We still have a few glorious weeks of summer left to enjoy, but as fall is drawing closer it’s time to start looking ahead and planning our fall hair color and wardrobe. When it comes to hair color for fall, red is an all-time favorite. So many people want to try life as a ginger but never do because they are afraid it won’t look good on them. The truth is that there is a shade of red for everyone, the trick is to find the right shade for you. The key to finding your perfect red is to match your hair color to your skin tone. When the undertones of both your skin and hair are in harmony you will have a flawless and natural look.
Warm Skin Tones
Warm skin has a yellow or golden hue. If you’re not sure, look at the veins in your wrist. If they appear greenish your skin tone is warm. To keep your color looking natural you’ll want those golden hues to extend into your mane. Strawberry blonde, fiery copper, spicy cinnamon, warm mahogany, and roasted pumpkin are all perfect shades to compliment warm skin tones.
Cool Skin Tone
Cool skin has reddish or blue undertones. The veins in your wrist will look blue or purplish if you have cool skin. You’ll want to choose a red with those same undertones to find your perfect shade. Pastel pink, auburn, true red, and plum are excellent choices to compliment a cool skin tone. You’ll want to stay away from reds that look orange to keep things looking natural.
Neutral Skin Tones
Neutral skin tones typically look great with any color. One trick to determine if your skin tone is neutral is to hold up something in both gold and silver on either side of your face. If they both look good with your skin, then your tone is most likely neutral. You can pull off any shade of red you want, so have fun with it. If you want to be absolutely sure to get the best red for you, take it one step further and choose a color that compliments your eyes. Go with a golden red if your eyes are brown, a blue-toned or earthy red if your eyes are blue, and an orangey copper red to make green eyes pop!
Olive Skin Tones
Olive skin falls somewhere in the warm to neutral range, but instead of golden undertones, olive skin tends to have a slightly greenish hue. If your olive tends more towards the neutral range try a mulled wine or burgundy red. If your skin is warmer, golden copper should complement your complexion nicely.
In addition to the undertones of your complexion you also need to take into consideration how dark your skin is when choosing your hair color.
Pale Skin
Pale complexions can be easily overpowered by bright, bold colors. Lighter shades with hints of blonde will look best against your skin. Dark colors tend to leave pale skin looking pasty white and washed out.
Medium Skin
Medium skin is rather neutral when it comes to hair color. Those with medium skin can pull off light colors as well as dark, but will look best with something close to the middle. If you go too dark it can make your skin look paler, and vice versa if you go too light it can make your skin appear much darker, though that may not be a bad thing if you’re trying to hold onto your summer tan.
Dark Skin
Dark skin can be perfectly paired with many of the deepest and brightest shades of red. The darkness of your skin enriches the vibrancy of bold colors making them even more spectacular. So don’t be afraid to be daring.
Maintaining Your Red
Now that you’ve found your perfect red you want it to last as long as possible. That will probably require tweaking your hair care routine. Red dye molecules are larger than any other color of hair dye, so they can’t penetrate the hair as deeply. This makes red strands more prone to fading than any other hair color. You can keep it brighter longer by switching to professional quality, sulfate-free shampoo, and conditioner. Shampooing less often will also help slow the fade. Use Charles Ifergan Dry Shampoo between washing to keep your hair fresh while still preserving your color.
Still need some help choosing your perfect shade of red for fall? The professional colorists at Charles Ifergan will be happy to assist you. We will expertly match our hair color to your complexion for an absolutely flawless look. We have three convenient locations to serve you in downtown Chicago Oak Street, Deerfield, or Oakbrook. Download our free mobile app from iTunes or Google Play, or schedule your appointment online today
