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Home Fashion & Beauty Hair

Hair hues to suit your complexion

Does your natural colour suit you? We asked hairstylist Danny Pato from D&M Hair Salon which tones flatter which complexions.
Hair dye

Rich chestnut/dark brown

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Q. Who does this work for?

A. If you have a warm skin tone, you’ll likely suit a rich chestnut or dark brown hair hue. Olive skin goes hand in hand with rich browns, and dark brown hair with dark brown eyes is an obvious match.

Q. How can you stop it looking flat and lifeless?

A. I often recommend a root-colour application to add depth (and hide greys). Shine treatments will prevent hair from appearing lifeless too. Framing your face with a few lighter pieces can soften your look. Only go one to two shades lighter, and just in the mid-lengths and ends, to give it a slightly sun-kissed effect rather than all-out balayage.

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Maintain the look:

From left to right: Oribe Airbrush Root Touch-Up Spray, $49. Oribe Shampoo & Conditioner for Brilliance & Shine, $39.50 each. Davines Alchemic Chocolate Conditioner, $39.50.

Jet-black

Q. Who does it suit?

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A. If your skin undertone is cool, you’ll tend to suit black hair. Also, if your skin tone is darker, you’ll suit jet-black hair although I would avoid blue-black.

Q. Who should stay away from it?

A. I wouldn’t recommend jet-black if someone has warm skin; golden or peachy skin can look jarring against it. Also, as we age, skin tones and hair textures change, and while there are exceptions, I would say as skin loses its natural brilliance, it tends to suit softer hair tones.

Q. What cut looks best with jet-black hair?

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A. My favourite cut for jet-black hair is the classic, sleek bob.

Maintain the look:

From left to right: Davines OI All In One Milk, $38. Oribe Signature Shampoo, $57; and Conditioner, $61.

Red

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Q. Who does it suit?

A. I love red hair with green or blue eyes and milky skin – think Julianne Moore, Emma Stone or Florence Welch.

Q. Who should stay away from going red?

A. If you’re not committed to an intensive maintenance routine, including visiting the salon every few weeks, then maybe going red isn’t something for you.

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Q. Is there a particular shade you should go for?

A. Fairer skinned people should stick with softer, lighter red, rose, strawberry and copper tones. Medium tones work with coppers, auburns and intense cherry reds, while darker skin tones look fabulous with rich, vibrant reds and violets.

Maintain the look:

From left to right: Davines Alchemic Red Conditioner, $38. Oribe Shampoo for Beautiful Colour, $65. Oribe Royal Blowout Heat Styling Spray, $95.

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Sun-kissed blonde

Q. How can you go lighter without ruining your hair?

A. Olaplex! With this salon-only breakthrough product, you can go blonder without ruining your hair because it quite literally repairs hair at a molecular level.

Q. Who does it suit?

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A. There is kind of a blond for everyone. Some will look more natural as a blonde than others, particularly those who have a cooler skin tones, or those who had red, blond or lighter brown hair as a child.

Maintain the look:

From left to right: Davines NOUNOU Conditioner, $37. Oribe Gold Lust Transformative Masque, $98. O&M Conquer Blonde Shampoo, $38.

Words by: Sarah Murray

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