17 Gorgeous Hair Color Ideas to Complement Pale Skin

If you’re looking to change up your hair color, understand that selecting a shade that will be especially flattering on your skin tone takes some consideration. The reality is that not all hair colors look the same on everyone 一 your unique skin tone and undertones will impact which shades look best on you. 

While those with pale skin can wear a number of different hair colors and look great, some shades just stand out for all the wrong reasons. So, if you have porcelain skin and you’re looking to experiment with your hair color, keep reading for the top hair colors that will best complement your pale skin tone, plus tips on what to consider before choosing a new shade.

What to Consider When Choosing a Hair Color for Pale Skin

Before selecting your shade, think about whether you prefer a hair color that will complement your pale skin tone, or something that will create a contrast. If you’re going for the subtler option, assess whether you have warm or cool undertones and then select a light or medium shade with the same undertones as your skin. 

Keep in mind that your undertones will alter the way your hair color presents. If you have warm undertones, a warm color will add brightness to your complexion whereas a cool color may just wash you out. When looking for inspo pictures to show your colorist, look for people with similar undertones to yours so you can get the best idea of what the color will look like on someone of your coloring.

For something more dramatic, choose a shade with the opposite undertones or opt for a deep, richly pigmented shade. The good thing is that experimenting with hair color is (and should be) fun, and in the end it’s whether you love your new look that matters most. 

Editor’s tip: If you’re looking for a bold shade to suit your pale tones, look at the color wheel and opt for one of the shades that’s opposite your skin tone. For pale skin, that’s blue and purple shades — a lavender shade is a great option that still plays up the softness of your skin, whereas a royal blue shade adds an electric pop. 

The Best Hair Colors for Pale Skin 

Once you have a clear idea of what you’re looking for and what undertones or depth level suits your preferences, it’s time to choose your color. To help get you started, here are 17 hair colors that are ultra-flattering on pale skin tones  

1. Ash Blonde 

For very pale skin with cool undertones, ash blonde hair is a great pick. The cool tone of this hue won’t create a harsh contrast against your complexion, it will add brightness. To get the look at home, use L’Oréal Paris Superior Preference Fade-Defying Shine Permanent Hair Color in Ash Blonde.

2. Warm Blonde 

If you have warm or neutral fair skin, opting for a sunny, warm blonde shade will add a beautiful vibrancy to your look. It’s a great way to add brightness to your complexion while sporting a color that still presents as natural. Get warm blonde hair at home with L’Oréal Paris Féria in Bad to the Blonde. 

3. Strawberry Blonde 

Strawberry blonde hair is a gorgeous mix of red and blonde hair color, and pale skin tones pull it off exceptionally well. With ribbons of warm blonde, copper and rose, this light-to-medium hue offers brightness and dimension without creating a harsh contrast. To DIY strawberry blonde tresses, pick up L’Oréal Paris Excellence Creme Créme Permanent Triple Care Hair Color in Medium Reddish Blonde. 

4. Platinum Blonde 

If you’re considering going blonde and you’re unsure about which tone will suit you, know that platinum is a flattering shade for pale skin tones. While the undertones of platinum blonde hair can be manipulated to fall warmer or cooler, classic platinum blonde is neutral and extremely bright, which makes it a great contrast against your pale skin.

To go platinum blonde at home, use L’Oréal Paris Féria Hyper Platinum Advanced Lightening System Bleach in Hyper Platinum. 

Editor’s tip: Bleach can be especially drying and damaging to the hair. To repair signs of bleach damage, incorporate a reparative system, like L’Oréal Paris EverPure Bond Strengthening Pre-Shampoo Treatment, L’Oréal Paris EverPure Sulfate Free Bond Repair Shampoo with Citric Acid and L’Oréal Paris EverPure Sulfate Free Bond Repair Conditioner with Citric Acid, into your wash day routine. This shampoo and conditioner work to strengthen color-treated hair from the inside out by reinforcing weak hair bonds. 

5. Mushroom Blonde 

If you’re in search of another ashy shade, mushroom blonde hair is a trend that doesn’t seem to be going anywhere anytime soon. The good news is that this neutral brown meets blonde hue won’t wash you out because the ashy tones are flattering on fair skin while the medium base creates a gorgeous pop against your complexion. Get the mushroom blonde strands at home with the help of L’Oréal Paris Superior Preference Fade-Defying Shine Permanent Hair Color in Dark Ash Blonde. 

6. Bronde 

If you’re torn between blonde and brown hair, you’ll love this hybrid shade. Get the best of both worlds with a bronde hair color, which, as you may have guessed, is equal parts brunette and blonde. The hue is totally customizable which means you (and your colorist) can find a shade that will perfectly suit your pale complexion.

If you’re up to trying bronde hair at home, head to the drugstore and pick up L’Oréal Paris Superior Preference Fade-Defying Shine Permanent Hair Color in Dark Blonde. 

