The best hair colors for warm undertones are golden and red based shades, such as honey blonde, strawberry blonde, copper, auburn, golden brown and warm chocolate. They echo the gold in warm skin and make it glow. Our free seasonal color analysis shows which of these fits your depth and contrast best.
Why undertone matters for hair color
Your hair frames your face, so its color sits right next to your skin all day. When hair and skin share the same temperature, both look richer. When they clash, skin can look sallow, gray or ruddy.
Natural hair color comes from two kinds of melanin. Eumelanin gives brown and black, and pheomelanin gives red and gold. People with warm undertones often have more of the warm, golden tones in their natural hair as well, which is why warm dyes tend to look natural on them.
If you are not sure you are warm, check first with our undertone test or our guide to skin undertones.
The best warm hair colors, from light to deep
Blondes
- Honey blonde is a golden blonde with depth. It suits light and medium warm skin.
- Butter blonde is soft and creamy, for fair warm skin.
- Strawberry blonde mixes gold with a touch of copper and looks lovely on peachy skin.
- Golden bronde blends light brown and golden blonde for a low maintenance warm look.
Reds and coppers
- Copper is bright and warm, and one of the most flattering colors for warm skin with light eyes.
- Ginger and auburn add depth. Auburn, a red brown, suits medium to deep warm skin.
- Cinnamon is a soft copper brown that is easy to wear and easy to grow out.
Browns
- Golden brown is a warm, mid brown that suits almost every warm undertone.
- Caramel is a warm light brown, often used as highlights on darker hair.
- Chestnut is a rich red brown for medium and deep warm skin.
- Warm chocolate is a deep brown with a golden or red glow, for deep warm skin.
Matching the shade to your depth and contrast
Undertone tells you which family to choose. Your depth and contrast tell you how light or deep to go.
| Your coloring | Easiest warm shades |
|---|---|
| Fair skin, light eyes | Butter blonde, strawberry blonde, light copper |
| Light to medium skin, light eyes | Honey blonde, copper, golden bronde |
| Medium skin, brown or hazel eyes | Golden brown, caramel, auburn |
| Tan to deep skin, dark eyes | Chestnut, warm chocolate, caramel highlights |
| Very deep skin, dark eyes | Deep warm brown, soft black with warm brown lights |
A good rule is to stay within two or three shades of your natural color. Hair that is far lighter or darker than your natural shade raises or lowers your contrast, which can make your features look washed out or harsh.
Highlights and balayage for warm skin
Warm highlights add brightness without changing your whole color.
- Honey and caramel ribbons suit brown hair on warm skin.
- Copper face framing pieces brighten warm skin with light eyes.
- Golden balayage on light brown hair gives a sunlit look.
Keep highlights warm. Ash or icy highlights on warm skin can look gray against the face.
Hair colors to use with care
| Shade | Why it can be tricky | A warmer alternative |
|---|---|---|
| Platinum and icy blonde | Can make golden skin look sallow | Butter or honey blonde |
| Ash blonde and ash brown | Gray tones can dull warm skin | Beige blonde, golden brown |
| Blue black | Can look harsh and flat | Soft black with warm brown |
| Cool burgundy | Purple red can clash with gold | Auburn or deep copper |
None of these are banned. If you love a cool shade, choose its softest, most beige version and keep warm makeup to balance it.
Gray and silver hair with warm undertones
Natural gray can look striking on warm skin. Creamy, soft silvers tend to suit warm undertones better than stark blue whites. Purple toning shampoo removes yellow from gray hair, but on warm skin a little creaminess is often more flattering, so use it sparingly. Golden or champagne glosses can soften the transition while gray grows in.
Caring for warm hair color
Warm shades, especially reds and coppers, fade faster than browns. A few habits keep them bright.
- Wash in cool water and use a color safe shampoo.
- Use a tinted gloss or conditioner in your shade between colors.
- Protect hair from strong sun, which fades red and copper quickly.
Warm undertones with light eyes or dark eyes
Your eye color changes which warm shades look best.
- Blue, green or light hazel eyes look brightest with honey, strawberry blonde and copper, which contrast with the eyes and bring out their color.
- Golden brown or amber eyes look richest with caramel, golden brown and auburn, which echo the warmth in the iris.
- Dark brown eyes look striking with chestnut, warm chocolate and caramel highlights, which keep depth while adding glow.
How to test a warm shade before you dye
- Look at your natural highlights. The color your hair turns in summer sun is often a good guide to the warm shade that suits you.
- Try clip in pieces or a wig in daylight.
- Hold fabric in the shade under your chin. If it looks good next to your skin, the hair color usually will.
- Start with a gloss. A warm gloss adds golden or copper tone without lightening, so you can see how warmth looks on you first.
Warm hair color and makeup together
When you change your hair to a warmer shade, your makeup may need a small update too. Warmer hair looks best with peach or coral blush, warm brown brows and brown liner rather than black. Our guides to foundation for warm undertones and hair colors for pale skin have more detail.
Your season and your hair
Warm undertones belong to the spring and autumn families. Springs, such as Light Spring and Warm Spring, suit lighter, clearer golds and coppers. Autumns, such as True Autumn and Deep Autumn, suit richer auburns, chestnuts and chocolates. Our seasonal color analysis finds your season, and each season page lists its best hair colors. For fair skin in particular, see our guide to the best hair colors for pale skin, and for base makeup read foundation for warm undertones.