Photo: Valerie Macon/Getty Images Entertainment/Getty Images
Like everyone else who tints their hair with at-home color, you’d rather not wait until after your DIY dyeing session to find out if the shade you picked is right for you. Fortunately, you skintones and eye color should guide you in the right direction. When you’re unsure about a shade, try a free virtual makeover online to give the color a test run, or hold up a picture of the color next to your face in natural light to see what it might look like. The best shades should make your eyes sparkle and your skin appear balanced.
Your Skintones
Because your skin has yellowish undertones and your eyes are dark, you’re most likely considered to be warm-skinned. Warm-skinned ladies look best with hair colors that have subtle yellow, peach or red undertones. Cool tones such as blue, violet and pink may make your skin look sallow and unhealthy. At the same time, choosing a warm-toned color that’s brighter than the shades in your complexion (think pure yellow, strong red or copper-orange) may draw attention to blemishes.
Going Dark
Your natural coloring will typically look best with brunette or black shades of at-home hair dye. Deep chocolate, mahogany or rich chestnut brown are stunning choices that are bound to flatter your skin and bring out your eye color. Or try lowlights that match the color of your eyes to get the same effect while adding dimension to a plain brunette mane.
Is Red for You?
Let’s face it: Red tresses don’t look good on everyone. On some ladies, they look outright comical. So if you want to become one of the few who can rock a red mane, stick to shades of brown that contain a hint of red rather than going ginger all over. Amber brown and dark golden-red should both be subtle enough to blend well with your skintones.
Lightening
Though it’s usually best to leave lightening to the pros, you may be able to pull off a blonding session at home if you follow a few rules. Pick a color that’s only one or two shades lighter than your natural color, and check the chart on the back of the product's package to make sure it’ll have the desired effect on your tresses. Opt for warm, honeyed shades rather than harsh blue-blonds.
