Knowing your hair's undertone is crucial for choosing the right hair color, highlights, and even styling products. Getting it wrong can lead to a color that washes you out or looks unnatural. But figuring out your undertone doesn't have to be a complicated process. This guide simplifies the whole thing, making it easy to determine your hair undertone and achieve your dream hair color.
What is Hair Undertone?
Before we dive into how to find yours, let's define what we mean by hair undertone. It's the subtle, underlying color beneath your hair's surface color. Think of it like this: your surface color might be brown, but your undertone could be warm (golden), cool (ashy), or neutral (a mix of both). This undertone significantly impacts how other colors interact with your hair.
Methods to Determine Your Hair Undertone
There are several ways to determine your hair undertone. Here are three simple methods you can try at home:
1. The White Background Method
This is perhaps the easiest method. All you need is a bright, white background (a plain white wall or sheet works perfectly).
- Gather your supplies: A plain white background, a mirror, and good lighting (natural light is best!).
- Position yourself: Stand facing the white background with good lighting illuminating your hair.
- Observe your reflection: Carefully examine your hair's color in the mirror. Ignore the overall color and focus on the subtle hues beneath.
- Warm undertones: Look for hints of gold, yellow, orange, or red. These shades will give your hair a warmer, sun-kissed look.
- Cool undertones: Look for hints of ash, silver, blue, or violet. These shades make hair appear cooler and more icy.
- Neutral undertones: If you see a balanced mix of warm and cool tones, your hair has a neutral undertone.
2. The Jewelry Test (Indirect Method)
This method uses the way different metallic colors interact with your complexion to infer your hair undertone. Since hair and skin undertones are often linked, this can be a helpful guide.
- Gather your supplies: Gold and silver jewelry.
- Test the jewelry: Place both gold and silver jewelry near your face. Which metal makes your skin look brighter and more radiant?
- Gold looks better: You likely have warm undertones in your hair and skin.
- Silver looks better: You likely have cool undertones.
- Both look good: You probably have neutral undertones.
Important Note: This is an indirect method and may not be as accurate as the white background method, especially for those with significantly different skin and hair undertones.
3. The Vein Test (Indirect Method for Complexion, Helpful for Hair)
Similar to the jewelry test, this method relies on your skin's undertones to give you a clue about your hair's undertone.
- Examine your veins: Look closely at the veins on your inner wrist in natural light. What color do they appear to be?
- Blue or purple veins: Indicate cool undertones.
- Green veins: Suggest warm undertones.
- Blue and green veins: Point towards neutral undertones.
Important Note: Again, this method is indirect and best used in conjunction with the white background method for a more accurate assessment of your hair undertone.
Putting it All Together
By using a combination of these methods, you'll get a clearer picture of your hair undertone. Remember, it's okay to have a mix of warm and cool tones – a neutral undertone is perfectly normal! Once you know your hair undertone, you can confidently choose hair colors and products that will complement and enhance your natural beauty. Now you can confidently walk into a salon or choose your at-home hair color with greater accuracy and less risk of disappointment!
