Purple hair has become an increasingly popular hair color trend in recent years. More and more people are embracing vibrant, unnatural hair colors like purple as a form of self-expression. But purple hair is a bold look that doesn’t necessarily work for everyone. So who does purple hair look best on?
Skin Tone Considerations
One of the most important factors in determining who can pull off purple hair is skin tone. In general, purple hair tends to look best on people with cool, fair skin tones. The vibrant shade nicely complements pale or porcelain skin. People with very warm, olive, or darker skin tones often have a harder time wearing purple hair since the color can clash with their skin undertone. However, there are some shades of purple like lilac or lavender hair that may work for people with medium or tan skin.
| Skin Tone | Best Purple Shades |
|---|---|
| Fair, Porcelain | Vibrant purples, jewel tones |
| Medium, Tan | Soft purples like lilac, lavender |
| Olive, Dark | Deeper plums, eggplant |
When trying to determine if purple hair flatters your complexion, it can help to do a test strand before committing to an overall color change. Put a small purple colored streak in your hair and see how it looks against your skin in different lighting before deciding if you want to take the full purple plunge.
Eye Color
Your natural eye color is another factor that can influence how flattering purple hair is on you. Purple hair often suits people with light eye colors like blue, green, gray and hazel eyes. The purple hue complements and brings out lighter eye colors beautifully. People with brown or black eyes may have a harder time pulling off purple hair since there isn’t as much contrast. But shades like lilac or lavender can potentially work for darker eyes as well.
| Eye Color | Best Purple Shades |
|---|---|
| Blue | Cool-toned purples |
| Green | Vibrant jewel tones |
| Gray | Soft purples, lavender |
| Hazel | Warm purples with hints of red |
| Brown | Lilac, lavender |
| Black | Eggplant, plum |
When trying out purple hair, pay attention to how the color interacts with and brings out your eyes. Some shades like jewel tones may make blue eyes pop, while warmer purples can make hazel eyes shine.
Hair Color and Texture
Your current natural hair color and texture are other aspects that help determine if purple hair will suit you. In general, purple shows up best on light or bleached blonde hair. The light base lets the true vibrancy of the purple tone shine through. Trying to put purple dye directly on top of darker hair often results in a subtle hint of color rather than a bold look.
It’s ideal to have your hair professionally lightened first to achieve a bright, noticeable purple shade. However, purple can work for some people with natural lighter brown or red hues in their hair. The purple may mix with the warm tones to create more of a subtle, dimensional effect.
As for hair texture, purple hair tends to look great on straight or wavy hair types. The color is easy to see and pops nicely against smooth hair textures. It can be harder to achieve a vivid purple result on very coarse or super curly hair. The texture can blend or distort the color’s appearance. However, using vivid purple hair dyes formulated for coarse hair can help curb this issue.
Skin Undertones
Your skin’s undertones are another factor to evaluate when considering purple hair. People with cool pink or red undertones in their skin often look fabulous with purple locks. The cool-toned hair flatters and harmonizes with the skin’s undertone. Purple hair can sometimes clash or seem too harsh on those with warm yellow or olive undertones.
Pay attention to the color of your veins. If your veins appear blue or purple, you likely have a cool undertone. Greenish veins indicate a warm undertone. Neutral undertones are associated with veins that appear blue-green.
You can also evaluate your undertone by assessing if silver or gold jewelry flatters you more. Cool undertones tend to shine with silver, while warm undertones glow with gold. Keeping your skin’s natural undertone and color temperature in mind helps guide flattering purple hair color choices.
Personal Style and Preferences
While your physical features help determine if you can “pull off” purple hair, personal style also matters. Purple hair works best for people who have an edgy, bold, or artistic sense of style. The vibrant hue complements avant-garde fashion choices and unconventional looks.
People who have more mainstream, professional, or conservative styles may want to think twice before going purple. While purple hair is becoming more accepted, it is still considered an alternative choice. So assess your wardrobe, lifestyle, and preferences before taking the plunge. Make sure the dramatic look aligns with how you want to present yourself.
Maintenance Level
It’s also crucial to consider the upkeep required for purple hair. Vibrant purple shades fade quickly and will need frequent touch-ups and toning. You may need professional coloring every 4-6 weeks to maintain the bold color. At home care also requires using purple-toning shampoos and conditioners.
If you don’t want to commit to frequent salon visits and intensive color maintenance, you may want to reconsider purple hair. There are more subtle purple shades like lilac that fade gracefully and require less upkeep. But in general, bold purple hair requires dedication and work to keep looking fabulous.
Lifestyle Factors
Think about if purple hair will work with your career, school life, and commitments. While radical hair colors are more widely accepted, some traditional environments may still frown upon loud shades like purple. If you have a conservative office job or strict dress code policies to follow, purple tresses may not be the best choice.
Purple hair can also draw lots of attention when you are out in public. If you are introverted or shy about having all eyes on you, going purple may feel uncomfortable. But for those craving a bold statement style, purple hair can be the perfect way to express your personality.
Age Considerations
Traditionally, vibrant hair colors like purple were associated mainly with younger people. But today, purple hair is trending at all ages. More women over 40, 50 and beyond are trying the attention-grabbing hue.
While purple hair tends to be considered an edgier choice, there are no strict age limitations. If you have gray hair, purple can be a fun way to blend in the grays for a youthful effect. Evaluate your lifestyle and preferences, not just your age, when deciding if purple hair is right for you as a mature woman.
Face Shape Suitability
Your face shape can also influence if purple hair will be flattering. In general, oblong, oval, and diamond face shapes tend to suit purple hair nicely. The vibrant color frames the face in a harmonious way on these shapes.
Heart, square, and round faces can also wear purple hair beautifully. But very short purple hair may overwhelm these shapes, so aim for medium to longer lengths. Keeping purple hair off the face and shoulders via updos can also complement rounder face shapes.
| Face Shape | Most Flattering Purple Hair |
|---|---|
| Oval | All purple hair lengths |
| Oblong | Shoulder length or longer |
| Diamond | Medium to long one length |
| Square | Long layers, waves |
| Heart | Below shoulder length |
| Round | Long layers, medium lengths |
Conclusion
Purple hair allows you to make a bold, vibrant statement with your look. But the eye-catching color isn’t right for everyone. Cool skin tones, light eyes, straight hair textures, and cool undertones tend to complement purple locks best. Personal style and preferences are key factors as well. Purple hair requires commitment to frequent coloring and maintenance. But for those willing to put in the work, purple tresses can be a beautiful, head-turning choice.
Do you carefully evaluate factors like skin tone, eye color, face shape, and maintenance needs before trying a trendy hair color? Or do you impulsively go for whatever excites you in the moment? Hair color decisions are very personal. What matters most is choosing the shade that makes you feel confident, stylish, and amazing.
