34 Best Hair Color Ideas For Black Women

Black women love to play around with their hair, whether it is a hairstyle or color! But with countless vibrant colors available on the market today, which is the best hair color that will look amazing on black skin? Let’s see some top trends in hair color for black women.

A touch of red can make you feel fierce, a dash of green like a forest fairy, and a touch of pink can remind you of those teenage rebellion years. But hair colors have more benefits than simply adding a bit of pop to your naturally textured locks. A change of hair color or even a subtle highlight can help conceal thinning hair and a visible scalp. Changing your hair color can also make your hair look thicker. Picking the perfect hair color helps accentuate your facial features and skin tone.

With so many benefits, it is time to pick the right hair color for your skin tone! We know that there are many colors for you to choose from. So, we’ve made it easy for you. Keep reading to check out the trending hair colors for women, especially black women with a dark skin tone!

Before You Get Started

• Always choose a hair color that complements your complexion or skin tone to prevent the color from appearing too harsh.
• Shampooing and deep conditioning are a must after the hair coloring process, as the dye may affect hair texture and health.
• If you are going for a permanent hair color, go to a professional and bring reference pictures with you.
• Make sure you discuss your budget and upkeep. Some colors will require frequent touch-ups and salon visits.

Trending Hair Colors For 2024

If you are the type to keep abreast with all the latest fashion and beauty trends, then surely your new hair color look can’t be an exception. So, continue reading as we share the top 10 most popular hair color ideas below.

• Strawberry Blonde
• Auburn
• Cherry Cola
• Ash Brown
• Caramel Balayage
• Champagne Blonde
• Black
• Honey Brown
• Chocolate Brown
• Apricot Blonde

Now, let’s check out which of these color ideas would be most suitable for black women. Or is there another color more suitable? Scroll down to know about the top trends in hair color for black women!

34 Best Hair Color Ideas For Black Women

1. Bright Copper Hair

There’s something just so impossibly chic about this glossy hair color! If you are feeling particularly courageous, opt for this stunning and bright copper hue all over your hair. For an added oomph, get a short bob cut, and stun everyone wherever you go! You can also opt for a balayage, with darker copper highlights at the top and lighter, sun-kissed copper hair color at the bottom to brighten up black skin.

2. Multi-Color Highlights

If you want to give a new look to your hair but cannot decide on a hair color, say hello to this multi-colored highlight look that will suit you no matter your skin tone or complexion. Inspired by the rainbow hair trend, this color is a great option and perfect if you are tired of your natural hair or the regular blonde and brown hair colors. Pair your hair with a bold makeup look and let your inner diva shine!

3. Blonde Highlights

A great way to accentuate your black skin tone and natural hair color is to get lighter highlights. Black women naturally have darker skin tone and black hair, so getting blonde highlights near your face can add definition to it.

Quick Tip

You can try out different shades like caramel, honey, platinum, two-toned ombres, or beige blonde highlights to give your hair a dash of color.

4. Metallic Gray Hair

Don’t deny it! This woman looks fierce. I mean, she reminds me of a warrior. This light metallic gray shade is the perfect blend of courage, boldness, and edge. Black skin people can pair it with a red or any deep lip color for a mindblowing combination. Move over the classic salt and pepper look, this gray shade is taking over!

5. Dark Roots And Bleached Blonde Hair

This is the perfect slayer combo! Dark roots can make your face look longer while bleached blonde hair can accentuate features like your eyes and mouth. This golden blonde shade hair dye would look amazing on any dark skinned girl, and when paired with that deep plum lip shade, it is to die for.

6. Sahara Yellow

Doesn’t this hair color for black women remind you of desert sand? Yellow is an eye-catching color. Though this shade or tone of yellow is loud, there’s a subtlety to it that makes it easy on the eyes.

7. The Brown Blend

Dark chocolate or milk chocolate – why choose between the two? This brown hair color combination with two shades of brown with dark roots makes for a chocolatey mix and is great for any dark skin-toned beauty. Now take that divine blend of dark and light brown and throw it on your hair. It makes you want to keep touching your hair, doesn’t it?

8. Winter Colors

Close your eyes and think of a cold winter night. You’re probably thinking of a deep blue sky, the silhouette of a forest, and snow. That’s all I could think of, staring at this beautiful color blend with black, blonde, and blue hair color. Surreal is the only way to describe this style of hair color.

