Makeup Tips For 9 Types Of Colored Hair

Learn the hacks to nail the perfect makeup look that complements your hair color.

Reviewed by Daria Kruchinina, Licensed Esthetician Daria Kruchinina Daria KruchininaLicensed Esthetician facebook_iconlinkedin_iconinsta_icon
Written by Jyotsana Rao, BE Jyotsana Rao BE linkedin_icon Experience: 4 years
Edited by Subhrojyoti Mukherjee, MA (English) Subhrojyoti Mukherjee MA (English) linkedin_icon Experience: 4 years
Fact-checked by Anu Pallavi, BA Anu Pallavi BA linkedin_icon
Last Updated on

Are you searching for the best makeup tips for colored hair? We can help!

Makeup can be used to boost beauty features, hide imperfections, improve skin texture, and enhance your appearance and personal style. Nevertheless, effective makeup requires choosing cosmetics and colors that completely sync with your hair rather than simply following color fads.

Trying to match your makeup and hair can be difficult, whether you received that gorgeous hair color from a professional or are blessed with it. No matter how amazing your hair color is, both will fail if you do not have a perfect blend.

But worry not! In this article, we have added a few pointers to help you match your perfectly colored hair to your face. Keep scrolling.

protip_icon Keep In Mind
  • Skin Tone: Rose pink and dewy makeup complement fair complexion with cool undertones. For medium to dark skin tones and warmer undertones, go with bronze or terracotta tints.
  • Attire: Harmonize your overall look when applying makeup. Wear makeup in contrast to your outfit or pick one main shade and go monochrome when confused.
  • Blush:Go light on blush with red hair, use pinks and peaches for blonde and brunette, and soft pinks for black hair.

1. Dark Hair/Black Hair

Staying updated on the latest hair color trends can inspire your look, and combining them with right makeup tips can ensure you stay ahead in style.

Dark hair or black hairDark haired beauties look best when they enhance one’s features and keep the rest of the look simple.

Dark hair is usually accompanied by dark eyes as well. This combination will allow you to wear almost any shade easily. Dark haired beauties can pull off more intense colours and also play with lighter shades.

Well defined eye makeup with nude lips and a peach or baby pink blush will look super good. Women having dark hair with medium skin tone should try out wine and blue based colours more often. Warmer colours such as bronze, corals, purple and browns on the eyes will look great too. You can wear bolt red or a deep plum on your lips and you will rock the look.

protip_icon Quick Tip
You can go for smokey or cat eye makeup to help bring out the color in your eyes and help step up your makeup game.

Key Takeaways

  • Women with dark or black hair look gorgeous with well-defined eye makeup and a bold lip color like bolt red or deep plum. Both intense colors and lighter shades go well with this hair color.
  • Women with blonde hair should use soft tones and pastel shades. Gray, blue and taupe eyeliners and brown or neutral lipstick with a pink or peach undertone is ideal.
  • Women with medium brown hair should wear natural-looking makeup that complements their skin tone or eye color. A brown eyeliner or black mascara can help nail the look.
  • Women with honey-colored hair should use a light shadow with golden shimmer, brown or violet eyeliner for the eye makeup, and nude pink lipstick with a sheer lip gloss for the lips.
  • Women with dark purple or magenta hair should opt for lighter shades, minimal eye makeup and nude lipsticks for a simple and contrasting look.

2. Blonde Hair

Blonde hairBlonde beauties should choose their makeup carefully or they will end up with a washed out look.

Soft tones and pastel shades work best for blonde hair as dark tones create a stark contrast.

Apply a good bronzer on your forehead, cheeks and chin. Apply it lightly; do not go heavy with it. You can opt for ivory or pink coloured eyeshadow and for cheeks choose a pink blush. Gray, blue and taupe coloured eyeliners work beautifully with this type of hair color. To finish off the makeup, reach for a brown or neutral lipstick with a pink or peach undertone. DO NOT use an out and out brown lipstick as it will make the face look dull. Don’t go overboard with eye makeup. Black mascara will look equally good too.

