When there are so many shades from which to choose, settling on a hair color might feel like an insurmountable challenge. The process can be simplified and optimized with the help of the hair color wheel, though. Hairstylists use the hair color wheel to find complementary hues and design eye-catching color schemes for their clients.
Color schemes for your hair can be established in a variety of ways, and this article will discuss some of them, including monochromatic, analogous, complementary, and triadic color schemes. We’ll also go over some guidelines for finding a hair color that complements your complexion and eyes.
With the hair color wheel and knowledge of color theory, you may find the perfect shade for your hair that brings out your best features and expresses your unique personality.
Understanding the Basics of the Hair Color Wheel
Everybody interested in hair coloring, from novices to professionals, can benefit from learning the fundamentals of the hair color wheel. The hair color wheel is a spinoff of the standard color wheel used in the arts, with certain adjustments made to accommodate hair dye.
Primary, Secondary, and Tertiary Colors
The three primary hues are red, blue, and yellow, and they make up the hair color wheel. You can’t get these hues by blending different ones. When two primary colors are combined, a secondary color is produced.
Secondary hues include blue-yellow green, orange-yellow orange, and violet-blue violet (red and blue). Blending a primary and secondary color together produces a tertiary hue. Red-orange, yellow-orange, yellow-green, blue-green, blue-violet, and red-violet are all examples of tertiary hues.
Warm and Cool Colors
Colors that lean toward yellow, orange, or red are considered warm. We commonly associate these hues with feelings of warmth, vitality, and enthusiasm. Colors that lean toward blue, green, or purple are considered “cool.” These hues are commonly linked to feelings of peace and tranquility. Warm hues are utilized to impart life and vigor to hair, while cooler tones are preferred for a more relaxed and laid-back vibe.
Complementary Colors
Colors that reside on opposing sides of the color wheel are said to be complementary. They make for quite a difference when put together. Hair colorists frequently employ complementary hues to get the desired effect of depth and perspective.
If a customer has warm-toned hair, for instance, adding a cool-toned complementary color can make for a more interesting style. The same look can be achieved by adding a warm-toned complementary color to a client’s cool-toned hair.
Using Hair Color Wheel to Create Amazing Color Combinations
Colorists can create magnificent color combinations with the help of the hair color wheel. It borrows heavily from the standard color wheel for painting but accounts for hair color in unique ways.
Hair colorists typically employ one of four primary color schemes—monochromatic, analogous, complimentary, or triadic—when utilizing the hair color wheel.
Monochromatic Color Schemes
Several tints and intensities of a single hue are used to build monochromatic color palettes. These color palettes are pleasing to the eye since they are uniform and straightforward. Those looking for a refined, understated style will adore them.
Golden blonde, ash blonde, and platinum blonde are all examples of blonde tones that can be used to create a monochromatic color scheme. The reds burgundy, cherry, and deep auburn are all part of a monochromatic scheme.
Analogous Color Schemes
Colors that are adjacent to one another on the color wheel form an analogous color scheme. These color palettes are pleasing to the eye, with a nice flow from one hue to the next.
If your customer wants a color change to be subtle, an analogous color scheme is a good choice. A stylist can get a sun-kissed style that seems very natural by using a color palette of reds, oranges, and yellows.
Complementary Color Schemes
Using colors that are opposite one another on the color wheel results in a complementary color scheme. These color palettes include a stunning contrast of hues that catches the eye. Clients looking for a striking, attention-grabbing appearance will benefit from a scheme of complementary colors.
A stylish, for instance, might use the contrasting colors red and green to great effect. The combination of blue and orange is another example of a complementary color scheme.
Triadic Color Schemes
Using three hues that are equally spaced around the color wheel results in a triad color scheme. These color palettes are aesthetically engaging and provide several design possibilities.
Clients looking for a vibrant and fun appearance will appreciate triadic color combinations. A stylist can employ a triadic color scheme of blue, red, and yellow, for instance, to make a cheerful and eye-catching color scheme.
Choosing the Right Hair Color Based on Skin Tone and Eye Color
Choosing a hair color that complements your skin and eye color will help draw attention to your best features. The optimum hair color is heavily influenced by the individual’s skin and eye tones.
Skin and Eye Color Affect Hair Coloring
The optimal hair color for a person can be determined by their skin tone and eye color. There are three basic categories of skin undertones: warm, cold, and neutral. Choosing a hair color that complements one’s eye color will assist achieve a balanced appearance.
Choosing a hair color that works well with your complexion and eye tone will help you achieve a more harmonious and attractive appearance.
Hair Color Tips for Skin and Eye Color
- Look at the veins in your wrist to tell what your skin tone is. Veins that seem green indicate a warm skin tone. Your skin tone is cool if your veins are a bluish or purplish color. You have a neutral skin tone if the color of your veins is somewhere between green and blue.
- Find out if you have warm or cold eyes by determining your eye color. Brown, hazel, and green with gold flecks are all examples of warm eye colors. Blue eyes, gray eyes, and green eyes with blue or gray flecks are all examples of cool eye hues.
- Your natural hair color should be taken into account when selecting a hair color to ensure a complimentary end result.
- It’s important to choose a hair color that works with your skin tone. If you have a warm complexion, try for a warm hair color like a golden blonde, copper red, or warm brown. Ashy blondes, cold browns, and burgundy reds are some hair colors that complement cool complexion tones.
- If you have warm eyes, and warm hair hues like golden brown, honey blonde, and auburn red will look great on you. Hair hues like platinum blonde, ash brown, and cool red complement blue and green eyes.
Color Combinations for Varied Skin and Eye Hues
- Hair colors like golden blonde, honey blonde, and auburn red complement warm complexion tones and eyes.
- Chestnut brown, coppery red, and mahogany are all great examples of warm skin tones that pair well with cold eyes.
- Ash-blonde, cool brown, and burgundy red hair and eyes are all complementary color combinations.
- Platinum blonde, ash brown, and cool red are all excellent hair and eye color choices that complement a cool skin tone.
Use of a Hair Color Wheel for Correcting Hair Color
If your hair color has gone awry due to, perhaps, an uneven or unwelcome tone, you can rectify it with the help of the hair color wheel. Hairstylists consult the hair color wheel to ascertain which complementary colors will either tone down or amplify the client’s natural hair color.
Color Adjustment with the Hair Color Wheel
The complementary hues on the hair color wheel work together to cancel out or neutralize any unflattering tones in the hair. When combined, the opposite colors on the color wheel produce a calming effect. A few examples of colors that cancel one another out are green, orange, and purple.
Hair Color Wheel Correction Tips
- Identify the offending tones: Locate the offending shade in the hair, such as yellow, green, or brassy.
- Locate the color opposite the one you wish to cancel it out with on the color wheel of hair dyes. For instance, purple can be used to counteract the effects of yellow, blue to counteract orange, and red to counteract green.
- You can get rid of an unflattering undertone by selecting a hair color that incorporates the complementary color. For instance, a purple toner or shampoo can be used to remove undesirable yellow tones from the hair.
- While doing hair color corrections, it’s crucial to keep the natural hair color in mind so that the end result seems seamless and complementary.
- Get the assistance of a professional hairstylist if you need to make significant changes to your hair’s color.
Color Correction Combinations
- Yellow tones can be eliminated by using a purple shampoo or toner.
- Employ a blue shampoo or toner to cancel out orange undertones.
- Employ a crimson shampoo or toner to cancel out the green tint in your hair.
