Maybe you’re over coloring your hair the same shade every six weeks, or maybe you’re a newbie to this whole coloring-your-hair-thing. Before you decide to trade in your jet black for an ash blonde, let’s take a look at the ultimate hair color chart to help you find the perfect shade that won’t leave you hiding under a hat and calling your hairdresser for an emergency color correct.
Using A Hair Color Chart
Considering your natural hair color and skin tone is a must when determining the right shade. To avoid looking washed out, first choose a hair color that isn’t too close to the same shade as your skin tone, as well as one that doesn’t jump more than two shades darker or lighter than your existing color. Here's a quick look at our hair chart before we get into the details:
See something you like? Keep scrolling to see which shades in the hair color chart are perfect for you.
Blonde Hair Color Ideas
Platinum Blonde
Fair tones, as well as skin with yellow hues work well with this icy shade. Platinum blondes tend to appear washed out, so adding a pop of color to your lips and cheeks helps avoid looking ghostly. If you're interested in the next shade lighter than platinum, check out our guide on How To Get White Hair.
Light Blonde
This vibrant shade is one of our favorites on the hair color chart and isn’t exclusively for fair skin tones and light eyes, although that is a classic combination. Features like Selena Gomez’ (dark eyes and medium skin) compliment the light blonde hair color as long as your colorist blends it with your natural color and roots. If you’re concerned about going too light, don’t do an overall color, and try adding lowlights for dimension.
Golden Blonde
This yellow tint is compatible with light and medium skin tones, with the exception of yellow and red skin undertones. Golden blonde is one of the shades that tends to fade into a brassy hue, so it is recommended that you use a purple shampoo to protect your color and avoid unwanted orange hues.
Ash Blonde
Ash blonde helps cancel out redness in the skin and is a great color to add dimension to a dull shade.
Medium/Dark Blonde
Typically, medium and dark blonde hues are blended with other shades like brunette to create the “bronde” look. Adding either of these warm blonde tones to your hair will look best on medium and darker skin colors, creating depth and dimension.
Brunette Hair Color Ideas
Light Brown
This is a go-to summer look for many brunettes. Opt for a light brown if you have warmer skin tones or have a sun-tanned glow (think J-Lo).
Caramel
Similar to light brown, this color compliments warmer, golden skin tones and darker eyes and does not work well with red skin undertones.
Ash Brown
This cool shade of brown is natural looking on those with cooler skin tones. Ash tends to clash with red hues in the hair or skin, but blends beautifully with cool blonde highlights.
Chocolate Brown
It seems like most brown hair colors fit warmer skin tones, but chocolate brown is a standard brunette shade perfect for fair skin and light eyes.
Dark Brown
You can find these shades being called espresso or mahogany – each of them complimenting olive skin tones. Dark eyes paired with a deep, rich brunette looks striking.
Red Hair Color Ideas
Strawberry Blonde
When found naturally, this underrated red hair color is typically paired with fair skin. This reddish hue combines well with light eyes and warm skin tones. Keep in mind this is one of the shades that tends to wash out fair skin tones, so adding a bit of blush or bronzer to your daily routine wouldn’t be a bad idea.
Copper
Copper is a vibrant red and may look unnatural as an all over color. Blending with other shades of red works well with warmer skin tones and creates a more natural look.
Red Brown
This color is typically achieved by dying a head of medium brown hair with a deep, red hue and looks natural with a medium skin tone. Since this shade of red fades rather quickly, it is recommended that you use an anti-fade shampoo. (We love Pureology’s Reviving Red for color treated hair.)
Violet Red
There’s nothing trendier than rocking a violet red hue, which compliments cooler, darker skin tones.
Black Hair Color Ideas
Going with black hair is risky if it isn’t your natural shade. But, if you have a cooler skin tone, this look can be achieved. If you’re not quite ready to go jet black, there are a number of warmer black shades with brown and purple undertones that look beautiful next to warmer, darker skin tones.
Bold Hair Colors: Blues & Purples
Vibrant colors like blue and purple have gone in and out of style over the years, but celebs like Gigi Hadid and Bella Thorne have been seen rocking the bold shades recently. With lighter skin tones, you can pull off colors like lilac and light blue, while darker skin tones match well with dark purple and bright blue.
These shades on the hair color chart are easiest to achieve when coloring lighter hair and don’t typically turn out as bold or vibrant on brunettes. Though it’s an added step, lightening your hair prior to putting in the color will ensure an overall brighter, edgier look.
Metallic Hair Color Ideas
Using metallic hair color works a lot like blues and purples, but rather than the matte of a bold color, you’ll get a shimmering, exotic look. The lighter your natural hair, the easier it is to see the difference metallic hair dye makes, but dark natural hair will still take to the shimmer; it just won’t be as bold unless you choose to lighten your natural hair beforehand. In fact, we love this hair color ida so much we created an entire metallic hair dye guide about it for you.
Found your perfect shade with our hair color chart? Now it's time to find the best hairstyles for your face shape.
All photography by Guy Tang, posted on Instagram by @guy_tang