Rachel Bernstein, a model and blogger, shares her experience and way of doing eye makeup for her blonde eyelashes and eyebrows. She writes, “I have blonde hair, and therefore, blonde eyelashes, and eyebrows…this sometimes is not so pretty. So I have come up with a certain way that I like to do my eye makeup that really accentuates the shape and beauty of them (i).” She continues, “Without eye makeup, my eyes look small and close-set. I try to make my eyes look larger and farther apart.”

3. Medium Brown Hair

Medium brown hairSince your hair colour is not as deep as black or brown shades, you should apply shades that correlate with your skin tone or eye colour!  

Add a little radiance to your skin tone by applying a bronzer or highlighter with hints of peach and pink tones to your skin. Bronzer will give a nice glow to your face and the peach blush will help to brighten the skin.

To sum up your look, don’t go for the regular nude or neutral shade. Instead play up your lips with a slightly orange-red based lipstick and save the neutrals for the eye eyeshadow. Apply nice brown eyeliner and top it up with black mascara for that  perfect look!

protip_icon Quick Tip
You can use eyeshadow shades like light tawny, mocha, coffee, forest green, light brown, violet, or plum to complement your brown locks.

4. Honey Colored Hair

Honey colored hairFor a natural look, a light shadow with some golden shimmer brushed up to the crease looks nice and brightens your eyes.

Go for a neutral warm or pink toned blush. Choose either a brown or violet eyeliner to flatter your eyes or even a dark green, if you can find one.

Line the outer corner of the eyes on the top lash line and swipe two coats of mascara to complete your look. On the lips try a nude pink lipstick with a sheer lip gloss on the top. You can even switch the look and try more vivid colours during the night. A little turquoise goes well with the tanned skin and the light hair.

5. Caramel Hair

Ombre hair

While the golden brown hues of caramel hair perfectly enhance a tan, it can make a paler skin tone look dull and ashy. If your skin is pale, avoid looking washed out by balancing out the cooler tones of caramel by using makeup in neutral and bright colours with satin finish.

You can use soft browns, gray, or ivory beige eyeshadows on your eyes and choose brown eyeliners. Add some glow to your skin by picking blushes in coral, fuchsia pink and soft pinks, try and avoid pale foundations. Neutrals would look best on the lips; you could try a soft pink gloss for adding some shine.

6. Red Hair

Red hair

Dark red hair like cherry or auburn tones should play around with more neutral tones. You can also use shades with pink hints as well. Play up with your eyes and leave the lips neutral. This doesn’t mean that you need to match your hair with your eyeshadow. Take two or three shades and blend them together like a champagne pink eyeshadow with a green or bronze tone. You can contrast your makeup with your hair.

If your red is lighter in shade, apply a pinkish coral blush on your cheeks. Do not over do the eyes since the hair and lips are already bright. Use a nice neutral shadow but avoid orange. Complete the look with a brown or gray eyeliner and black or brown mascara.

protip_icon Quick Tip
You can experiment with blue, purple, or green eyeliner to help add a splash of color to your makeup.

7. Purple Hair

Purple hair

Purple colored hair can range from dark purple shade to light lilac hue which resembles a blonde color. You can use playful complementary makeup to bring out the jewel tones in your skin and eyes. Select two or three eyeshadow shades to create a stylish multi-dimensional look.

If your hair has a shade of darker purple, use light shades of makeup to complement your look. For lighter shades like lilac purple, use darker shades to create a contrasting effect. Jewel tones are complemented by earthy shades like black, brown and red. Apply a peach brown shade of blush and lip colour. Bright reds should be reserved for lilac purple

8. Magenta Hair

Magenta hair

Since the hair colour itself is so bold, tone down your makeup during the day time. Go for light kohled eyes and dark nude lip pencil blended towards the center of your lips and apply clear or slightly tinted lip gloss on the top during the day time. For the night, you can add a splash of red or pink to your look. Line your eyes with a black or brown eyeliner but don’t draw thick lines. You can use a bronzer or a blush but don’t overdo it. Mascara should look natural, or you can even avoid it totally. Apply a neutral shade of lipstick.

