Do you understand about warm and cool tones in your hair? and does it matter ?

[Liz1tummypain]

I don't know how to make a decision.

I'm thinking of a ballyage on my mid/dark brown hair with either caramel or mid/ash blonde colour. So how do you decide ? I like both. the first is supposedly warm and the other cool. I had a consultation but they can't suggest what to go for and I just don't know what I prefer. I don't want to decide by tossing a coin. Any ideas please?

It does matter and will look much better if you match with your skin tone. There are lots of guides online where you can figure out whether you're warm or cool.

Part of the reason I've got hung up on this is I've seen some places they say your hair colour, or highlights need to match your skin tones and I 've also seen it said that they should be the opposite.

Here's one where they say use the opposite-

https://www.lorealparisusa.com/beauty-magazine/hair-color/hair-color-ideas/brown-hair-skin-tone

What colour clothes suit you? E.g. I look good in hot pinks neon yellow etc and shocking in browns and mustards. I am defo a cool toned clothes and highlights person.

Yes it very much matters. I always go cool as that's what suits me. It often goes a little brassy if i leave it too long anyway.

It very much matters and for best results I believe you need to think about your skin's undertone, not just surface colouring (any tans/redness/surface pigment) I've not quite figured this out, but apparently the vein test isn't always accurate for people and sometimes people focus on the surface colouring rather than their undertones.

If you look at the season colour guides online and notice which colours make you look great, you'll probably be able to work it out. If you seem to gravitate to winter or summer colours you're probably cool/cool-neutral. If you seem to gravitate to autumn or summer colours you're probably warm/warm-neutral.

The article you’ve linked op is a load of cobblers. Warm toned hair on cool toned skin can look awful and vice versa

Yes it depends on your skin tone. I have olive skin and the cool ash blonde works best for me.

Considering that article is illustrated by someone with warm brown tones with warm toned makeup and jewellery and the same warm brown tones in her hair, I'd ignore the bs words.
(That said, I'm neutral and can do moderately warm or moderately cool, but then have to dress accordingly.)

I have pink toned skin, prone to redness, and cool toned is better as warm tones can make it look rosier.
I would be tempted by warm tones as the regrowth (for me) is a lot more subtle- cool tones seem to show the roots off a lot more.

Thanks everyone. I may now be moving towards a better understanding now. I know- pretty darned sure about this- that me face is what they describe as cool toned. I can't wear cream, beige, yellow etc Have to wear white, blue, cool pink etc. Silver rather than gold jewellry. So the consensus here seems to be that I should stick with cooler hair shades.

I added that link because that is what has confused me. I am a complete novice so I'm trying to edge towards an understanding and the general view seems to be hair shades should go along with skin tones. Thanks to everyone who has posted.

@MidnightMeltdown , hang on, so you have warm toned skin but you go for cooler hair tones? Is that right? So you go for the opposite- is that correct?

@Thinkle , hi thanks for your post. I'm definitely cool toned in my face. I've known that for a long time. So would you say that means I should have warmer or cooler tones put in my hair please?

Hi Midnight Meltdown, are you saying you have warm toned skin but you go for cooler hair tones? Is that right? So you go for the opposite ?

Still struggling to follow how people apply this idea.

Is your natural hair warm or cool? That’s a good indicator. I have dark blonde with warm tones so anything too ashy on me wipes me out.

@Liz1tummypain

No I wouldn't say that my skin is warm. I think that olive skin is usually considered neutral (although some colour experts say that you can be a 'warm olive' or a 'cool olive').

My hair is warm chestnut brown colour, but the ash balayage definitely works better for some reason. The caramel colour doesn't go with my skin tone.

What skin tone do you have?

Sorry, just seen below that you are cool toned

I think that you would be better off going for a cool ash tone. My skin is more cool than warm, and ash works best.

I think that caramel would be better for warmer skin tones

I'm not an expert though!

@MidnightMeltdown thanks for your comments. That's interesting about your skin tone. I just assumed olive skin would be warm.

My natural inclination is also that I should go for a cooler blonde, as you've said, rather than a caramel . And this is why I'm confused when some say that cooler skin shades should then have warmer tones in their hair. I think I'll have to pretend I never saw that line of thought.

Thanks again.

Hi @Liz1tummypain hair colour specialist here - I would First recommend you get another consult with an alternate salon because any good colourist will help you choose the right tones to suit your natural beauty. Taking into consideration your skin and eye undertones.

Some guidelines to help though - as some people can do both warm and cool tones. Look at your veins, if you see green veins that's means you would Suite warm tones, purple/blue veins means cool tones, both means you suit both warm and cool. However there is also a ration of thirds that you can play with - warm warm cool. If you have warm eyes, cool skin tones, go warm hair tones. Never do cool cool cool as this is ageing and washes you out.

Anyway - I would seek an alternate colourist who will help guide you to choosing the right tones/levels and placement for you.

But as a note - it's not the end of the world if you choose a tone and don't like it, you can alter a tone simple enough.

You're welcome @Liz1tummypain

I think cool is the right choice, but see whether there are colour samples which you can hold next to your face. You should be able to tell which suits you best.

Failing that, you could perhaps try an ash coloured hair piece in a shop

Thanks for this, @Nclktnntt . That's reassuring.

I know my skin is cool, ( always known that) and my eyes are a grey-green so either cool or neutral I suppose..so going by the thirds principle that would mean I could try a slightly warm tone. Interesting idea. I think I'm most likely going to ask for cool to be honest though. Then if like you say it's too ageing then they could put a warmer one on top. that's what I'm edging towards.

Thanks again

Thanks again @MidnightMeltdown . Yes I do have two samples theyve done of my hair, one with a coolish tone and one with a warmer one and I've put them against the back of my head ( where both looked fine), but it didn't dawn on me to try them close to my face - I'm such a numpty! I will go in ( yet again). And ask if I can put each one up near my face. One day I'll look back and laugh at all this, I hope!

Best wishes :)

If your skin is cool then you definitely need your hair tone to be cool also. Warm toned hair won’t suit. My skin tone is very cool - warm toned hair (and make up and clothes) all make me look ill