Understanding undertones is important for choosing flattering colors in fashion, makeup, and interior design. The undertone of a color refers to the subtle hints of other colors that come through. While black may seem like a neutral color at first glance, many shades of black actually do have undertones that lean warm or cool.
What are undertones?
In color theory, undertone refers to the color bias or tint that exists beneath the surface dominant color. For example, a yellow undertone would mean there are subtle traces of yellow underneath the main color. Undertones are important when choosing paint colors, clothing, makeup, and more. The undertone present will impact how the color interacts with skin tone, other colors, and the surrounding environment.
There are a few main categories of undertones:
- Warm undertones like yellow, peach, or gold
- Cool undertones like pink, blue, or purple
- Neutral undertones that don’t lean particularly warm or cool
Understanding a color’s undertone helps ensure colors work well together. Warm colors complement other warm shades, while cool complements cool. Mixing undertones can create a clashing or dirty look. That’s why paying attention to undertones is so important in fields like interior design, graphic design, fashion, and makeup artistry.
Do all blacks have undertones?
While some very dark, opaque blacks can appear virtually neutral, most black shades and fabrics used in design do have subtle undertones. These are caused by the dyes and pigments used to create the black color.
Deep, intense blacks with no visible surface color most likely have a neutral undertone. But lighter blacks, blacks with a matte finish, or blacks created using a mix of dye colors frequently lean slightly warm or cool.
Here are some of the most common undertones found in black:
- Warm undertones like brown, chestnut, copper, burgundy, marsala
- Cool undertones like charcoal, graphite, blue, purple
- Neutral undertones that appear clean, dense, and void of color hints
What causes warm or cool undertones in black?
The way a black shade is created impacts whether it ends up with warm, cool, or neutral undertones. Here are some of the factors that influence the undertone:
- Dye choice – Mixing dyes like deep red and blue create cool blacks. Adding warm dyes like brown, orange, yellow results in warm blacks.
- Fabric texture – Matte and flat black fabrics reflect less light, muting undertones. Shiny or satiny fabrics reflect more light, intensifying undertones present from dyes.
- Dye concentration – Heavily saturated shades have more intense undertones. Lighter shades of black have subtler hints of undertone colors.
- Finish – Glossy blacks usually appear deeper and neutral. Matte or flat blacks show more undertones.
Professional artists and designers carefully craft blacks to create the desired undertone for an aesthetic or technical purpose. For example, a cool black with purple undertone can create a modern, sleek look. While a warm black with reddish-brown undertone is more natural and earthy.
How do you determine the undertone of black?
It’s not always easy to detect undertones in black, but there are a few tips to discern whether a black leans warm, cool or neutral:
- Compare to known colors – Hold a warm reddish-brown and cool gray blue next to the black to see which flatters it best.
- View in natural light – Subtle undertones are more visible in daylight than under artificial light.
- Look at the finish – Matte blacks reveal more undertone than shiny blacks.
- Know the material – Synthetic fibers like polyester favors cool undertones while natural fibers like cotton and wool lean warm.
- Drape on skin – See if the black makes skin appear more pink or yellow to determine if undertones are cool or warm.
Being able to identify the undertones present helps inform color pairings and material choices when using shades of black in design and fashion.
Do deep/true blacks have undertones?
Deep, dense solid blacks with no light penetration generally do not have visible undertones. This is because there are no dye colors present to reflect and create a tint.
However, even opaque blacks can take on the undertone of surrounding colors through visual contrast effects. So while the black itself is neutral, placing it next cool blues will give an overall cool impression.
Here are some examples of where deep blacks appear neutral or take on surrounding undertones:
- Printer or inkjet black
- Black used in graphic design
- Solid black backgrounds
- Black paired with equally dense neutrals like white, gray, beige
Deep blacks can act as a blank canvas and take on the undertones of whatever colors they are combined with in a design scheme.
Do warm or cool undertones in black matter?
For most applications, the average person will not notice subtle undertones in shades of black. However, for professional designers, artists, and anyone wanting to create a specific aesthetic, being aware of undertones in black is very important.