9. Mermaid Hair

A woman with mermaid hair posing by the sea
Image: Shutterstock

The exciting mermaid hair color trend involves getting your hair done in vibrant sea-themed colors such as blue-green, electric pinks and purples, Elvin silver, or fiery red like the Little Mermaid coupled with some sandy streaks. Makeup looks that would fit right into the mermaid theme would involve a natural look with slightly tinted eyes as if you have spent considerable time underwater. So, a pinkish nude or coral eyeshadow paired with dark liner and mascara would be great for the eyes. A subtle blush for the cheeks with some shimmer highlights can perfectly mimic glittering ocean waves. Keep the lips nude as well with a juicy lip gloss for a breathtaking finishing touch.

Infographic: A Guide To Doing The Perfect Eye Makeup For Your Hair Color

Eye makeup can make or break your look. If you have recently dyed your hair and noticed that your regular makeup is not complementing your hair color, it might be because of contrasting eye makeup shades. The infographic below highlights a few tips that will help you balance your eye makeup with your hair color. Check it out.

a guide to doing the perfect eye makeup for your hair color (infographic)

Illustration: StyleCraze Design Team

Finding the best skincare and makeup tips for colored hair can be a difficult challenge. The right amount of makeup can compliment your skin tone, conceal imperfections such as pigmentation, accentuate your facial features, and improve your skin texture. Make sure you follow the tips mentioned in this article to get the perfect blend. If you are someone who has black or dark hair, go for defined eye makeup with nude, red, or plum lipsticks. Those with those gorgeous blonde locks should go for gray or blue eyeshadow with neutral lipsticks. If you have purple or magenta-colored hair, opt for lighter shades to create a simple and contrasting look. Remember to not overdo your makeup and choose shades that create a beautiful and glamorous look.

Frequently Asked Questions

Should blondes wear mascara?

In general, blondes should opt for light and natural makeup, especially for daytime. However, they can wear mascara— preferably brown during the day and black for a more defined and dramatic look at night.

What eye makeup goes with purple hair?

Blue and pink eyeshadows go well with purple hair. Neons in orange and green may also work well for a dramatic effect. However, you should also take into consideration the color of the eyes and the skin tone to find out the best eye makeup colors.

How can you adapt your makeup routine for different lighting conditions when wearing coloured hair?

In case of natural lighting, it’s advisable to keep your makeup more natural and understated if you’re going to be outside in this type of lighting. Stick to warm, earthy hues and pick a lip color that goes well with your hair color. For indoor lighting, choose bolder makeup and stick to more neutral tones if the lighting is bright to avoid looking harsh and artificial, while in case of artificial lighting, keep your surfaces matte for a natural appearance.

Illustration: Makeup Tips For 9 Types Of Colored Hair

Makeup Tips For Coloured Hair

Image: Stable Diffusion/StyleCraze Design Team

Image Source: 1 , 2 , 3 , 4 , 5 , 6 , 7

Unlock valuable makeup tips for redheads and enhance your natural beauty. Learn the techniques and products that complement your unique features from the following video.

Personal Experience: Source

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Daria Kruchinina
Daria KruchininaLicensed Esthetician
Daria Kruchinina is a celebrity makeup and natural brows artist who has been in the beauty industry for 11 years. Her clients include A-list celebrities, such as Jared Leto, Natalia Vodyanova, Maria Gutic, Valentina Beli, and Valeria Dergileva, to name a few.

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Jyotsana Rao
Jyotsana RaoBeauty & Lifestyle Writer
Jyotsana Rao is an engineering graduate from NIT, Nagpur, who discovered her love for writing during her undergraduate days. She is passionate about writing about everything related to beauty - makeup, fashion, hairstyles, skin care, or hair care and has 4 years of experience on writing in these genres.

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Subhrojyoti Mukherjee
Subhrojyoti MukherjeeAssociate Editor
Subhrojyoti is an associate editor at StyleCraze with four years of experience. He has a master’s degree in English from Presidency University, Kolkata, and has also done a post-graduate certificate course in Editing and Publishing from Jadavpur University, Kolkata.

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Anu Pallavi
Anu PallaviBeauty & Lifestyle Writer
Anu is a beauty and lifestyle writer and a graduate of Amity University, Noida, where she refined her writing skills and cultivated her deep passion for the field. She pursued the Beauty Technician Training Program at Maquillage Beauty Institute, which has equipped her with practical skills in various beauty treatments.

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