When it comes to curly hair, both blonde and brown shades can look gorgeous if done correctly. However, choosing the right hair color for your curls does require some consideration. Factors like skin tone, eye color, current hair color, and personal style preferences should all play a role in deciding whether to go blonde or brown.
Quick Answers
In general:
- Brown and blonde shades can both complement curly hair well depending on your complexion.
- Brown hair tends to be easier to maintain on naturally dark curly hair.
- Blonde hair requires more upkeep but can create a fun, beachy look on curls.
- Go with a shade that harmonizes with your skin’s undertones.
How Skin Tone Affects Hair Color Choice
One of the most important considerations for choosing brown or blonde curly hair is your skin’s undertone. Skin undertones fall into three main categories:
- Warm undertones – You likely have warm undertones if your skin is yellow, peach or golden. Warm complexions tend to suit warmer hair colors like golden blonde, strawberry blonde and copper.
- Cool undertones – You likely have cool undertones if your skin is pink, red or blue. Cool complexions tend to suit cooler hair colors like ash blonde, dark brown and black.
- Neutral undertones – Neutral skin tones fall somewhere in between warm and cool. They tend to be olive, beige or ivory. Neutral complexions can typically suit a wider range of blonde, brown and red shades.
Generally, choosing a hair color within 1-2 shades of your natural color will look most harmonious. Drastic color changes can sometimes overwhelm your skin tone.
How Eye Color Factors In
Your natural eye color is another important consideration. Certain eye colors pair better with certain hair shades. Here are some guidelines:
- Brown eyes – Brown eyes suit both brown and blonde hair beautifully. For blondes, stay within the warm golden to strawberry color spectrum. For browns, rich chocolates and chestnuts complement brown best.
- Blue eyes – Blue eyes really pop against warmer shades like strawberry blonde, copper and auburn hair. Ashy and platinum blonde shades also help make blue eyes stand out.
- Green eyes – Green eyes look stunning with both warm and cool shades. Reddish browns and bronde (brown/blonde mix) are especially pretty. Avoid matching eye and hair color too closely.
- Hazel/amber eyes – Hazel and amber eyes look great with nearly any shade. Opt for warm brown and golden blondes or cooler ash browns and blondes. Avoid shades too similar to your eye color.
Consider Current Hair Color
Your hair’s current natural color is also important to factor in. In general, minimal color change is best for healthy hair. Here are some tips:
- If you have naturally dark brown or black hair, stay within the brown family and go just slightly lighter if desired. Drastic lightening of very dark hair carries more damage risk.
- For those with natural medium to light brown hair, blonde highlights or a subtle bronde look can work beautifully.
- If your hair is naturally light to dirty blonde, go for warm golden and strawberry blonde shades. Avoid platinum unless prepared for serious upkeep.
- Redheads can go slightly lighter with copper and strawberry blonde tones while still enhancing natural color.
Always consult a skilled colorist who can evaluate your hair and advise on what intensity of lightening or deposit-only color can be done while minimizing damage.
Personal Style & Maintenance Considerations
Your personal style, lifestyle and haircare regimen also play key roles in choosing the right curly hair color. Think about:
- Your style personality – Are you bubbly and outgoing or more serious and reserved? Warm golds and reds suit a bold personality while cool ash browns/blondes can be sophisticated.
- Your wardrobe – Does your clothing palette contain more warm earth tones and jewel tones or cool pastels and greys? Your hair can complement your fashion.
- Your lifestyle – Do you have an active job or hobby where hair may fade faster? Low maintenance color is key. Are you able to commit to frequent salon visits?
- Your current regimen – Curly hair requires more moisture. If you are lacking in a curly haircare routine, low maintenance color is best.
Bottom line – know how much commitment you can realistically invest in color maintenance before choosing blonde, which requires more upkeep.
Blonde Considerations
Why does blonde require more maintenance? Two key reasons:
- The lightening process leaves hair more porous and prone to fading.
- Tones like platinum and beige show warmth more obviously as they grow out.
Going blonde when your hair is naturally dark also takes a toll over time and is a slower process. Here are some blonde tips:
- Space out highlights over months for a gradual lightening effect on brunettes.
- Choose buttery or beige tones over platinum to minimize visible regrowth.
- Prep hair with bonding and Olaplex treatments to reduce damage.
- Use purple shampoo to fight brassiness andwarmth.
- Plan for salon toning every 4-6 weeks and touch up roots every 8-10 weeks.
Brown Hair Advantages
For those with naturally brown or black hair, staying within a few shades of your natural color is often ideal. Here are some brown hair benefits:
- Blending gray hairs becomes effortless.
- Regrowth is far less obvious between salon visits.
- Requires less bleaching so is gentler on hair.
- More tone options like chocolates, chestnuts and warm caramels.
- Easier upkeep overall.
Even if your hair is naturally very dark, a subtle highlight or balayage can give a beautiful touch of dimension. Opt for weaved subtle highlights rather than full foils for a low maintenance approach.
In Closing
When deciding if curly hair looks better blonde or brown, consider your complexion, eye color, natural hair color, style personality and haircare regimen. Both can be gorgeous options with the right approach – it just comes down to choosing what flatters you best while keeping upkeep realistic. A skilled stylist can guide you to make the optimal choice!
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