The Best Hair Colors for Olive Skin: 10 Flattering Shades to Try

Finding a hair color that flatters your complexion is one of the best ways to make your look feel intentional and cohesive. This is especially true for those with olive-toned skin (that is, skin with subtle greenish or golden undertones). The best hair colors for olive skin help emphasize your skin’s natural glow, making your complexion look radiant and healthy.

Whether you have a light olive complexion or have a deeper skin tone, there are plenty of shades that can make your skin pop. Ahead, we’ll explain how to choose a good hair color for olive skin and share a look at 10 gorgeous shades to help you achieve your most flattering look yet.

Is Olive Skin Warm or Cool?

To find the best hair color for olive skin, you must first determine if your undertones lean warm, cool, or neutral. But first, you need to understand what color olive skin is and look beyond the surface level of your complexion. Olive-colored skin features a mix of green, yellow, or golden undertones that can lean warm, neutral, or even cool. A light olive complexion might appear pale with a slight greenish tint, while deeper tones often look naturally tanned and are sometimes called olive brown skin. Understanding the specific characteristics of your olive complexion can help you find your most flattering shades.

• Warm olive: This skin type has prominent golden or yellow leanings and pairs beautifully with colors that share that internal glow, such as warm browns, rich reds, and sunny blondes.
• Cool olive: This variation is less common but features a slight blue or icy green undertone that pairs with cool-toned hues, like ashy blondes or mushroom browns.
• Neutral olive: If your skin is neither distinctly warm nor cool, you have the flexibility to pull off almost any hair color on the spectrum.

If you’re not sure about your undertone, check out our guide to determining skin undertones.

Factors to consider when choosing a hair color for olive skin

When searching for the best colors for olive skin, there are several elements to keep in mind:

• Undertone alignment: Warm olive tones pair well with warm hair colors, while cool olive skin looks best with ashier shades.
• Neutral flexibility: If you have a neutral olive-toned skin, you can usually pull off both warm and cool shades.
• Natural hair color: Checking your roots or eyebrows can give you a baseline for what will look natural against your olive complexion.
• Eye color contrast: Green eyes often stand out against reddish tones, while blue and hazel eyes shine against bronzy or golden hair.
• Maintenance level: Consider how often you want to visit the salon. High-contrast looks or platinum shades require frequent root touch-ups and specific care to prevent fading.
• Natural depth vs. high contrast: You must decide if you want a subtle look that blends with your natural depth or a bold shade that creates a high-contrast pop.

10 of the Best Hair Colors for Olive Skin

If you are looking for good hair colors for olive skin, there is plenty of inspiration to explore. Below are 10 shades that beautifully complement an olive-colored skin and help you achieve your desired aesthetic.

1. Honey blonde

Honey blonde is a classic choice and arguably the best hair color for olive skin if you want a sun-kissed look. This shade is best for those with warm-toned, light-to-medium olive skin and works exceptionally well for warm undertones. The golden reflections in this color help emphasize your skin’s natural radiance.

You can achieve this look at home with the L’Oréal Paris Superior Preference Fade-Defying Shine Permanent Hair Color in Light Golden Blonde. This permanent hair dye provides long-lasting, luminous color for up to eight weeks. To use it, simply mix the colorant and developer, apply to your hair, and leave for the suggested time before rinsing thoroughly. Keep in mind that if you’re starting with a darker base color, you’ll likely need to lighten your hair first.

2. Caramel

Caramel is a gorgeous hair color for olive skin because it offers rich, golden-brown tones that feel warm and inviting. It is particularly flattering for medium to deep olive tones and works best for those with warm or neutral skin.

Try the L’Oréal Paris Féria Multi-Faceted Shimmering Permanent Hair Color in Sparkling Amber to get this multi-dimensional look. The permanent color is custom-blended by L’Oréal master colorists and delivers multi-dimensional results without the need for highlights or lowlights.

3. Platinum blonde

For a high-contrast look that pops against olive-toned skin, platinum blonde is a bold and eye-catching option. This shade works well for cool-leaning olive skin, though it requires significant upkeep. Before committing to this transformation, be sure you’re willing to do what it takes to keep your bleached hair looking smooth and healthy.

If you’re up for a bold transformation, use the L’Oréal Paris Féria Hyper Platinum Advanced Lightening System Bleach to lighten your strands. It lifts hair up to eight levels while being mindful of hair health. Follow the kit instructions carefully and monitor your processing time to achieve the most even platinum result, and follow up with toner (if necessary) to neutralize any unwanted brassy tones.

4. Cinnamon balayage

Cinnamon balayage is an excellent choice for an olive-complexioned skin because it adds warmth without a full dye job. It is a low-maintenance choice that blends naturally with your base color as it grows out. This shade is particularly stunning on medium olive skin tones.

When visiting the salon, you can suggest a root smudge hair technique for a seamless transition. This method helps ensure that the warm cinnamon tones flow naturally from your roots into the lighter ends.

5. Chestnut

If you want a look that is both natural and elevated, chestnut brown is a beautiful choice for an olive complexion. This medium-to-deep shade features warm red undertones that add richness to your skin. It is often cited as the best hair for olive skin because it provides natural-looking depth and dimension.

