Makeup
Makeup for Your Hair Color: Blonde, Brunette, Red, Black, Gray and Fashion Shades
Your hair color changes how makeup reads. Here are blush, lip, eye and brow ideas for every shade, from platinum to pastel pink.
The makeup that flatters your hair color is the one that balances it: warm blush and bronzy eyes for blonde, rich berry for brunette, soft peach and green-friendly tones for red, bold color for black, rosy lips for gray, and either harmony or contrast for fashion shades. Use the sections below to pick the shades that suit you.
Start with undertone, then hair
Skin undertone can be cool (pink or blue), warm (golden or peachy) or neutral. Hair color adds contrast. A rule that works: use undertone to choose the shade family, and hair color to choose how bold to go.
If you recently changed your hair color, redo your makeup palette. A shift from dark to light can make old shades look heavy. If you are planning an event, see our event hair and makeup guide.
Makeup by hair color
Blonde hair
Blonde is soft and light, so heavy makeup can overpower it. Warm blondes look good in peach, apricot and soft bronze. Cool and ash blondes suit rose, pink and mauve. Platinum looks striking with a bold lip.
- Blush: peach, soft pink or coral.
- Lips: rosy nude, berry or classic red.
- Eyes: champagne, taupe, bronze and soft brown. Brown mascara softens lighter lashes.
- Brows: a shade or two darker than your hair so they stay visible.
How to ask your stylist: "Can you tone my blonde so it suits my skin, warm or cool, and tell me what makeup tones go with it?"
Brunette hair
Brunettes have the widest range. Light brown pairs with warm bronze and peach. Dark brown looks great with berry, plum and rich terracotta.
- Blush: rose, berry, warm peach.
- Lips: mauve, brick, deep rose or wine.
- Eyes: bronze, copper, emerald and plum liner.
- Brows: match your hair, or go slightly softer.
How to ask your stylist: "I want richer brunette with a bit of shine. What lip and blush shades will balance it?"
Red and copper hair
Red hair is bold on its own. Keep the rest of your face balanced so you do not clash. Warm reds like copper suit peach, gold and soft brown. Cool reds like burgundy suit rose and plum.
- Blush: peach, soft coral or warm rose. Avoid hot pink.
- Lips: nude peach, warm brown, or a tomato red if you want to commit.
- Eyes: green, bronze, gold and warm brown. Brown-black mascara is gentler than harsh black.
- Brows: a warm brown, close to your natural color.
How to ask your stylist: "I want a natural-looking copper. Which makeup tones do you suggest so I don't look washed out?"
Black hair
Black hair gives strong contrast, so skin can handle color. Cool-toned skin looks great with fuchsia and deep berry. Warm skin glows with coral and brick.
- Blush: rose, berry or warm terracotta.
- Lips: red, wine, plum or a bright pink.
- Eyes: jewel tones, gold and black liner.
- Brows: match your hair color, softly filled.
How to ask your stylist: "My hair is black and I want it glossy. What makeup works well with that shine?"
Gray, silver and white hair
Gray hair can wash out skin if makeup is too pale. A touch of color brings everything to life. Cool silver goes with rose and berry. Warmer white-gray works with peach and soft coral.
- Blush: rosy pink or soft peach, applied on the apples.
- Lips: rose, raspberry or a clear tinted balm.
- Eyes: taupe, soft brown, and a defined lash line. Brown or black mascara adds structure.
- Brows: a soft taupe or gray-brown, a little darker than your hair.
How to ask your stylist: "I'd like to keep my silver bright and not yellow. What tones would flatter it?" Pair this with the cuts in our guide to short hairstyles over 60.
Fashion colors: pink, blue, purple, green
Fashion colors can follow two approaches. One is harmony: use makeup tones from the same family as your hair, such as lilac blush with lavender hair. The other is contrast: use neutral makeup so the hair stands out.
- Pink hair: peach blush, nude pink lips, gold or champagne eyes.
- Blue hair: coral or peach blush, warm nude lip, soft bronze eye.
- Purple hair: berry or rose blush, mauve lip, gold or green eye.
- Green hair: warm peach blush, rosy lip, copper or bronze eye.
How to ask your stylist: "I'd like a pastel color that suits my skin tone. Can you tell me which shades will work with it?"
