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Fact: You can rock whatever hair color you desire, regardless of your skin color. However, some hair shades may complement your complexion more than others. And for those with medium skin tones, suffice it to say you have options. While hues ranging from pale blonde to deep indigo (and honestly, just about everything in between) will look amazing on you, there are two determining factors when it comes to picking that perfect shade: The vibe aesthetic you’re after and your skin’s undertones.
Meet the Experts
- Jamie Wiley is a hair colorist and the founder of the industry platform Hair Boss.
- Michelle O’Connor is a hairstylist and global artistic director for Matrix.
- Rachel Bodt is a hair colorist and Matrix brand ambassador.
"When choosing a color, considering your undertone is important because it will either complement or clash with your skin tone," says hair colorist Jamie Wiley. "You want to make sure that the tone you choose will complement the underlying pigment in the skin." Generally speaking, Wiley notes that complexions with warm undertones will have hints of peach, yellow, or gold, while pink or blue hues indicate cool undertones.
To show off your complexion's full range, we've rounded up 15 hair colors that look stunning on medium skin tones. Read on to find your new shade and for expert tips from Wiley, O'Connor, and hair colorist Rachel Bodt.
Hair Colors for Medium Skin
Choosing a Shade: Make sure to pick a color that matches your complexion's undertones versus your skin tone. "Skin tone can change depending on whether it's winter or summer and if you have a tan, but your undertone will never change," says O'Connor. "We all lean a little more one way—whether warm or cool—than the other."
Maintenance Level: Maintenance varies depending on whether you're doing a single-process hue, highlights, or a complete shift in your shade. Certain color techniques can be low-maintenance and require less frequent salon visits. If that's what you're after, opt for styles that feature your natural color at the root so that it looks good while growing out.
Price: Varies depending on the color, salon, and technique you choose. Generally speaking, a single-process color can range between $50 and $100, whereas ombré, balayage, and highlights can start at around $150.
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Honey Blonde
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According to Bodt, honey blonde hues like Ciara’s flatter complexions that veer warm or neutral. “The gold brings out the warmth you already have,” she says.
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Rich Chocolate
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Wiley says a deep chocolate shade like Shay Mitchell’s is extremely flattering, especially for warm-toned complexions. If your skin tone is cooler, opt for a taupe-based brunette instead.
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Butterscotch
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Golden butterscotch hues like Natalie Morales' are the move if you want your blonde ambitions to flatter your warm complexion. "You want to think in terms of colors that give your skin a natural-looking radiance and complement each other," Wiley says. "Rich, warm colors always work well together and give your complexion a natural glow."
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Peanut Butter
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According to Bodt a soft peanut butter tone that walks the line between brunette and blonde, like this shade seen on Michaela Jaè Rodriguez, is an ultra-flattering option for cool skin.
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Strawberry Blonde
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Looking to get creative? A strawberry blonde tone like Jasmin Savoy Brown’s is one way to do it. “A strawberry blonde will give you the best of both worlds by carrying hints of red and copper while pairing it with blonde to reflect the warmth usually found in the eye color of someone with warm skin,” says O’Connor.
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Chestnut Brown
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According to Wiley, Gemma Chan’s chestnut brown is ideal for cooler-toned complexions. “It plays off the softer side of cooler undertones but avoids any clashes in color,” she says.
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Deep Indigo
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"If you are opting to live in the brunette lane with a cooler undertone, then you want to lean toward browns with a more neutral purplish tinge, or even a blue-based black," O'Connor says. "Those tones will offset the cooler complexions well."
Feeling especially bold? Follow in the lead of Amandla Stenberg, who carried her rich indigo tone into her highlights, resulting in stunning cerulean and denim shades.
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Baby Blonde
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Great news if you want to channel serious Marilyn vibes: A baby blonde tone like Saweetie's is a true neutral that works with both cool and warm complexions. Plus, it can be tailored to better complement your undertones if you choose. "If you want to add more warmth to your complexion, lean on the gold side," Bodt says. "If you want to be cooler-toned, veer toward ashy beige tones."
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Copper
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If you're opting for a rich, red-based copper—like the hue model Niki Wu Jie has here—ask your hairstylist to incorporate variations on the tone to add extra depth to the overall color. "Adding dimension will help balance out the flatness and washed-out effect that a single-toned shade can create," O'Connor says.
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Medium Brunette
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Consider a mid-toned brunette like Zendaya's to be a one-size-fits-all color, regardless of where you fall on the cool-to-warm undertone spectrum. "Medium brown is the perfect tone for medium skin with neutral undertones," Wiley says. "It's also flattering on all skin tones and all undertones."
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Beige Blonde
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The golden hints in Vanessa Hong's flaxen hue enhance the warm tones in her complexion. "Work with your undertones to add to or bring out what you already have," Bodt says.
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Bronde
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A little bit blonde, a little bit brunette, the bronde color trend became Jennifer Lopez’s signature. According to O’Connor, it’s a great choice for medium complexions on the cooler side.
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Vibrant Red
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Channel your inner Jessica Rabbit and follow Jorja Smith's lead with a bold red. Opt for blue-based options when pairing colors with a cool complexion, and for warm skin tones, incorporate hints of copper and orange.
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Caramel Balayage
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"If you're searching for a subtle change with a lot of impact, a soft caramel highlight can add brightness to a medium complexion," Wiley says. Case in point: The warm ribbons adorning Sofia Vergara's layers.
Byrdie Tip
Once you’ve found your shade, consider just how much maintenance you want to put into your look, especially considering your base color. Color techniques like balayage or ombré, which typically leave a dark root, require less frequent salon visits and can often look better as the color grows out. Additionally, by keeping your base color at the root, you can push the boundaries of complementary cool and warm tones. “If a warm-toned client absolutely has their heart set on a cooler tone, we may keep your base deeper and warmer, then gradually create and add streams of cooler tones toward the middle and ends of the hair,” says hairstylist O’Connor.
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Purple-Brown
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If your complexion is cooler like singer Giulia Penna's, a purple tone could be a creative color option for you (especially if you've been there and done that with red). "Medium to deeper skin tones with cooler leaning undertones should opt for cool red, purple, or even burgundy," says O'Connor.
