As a woman's hair is her crowning glory, the decision to change hair color can be a major one. Whether it's only hiding a few gray hairs or making a major change from brunette to blonde, you'll want to consider skin tone and eye color before making a decision.
Going Lighter
Most often it's brunette women who want to go lighter. After all, don't brunettes want to find out, once and for all if "blondes really have more fun?"
If you want to go lighter, don't go more than a couple of shades lighter than your natural hair color. Because there are so many different shades of blonde colors, it can be confusing as to what looks best.
True, there are those fortunate women who look good in just about any shade. However, for most people, the color of your hair depends on your skin tones. If you're fair-skinned, don't use dark colors as this will wash out your complexion. On the other hand, if you're dark complected, it's best to combine several shades of blondes, adding some of your natural dark hair color. For example, if you have dark to medium brown hair, choose a dishwater to medium blonde shade, rather than a platinum blonde color. Or, if you have Asian jet-black hair, think twice before going blonde at all.
Pale Skin with Warm Undertones
If you have skin that's either ivory, peaches and cream, or a light golden tan, with eye color ranging from green to brown, select a hair color that is light and warm, such as a golden blonde or a golden shade with red highlights.
Baby Pink Skin with Cool Undertones
Although you may have always have wanted to be a strawberry blonde, stay away from the strawberry shades if you have pink skin with cool undertones. In other words, don't use shades of red or golden blonde. People with skin that's rosy pink or alabaster and eye color ranging from light blue, gray green to blue green look best with a cool or ash tone such as platinum, silvery blonde, or white blonde. Light brown shades with wheat tones are also good choices. To lighten, you can always highlight with a lighter ash or platinum blonde shade.
Going Darker
A growing number of women are also going from lighter to darker colors. However, before deciding on a darker color, realize that going too dark can make you age more if you're older. Just keep in mind that the older you grow, the more light highlights you need to make yourself look younger.
Medium Complexion with Warm Undertones
If you have deep golden brown, tawny, or coppery skin, and eyes that are green, topaz, or coffee brown, the shades that will best complement you range from medium to dark golden brown, as well as honey brown, copper and mahogany.
Olive Skin
If you have olive skin, you'll look better as a brunette. For hair that has bluish or purplish glints from sunlight, it's best to stick with cooler hair colors. Warmer glints of red, orange, or yellow look better with a warmer hair color.
Finally, consider how much maintenance you'll need to keep your new hair color. If you have a busy lifestyle, then you need to choose a lower-maintenance color. if you go too far from your natural color, you'll have more work maintaining it. Determine how much time you can devote to having your roots touched up, as well as regular conditioning treatments and other treatments you may need. Also, make sure you're financially able to invest in conditioning and root treatments.
