In movies, the main character gets dragged to the salon, plops themselves on the chair, and the hairstylist snips their scissors. Then, after the montage, the main character emerges—prettier than ever—and with different hair colors.
In real life, your makeovers may appear a bit different, but just as pretty. For some, changing hair colors is part of a regular self-care checklist, but others are first-timers in the hair color department. So, to prevent the makeover from going south, this is a guide on how to pick the right hair color for you.
Determine Your Skin Tone
The good old rule of knowing your skin tone may apply to achieve a stunning look with your new hair color. One test you could do is find the shirt that you feel you look best in. Warm skin tones look great with yellow, orange, or peach; on the other hand, cool skin tones are best with blue, green, or purple. If any color suits you, then you probably have a neutral skin tone.
Another way would be checking the veins on the pulse area on your wrist. If the veins are a greenish color, you have a warm skin tone. Blue or purple veins indicate a cool skin tone.
As you try to determine your undertone, make sure your face is clean and you’re in a room with good lighting. You can also trust your judgment or refer to your favorite foundation in your makeup kit.
Once you’ve got it right, here are some suggested colors according to your skin tone:
Warm skin tones: golden beige, buttery blonde, golden copper hues, coral, rose, gold, apricot, and yellow.Cool skin tones: platinum, beige blonde, baby taupe blonde, dark or deep browns, subtle mocha, burgundy, blue, green, and purple.Neutral skin tones: practically anything—at least a wide range of colors would work well with this skin tone.
2. Focus on Your Hair Goals
… or you can throw the rules out the window. Sometimes, you need to let your creativity kick in. Set it free. Pick out the color you want. Maybe you got inspired by your K-pop bias’s new hair. Maybe you’re bored by your current hair color.
At the end of the day, think of your hair goals. It might be a form of self-expression that you hold dearly. If it makes you feel good and confident about yourself, go for it. After all, self-love is important.
But—yes, there’s a caveat—be wary of the products that you use. Some bleaching and toning formulas can be too harsh, and you should also DIY carefully. That said, the best way to color your hair is to have a professional do it.
Consider Your Hair Type
Determining your hair type before anything else is important. The process of coloring your hair often involves strong chemicals. And these chemicals are geared to break down the protective layer of the hair to penetrate the core. So, knowing your hair type could save you from potential disaster.
This knowledge also comes in handy with aftercare. Your hair could experience dryness or brittleness after coloring, but it's nothing some good products couldn’t fix! Look for products that are specifically designed for colored hair. They will maintain the health and vibrance of your new look.
Home remedies can keep the plumpness and smoothness of your hair as well. Go to the kitchen and look for ingredients such as eggs, avocado, and coconut oil to use as hair masks. Leave them on for a few minutes before rinsing.
Use Virtual Try-On
Not sure how it will turn out or how it matches your face? A virtual try-on helps you visualize your future look. L’Oreal has exactly this feature on their website, and it’s freely accessible.
For a virtual try-on to work, you will need to upload a clear picture of yourself, showing your hair. You can also allow access to your camera, so you can see the try-on in real-time. The technology will then detect your hair and change it to different colors on the screen. If you’re on camera, you can move around to see it from every angle.
With this, you won’t need to experience several trials and errors to get the color right. You’ll also save your hair from damage from too much coloring. The best part is that the chances of having regrets with the color will be significantly reduced.
Ready for your new look?
Choosing a new hair color shouldn’t be intimidating. It is a fun process and it should make you smile, feel confident, and love yourself.
If you’re still doubting, you can start with the basics. Determine whether you have a warm, cool, or neutral skin tone. And to be extra sure, use the virtual try-on to visualize the result.
Once you’re all set, you’re good to go and have that makeover! And, don’t forget, good aftercare should be the cherry on top.
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