Hair Color Quiz: What Hair Color Suits Me?

The right hair colour takes years off — the wrong one adds them

Nothing transforms a face faster than hair colour. The right shade brightens your eyes, evens your skin, and makes you look rested; the wrong one can wash you out, emphasise every line, and leave you wondering why you suddenly look tired. And the difference is rarely about fashion — it is about harmony with your own colouring.

Two things decide which shades love you back: your undertone (the warm or cool tint beneath your skin) and your depth (how light or deep your overall colouring is). Get those two right and the flattering families of hair colour almost choose themselves — from icy platinum to rich espresso, golden copper to soft silver.

Answer a few questions below about your skin, eyes, and natural hair, and the quiz will point you to the hair colour families most likely to flatter you — plus the ones to approach with caution.

What is your skin’s undertone?
What color are your eyes?
How deep is your natural hair color?
How much grey are you covering?
How much upkeep do you want?

Undertone × depth: your most flattering shades

Find your combination below. “Depth” means your overall colouring — light if your skin, eyes, and natural hair are fair; deep if they are dark.

Your colouring Most flattering hair colours Approach with caution
Cool undertone, light depth Ash blonde, platinum, cool beige blonde, mushroom brown, silver grey. Golden or brassy blondes, orange-reds — they clash with cool skin.
Cool undertone, deep depth Espresso, blue-black, cool dark brown, burgundy, violet-black. Warm caramel highlights, honey browns — they can turn muddy against cool skin.
Warm undertone, light depth Golden blonde, honey, strawberry blonde, warm copper, butterscotch. Ashy or blue-based shades — they drain warmth and can look greyish.
Warm undertone, deep depth Chestnut, auburn, chocolate brown, rich copper, warm black. Icy platinum, ash browns — the contrast with warm skin looks harsh.
Neutral undertone, any depth The most flexible: natural-looking browns, soft black, beige blonde, rose gold. Extremes in either direction — very ashy or very golden — can tip the balance.

Going grey: colour it, blend it, or embrace it

For women over 50, the biggest hair-colour question is rarely which shade — it is what to do about grey. All three paths work; the trick is committing properly. Colouring it means staying within two shades of your natural colour and keeping up with roots every four to six weeks. Blending it means highlights, lowlights, or demi-permanent colour that softens the line of demarcation as grey grows in.

Embracing it has never looked better — silver and white hair is striking when it is healthy, well-cut, and toned to remove yellowing (a purple shampoo once a week does the job). What ages grey hair is not the colour but neglect: dryness, brassiness, and a shapeless cut. Whichever path you choose, condition well and get a cut with intention.

Before you commit to a new colour

Always strand-test first: colour a small, hidden section and live with it for 48 hours in natural light before doing your whole head. If you are going more than two shades darker or lighter than your natural colour, see a professional — dramatic changes need expertise to avoid damage and banding.

Prefer low-commitment routes when experimenting: demi-permanent colour washes out over weeks rather than growing out with a harsh line, and glosses add tone and shine without changing your depth. And remember that hair colour is not permanent identity — if a shade does not thrill you, it grows, and colour correction exists for exactly this reason.

Frequently asked questions

How do I find my undertone for hair colour?
The same tests used for makeup: check whether the veins on your inner wrist look blue/purple (cool) or green (warm), and whether gold or silver jewellery flatters your face more. Your seasonal colour analysis result points the same way — Springs and Autumns are warm, Summers and Winters are cool.
Should I go darker or lighter as I age?
Usually a touch softer than your youthful shade — not necessarily lighter, but less harsh. Skin loses contrast with age, so the jet black or platinum of your twenties can overwhelm. One shade softer, with some dimension from highlights or lowlights, almost always looks more modern than a single flat colour.
Will blonde highlights cover my grey?
They blend it beautifully, especially if your grey is under 50%. Highlights break up the regrowth line so roots are far less obvious than with all-over colour. For mostly-grey hair, though, highlights alone will not give full coverage — that needs all-over colour or a decision to go silver.
Why does my colour always turn brassy?
Warmth is the undertone of most hair once lightened — lifting exposes red and orange pigments underneath. Cool results need toning: a blue or purple shampoo for blondes, a blue-based toner from your colourist for brunettes. Hard water and sun also push colour warm, so a shower filter and UV protection help.
Box dye or salon — does it really matter?
For going darker or refreshing your existing shade, box dye is fine. For going lighter, correcting a mistake, or anything involving bleach, a professional is worth every penny — they can lift evenly, protect the hair’s condition, and tone precisely. Bad bleach jobs cost far more to fix than a salon visit would have.
How often should I touch up my roots?
Every four to six weeks for permanent colour, depending on how fast your hair grows and how much grey you have. Demi-permanent colour fades gradually and is more forgiving — eight to ten weeks is typical. If root maintenance feels like a chore, that is useful information: consider blending or embracing the grey instead.