The color of your hair should complement your skin, making both look vibrant and healthy. If you're thinking about changing the color of your hair, you'll want to be selective about the color that you choose. In fact, you'll need to consider your skin tone and ideal color groups before you choose your new hair color. Here are some tips to help you select the right shade to transform your tresses.

Consider Your Skin Tone

Take a minute to evaluate your skin tone. If you have pale skin that has pink undertones, it means you have a cool skin tone. People with a cool skin tone typically have veins that appear blue through the skin. On the other hand, if your skin has peach or gold undertones, that's an indication that you have a warm skin tone. If you have a warm skin tone, it means your veins likely appear greenish through the skin.

Evaluate Your Wardrobe

Look at the appearance of your skin with various different pieces of clothing. Hold a few different colors of shirts near your face and consider which ones look best. If shades of purple, green or blue make your complexion look best, you'll want to choose a cool tone for your hair. If your skin matches shades of yellow, orange and red, that's a sign that you need a warm color.

Narrow Down Color Choices

If the first two steps have determined that your skin is warm-toned, you'll want to choose a hair color like red, golden blonde or brown. For cooler skin tones, shades of ash blond, light brown, platinum blonde or black are best.

Make Moderate Changes

Choose a color that is within a few shades of your natural color if you want to have a more natural adjustment. If you're looking for a change that's more significant than that, you'll want to visit a hair coloring salon and work with a professional colorist. He or she can help you select the proper color for your skin tone and natural hair color. If you want to make the change gradually, consider working one shade at a time. Remember that the more drastic the difference in your color, the more attentive you'll have to be to maintenance. The natural color of your roots will be more visible if you've made a significant change than if you've just altered the color by a few shades.