Quick reference
| Hair | Blush | Lip | Eye |
|---|---|---|---|
| Blonde | Peach, soft pink | Rosy nude, berry | Champagne, taupe |
| Brunette | Rose, berry | Mauve, wine | Bronze, plum |
| Red | Peach, coral | Warm nude, tomato | Green, gold |
| Black | Rose, terracotta | Red, plum | Jewel tones |
| Gray | Rosy pink | Raspberry, rose | Taupe, brown |
Highlights, ombre and mixed colors
If your hair has more than one tone, such as balayage, highlights or an ombre, pick makeup by the color closest to your face. That is usually the roots and the front pieces. A brunette with blonde ends, for example, can wear brunette shades in a warm rose and still pick up golden highlights with a bronze eye. If your roots are growing out, choose makeup that works for both the old and new color, and keep blush soft.
When you change your hair color
A new hair color changes how your skin looks. Going lighter often calls for softer makeup. Going darker may let you handle bolder lips. Redheads and platinum blondes often need a quick shade swap, and many people notice that their old foundation or brow product no longer matches. Take a day to test your usual makeup with the new color in daylight, then adjust. Ask your colorist for their advice, since they can see your skin and hair together.
Foundation, skin tone and hair
Foundation should match your skin, not your hair. If hair color makes your skin look pale or sallow, fix it with blush, bronzer or a brightening highlighter instead of a darker foundation. Cool tones suit pink and rose cheeks, and warm tones suit peach and coral. A sheer, skin-like base lets your hair color be the focus. Always blend down the neck so there is no line between face and body.
Brows, lashes and finishing
Brows frame everything. If your hair is very light or dyed, choose a brow shade that sits near your natural color rather than copying the hair. Brown mascara looks softer than black on light hair. A touch of highlight on the cheekbones brightens the skin. Finish with a setting spray if you want your look to last through a long day.
The products below are common choices. Details come from manufacturer and retailer descriptions, not our own testing.
Length and volume
Maybelline Lash Sensational Sky High Mascara
A flexible-brush mascara the brand says lengthens and volumizes, with bamboo extract and fibers. It comes in black and brown plus colored shades, and is labeled ophthalmologist tested and suitable for sensitive eyes.
- Brown shade softens lighter coloring
- Colored shades available
- Colored shades can look subtle
Easy cheek color
Rare Beauty Soft Pinch Liquid Blush
A pigmented liquid blush with a doe-foot applicator, in matte and dewy finishes. Reviewers stress using one or two dots per cheek and blending fast.
- Strong color from a tiny amount
- Many shades across the range
- Easy to overapply
Dewy finish
MAC Fix+ Magic Radiance
A hydrating mist with vitamin C and hyaluronic acid that works under or over makeup. Some retailers call it more of a finishing mist than a firm setting spray, so pair it with powder where you need hold.
- Refreshes makeup through the day
- Can go under or over makeup
- Less hold than a true setting spray
Tips for any hair color
- Hold a shade up to your face in daylight before you buy.
- Apply blush a little at a time. You can always add more.
- Change your makeup when you change your hair color.
- Take a quick photo of your finished look to see how it reads.
- If a product irritates your skin, stop using it and talk to a dermatologist.
Mistakes to avoid
- Matching everything. Matching blush to hair looks flat.
- Ignoring undertone. A shade that looks good on a friend may not suit you.
- Too-dark brows on light hair. They look harsh.
- Skipping lip color on gray hair. A little color helps.
Final thought
Treat these shade lists as a starting point and then trust the mirror. If you are changing your hair color, ask your colorist what makeup tones they would pair with it, and bring this guide along. For help finding a stylist, see how to choose a hair salon.
Questions people ask
Should makeup match my hair color?
Not exactly, but it should work with it. Hair color affects how blush, lip and brow shades look next to your face, so you pick tones that balance rather than match.
What brow color should I use with dyed hair?
Stay close to your natural brow color, or go one shade lighter or darker than your hair. Very pale or colored hair can look good with soft, slightly darker brows.
Does skin undertone matter more than hair color?
Undertone usually matters more. Hair color is a guide, but your skin's cool, warm or neutral undertone decides which shades look best.
What makeup suits gray hair?
Gray hair pairs well with a clear lip, soft rosy blush, defined brows and a little mascara. Avoid washed-out shades that fade into the hair.