9. Mermaid Hair

Contrary to popular belief, mermaids aren’t sweet creatures. They are feisty femme fatales, and you need to think twice before messing with them. Let your hair become a part of your feisty nature and style by opting for this enthralling hair color for black women with these deep shades of purple and green highlights.

10. Purple With A Hint Of Red

The African American woman loves purple hair color and its many shades. The color purple is feminine and also symbolizes energy, which is the perfect definition of a woman. Throw in hints of red to add some flavor to the look.

11. Cobalt Blue

Think of a perfect day. I’m sure the first thing that comes to your mind is a blue sky. A blue color sky means freedom, that you are limitless. It’s a perfect color if you like dark blue shades. Color your hair in this stunning cobalt blue tone, and spread those wings and fly in style, girl!

12. Teal Blue Highlights

Okay, I L-O-V-E this look. The teal blue tone highlights with the dark root effect showcase her naturally black hair extremely well. Not to mention that lovely lip shade, flawless eye makeup, and those beads. There’s no fault in this highlight style teal hair color, only perfection.

13. Pink Tips

Pink! As a young girl, I used to hate pink. But, over the years, I’ve realized that it’s a strong color. It’s the common bond between women, that unspoken code that all women like at least one shade of pink that matches their style. Pink can be subtle or flamboyant. And bright pink hair color with lighter ends add tons of pizzaz to an ombre style dark root afro hair.

14. Merlot Hair

You had me at Merlot. Did you know that Merlot is derived from the French word for ‘blackbird’? Trivia aside, this red wine-inspired hair color for black women looks pretty great on the girl with bright color makeup. Don’t you want to swim in it?

15. Ginger Hair

Everyone who knows me knows I adore ginger hair color. After all, it’s the perfect hair color mix of light brown color, red tone, and hints of orange. While it does have that subtle look, it also screams “Bring it on!” in style.

16. Red Streaks

This gorgeous lady’s hair looks silky and soft, doesn’t it? It makes you want to stroke it. Dark and bright red mingle to give you this hot-as-sauce look. The vivid red tone streaks make the bob look ten times cooler.

Quick Tip

Experiment with different shades like copper, mahogany, auburn, dark or bright red streaks to up your hair game. You can pair it with burgundy or purple-red lipstick to complete your look.

17. Orange With A Pink Start

Envision a perfect sunset. It’s sure to look something like how this hair color looks with orange and bright pink, right? There’s something so captivating about a sunset that you can’t seem to look away. It’s the same with this hair color blend.

18. Brown Rose Gold

Rose gold, on its own, looks wonderful, but take a look at this chestnut brown rose gold mix. This shade of brown is absolutely beautiful! The corkscrew curl pattern makes her face look slim while the rose gold highlights with brown hair color makes her pink lip shade stand out.

19. Purple Hair

Black women are known for experimenting with protective styles and crazy colors to match their personalities. Purple is one such color. Pair this hair color with hair extensions or faux locs and curl them to look badass.

20. Purple Streaks

If you don’t want to commit to a full head of hair color, streaks is a suitable option. It will show you how the color looks on your hair and if it complements your skin tone or complexion, without the fear that comes with getting your entire hair colored. Try it with purple, your favorite color, or any other that provides a drastic color contrast and if the streaks look bad, you can always color them back to your natural hair color very easily.

21. Coffee Topped with Chocolate

I’m an all-out coffee addict. My day does not start until I’ve had my daily dose of caffeine. Top it off with some dark chocolate, and it is a gift from God above. It’s no surprise that I absolutely adore this trendy hair look sported by Rihanna. She looks delicious and the honey blonde highlight bangs are to kill for. Now, excuse me for a few minutes while I get myself some coffee.

22. Blonde Bolts

Bolts of lightning. That’s the best way to describe this blonde hair color effect on a black hair look. This is a great way to add some sass to your look without changing the natural hair color. Getting blonde bolts (streaks) near your face can help slim it down and make it look longer.

23. Aquamarine Dipped

Mermaids are said to protect aquamarine stones as it was their treasure. Sailors used to try and steal these stones as they were used as talismans for good luck and protection. It symbolizes calmness and letting go. But, above all else, it looks incredible – so, why wouldn’t you want to color your hair in this stunning shade?

