What is the difference between warm and cool hair colors

Swipe on the lavender nail polish and fuchsia lipstick. On the warmer side of the spectrum? Rock turmeric yellow eye shadow and a golden bronzer. Beyond just makeup, however, your skin's undertone can impact your beauty routine in a big way, extending all the way to the color you select for your hair.

Related Stories. Tags: Hair-Care Tips. Loading More Posts Featured Collection. Close Close. Neutral colors tend to have a mix of both warm and cool undertones. One fast way to check your undertone? Look at your veins. If your veins are more of a bluish color, chances are, your skin has a cooler undertone. If you have green veins showing through, you probably have a warm skin tone. Another way to tell?

But it helps to have a basic knowledge of what cool tones and warm tones look like, as well as an understanding of your skin's coloring to begin with. We consulted with several pro's in the field to get some intel. Consider this your comprehensive, foolproof guide to finding the best hair color for every skin tone. Keep scrolling to learn more and find the best hair color for you.

Before taking your pick of hair colors, you need to ID your skin's undertones. Most people fall into one of three categories: warm, cool, and neutral. Figuring out where your complexion lies can seem confusing, but there are a few tricks:. Meet the Expert. Now that you're well-versed on your skin coloring, it's time to get schooled on different hair colors.

Pick a tone that's opposite from your skin's undertones. For instance, those with warm undertones might opt for a cooler color, and vice versa.

If you have neutral skin, you're lucky—everything looks good on you. Seen on: Hanne Gaby Odiele. Shades include: platinum, ice, silver, ash, sand, beige, champagne. Who it's best for: Cool blonde shades are great on porcelain-skinned gals with blue or violet undertones, since those icy hues tend to neutralize redness, according to Chelsey Pickthorn , master hair designer and owner of Pickthorn Salon in Brooklyn.

And, a cool, ashy blonde will look great against blue or gray eyes. Your must-have product:. Seen on: Ciara. Shades include: gold, caramel, amber, honey, butterscotch. Who it's best for: "Fair skin with cool undertones looks better with warm tones like strawberry blondes , copper, honey , and gold," says Papanikolas. He also notes that these hues tend to be better for those with olive skin, as an ashy blonde hue can wash you out.

The same goes for those with deep skin: If you want to go light, go for a caramel blonde for a high-impact look. On the other hand, those with very warm skin should avoid a color that's too yellow for the same reason—cooler blondes will probably work better on you. Seen on: Jessica Chastain.

Shades include: strawberry blonde, copper, amber, rust, russet. Who it's best for: "Strawberry blondes are great on fair and neutral skin tones," says Pickthorn. These hues tend to make deep skin look green, so choose a cooler, brown-tinged auburn instead if you're hankering to go red think Rihanna. And want to make your hue really trend-worthy? Opt for a luminous shade of rose gold. Seen on: Ali Larter.

Shades include: true red, dark auburn, burgundy.