Maybe you noticed this or you haven’t, but your hair colour actually plays a bigger role in your overall look than you think. We’d actually venture to say that it makes as big a statement as your makeup, outfits, and accessories. So when you’re choosing the best hair colour for yourself—whether you’re Asian or otherwise—that hue should complement your skin. Because the last thing you want is to commit to a colour that washes out your natural complexion. Below, we’ve identified some of the best hair colours for Asian skin tones, but first, you’ll need to determine your skin’s undertone. We’ll explain why below.
How To Determine Your Skin’s Undertone
Your skin tone—fair, medium, or deep—is generally easy to identify, but it also has a tendency to tan or turn fairer over time. So if you’re trying to figure out which hair colour best complements your Asian skin, your skin’s undertone—the natural colour beneath your skin’s surface—is a much more reliable indicator. Here are three simple tests you can try to find out if your undertone leans warm or cool:
| Test |
Warm |
Cool |
| Vein colour | The veins at the inside of your wrists are greenish. | The veins at the inside of your wrists are bluish-purple. |
| Gold or silver jewellery | You tend to wear gold jewellery and find that they complement your skin better. | You favour silver jewellery and think they look more flattering against your complexion. |
| Sunburn or tan | After a long day under the sun, your skin skips the sunburn and goes straight to tan. | After a long day under the sun, your skin gets sunburnt and flushed easily. |
The general rule of thumb is: if you have a cool undertone, go with a hair colour that leans cooler; if you have a warm undertone, opt for a warmer hair colour. This will allow your hair colour to match your everyday makeup and outfits better.
The Best Hair Colours For Warm Asian Skin Undertones
Team warm undertone? These are the best hair colours to bring out your inner radiance.
1. Milk Tea Brown
Did you know that milk tea brown was the Korean hair colour of 2021? It’s also a shade that actress Park Min Young keeps going back to, and we can understand why. Despite its peak popularity last year, this creamy shade of brown remains timeless, and with a mix of beige and brown tones, it’s one of the best hair colours for warm Asian skin. Pair it with a slightly darker root and you’ll recreate the two-toned look of milk tea!
How to get this hair colour idea for warm Asian skin:
An easy way to achieve this versatile shade is with Liese Creamy Bubble Colour in Milk Tea Brown. The foam formula couldn’t be easier to use, and it minimises the drips and messes that conventional dyes usually come with.
Suitable for skin tone: Fair to medium
2. Chestnut Brown
If you prefer a more conservative shade of brown that’s wearable for work, chestnut brown is one of your best bets. Combining the warmth of red and earthiness of brown, it’s an elegant shade that perfectly complements Asians with warm undertones. For a more striking look, consider incorporating some caramel balayage highlights to make the chestnut base pop.
How to get this hair colour idea for warm Asian skin:
Replicate Han So Hee’s glorious mane with the ammonia-free Revlon Colorsilk in Medium Golden Chestnut Brown. Its 3D Color Gel Technology helps you achieve multi-tonal colour from the root to the tip, boosting your hair’s definition and dimension.
Suitable for skin tone: All
3. Rose Gold
Hair colour trends come and go, but rose gold seems to have stayed the course. It remains one of the best hair colours for warm Asian skin, owing to its combination of warm hues like golden blonde, copper, and pink. Plus, it can bring out a glow in deeper complexions and a blush in those who are paler. Since it’s quite a striking colour, rose gold works better as an all-over colour with highlights or as part of an ombre effect.
How to get this hair colour idea for warm Asian skin:
Lisa’s pretty-in-pink hair may require a round or two of bleaching prior to colouring. But if you’d rather not, you’ll land on a darker rose brown that’s equally beautiful. Either way, L’Oreal Excellence Fashion in Rose Gold or Mise En Scene Hello Bubble in Rosegold (endorsed by Blackpink themselves!) will get the job done.
Suitable for skin tones: All
4. Mahogany
Struggling to commit to a statement colour? One of the best ways to add a hint of colour to your tresses is with this subtle hair colour for warm Asian skin. Not only is it dark enough to cover grey hair, it’s also work-appropriate even in the most formal settings. And if you’re looking to add some blonde face-framing pieces, mahogany is a great base to play up the contrast.
How to get this hair colour idea for warm Asian skin:
Replicate Priyanka Chopra’s look with BioMagic Organic Hair Color Cream in Deep Brown Mahogany Gold. The organic, ammonia-free formulation is gentle on sensitive scalps. Moreover, it contains fortifying keratin and argan oil to strengthen your strands and keep them looking healthy!
