14 Beautiful Hair Colors for Warm Skin Tones

Golden, tan, sun-kissed—if these are words you’d use to describe your complexion, chances are good you have a warm skin tone. Though you can (and should) feel free to rock any hair color you want, certain hues will make your complexion pop better than others. The best hair colors for warm skin tones are those that feature golden or reddish undertones—these earthy hues will help brighten your complexion and give you a lit-from-within glow that cooler hues can’t do as well. 

If you’re wondering what a warm hair color is—or which one is right for you—keep scrolling. Ahead, we’re explaining what hair colors work best for warm skin (and why) and sharing a few ideas to inspire your next DIY hair transformation.

What Is a Warm Skin Tone?

The descriptor “warm” actually refers to your skin’s undertone, rather than its color. Your skin color can be fair, medium, or deep, while your undertone can be described as cool, neutral, or warm. If you have a warm undertone, your skin may have a golden or yellowish cast. Those with warm skin often tan easily, and tend to look best in warm hues, such as red, orange, gold, or brown. While you may be able to determine if you have a warm skin tone by looking at yourself in natural light in the mirror, it’s not always the easiest to decipher. Fortunately, there are tests you can do to figure it out for sure. 

One simple test to determine the undertones in your skin is to look at the color of the veins on the inside of your wrist in natural light. If they appear green or teal, you likely have a warm skin tone (a blue or purplish tint, meanwhile, is typically indicative of cool skin). If you spot a mix of green and blue tones, chances are good you have neutral skin—which means pretty much any hair color will flatter your features. 

Another way to determine your undertone is to assess how you look in different jewelry colors. Those with warm skin typically look best in gold jewelry, while silver jewelry is more flattering on those with cool skin.

What Are The Best Hair Colors for Warm Skin Tones?

As we mentioned earlier, you should always embrace any hair color that makes you feel your most confident. But if you’re wondering “What hair color looks best on me?” here are 15 ultra-flattering options to consider.

1. Chocolate brown

Chocolate brown is a beautiful deep brown hue that looks lovely on those with warm skin tones. The shade’s natural richness helps brighten your features, while the warm undertones complement your skin’s natural warmth beautifully. DIY the classic hue with the L’Oréal Paris Excellence Creme Universal Nudes in Natural Dark Brown.

2. Chestnut brown

Chestnut brown gets its name from the rich, woody brown color of a fresh chestnut. It has more of a reddish tint than chocolate brown, and is a great option for those seeking a warmer hair color to complement their warm complexion. If you’re interested in trying the hue for yourself, pick up a box of L’Oréal Paris Superior Preference Permanent Hair Color in Medium Chestnut Brown.

3. Honey brown

Those who favor golden hair colors over reddish hues should consider opting for honey brown. The sparkling, iridescent hue is an ultra-flattering way to give your natural hair a summery, beachy feel. Plus, you can achieve the vibrant golden color at home with ease with the L’Oréal Paris Excellence Creme Crème Permanent Triple Care Hair Color in Light Golden Brown.

4. Golden highlights

If you love the look of blonde hair but aren’t ready to commit to an all-over color, consider adding fine golden highlights to your natural base color. Ask your stylist for ultra-subtle babylights or create a customized look at home with the L’Oréal Paris Colorista At-Home Hair Bleach and Lightener. 

5. Caramel highlights

Bring even more warmth to your hair by weaving caramel-colored highlights throughout your locks. This warm, reddish-gold hue gets its name from the sticky-sweet candy we all know and love, and adds brightness without making your hair appear too light. If you have a caramel skin tone or consider yourself an “autumn,” these dimensional highlights are a perfect fit for your complexion.

6. Honey blonde

Warm blonde hair colors are a great pick for those with fair-to-medium warm complexions. This summery hue features a seamless meld of light brown, bright blonde, chestnut, and amber tones to create a luminous hue reminiscent of your favorite liquid sweetener. To capture this hair color on your own, try using L’Oréal Paris Superior Preference Fade-Defying Shine Permanent Hair Color in Medium Blonde.

7. Golden blonde

Picture your favorite gold necklace as a hair color, and you’ll come pretty close to imagining what golden blonde hair looks like. This inviting hue is on the warmer end of the blonde spectrum and boasts a subtle blend of copper and bronze undertones. Because of its inherent warmth, it’s a spectacular pick for those with warm skin tones. Achieve the inviting hue at home with a permanent hair dye kit, such as the L’Oréal Paris Excellence Creme Crème Permanent Triple-Care Hair Color in Medium Golden Blonde. 

