Let’s talk about one of the most beautiful, yet diverse, features humans have: our skin! Due to the varying production of melanin and natural selection influences, our skin tones are categorized into 4 types:
Light
Fair
Medium, and
Deep (Dark)
Aside from this, our skin also contains what’s called undertones. Undertones are the subtle hues beneath your skin tones that are permanent. There are 3 undertones:
Cool
Warm
Neutral
The general rule of thumb when it comes to choosing the perfect hair color, is to match your hair undertone to your skin undertone. That means, those with cool skin undertones would look the best with cool-toned hair colors, while those with warm skin undertones would better rock warm-toned hair colors. If you have neutral undertones, you’re in luck– you’d look great with both cool and warm hair colors.
Let’s take a look at some celebrity examples, as they tend to change their hair colors quite often!
Cool skin undertones
Selena Gomez is a well-known celebrity with cool undertones. You can see that the platinum blonde suited her very well. On the other hand, although she still looked drop-dead gorgeous, her warmer, orangey hair makes her appear a bit more unnatural.
Warm skin undertones
Gigi Hadid makes a great example of someone with warm skin undertones. As you can see below, she looks much more natural and vibrant with warm colored hair on the left, as opposed to the cool toned hair shown on the right. Her brunette hair just gives her a golden goddess glow that accentuates her features perfectly. Notice how her makeup artist chose a warm-toned lip color for this look as well!
Neutral skin undertones
If you have neutral skin undertones like Angelina Jolie, for example, you would look amazing with any hair color! Which hair color do you think looks best on her?
Facial Features
When choosing a hair color, consider your facial features and how they can be accentuated or softened by different hair shades. For those with angular features, such as a heart-shaped or square face, lighter shades can help to soften the overall look. On the other hand, those with a softer jawline may benefit from dark colors or dimensional highlights to bring more contrast and definition to their face.
Aesthetic Preferences
Your hair color can be an extension of your personality and the energy you want to project externally. If you're looking to exude a mysterious and sultry vibe, black or dark brown hair can be the perfect fit for you. These shades can give you an air of confidence and calmness that can be both alluring and mysterious.
On the other hand, if you want to go for a more down-to-earth, girl-next-door look, brunette shades can be a great option. These colors can give you a warm and approachable vibe that can make you feel comfortable and confident in your own skin.
If you're looking to radiate a carefree and fun energy, blonde is a popular choice. Blonde shades can give you that bright and bubbly look, and will sure to make you the center of attention!
For those who want to make a bold statement and project a fierce energy, red hair would make an excellent choice. Red is known for its powerful and vibrant look that can make you instantly stand out from the crowd. It’ll also give you a sense of empowerment and relentless confidence to help you achieve your goals and aspirations.
Lifestyle
The very last factor to take into consideration is: your lifestyle.
If you don't mind the high maintenance that comes with lighter shades, you can go for ash blonde, platinum, or fun colors like champagne pink. Yes, these colors are drop dead gorgeous, but they do require a bit of work to maintain– such as getting regular touch ups at the salon every 6-8 weeks. You’ll also need to invest in salon grade, sulfate-free hair products and avoid excessive heat styling. For more hair color maintenance tips, follow us on Instagram!
On the other hand, if you prefer a low-maintenance routine, you can opt for black, dark brunette, or any color close to your natural color. You can even experiment with our Flirt Salon signature sunkissed balayage for that extra “oomph” in your look. Our clients love this look because not only is it low maintenance, but it also adds subtle dimensions to make their hair appear fuller.
If you're somewhere in between, you’re free to experiment with various colors to see which would best fit your daily lifestyle. We’d recommend going for a medium blonde or any color that is 2-3 shades lighter or darker than your natural hair. Even if you choose a color that requires less trips to the salon, we still highly recommend establishing a solid hair care routine that helps you maintain the shine and health of your hair.
There you have it! Choosing a hair color can be such an exciting but stressful process. So, we hope that this article helps you narrow down your options! If you’re looking for hair color inspirations, we recommend using Pinterest or drop by our Instagram page, where we post our stylists’ work and hair care tips.
Who We Are – Flirt Salon in East Village, San Diego, California
At Flirt Salon, we are dedicated to providing our clients in San Diego with the latest in hair trends and techniques. Our team of color experts and stylists are passionate about creating personalized looks that enhance your unique features and style. Located in Downtown San Diego's vibrant Little Italy neighborhood, our salon is just minutes away from iconic destinations like Balboa Park, Gaslamp, and Petco Park. Whether you're looking for a classic haircut or a trendy balayage, our team is here to help you achieve your dream hair. We offer a variety of services, including the much-loved lived-in haircut, as well as treatments like Olaplex and Keratin Treatment. Schedule an appointment and let us help you achieve your hair goals!
