Add Some Color

Homecoming events are a yearly tradition at every high school and with prom season behind us it's time to look forward to a new look for the upcoming season. There is no better time to unveil your new look then at a special event. You can call it the 'unveiling of the new you'. Not only will you feel great for homecoming but you'll look great too.

The easiest way to change your look without a drastic cut is by adding color. There are hundreds of color options and it may be tricky trying to find one color that you mesh with. There are specific ways to find the right color and these tips may be just what you need to feel confident in your choice.

There is one epic mistake that no one should make when choosing a new color and that is basing your choice solely on someone else's color. You may have been blown away by your friend's new fire red color but to assume that the same color would pull off perfectly for you could be a big upset. There are several factors to choosing a new hair color. You will need to consider your skin tone, your eye color as well as your current natural or artificial hair color. If you properly combine all of these factors you will be able to find a great shade for a great new look.

There are two main categories of hair color that you need to be aware of; the 'cool' category and the 'warm' category. You can also use these general warm/cool tips to help you determine the right shade of make-up foundation; the principle is the same.

If you fall under the 'cool' category then you will match at least two of the following factors. Your eye color is either gray blue or dark blue; deep brown or black brown; hazel with blue, gray or white flecks. You skin tone is either very dark brown; brown or bronzed when tan; medium tone with no color in the cheeks, with faint pink cheeks or golden undertones; olive (most Asians and Latinos); pale with no color in cheeks or pale with pink undertones. Your natural hair color may be dishwater blonde; medium golden brown or medium ash brown; deep coffee brown or blue black. Cools can also use the color of their clothing to help. Cools are flattered by jewel toned clothing which consists of blue-based reds, greens, pinks, blues, purples, magentas, and blue-greens.

Warm or Cool?

If you have determined that you fall under the cool category here are some helpful hints. Always avoid yellow, red, and gold hair colors as well as bronze tones. These specific hair colors have the tendency to make cools look washed out, ashy and even sickly. Your best bet is to stick with cool blondes, cool ash browns or blue-hinted blacks. These three colors should range from platinum to mink. Any added highlights should be honey, wheat or ash shades. When choosing a hair color base always stick to beige, ash and neutral tones.

To determine if you fall under the 'warm' category you should have at least two of the following factors. Your eye color is hazel with gold or brown flecks; golden brown; green, green-blue or turquoise. If you are a warm your skin tone may be freckled; ruddy; pale with peach or golden undertones; brown with pink or golden undertones. Your natural hair color is either red; strawberry blonde; golden blonde; brown with gold or red highlights. Warms tend to look more appealing in earth-toned clothing: browns, oranges, yellows, yellow-greens and orange reds.

If you are a warm the hair colors you should avoid are blue and violet. Ash and beige based colors will make your skin look dreary and washed-out. Your best options in hair color are dark, warm browns, chestnuts, rich golden browns, golden blondes and auburn. Stick with bases that are red-orange or gold. For highlighting options choose golden blondes, golden browns or copper streaks.

Using the warm/cool technique to find your perfect shade is a simple way to ensure that you look great for your homecoming events. Although this technique is easy to use some girls may prefer a more in-depth process to finding the right shades. Many cosmetologists recommend a book entitled 'More Alive with Color' by Leatrice Eiseman. With this book you can get deeper understanding of your best colors from head to toe; hair color, clothing, make-up and accessories. You can get the updated look you want while still showing off a natural, stunning new you.