Achieve this shade with the L’Oréal Paris Superior Preference Fade-Defying Shine Permanent Hair Color in Medium Chestnut Brown. Apply the color to clean, dry hair and follow with the included conditioner for optimal shine and softness.

6. Rich ash brown

If you have cool-toned olive skin, a rich ash brown is a stunning shade to try. This deep, cool hue pops against the skin while still feeling grounded and natural. You can find more inspiration for this tone in our guide on mushroom brown hair.

To get the look at home, we suggest using the L’Oréal Paris Superior Preference Fade-Defying Shine Permanent Hair Color in Medium Ash Brown. The best part—because it’s a darker shade, there’s no need to pre-bleach your strands before applying your color.

7. Auburn

Auburn is a versatile hue that balances warm and cool tones, making it a fantastic choice for olive skin. The red tones add warmth and help brighten your skin, while the rich brown base grounds the most vibrant reddish hues for a balanced, grounded look.

To DIY this vivid color, use the L’Oréal Paris Superior Preference Fade-Defying Shine Permanent Hair Color in Medium Auburn Brown. The warm brown hue strikes the perfect balance between red and brunette, making for an ultra-approachable way to rock red hair.

8. Burgundy

If you prefer darker hair but want a hint of red, burgundy is a sophisticated option for olive-colored skin. Its cool undertones provide a striking contrast that feels both moody and elegant.

Try the L’Oréal Paris Féria Multi-Faceted Shimmering Permanent Hair Color in Burgundy Blush for a vibrant result. Apply to clean, dry hair, then follow up with the bonding conditioner to help strengthen your strands and protect your bold hue.

9. Cherry red

Cherry red is a vibrant, attention-grabbing shade that works well on an olive complexion because it balances warm and cool tones. It is a great way to add some personality and brightness to your look. For a similar but softer vibe, you can also look into copper hair color trends.

You can achieve this spunky shade with the L’Oréal Paris Féria Multi-Faceted Shimmering Permanent Hair Color in Cherry Crush. The vibrant dye works on dark blonde to black hair, though the brighter your starting color, the more vivid your end result will be.

10. Pastel pink

Pastel pink is a trendy choice that works best for cool-leaning or neutral olive tones. It provides a unique pop against the skin and can brighten your overall appearance. Keep in mind that you will likely need to lighten your hair first to achieve this candy-colored result.

Once your hair is lightened, you can use the L’Oréal Paris Féria Multi-Faceted Shimmering Permanent Hair Color in Rosy Blush to achieve this shimmering, pale pink hue.

Choosing the Best Hair Color Based on Your Olive Sub-Tone

To find the best hair color for olive skin, it helps to break down the choices by your specific sub-tone:

• Warm olive: You should look for shade families like golden blonde, caramel, honey, and warm chestnut to enhance your natural glow.
• Cool olive: You’ll often find that ash brown, burgundy, and icy platinum shades pair best with your cooler leanings.
• Neutral olive: You have the most flexibility and can experiment with almost any shade, from warm coppers to cool pastels.

How To Care for Color-Treated Hair on Olive Skin

Maintaining your shade is essential to prevent it from becoming muddy or brassy against your olive undertones. Follow these steps to keep your hair healthy and vibrant.

Use a color-safe shampoo and conditioner

For daily maintenance, switch to color-protecting products, such as the L’Oréal Paris EverPure Sulfate-Free Glossing Shampoo and L’Oréal Paris EverPure Sulfate-Free Glossing Conditioner. This gentle duo cleanses and conditions the hair while boosting shine for a luminous, healthy look. Lather the shampoo into wet hair and rinse, then follow with the conditioner on your mid-lengths and ends to seal the cuticle. For an extra boost of brilliance, incorporate the L’Oréal Paris EverPure Sulfate-Free Glossing 5-Min Lamination Mask once or twice a week.

Tone as needed

If achieving your new hue requires lightening your hair, you may find that your tresses take on an orange or yellowish tint over time. This is normal, but may interfere with the vibrance of your shade. To neutralize unwanted brassiness, tone your hair with the L’Oréal Paris EverPure Sulfate-Free Anti-Brass Purple Mask Treatment once per week. The violet-tinted conditioner is designed to neutralize yellow and orange tones in blonde and lightened hair, allowing for a more brilliant finish. Apply it to damp hair after shampooing, leave for five minutes, and rinse for a cooler and more balanced tone.

Protect your color

To keep your color vibrant, it’s important to protect your hair from styling damage and the environment. Before styling, prep your mane with the L’Oréal Paris Elvive Dream Lengths Heat Slayer Leave-In, which helps shield hair from temperatures up to 450 degrees Fahrenheit. And if you plan on spending a lot of time outdoors, swap your usual shampoo and conditioner for the L’Oréal Paris Elvive Color Vibrancy Protecting Shampoo and L’Oréal Paris Elvive Color Vibrancy Protecting Conditioner. These contain antioxidants and UV filters to help shield your hair from the sun’s damaging rays.

Next Up: How To Find the Most Flattering Brunette Hair Color for Your Skin Tone

Photo courtesy of L’Oréal Paris