The Most Gorgeous Hair Colours for Cool-Toned Skin

You might keep up with every colour trend on TikTok, save a hundred hair inspiration images, and work with the top colourist in your area, but if your new hue doesn’t flatter your skin’s undertone, it can still miss the mark.

The perfect hair colour not only looks great – it enhances your entire appearance. It makes your eyes stand out, your skin radiate, and your overall vibe feel more authentic.

So, what’s the key? It all comes down to your skin undertone. When your hair colour harmonises with the natural undertones of your skin, everything falls into place. If you have a cool undertone, you’re in for a treat, because we’ve compiled the most flattering shades just for you.

What Is A Skin Undertone?

Think of your skin like the foundation of your style – it’s the subtle, steady tone beneath everything else that sets the mood. That’s your skin undertone: the natural hue under the surface that doesn’t change, no matter the weather or lighting.

While your skin tone might shift with sun exposure, makeup, or different lights, your undertone is your skin’s constant companion. It’s the secret that helps you choose the right colours – whether hair dye, clothes, or makeup – that make you look fresh, radiant, and effortlessly confident.

There are four main undertones:

• Cool – pink, red, or bluish
• Warm – golden, yellow or peachy
• Neutral – a mix of cool and warm, balanced perfectly
• Olive – a mix of neutral and green/grey tones

Understanding your undertone is akin to possessing a personal colour code – once you figure it out, selecting hair colours that enhance your beauty becomes effortless.

How to Find Your Skin Undertone

Not sure what your skin undertone is? No worries – you can easily determine it with a few simple checks (no need for a glam squad).

Begin with the vein test by examining the veins on the inside of your wrist. If they look blue or purple, you’re likely cool-toned. If they appear green, you’re probably warm-toned. If it’s difficult to decide or seems like a combination, you might be neutral.

Another straightforward method is the jewellery test. If silver jewellery tends to suit you better than gold, that’s a strong indication that you’re in the cool undertone group. Conversely, if gold jewellery looks better on you than silver, you’re in the warm undertone group.

Finally, there’s the sun test – if you burn more easily than you tan, you’re likely cool-toned, while those who tan easily usually lean warm. Still uncertain? You could very well be neutral, or even olive, which has a slight green-grey hue and doesn’t always fit neatly into warm or cool categories.

Once you understand your undertone, you can choose hair colours that complement your skin rather than clash with it.

Best Hair Colours for Cool Undertones

Cool Dark Brown

Timeless, luxurious, and always stylish – a cool dark brown is among the most flattering colours for those with cool undertones.

This shade features an ashy undertone without any warm or golden highlights, ensuring it enhances your complexion without emphasising any redness or pink tones. Picture espresso, dark chocolate, or iced coffee – all the rich, cool aesthetics without any brassiness.

It’s an ideal choice if you’re looking for a low-maintenance yet striking option, providing depth and dimension to your hair while maintaining a sleek and natural appearance.

Mushroom Brown

Don’t let its name fool you. Mushroom brown is far more fashionable than anything you’d see on a pizza. This earthy, smoky hue combines ashy brown, taupe, and gentle grey tones, resulting in a cool-toned, multi-dimensional finish that enhances nearly every cool undertone available.

The magic of this colour lies in its adaptability – it suits both light and medium-dark hair, imparts a natural softness to your features, and provides your skin with a delicate, radiant glow.

It’s ideal if you’re looking for something contemporary and subtle, without the need to commit to something overly bold or too plain. Additionally, it fades beautifully, making it an excellent choice for anyone who prefers not to visit the salon every six weeks.

Deep Plum

If you’re looking to explore something a bit bolder, deep plum is an ideal splash of colour for those with cool undertones.

This luxurious, sultry hue combines dark brown or black with subtle hints of violet and eggplant, resulting in a rich, jewel-toned finish that truly pops against cool skin.

Plum is particularly effective because purple is inherently a cool colour that complements the pink, red, or blue undertones in your skin instead of clashing with them. It creates a stunning contrast that highlights the radiance of your complexion, making your features appear sharper and more defined.

Burgundy

Burgundy is striking, sophisticated, and perfectly moody. In contrast to warmer reds that may clash with cool undertones, burgundy embraces violet and berry shades that enhance pink, red, or blue undertones in the skin. This creates a stunning contrast that enhances your skin’s luminosity and balance.

Whether you desire a complete burgundy makeover or just a hint of wine-coloured highlights, it’s a shade that captures attention while maintaining a refined appearance.

Blue-Black

Blue-black is the ultimate cool-toned hair colour if you’re looking for something sleek, mysterious, and undeniably eye-catching.

This hue merges the richness of black with a subtle touch of blue undertones, resulting in a glossy, multidimensional finish that beautifully complements cool undertones. The blue tint helps to neutralise any redness or pinkness in the skin, enhancing your complexion and making your features appear more defined.

In contrast to harsh jet black, the blue-black shade introduces a modern flair and softens the overall appearance, maintaining a sophisticated yet trendy vibe. It’s an excellent option if you’re seeking something classic with just a hint of extra character.

Ash Blonde

Ash blonde is the ideal icy, cool-toned blonde for individuals with cool undertones who want to enhance their appearance without introducing warmth.

This hue showcases gentle, smoky beige and grey undertones that steer clear of any golden or yellow shades – making it perfect for harmonising with pink or rosy skin tones.

The coolness of ash blonde provides a stunning contrast that makes your skin appear radiant and fresh, while giving your hair a light, airy texture. It’s an excellent option if you’re looking to refresh your style with something bright and stylish, yet still perfectly aligned with your natural undertones.