24. Bleached Blonde

This is a killer combination! Gray eyes, red lips, and bleached blonde hair; the girl looks stunning! Makes you want to try it out, doesn’t it? Imagine pairing this look with a black sweatshirt and leggings. Pretty stunning! What are you waiting for?

25. Jet Black

You know why they call the abyss black? Because it sucks you in! Black, the color that will never ever ever (say it like a Valley girl) go out of style. Jet black hair color tends to pull people in. There’s something oh-so-mysterious about it. You want to look away, but you can’t. Girl, if you’re looking for an amazing hair color idea, give black hair color a shot!

Nekish, a blogger, recalled experimenting with various hair colors and how her dissatisfaction with the results helped her go back to her natural black hair color. She said, “I had 3 years of desire to color my hair…so the party wasn’t over yet! Each time I colored, hated it, and re-dyed it black… I have now accepted that BLACK looks best on me and it’s the color I plan to stick with (i).”

26. Winter Bronde

This hair color idea is perfect for the winter. It is the perfect combination of metallic golden and silver with a dash of black. It’s cold but with color.

27. Full Red Highlights

“All the women who are independent, throw your hands up at me!” Sorry, I couldn’t help myself. After all, it’s Kelly Rowland from Destiny’s Child. I remember when she created a huge craze with her full-on red streaks. Since then, it’s never been out of fashion.

28. Deep Champagne

Add a touch of celebration to your hair like Mary J. Blige with this deep champagne blonde hair color idea. Pair it with a bronze glossy metallic outfit, and I’m sure you’ll feel like a queen!

29. The Toni Topaz

Ever since Riverdale’s Toni Topaz made her entrance, her hair has not only become a popular choice but has taken on a life of its own. I’m sure if you searched, you might even find a whole Instagram account dedicated to this beautiful color (it already has multiple hashtags). Her pink locks have made women all over the world drool! I don’t think this craze will die down any time soon.

30. Goldilocks

Ne-Yo made the right choice! Gabrielle Union most certainly is Miss Independent. This dark chocolate brown hair color idea is amazing! Those brown tone gold highlights on her natural brown hair make her look gorgeous. You can own this look – just like her!

31. Autumn Fall

I believe there is a perfect hairstyle and hair color option for every season. This, in my opinion, is the blend for autumn. This mix of blonde, ginger, honey brown, and dark brown hair reminds of fallen leaves during autumn.

32. Amazonite

Amazonite is a gemstone found in South Africa that is a stunning amalgamation of green and blue shades. If you are a nature lover, try this lovely blue and green hair color idea. This fancy color looks like it’s right out of a mythical book and might just be the next big hair color trend.

33. Platinum Blonde

Platinum blonde hair is a dazzling and transformative choice for Black women that exudes confidence and allure. Embrace the journey of color transformation; just as sailors pursued shiny and sparkling treasures, the platinum hue symbolizes empowerment, self-expression, and a bold new beginning, enhancing your beauty and radiance with an enchanting charm. This hair will give you that oomph you need to enjoy your life!

34. Jewel Tones

Jewel-tone hair colors, such as deep emerald green, rich amethyst, or sapphire blue, are captivating options for Black women. These shades exude regal elegance and self-assured individuality. They complement a spectrum of skin tones, allowing you to express your unique style with a luxurious and enchanting vibrancy.

Which of these colors seem most attractive? Have you narrowed down on one or do you need another scroll through? Once you have find your match, we’ll discuss how you can perfectly maintain them in the section below. Scroll down for some useful tips!

Hair Care Tips For Colored Hair

Afro hair needs some extra TLC when compared to other hair textures. This is because Afro-hair is thermally more fragile and more prone to breakage. Further, chemical treatments such as bleaching and dyeing can lead to protein loss, loss of strength, and change in overall structure. It can destroy the outermost layer of the hair, which can make the hair shaft fragile and more prone to future damage (1). Thus, it’s essential to take good care of this type of hair. From making changes in your hair care routine to adding certain products, here are the best ways to maintain your vibrant tresses.

Reduce The Frequency Of Hair Washing: Washing your hair too often can lead to color bleeding and eventually fade the vibrant hue.

Choose The Right Shampoo And Conditioner: Do not use products with sulfates and stick to color-safe shampoo and use detangling conditioner. You can also use a wide-tooth comb to detangle the hair (2).

