Choosing the right hair color can be tricky, especially if you have a cool skin tone. Cool skin tones tend to have blue, pink, or red undertones. If you have a cool skin tone, you’ll want to choose hair colors that complement rather than compete with your natural coloring. Dark brown hair colors are often a great choice for those with cool skin tones, as they create a striking contrast against lighter skin while still looking natural. But not all dark brown shades are created equal when it comes to pairing with a cool complexion. The right undertones and depth of color are key to finding your ideal match.
What is a cool skin tone?
Your skin’s undertones are what give it either a warm, cool, or neutral character. Cool skin tones tend to have some of these key characteristics:
- Fair, porcelain skin
- Pink, red, or blue undertones, especially in the face
- Veins appear blue or purple rather than green
- Hair is dark blonde, brown, or black
- Eyes are blue, gray, green, or hazel
If you have a fair or pale complexion with rosy cheeks or a ruddy appearance, chances are you have a cool skin tone. While warm skin tones tend to tan easily, cool skin is more prone to burning. And cool-toned people are likely to prefer silver jewelry over gold.
Understanding your inherent skin tone, including its undertones, is key to choosing flattering colors in makeup, clothing, and of course, hair color.
Best dark brown shades for cool skin tones
When trying to determine the most flattering dark brown hair color for cool skin tones, there are a few factors to keep in mind:
- Avoid warm undertones: Stylists recommend avoiding dark browns with strong warm red, gold, or orange undertones. These can make the skin look sallow or washed out.
- Try ash brown shades: Ash brown hair colors have a grayish tone to them that works beautifully with cool complexions. The ash neutralizes any redness in the skin.
- Go for rich chocolate browns: Deep chocolate or mocha shades with a hint of cool espresso undertones can make cool skin dazzle.
- Add cool highlights: Babylights or subtle highlights in ash blonde, silver, or platinum shades accentuate the cool tones.
Now let’s look at some specific dark brown hair color ideas and shades that tend to look ravishing with cool skin.
Dark Ash Brown
One of the most popular dark brown shades for cool complexions is dark ash brown. As the name suggests, these colors contain ash undertones that counteract any redness in fair or pinkish skin tones. The result is a cool, sophisticated look. This can be a single solid shade all over, but also looks great with light ash brown babylights layered throughout to add dimension.
Espresso
A rich espresso brown is another great option for cool skin tones. This ultra dark brown looks luxurious and intense, especially on paler complexions. Espresso brown has some natural depth and contour thanks to its cool undertones in shades of black and chocolate brown. It’s a bold look but flatters most cool skin tones.
Chestnut Brown
For those who prefer something more natural looking than espresso, chestnut brown offers a great balance. This deep yet warm, rosy shade of brown looks stunning on those with porcelain skin and rosy cheeks. It brings out blue eyes beautifully while downplaying any ruddiness in the complexion.
Chocolate Brown
Cool-toned gals can’t go wrong with a classic chocolate brown shade. This dark cocoa brown has a hint of ash running through it, but also some warmth. It’s a versatile color that works whether you have pale or olive skin while downplaying imperfections.
Cool Contouring Colors
In addition to choosing a dark brown base shade for your hair, you can incorporate contouring colors to play up cool tones even more. A touch of plum or ash tones strategically blended in certain areas, like temples, underneath layers, and ends, adds amazing dimension and depth. Violet-tinted browns and icy silvers are also ideal cool-toned contour shades.
How to find your most flattering dark brown
Finding that perfect complement to your specific cool skin tone takes a little sleuthing. Here are some tips:
- Do a strand test before committing to a color all over.
- Drape swatches of various brown shades against your face in natural lighting to see which flatters you most.
- Analyze current and former hair colors to determine if warmer or cooler shades look better.
- Consult a professional colorist who can evaluate your complexion and make an ideal recommendation.
- View color charts to narrow down shades with ash, neutral or cool undertones.
- Consider lighting up your complexion even more with some subtle icy highlights.
Don’t be afraid to make darker browns more ashy or add in a hint of silvery purple if that’s what complements your skin best. The most ideal brunette shades have dimension that plays up your natural cool tones.
How to maintain your ideal dark brown
Once you find the perfect cool-toned dark brown hair color, you’ll want to keep it looking its best. Here are some tips:
- Use a sulfate-free shampoo and conditioner designed for color-treated hair.
- Wash hair in cool water to seal in color.
- Limit washing to 2-3 times per week to prevent fading.
- Use a leave-in conditioner or hair mask weekly.
- Trim your hair regularly to keep ends healthy and remove split ends.
- Use a glossing treatment between salon visits to refresh color.
- Avoid chlorine and sun exposure which can fade brown hair fast.
- Get a root touch up around every 4-6 weeks.
With the right maintenance regimen, you can keep your ideal cool-toned dark brown hair looking salon-fresh and vibrant.
Conclusion
Finding the most flattering hair color for your cool skin tone comes down to choosing shades with an ash, neutral or slightly violet base. Espresso, chestnut, chocolate, and ash brown shades in a dark brunette base, accented with cool-toned babylights or contouring colors, allow cool undertones to take center stage. Avoid shades with too much warmth, which can make skin appear ruddy or washed out. Seek out a trusted colorist’s advice and do strand tests to compare how different brown shades complement your complexion. With the ideal cool-toned dark brown hair, you can look naturally gorgeous.
