When it comes to creating just the right makeup look, it’s important to take everything into account. Typically, you’ll consider the outfit you’re planning to wear, the event you’re going to, your skin tone and undertone, and even your hairstyle. But have you considered taking into account your hair color? Although it’s not necessarily a die-hard rule, it’s definitely a big part of ensuring that your makeup is cohesive with the rest of your outfit. Regardless of your hair color, here are the most important things to remember when it comes to your makeup.

Blonde Hair

Blondes often work best in light tones. Pastels and gentle colors will work well with your hair color without overwhelming it. Pinks and peaches work best for blush, rather than a strong rose. When it comes to eyeshadow, you can stick to this light theme or try out a smoky eye if you want to really make a sultry statement. Remember that too much frosted color can wash you out, so consider a solid color lipstick to ground the look.

Light Brown Hair

Light brown encompasses a variety of shades, but it generally refers to any shade that’s just dark enough to no longer be truly “blonde.” The neutrality of light brown hair makes it great for just about any makeup style, although you might want to steer away from anything that’s too intense or dark. Oxblood lipsticks and bronze eyeshadow tones work great for light brown hair. Just make sure you’re matching your hair undertone to your colors.

Dark Brown Hair

This is one of the most versatile hair colors, and it’s extremely easy to handle. You can basically go with anything — it’s dark enough to ground very light colors, but neutral enough to handle dark colors. Because dark brown hair usually has very strong brassy red undertones, consider playing with lots of reds and purples to bring out the naturally warm undertones you’re probably rocking.

Black Hair

Black hair is great because it provides essentially a blank slate. Although the extremely bold, striking looks are very traditional, and there’s nothing quite like a blood-red lipstick and black hairdo, sometimes you just want something more toned-down. When it comes to toning down these styles, try jewel tones that correspond to your hair’s undertone. If it’s a cool blue undertone, go with sapphire and emerald; warm undertones look great in garnet and plum.

Red Hair

This color is pretty rare, but it definitely makes you stand out in a crowd whether you have eye-catching makeup or not. The downside of red hair, however, is that it can easily clash with the most traditional makeup colors, which are largely reds and pinks. Earth tones make a great starting point here, and metallic coppers and golds offer an extra sparkle without overwhelming your existing sparkle. Go light on blush and lipstick color, and never be afraid to try a couple of colors to find the perfect match.

Grey Hair

There’s nothing wrong with going grey. It shows off your maturity and experience, and some people have even dipped their toes into grey hair using dye. If you want to match your grey hair, you might want to steer away from extremely bold lipstick and eyeshadow. Instead, find something that’s a little more understated, like burgundy lips and a simple eyeliner, to accentuate your look.

Conclusion

These are great starting points if you want to make sure your makeup and your hair match perfectly. But of course, you don’t have to stick to these guidelines if you want to try something else out. Who knows? You might discover your perfect pairing. If you’ve started playing around and you’ve realized you have a natural talent for combining colors, why not find a way to put that talent to work for you? Check out the cosmetology program at Ogle School. You can start your path toward a career grounded in something you love.