How to Pick Hair Colors for Your Color Season
When your hair colour works, your whole face does too.
Picking the right hair color can really light up someone's face, giving the skin that fresh glow and making features pop. But get it wrong, and it just washes everything out. That's where seasonal color analysis comes in-it's this cool system based on 4 basic color seasons (Spring, Summer, Autumn, Winter) that helps figure out your personal palette based on your undertones and how your natural colors play together.
Once you understand the basics of seasonal color analysis, the next step is figuring out which season you actually belong to. This is often where people get stuck — undertones can be subtle, lighting can be misleading, and colors that look good on others don’t always work the same way on you. That’s why modern color analysis increasingly focuses on practical, visual testing rather than theory alone, helping you see how different palettes interact with your unique skin tone, hair color, and overall contrast before making any styling decisions.
Find Out Your Color Season
Today, determining your color season doesn’t have to rely only on mirrors, fabric draping, or guesswork. Modern apps like Dressika use AI-powered color analysis to identify your season based on undertone, eye, and hair color. What makes this approach especially practical is the ability to try recommended colors directly on your own photo, so you can instantly see how each palette works with your natural features (from hair shades to makeup and clothing tones).
Recommended Hair Colors for Spring Color Season
Let's dive into Spring colors...
Spring color palettes are all about those light, warm shades that feel like fresh spring blooms. Golden blondes, for instance, really brighten things up for about 75% of Warm Spring folks, according to a 2021 report from Color Guild International.
Light Spring colors, think peachy blondes, nicely highlight those soft facial features. Just look at Emma Stone - her golden highlights play so well with her warm skin and make her shine on the red carpet.
To get that glow, here are some good options for you.
Go for golden blonde at level 8 - the $20 Madison Reed at-home kit makes it simple, especially with a 20-volume developer for that gentle lift.
Want a fun twist? Strawberry blonde works great by tossing in some pink toner after bleaching.
Or try honey highlights with balayage at the salon for around $150; it blends in so smoothly.
The good stuff? It gives off a youthful vibe and fades nicely. Downside is you'll need UV protection, like Olaplex No.6 bond smoother, to keep it looking good. Pair it with coral lips to tie in that Spring makeup vibe perfectly.
Recommended Hair Colors for Summer Color Season
Now, let's look at the gentle side of summer colors.
Summer palettes lean into soft, cool pastels that calm down porcelain skin tones. Ash blondes, for example, cut back on too much warmth in about 80% of Cool Summer makeovers, as noted in a 2022 Vogue beauty piece.
Soft Summer pastel blondes like smoky ash offer that light, breezy feel. Blake Lively's lowlights do this so well, pulling out her neutral cool tones without overwhelming the look.
To nail this look, check out these six options perfect for Soft Summer:
Ash blonde at level 9 with the $15 Ion Color Wrap - keeps those cool tones subtle.
Cool beige by mixing in blue toner like Wella Color Charm for $8, great for toning down warmth.
Pastel pink streaks using temporary $10 Arctic Fox for a gentle pop of color.
Lavender blonde, semi-permanent from $12 Manic Panic, gives that dreamy, hazy vibe.
Pearl white paired with silver toner from $14 Clairol for some icy class.
Dusty rose at level 8 with $16 Overtone, mixing neutral and a hint of blush nicely.
Recommended Hair Colors for Autumn Color Season
Turning to the warm comfort of autumn colors.
Fall color schemes draw from earthy tones that go so well with golden skin. Copper reds brighten up about 70% of Warm Fall outfits, as per a 2023 InStyle trend report.
Rich Autumn tones, say caramel brown, really ground olive skin tones nicely. Jessica Chastain's ombre does this beautifully, blending warm reds for that cozy, lived-in luxury feel.
For a similar bright effect, here are six fall colors suited to olive skin tones. Some key picks:
Caramel brown at level 6 with the $18 L'Oreal Excellence kit - warms up without overwhelming.
Copper red using $15 Revlon Colorsilk for that fiery, autumnal glow.
Auburn waves via semi-permanent $12 dpHUE, adding depth and shine.
Golden chestnut with $20 Wella Color Touch, blending earthiness and light.
Mahogany highlights for $150 salon balayage, rich and multidimensional.
Tawny amber at level 7 from $16 Garnier Nutrisse, evoking falling leaves.
Hair Colors That Shine in Winter Color Season
High-contrast colors work well for winter, and espresso black fits strong jawlines nicely. Think of Anne Hathaway's style switch - it made her cool tones pop in a whole new way. You can see why it works.
To make a real statement with your winter look, here are six strong color ideas she could try: Jet black at level 1 using $15 Just For Men gives the deepest, most intense color. It's a classic that never goes out of style and can make eyes look brighter against the pale winter light. Icy platinum involves bleaching and toning at the salon for about $250, bringing that cool, luminous vibe. She loved how it reflected the snow outside, adding a fresh, icy edge to her routine. Deep violet red is a permanent option with $20 Revlon, adding subtle purple hints. It brings a mysterious depth that's perfect for evening events in the cold months. Cool ash brown with semi-permanent $12 Garnier softens things up nicely. This shade transitions well from day to night without overwhelming the face. Raven black with blue undertones from $8 L'Oreal box dye adds some edge. She found it gave her that rockstar feel, especially paired with winter coats. And silver fox using a lightener plus silver shampoo in a $30 at-home kit offers mature, striking contrast. It's empowering for those embracing natural changes, turning heads at holiday gatherings.
