In a sea of hair trends and fun new color names, how do you know what’s actually right for you? If you’re trying to find your perfect hair color, you know the struggle can be real. Thankfully, we have the experts on our side! Discover what it takes to nail your signature hair color and find the shade that fits you perfectly!
Featured Experts
- Jeremy Pugh is a professional hairstylist & content creator
- Michael Noragon is a professional hairstylist and KMS Hair ambassador
Start Your Search
When it comes to finding a hair color that looks custom-made for you, your hairstylist/colorist are going to be your best friend. And it isn’t just their expert-knowledge on color combinations that they can contribute! According to hairstylist, Jeremy Pugh, the best place to start has little to do with color at all. “When I’m helping someone find their perfect hair color, I always start by figuring out how they want to feel,” he says. “Are they looking for something bold and expressive or soft and low maintenance?”
Starting with a mood or feeling helps direct the rest of the search for your signature hair color, helping the final product to accurately reflect you.
“Signature color isn’t about trends or copying a celebrity look,” adds hairstylist and KMS Hair ambassador, Michael Noragon. “It’s about uncovering the hue that enhances who you already are—your skin, your style, and your personality.”
Finding “The One”
Ultimately, you want a hair color that will work with your usual sense of style and mood. From how often you’ll want to visit the salon to maintain your color down to whether you wear gold or silver jewelry, all of this information helps informs the undertones that will look best on you.
Questions to Ask Yourself
- Do you want to enhance your natural color or reinvent it?
- Do you wear gold or silver jewelry more often?
- Do you feel best in warm, earthy tones or cooler, icy hues?
- Are you low-maintenance or love a frequent refresh?
“From there, I look at their natural coloring, texture, and how much contrast they want between their hair, brows, and skin tone,” explains Pugh. “The goal is to find a shade that makes their features pop without overwhelming them. I always say your signature color should enhance who you already are. It shouldn’t compete with you.”
Understanding Undertones
Your skin and it’s undertones are a huge factor in choosing a hair color that compliments instead of clashes.
“Skin’s undertone is a crucial factor in color success—and often the most misunderstood,” notes Noragon. “While surface skin tones can vary (like fair, olive or deep), undertones are more subtle and fall into three categories: cool, warm and neutral.”
- Cool Tones: pink, red or blueish hues under the skin
- Warm Tones: golden, peach or yellow hues under the skin
- Neutral Tones: a balance of both cool and warm
Depending on your undertones, certain colors will look better than others (unless you’re a lucky neutral tone that can rock almost any shade).
“If someone has a warm undertones, I usually lean toward golden or honey-based shades that bring out the glow in their complexion,” Pugh explains. “For cooler undertones, ashier or beige tones tend to complement best. Neutral undertones can usually swing in either direction depending on the overall look. That said, it’s not always a strict formula. Some of the most flattering shades are the unexpected ones as long as the tone, placement and maintenance all work together in harmony.”
Keep it Fresh
Your signature hair color doesn’t have to be static, and regular refreshes with seasonal highlights can help your color feel ever-fresh.
“Some clients like a sun-kissed boost in summer and richness in fall,” Noragon adds. “A gloss or toner every 6–8 weeks can also keep a signature color looking vibrant and fresh—without a full recolor.”
And don’t be afraid to explore! You can experiment with gold and silver jewelry to help determine your undertones at home, which can help direct you towards shades before you commit. “The more you learn what flatters you, the more confident you’ll feel making decisions about your hair even before you book that salon appointment,” Pugh notes.
