How to choose hair colour based on Indian skin tone HAIR By femina

You want to look cool and stand out. And getting rid of your natural hair colour with some hair highlights is the best way to do it. But don’t just go

for any hair colour. You must choose a hair colour that goes well with your skin tone. All of us have a pigment called melanin in our bodies. Melanin is responsible for the colour of our hair, eyes and skin. It also determines how your skin will change colour in different climatic conditions. It’s the variations in the amount of melanin in our bodies, its distribution, shape and size that gives us all different skin tones.

Your skin colour is the most important factor to consider before you colour your hair. While the choice of the right hair colour can enhance your appearance, a bad pairing of skin and hair colour can ruin your entire look and can make you look unnatural. That is why it’s important to choose the right colour because what looks good on Caucasian women might not look good on us.

Whats your skin tone?

To begin with, to choose the correct hair colour you need to know whether your skin tone is warm or cool. A simple trick to finding your skin tone is: if you turn red under the sun, then yours is a cool tone and if you tan under the sun, then you have a warm skin tone. 

Another way to check your correct skin tone is to look at your wrist closely in normal sunlight. If the veins in your wrists look green, you are warm-toned. If they look blue, you are cool-toned. But sometimes, you cannot tell whether the veins are blue or green. In that case, you may have a neutral skin tone, which gives you an olive complexion. Think Jennifer Lopez.

Hair colour ideas

While you can follow hair trends, make sure that they complement your skin tone. Some colours look good on warm tones and some on cool tones.

• Select a colour that is either one or two shades lighter than your natural hair colour or darker.
• Another way is to choose a colour that matches the colour of your eyes. 
• Warm undertones should opt for warm colours like copper. Cool ones should choose cool colours like walnut brown.

The best hair colours for you

Here are some hair colours you can try that based on the latest hair colour trends and with trial and error, will be perfect for you.

Natural hair colour:

All shades of brown and burgundy and hair colour highlights of red fall are natural colours that are suited for most Indian skin tones. Remember that the best hair colour shades for Indian skin are ones that dont work against our skin tone. So if you have pale skin, stay away from all gold hair shades and ash browns. If you have a tendency to get red in the sun, say like actor Kareena Kapoor Khan, avoid red hair colour.

Burgundy:

Brown may be considered dull in fashion circles, but brown, the hair colour, has a variety of shades available to suit all kinds of Indian skin tones. If you are warm-toned, shades like chocolate brown and ash brown will suit you the most. And if you have a cool skin tone, mahogany and chestnut would look best on you.

Red:

Red comes in a lot of shades and is very tricky to play with. You need to be very careful in choosing the correct shade for you. If you are fair-skinned, you can try light red or copper red. For olive skin tones, choose blue-based reds which are darker.

Funky colours:

This is for all the wild women out there. There are a number of adventurous colours like green, purple, blue and pink out there. As with red, you need to be very careful in choosing such colours. The best way to incorporate these colours is to use them as highlights or streaks.

If you have a warm skin tone, wear these hair colours:

• Deep rich browns like chocolate, chestnut or auburns as a base

• Rich golden browns
• Highlights with warm golds and reds or copper
• Avoid blue, violet, white and jet black. These hair colours can make you look washed out

If you have a cool skin tone, wear these hair colours:

• Cool reds, like burgundy or bordeaux
• Intense browns with a warm base, like red or blonde to brown
• Highlight with cool shades such as wheat, honey or taupe, cool ash brown
• Avoid gold and bronze tones, which can make you look drawn

Permanent hair colours

Permanent hair colours, more commonly known as hair dyes, are used to colour the hair intensely for longer periods of time. Now, though the permanent hair dye formulas need to be left on the hair for longer durations, they don’t need to be applied as often as temporary hair colour. Which is definitely a major plus.Permanent hair dyes can change the hair colour to upto two tones light or darker and are mostly formulated to give a more natural looking hue to the hair. They also stick for a longer duration of time and can stay vibrant with regular touch-ups. This can also be done at home.
However, if you are a novice to hair colouring and are not aware of the trends and colour types, it’s best to take help of a salon expert or your trusted colourist.

Advantages of using permanent hair colour

Permanent hair dyes save you from the hassle of colouring the hair frequently. Also, they provide excellent grey hair coverage.These dyes come in a variety of colours and there is something for everyone, right from natural looking shades to vibrant hues. They’reeasy to use, inexpensive and areavailable commonly. Plus, one has a choice to pick from a range of brands according to their choice and budget. Permanent hair colors are ideal for people with hectic schedules or who do not want to invest a lot of time or energy in colouring or maintaining their hair. In short, permanent hair colours are hassle free, budget-friendly and also give good results.

Disadvantages of permanent hair colour

Too much of colouring can make the hair dry which can lead to brittleness. Go for ammonia-free colours which will be gentler on the hair. Another disadvantage of permanent hair colour is that the colour may fade from the hair, but it doesn’t go away completely. The only way to get rid of the dye from your hair is to cut it once it grows. Frequent shampooing may lead to fading of colour and touch ups would be required.
For people with sensitive skin, it is advisable to watch out for colour-based allergies and rashes. It’s better to go for a patch test before trying out a new brand or colour.

Caring for dyed hair

Always remember, no matter how you colour or dye your hair, it will need special care. Coloured hair is more prone to dryness and brittleness. Ensure that you use a good quality shampoo and conditioner meant for coloured hair. Give an extra dose of moisture to your hair by deep conditioning it regularlyorgo for oil massages and apply hydrating hair masks. If you are bleaching your hair, make sure to use a conditioner to seal the hair follicles and lock in the moisture as bleaching makes the hair devoid of internal moisture. Also, invest in a smoothening shampoo that will keep the hair smooth and glossy.
No matter what hair colour type or brand you pick, the best way to maintain your coloured hair to give it the right amount of care and protection.

Text: Parita Patel



Source: femina