Understanding Your Hair Color

Whether you're looking to change your hair color or simply want to understand more about what makes up your natural shade, knowing your hair color can provide useful insights into your styling choices and the products you might choose. Here's a look at how you can accurately determine your hair color and what different shades can mean for your overall look.

Determine Your Hair Color

To understand your hair color, observe it in natural daylight, as artificial lighting can alter how it looks:

• Check the roots: New growth at your roots shows your natural hair color without any sun-induced lightening or previous hair dyes.
• Compare with a hair color chart: You can easily find these charts online or at a salon. Match your hair against the chart to find the closest shade. Pay attention to both the depth and the tone of the color.
• Consider your eye and skin color: They can complement your natural hair color, and sometimes hair color can change slightly depending on the skin tone and eye color.

Understanding Hair Color Terms

When deducing hair color, several terms are essential:

• Levels: Indicate the lightness or darkness of your hair on a scale from 1 (black) to 10 (lightest blonde).
• Undertones: These can be warm (gold, yellow, red) or cool (blue, green, violet) and affect the overall hue of your hair.

For instance, if your hair is dark brown with gold flecks when observed in the sun, it's likely a warm type of brown called "chocolate". Conversely, if your dark brown hair has a slight ash or muted quality, it is likely a cool type of brown.

The Impact of Hair Color on Styling

Certain hair colors can impact how particular styles and colors look on you. For example:

• Bold colors: Best stand out on light hair but might require bleaching if you have darker hair.
• Subtle highlights: Can be more visible and impactful on darker hair.

Finally, when considering changing your hair color, think about maintenance and how roots will contrast with dyed colors. Always consult with a professional colorist to ensure that any new color complements your natural hue and skin tone.

Conclusion

Understanding your natural hair color can enhance your personal style and increase the effectiveness of hair treatments. Examine your hair in natural light and use this information to guide your choices in hair color alteration or styling. Whether you are modifying your natural hair color or maintaining it, knowledge about your specific shade will always be beneficial.