What is the undertone of my hair?
Updated
by
Haven Whiteman
How to Determine Your Hair Undertone (Warm, Cool, or Neutral)
Choosing the right hair extension shade starts with understanding your hair undertone. Whether your hair is blonde, brunette, red, or black, every hair color falls into one of three undertone families: warm, cool, or neutral.
Knowing your undertone makes it much easier to find hair extensions that blend naturally with your own hair.
What Is a Hair Undertone?
A hair undertone is the underlying tone that gives your hair color its overall warmth or coolness. While your overall hair color may be blonde or brown, the undertone determines whether it appears warm, cool, or neutral.
Your undertone may be natural or the result of hair color, toner, highlights, or salon services. That's why two people with the same hair level can still need completely different extension shades.
How to Find Your Hair Undertone
The easiest way to determine your hair undertone is to look at your hair in natural daylight.
Stand near a window or go outside in indirect sunlight, avoiding direct sun, flash photography, or warm indoor lighting that can change the appearance of your hair color.
Focus on the mid-lengths and ends of your hair, since that's where your extensions will blend.
Warm Hair Undertones
Your hair likely has a warm undertone if it reflects:
- Golden blonde
- Honey blonde
- Caramel
- Butterscotch
- Copper
- Auburn
- Golden brown
- Rich chocolate brown
Warm hair colors often appear golden, rich, or sun-kissed.
Cool Hair Undertones
Your hair likely has a cool undertone if it reflects:
- Ash blonde
- Beige blonde
- Platinum blonde
- Silver
- Smoky brown
- Mushroom brown
- Espresso
- Blue-black
Cool hair colors typically look soft, muted, icy, or smoky rather than golden.
Neutral Hair Undertones
If your hair doesn't appear especially warm or cool, you likely have a neutral undertone.
Neutral hair colors contain a balanced mix of warm and cool tones, making them some of the most versatile shades for matching hair extensions.
If you're still unsure, ask yourself these simple questions:
- Does my hair look more golden or ashy?
- Does it reflect more warmth or coolness?
- If my hair is highlighted, do the lighter pieces look honey or beige?
- Does my brunette hair lean chocolate and caramel, or smoky and espresso?
Your overall impression matters more than focusing on one individual strand.
Does My Skin Undertone Matter?
Not always.
While skin undertones and hair undertones sometimes complement each other, they don't have to match. When choosing hair extensions, always match the undertone of your hair, not your skin.
Hair Undertone Is Just One Part of Finding Your Perfect Match
Choosing the right hair extension shade isn't just about undertone. For the most natural-looking blend, you'll also want to identify your:
- Hair Level – How light or dark your hair is.
- Color Pattern – Whether your hair is solid, highlighted, balayage, or root melted.
- Dimension – How much variation exists throughout your hair color.
Matching all three characteristics helps create the most seamless result.
Still Not Sure What Your Hair Undertone Is?
Don't worry, we're here to help. Email photos of your hair to our team at info@luxyhair.com or text our stylist here.