8. Buttery blonde

If you want to go a bit lighter with a warm spring hair color, consider choosing a buttery blonde shade. This sunkissed shade has warm, butter-yellow tones that can help brighten your complexion. Depending on your starting shade, you may need to bleach your hair to achieve this pale blonde hue. If so, we recommend doing so with the L’Oréal Paris Féria Hyper Platinum Advanced Lightening System Bleach, which can lighten your hair up to eight levels.

9. Copper brown

Red hair is a natural pick for those with warm skin tones since the autumnal hue tends to lean pretty warm itself. If you’re new to red hair, ease yourself into it with a soft copper brown shade that bridges the gap between medium brown and pure red. If you’re interested in DIYing this trendy color, pick up the L’Oreal Paris Superior Preference Hair Color in Light Auburn.

10. Cinnamon

Like the spice for which it’s named, cinnamon hair is part brown, part red, and undeniably reminiscent of autumn. The warm hue is equally flattering on those with fairer and deeper skin tones and can be paired with highlights for even more depth and dimension. If you want to give cinnamon hair color a try, we suggest using the L’Oreal Paris Superior Preference Hair Color in Chic Auburn Brown.

11. Strawberry blonde

We’ll let you in on a secret: You don’t have to choose between red and blonde. With a strawberry blonde hue, you can have the best of both worlds. The beachy color is particularly well-suited for warm skin since it boasts a mix of both red and golden undertones. Try out the flattering hue with the L’Oreal Paris Superior Preference Hair Color in Medium Reddish Blonde.

12. Brown to red ombré

If you want to embrace a slightly bolder hair color—but still complement your warm skin tone—consider opting for an autumnal, brown-to-red ombré. We love this look because it’s both high-impact and relatively low-maintenance since the color starts about halfway down your lengths rather than right at the roots. If you’re not sure whether you’re ready to commit to such a bold look, try spritzing your mid-lengths and ends with the L’Oréal Paris Colorista Hair Makeup Temporary 1-Day Hair Color Spray in Red The vivid crimson color will last until your next shampoo.

13. Warm Balayage

Balayage is a highlighting technique that involves hand-painting individual streaks—sometimes, in varying tones—to create a lived-in, yet highly dimensional, look. If you opt for balayage, ask your stylist to enhance your base color with a blend of golden, caramel, amber, and chestnut highlights. Or, take matters into your own hands with the L’Oréal Paris Superior Preference Balayage At-Home Highlighting Kit, which comes with an expert applicator for precise highlight placement.

14. Rose Gold

A touch of pink can do wonders for a complexion. While it’s a bolder choice than, say, golden blonde or chocolate brown, rose gold can look absolutely gorgeous against warm skin tones. Try using L’Oréal Paris Féria Multi-Faceted Shimmering Hair Color in Strawberry Blonde to get the look. Keep in mind that if your hair is light brown or darker, you’ll need to bleach your hair first to achieve the best end results.

Tips for Choosing the Right Hair Color

Before taking the plunge, here are a few tips to ensure you get the best results with your hair transformation. 

Consult with a professional colorist

If you’ve never dyed your hair before, it can be helpful to chat with a pro to get insights as to what color works best for your particular skin tone. Use our Hair Color Concierge tool to chat with a professional colorist and get helpful tips and advice on achieving your most flattering hair color at home. 

Try temporary hair colors before committing

If you’re unsure whether a certain hue will look good on you, test-drive it with a temporary hair dye. The L'Oréal Paris Colorista Semi-Permanent Hair Color is a good option if you want to try a bold hue for a few weeks, while the L’Oréal Paris Colorista Hair Makeup Temporary 1-Day Hair Color Spray is a low-commitment option that washes out with your next shampoo. 

Consider your eye and hair color 

Skin tone is definitely important to determine your hair shade, but eye color can also make an impact. It’s often best to think of what tones are most complementary to the hue of your irises. Red hues, for example, make green eyes pop, while rich chocolates and golden blondes can help bring out the natural warmth in brown eyes. 

Switch to color-safe products

Dyeing your hair can be damaging, so post-coloring session, we recommend giving your hair plenty of TLC. Try swapping out your go-to shampoo and conditioner for a strengthening system, like the L’Oréal Paris EverPure Bond Repair system. It features a pre-shampoo treatment, a shampoo, and a conditioner which work in tandem to help strengthen and smooth color-treated hair. 

Pick up a hair gloss

If you want to refresh your color in between dye treatments, you can use a hair gloss. This quick treatment will make your hair color appear more vibrant and help you maintain your shade even longer. L’Oréal Paris Le Color Gloss One Step In-Shower Hair Gloss is a super easy-to-use formula that can give your hair a boost in a matter of minutes. It’s suitable for all hair types and textures and comes in a range of shades to complement different hair colors.

Next Up: 10 of the Most Flattering Hair Colors for Olive Skin

Photo Courtesy of L'Oréal Paris