Suitable for skin tones: All
5. Copper Red
Into red but don’t fancy the idea of having to bleach your mane for rose gold hair? Copper is your next best option for a pared down hair colour that works for warm Asian skin. A reddish copper will liven up fairer complexions and enhance natural rosiness. Though those with extra ruddy skin due to acne or sensitivities shouldn’t go too red, as it will only exacerbate the redness. Olive to dark complexions, on the other hand, will benefit from a richer copper brown.
How to get this hair colour idea for warm Asian skin:
For fairer gals like Lee Sung Kyung, the certified halal Garnier Color Naturals in Red Berry is a great option that leans red. For ladies with medium to dark complexions, the Caramel Chocolate shade that’s tinged with brown may be a better fit.
Suitable for skin tones: All
The Best Hair Colours For Cool Asian Skin Undertones
If you have a cool undertone, you’ll slay these edgier hair colours.
6. Deep Purple
One of the best hair colours for cool Asian skin that doesn’t require any bleaching is deep purple. Subtle and sophisticated, they’re much lower maintenance than their lighter counterparts, lilac and lavender. And since darker shades contain more pigment, they’ll also fade slower than lighter ones!
How to get this hair colour suitable for cool Asian skin:
Take the purple plunge with April Skin Turn-Up Color Treatment in Purple. There’s no need to upkeep this richer shade with purple shampoo, but a sulphate-free one like Love Beauty & Planet Blooming Colour Shampoo will help keep it vibrant.
Suitable for skin tones: Medium to dark
7. Ash Brown
We can’t talk about the best hair colour for cool Asian skin without talking about ash brown! This smoky brown hue looks great on any hair length, but longer lengths, like Blackpink’s Jisoo, can accentuate the dimension of the hue. On top of that, ash brown helps neutralise naturally pinkish skin and enhance natural glow for those with cool undertones. It’s also a favoured shade for balayage highlights.
How to get this hair colour suitable for cool Asian skin:
Copy Jisoo’s ash brown locks with L’Oreal Paris Excellence Ash Supreme in Midnight Ash. Though ladies with darker hair may have to consider a round of bleaching to achieve the same effect. Otherwise, neutralising the orange or yellow undertones in your hair with Olaplex Blonde Enhancer Toning Shampoo can help you achieve your desired shade of ash brown.
Suitable for skin tone: Fair to medium
8. Midnight Blue
Though midnight blue may appear black or deep brown at first glance, its blue undertones shine through when your locks catch the light. And while it offers a refreshing contrast against lighter skin tones, it also works well for those with deeper complexions. The best part is that it works with dark Asian hair, which means there’s no need to pre-lighten your hair for the colour to show up.
How to get this hair colour suitable for cool Asian skin:
Try Garnier Color Naturals in Midnight Blue to get AOA Seolhyun’s ultra-cool hair. After colouring, be sure to work in some hair oil like the Kerastase Elixir Ultime L’Huile Original from the mid-lengths to the ends to bring out your hair’s shine.
Suitable for skin tone: All
9. Olive Brown
Just as its name suggests, olive brown is a tantalising blend of caramel brown and olive green. The latter gives the hue an overall cool edge, which makes it one of the best hair colours for cool Asian skin. The same greenish tint also helps neutralise any natural brassiness in Asian hair and takes attention away from facial redness—much like a colour corrector, but for your tresses!
How to get this hair colour suitable for cool Asian skin:
Since olive brown works best as an all-over shade and goes on easily without bleaching, you can easily replicate this shade at home. Both the Meiwu Herbal Color Cream in Olive Linen Brown or Liese Creamy Bubble Color in Mint Ash are fine options.
Suitable for skin tone: All
Give Your Tresses A New Lease On Life With The Best Hair Colours For Asian Skin Tones
Whether you’re going for a lighter or darker shade, the key to maintaining the best hair colours for Asian skin tones is always in the aftercare. So make sure to use a shampoo formulated for colour-treated hair to keep dark colours from fading, or a purple shampoo to keep brassiness at bay if you’ve gone down the bleaching route. Then put on a hydrating hair mask once a week to ensure your strands stay soft and silky!
Looking for more hair colour ideas before heading to the salon? Read up on the best hair colour for warm skin tones, popular Korean hair colours, and the best red hair colours for every complexion. For more beauty tips, exclusive sales, and vouchers, head on over to Shopee’s Beauty Carou-sale!