Use Leave-In Products: Apply leave-in conditioners and light hair oils to provide additional nourishment and retain moisture. Thus, frequent moisturization can help reduce breakage and increase shine (2). Also, look for products with natural ingredients such as those containing aloe vera, honey, avocado, or jojoba oil to keep the hair hydrated and improve overall health of the mane (3), (4), (5).

Skip Hot Water: Avoid washing your hair with extremely hot water that can lead to color fading.

Avoid Styling Products: Using styling products blow-dryers, straighteners, and curling irons can cause unnecessary heat damage to the already weakened hair.

Shield From The Sun: Sunlight not only damages your hair but also make the hair color dull. So, make sure to apply sunscreen sprays or shield your hair with scarves, hats, or umbrellas.

Infographic: Top 10 Glam Hair Colors For Black Women

Gone are the days when you had to worry about what hair colors would complement people with a dark skin tone. Trends these days are all about experimenting with bold and unique styles and you have numerous options to pick your choice of hair color from. The more you open your mind to it, the more appealing even the most seemingly odd styles get.
Check out the infographic below for the top 10 hair colors that look absolutely glamorous on people with a dark complexion or deeper skin shades.

Illustration: StyleCraze Design Team

Frequently Asked Questions

Does gray look good on dark skin?

Yes, gray hair is a neutral hair color that can be made into a warm or cool-toned hair dye to cater to people with cool as well as warm undertones. It also suits all skin tones, including dark skin tone or deep complexion.

Does burgundy hair look good on dark skin?

Yes, deep burgundy hair color looks great on people with a dark skin tone and a warm or cool undertone.

Can natural hair texture or curl pattern affect the outcome of hair coloring for Black women?

Hair with a coarse texture or curl pattern will never react quickly or strongly with hair dye. In terms of lightening hair, for instance, the color will lighten quicker and more dramatically than for coarse or black hair, over a comparable period. Finer hair darkens quicker than coarser, curly hair when dark colors are applied.

Can hair color options vary depending on the season or occasion for Black women?

For black women, there are several hair color possibilities based on the time of year or the event. Warm hair colors mostly follow the summer hair color trend and are appropriate throughout the summer when you spend most of your time outside in the sun and on the beach. A more dense, earthier hue is a popular hair color choice and will look excellent if the weather is chilly and you need to attend late-night events, like a party or a wedding reception. This shade will also work well if your skin tone allows it, and if not, you can always dye it back to your natural hair color.

Can hair color options affect the length or health of Black women’s hair?

Hair dye might not affect the growth and length of a black woman’s hair, but it can cause hair loss and harm to chemically-treated hair like permed or relaxed hair. Chemicals of a permanent hair dye may cause more damage to the hair as compared to other hair color products like temporary color, semi-permanent color, or demi-permanent color. Make sure to follow a proper hair care routine with weekly deep conditioning to keep your tresses healthy.

What should I consider before dyeing my hair?

Before dyeing your tresses there are a few things you should consider such as, your hair’s current condition, the type of dye you want, and potential allergens. Evaluate how the color will complement your skin tone and also whether you are ready for its maintenance.

Illustration: Best Hair Color Ideas For Black Women

Image: Dall·E/StyleCraze Design Team

Check out the latest hair color trends for black women! From bold and vibrant to subtle and natural, there’s something for everyone in the following video.

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Jessica NoonanHairstylist

     

Jessica Noonan is the owner of Friseur NYC, a zero waste, sustainable mobile hair service. She has 35 years of experience behind the chair and a passion for education. She specializes in edgy haircuts emphasizing natural texture and high impact minimalist color.

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Anjali SayeeAssociate Editor

 

Anjali is an Associate Editor at StyleCraze with 7 years of experience specializing in hairstyles, hair care, and skin care. She has authored over 300 articles and offers expert advice on hair styling techniques, effective skin care routines, and tips for maintaining healthy hair and skin.

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Asmita DeAssociate Editor

Asmita De is an associate editor with over three years of experience. She graduated in English Literature from the University of Calcutta. She has collaborated with several digital companies and reputed publishing houses as an editor.

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Bhumika DagaBeauty & Lifestyle Writer

Bhumika is a content writer with 2.5 years of expertise in crafting articles across diverse genres. She graduated from the University of Delhi and completed her post-graduation from Indira Gandhi National Open University, Delhi.

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