Here are some reasons getting the correct undertone matters:
- Achieving desired look – Warm vs. cool undertones create very different vibes. For example, black with a purple undertone reads more modern, while black with red/brown appears earthy and traditional.
- Flattering skin tones – Warm black complements warm, yellow-olive skin. Cool blacks pair best with pink complexions.
- Coordinating with other colors – The undertone needs to match to design a cohesive color scheme. Warm black fabric reads as jarring next to cool blue.
- Technical precision – In settings like printing and industrial design, consistency and precision is key.
So while average observers may not pick up on undertones right away, getting them right is crucial for nailing the artistic vision or technical requirements.
What are examples of black with warm undertones?
Warm undertone blacks feature subtle hints of warmer colors like red, yellow, and brown. Here are some specific examples across home decor, graphic design, and fashion:
- Mars black – Made with iron oxide, creating a very deep near-black with a warm reddish hue.
- Wenge black – A dark black-brown timber, sometimes used in furniture.
- Onyx – A semiprecious stone with layers of warm earth tones in tan, brown, and black.
- Soft matte black – Used in printing and graphics, this flat black reflects hints of brown.
- Black with red glitter – Sparkling flecks of gold and red create a warm tone.
- Espresso brownish-black – Versatile shade for clothing like dresses and suits.
Choosing blacks with a warm, earthy undertone creates a cozy, traditional, rustic, or natural look. The warmth provides contrast to whites without being harsh.
What are examples of black with cool undertones?
Cool blacks take on undertones of blues, purples, and grays for an icy, slick impression. Some specific cool black examples include:
- Ivory black – Made from burnt ivory bones, creating a black with a subtle blue tint.
- Lamp black – Produced by burning oil, it reflects brown, gray, and purple hints.
- Obsidian – Volcanic glass with layers of grays and blues.
- Matte black – Flat black popular for modern printed graphics and logos.
- Black with blue glitter – Iridescent quality from blue and purple sparkles.
- Charcoal gray black – Used in sleek tailored suits and dresses.
The cool blue and purple biased blacks create a tone that reads polished, sharp, and chic. This makes it popular for modern and high-tech aesthetics.
Should you choose warm or cool black?
Whether warm or cool undertones are preferable depends entirely on the desired look, application, and your preferences.
Cool blacks work well if going for an edgy modern vibe, or pairing with other blues and grays. Warm black offers a cozy, earthy feel and combines seamlessly with brown, tan, and metallics.
If undertaking a complex design or color scheme, consult a color mixing guide to see recommended pairings. For everyday wear or home decor, choose what feels and looks best to your eye.
Those with warm yellow skin tones suit warm blacks, while cool pink complexions pair best with cool blacks. Neutral blacks with no undertones also work for anyone.
How to choose black clothing based on undertones
Black clothing is universally flattering and versatile. But choosing the right undertone black for your skin tone helps take the look to another level. Here are some tips:
- Warm yellow, peachy skin – black with warm red, chestnut undertones
- Pink, ruddy skin – black with cool purple, blue undertones
- Neutral skin – true black or slight cool undertone
- Olive skin – black with warm earthy undertones
- Darker skin – vibrant warm blacks like mars black
The general rule is to align with your skin’s undertones. But personal taste also plays a role – some people enjoy the contrast of opposite undertones. Don’t be afraid to experiment to find your perfect black!
Conclusion
While black can appear neutral at first glance, most shades used in design, fashion, and everyday life do have subtle warm or cool undertones. The way the black is dyed or produced determines these undertones. It’s important to identify and work with undertones to achieve the desired aesthetic. But in general, pairing warm tones with warm and cool tones with cool creates the most cohesive and flattering look.
| Black Shade | Description | Undertone |
|---|---|---|
| Mars Black | Deep black with reddish hue | Warm |
| Ivory Black | Subtle blue tint | Cool |
| Lamp Black | Hints of purple and gray | Cool |
| Matte Black | Flat, opaque black | Neutral |
