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Makeup colors that suit your hair color

By Lookslate · Updated

Your hair color frames your face, so it changes which makeup shades look balanced: deep rose and berry for black hair, terracotta and bronze for brown, golden and peach for light brown, soft pink and nude for blonde, mauve and icy pink for platinum, olive and golden bronze for red, and cool mauve and dusty rose for gray hair.

Why hair color matters for makeup

Hair is the largest block of color around your face. Shades that harmonize with it make the whole look feel cohesive; shades that clash can make makeup look like it sits on top of you. Contrast matters too: dark hair can carry deeper lip and eye colors, while very light hair often looks best with softer shades.

The recommendations below match the shade families in your Lookslate result for the hair color you choose in the quiz. Each section also covers brows, which are the makeup most directly tied to hair color.

Black hair

Lookslate recommends warm rose, berry and deep plum.

  • warm rose
  • berry
  • deep plum

Black hair creates strong contrast with the face. Warm rose, berry and deep plum have enough depth to stand up to it, so the face does not look pale next to the hair.

Brows: match your natural brow color or go one shade lighter, such as a soft black or dark brown, to avoid a harsh line.

Brown hair

Lookslate recommends terracotta, warm berry and bronze.

  • terracotta
  • warm berry
  • bronze

Brown hair sits in the middle of the contrast range and harmonizes with warm, earthy shades such as terracotta, warm berry and bronze.

Brows: choose a brow product close to your hair color, or slightly lighter if your hair is very dark brown.

Light Brown hair

Lookslate recommends golden, warm peach and soft nude.

  • golden
  • warm peach
  • soft nude

Light brown hair has golden or neutral warmth. Golden, warm peach and soft nude shades echo that warmth for an effortless, low-contrast look.

Brows: a light-to-medium brown, matched to the darkest strands of your hair.

Blonde hair

Lookslate recommends soft pink, warm nude and light bronze.

  • soft pink
  • warm nude
  • light bronze

Blonde hair is light and bright, so soft pink, warm nude and light bronze add color without competing with it. Very dark lips and heavy black liner create more contrast than most blondes want for everyday.

Brows: one to two shades darker than your hair, often a taupe or soft light brown, so the brows still frame the face.

Platinum Blonde hair

Lookslate recommends soft mauve, icy pink and cool shimmer.

  • soft mauve
  • icy pink
  • cool shimmer

Platinum hair is cool and very light. Soft mauve, icy pink and cool shimmer keep the look cohesive; strong warm oranges can look out of place against it.

Brows: a cool taupe or soft ash brown, so the brows are visible without looking heavy.

Red hair

Lookslate recommends olive green, golden bronze and warm peach.

  • olive green
  • golden bronze
  • warm peach

Red hair is already the boldest color in the frame. Olive green sits opposite red and makes it glow, while golden bronze and warm peach blend with it instead of clashing.

Brows: a light warm brown or auburn shade, rather than a dark brown that can look severe.

Gray hair

Lookslate recommends cool mauve, soft plum and dusty rose.

  • cool mauve
  • soft plum
  • dusty rose

Gray and silver hair is cool and luminous. Cool mauve, soft plum and dusty rose add color that harmonizes with it and keeps the complexion looking fresh.

Brows: a soft gray-taupe or light ash brown. If your skin is on the dry side, cream blush and lip colors keep the finish fresh.

When you change your hair color

If you dye your hair, update your brow product first; it makes the biggest difference. Then review blush and lip shades against the new color. You can retake the Lookslate quiz with your new hair color to see updated tips.

Frequently asked questions

What brow color should I use with blonde hair?

Go one to two shades darker than your hair, usually a taupe or soft light brown, so the brows frame your face without looking heavy.

What makeup colors suit red hair?

Olive green on the eyes makes red hair glow, and golden bronze and warm peach complement it without clashing.

What makeup works with gray hair?

Cool mauve, soft plum and dusty rose harmonize with gray and silver hair. A soft gray-taupe keeps brows natural.

Looks to try

Soft Glam

Soft glam is a polished but gentle look: an even, luminous base, warm-brown and rose eyeshadow blended until no edge shows, fluttery lashes, diffused rosy blush and a satin pink-nude lip.

How to do Soft Glam makeup

Business

The business look is polished daytime makeup: light, even coverage, neutral taupe or soft brown eyes, a thin line at the lashes, groomed brows, soft rose blush and a muted rose lip.

How to do Business makeup

All faces shown are AI-generated fictional models, not real people.

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