How to know what hair color suits you? Tips to help your clients
Every professional hairdresser has been asked this question at least once before: “Which hair color would look best on me?” The truth is that helping your clients choose the best hair color to complement their style and bring out their best features can be challenging. You have to take into account not only their personal preferences, but also their age, skin tone, hair type, and more.
Below, we’re sharing some helpful tips on how to know what hair color suits you and your clients, so that you can consistently deliver the most flattering colors and shades.
How To Identify Your Client’s Natural Hair Color
The first step in deciding which hair color will suit your client best is identifying their natural hair color. Be sure to keep in mind that hair color can naturally change over time due to a number of factors. In general, all hair loses pigment with age, which contributes to the appearance of gray hair. Certain external factors, such as the weather, may also have an impact on hair color over time.
To help make this process easier, you can use the universal color chart to assist you in identifying your client’s natural hair color. This chart features 10 different levels, with level 1 being the darkest (pure black) and level 10 being the lightest (light blond).
Remember: If the client’s color change is within two levels, the result is likely to be a very flattering, low-maintenance look. On the other hand, if you were to alter their hair color by more than two levels (such as from a level 4 to a level 9), the client will need to visit your salon more often for color touch-ups.
Step 1: Separate a Section of Hair
Take a section of hair from an area other than the forehead or the parting and separate it (if possible) from the rest of the hair.
Step 2: Use Your Color Chart
Next, compare this section of hair with the color chart. Try to always check it against natural light whenever possible and be extra gentle if there is a lot of gray hair.
Step 3: Practice Makes Perfect
With ongoing practice and experience, it will become easier to accurately measure your client’s natural hair level. Eventually, you will be able to do it effortlessly using just a quick glance.
Once you have nailed down the natural hair color, you’re ready to move on to the next step: deciding which color and shade will work best!

What’s the Best Hair Color for Each Skin Tone?
When it comes down to it, your client’s unique skin tone (and specifically undertone) is one of the key factors in selecting a color that makes them instantly glow when they leave your chair. With the advancement of hair dye products and techniques in today’s modern world, there’s really no reason why any skin tone can’t pull off any hair color they desire.
Most stylists will agree that the secret to know what hair color suits your clients is aligning it with the best option for the skin’s undertones (coolness or warmth). Keep reading to learn more about just why these undertones can make all the difference when recommending hair color options.
Warm Skin
Skin with warm undertones generally pairs best with warmer-toned hair colors that help bring out that beautiful lit-from-within glow. We recommend buttery or gold beige tones to complement blondes, as well as golden copper hues and warm caramel or butterscotch shades for brunettes. For clients seeking rainbow-inspired colors, try experimenting with rose gold, apricot, or coral shades.
On the other hand, if you have a client who wants to try to balance the natural warmth in their skin, you can also try a slightly cooler color, such as 3 if you want to go up to the level of a blond, or 5.14 for a rich medium brown.
Cool Skin