7. Cowboy Copper 

If you have pale skin, you can’t go wrong by opting for a copper or auburn hair color. Because many natural redheads have fair skin, auburn shades look excellent on pale complexions. 

DIY this rich, copper hair color with L’Oréal Paris Féria Multi-Faceted Shimmering Permanent Hair Color in Brilliant Bordeaux. For a lighter auburn hue, try L’Oréal Paris Excellence Creme Créme Permanent Triple Care Hair Color in Light Auburn.

Editor’s tip: If you notice your auburn color fading after a few weeks, use L’Oréal Paris Le Color Gloss One Step In-Shower Toning Gloss in Auburn to help tone and brighten your hair color in just 15 minutes.  

8. Dark Chocolate 

If a high contrast look is what you’re after, you can’t go wrong with a rich, dark chocolate hair color. This neutral shade flatters warm and cool skin tones, and the depth adds a striking element to your look. Try it out with L’Oréal Paris Féria Multi-Faceted Shimmering Permanent Hair Color in Espresso.

9. Silver

Silver, like platinum blonde, is ultra-flattering on pale skin tones because it gives the hair a luminous color without creating a stark contrast against your skin tone. To sport silver tresses, pick up the L’Oréal Paris Féria Multi-Faceted Shimmering Permanent Hair Color in Smokey Silver. 

10. Pastel Pink

If you want to have some fun and play with vibrant hair color, pastel hues look stunning on fair skin tones. Pink hair has been trending for a while now, and pastel pink is the perfect shade of the rosy hue to rock if you have fair skin. Try it out with the  L’Oréal Paris Féria Multi-Faceted Shimmering Permanent Hair Color in Rosy Blush. 

11. Pastel Blue 

Speaking of pastels, pastel blue also looks gorgeous on fair skin. The icy, cool undertones complement pale skin beautifully and a light shade of blue is a great way to play with color without being too vibrant. Get the look using L’Oréal Paris Féria Multi-Faceted Shimmering Permanent Hair Color in Sapphire Smoke.

12. Wheat Blonde

Wheat blonde is a gorgeous mix of golden and ashy tones that gives your hair sparkling dimension and vivid color. Thanks to the mix of tones, it’s ultra-flattering for pale skin because it won’t wash you out or appear too warm in tone. To sport wheat blonde tresses, use L’Oréal Paris Superior Preference Fade-Defying Shine Permanent Hair Color in Medium Blonde. 

The Best Bright Hair Colors for Pale Skin

If you want to use your pale skin as a canvas to do something bright and bold, here are five shades that deliver just that. 

1. Silver Charcoal 

A smoky charcoal shade has elements of silver, gray and purple to seriously flatter your pale skin. Until silver or gray, it’s a bit deeper and richer in color. See a professional colorist to get the perfect blend of colors. 

2. Fuchsia

Fuchsia pink is easily the color of the year so, why not sport the power color weaved throughout your strands? L’Oréal Paris Feria Multi-Faceted Shimmering Permanent Hair Color in Fuchsia-Cha is a vibrant dark pink hue that instantly catches your eye — it’s truly gorgeous for all skin tones. 

3. Rainbow

It doesn’t get bolder than a technicolor, rainbow head of hair. If this is the route you want to take for your pale skin, test it out first with L’Oréal Paris Colorista Hair Makeup Temporary 1-Day Hair Color Spray. This color lasts until your next shampoo so you can decide if you like it or not before committing. If you do, head to the salon to get the perfect rainbow unicorn blend — a colorist will make sure the colors don’t blend together, which will actually result in a dark gray or brown shade. 

4. Lilac

Lilac is a gorgeous, trendy hue that stuns on all skin tones, especially pale complexions. Because lilac and pale skin are both light, the lilac provides icy color without overwhelming your look. Try L’Oréal Paris Feria Multi-Faceted Shimmering Permanent Hair Color in Dusty Mauve for a pink meets lilac color.

5. Denim Blue

Jeans work for any occasion because their signature blue hue is so versatile, so with that very reasoning, why not sport a denim blue head of hair? To highlight your pale skin, try L’Oréal Paris Feria Multi-Faceted Shimmering Permanent Hair Color in Downtown Denim. It’s a deep, inky blue shade with notes of gray and black to create something deep and mysterious.  

Next: 7 Black Hair Dyes for a Bold, Shiny New Color

Photographer: Stephanie Price, Photo Assistant: Thomas Miller, Digi Tech: Sergio Colon, Art Director: Hannah Packer, Creative Producer: Becca Solovay, Content Director: Shalwah Evans, Visual Designer: Sarah Duvivier, Makeup Artist: Kelly Bellevue, Hair Stylist: Akihisa Yamaguchi, Wardrobe Stylist: Rika Watanabe, Wardrobe Assistant: Fausti, Model: Anastasia Offutt