What Hair Color Makes You Look Younger?

An appropriate haircut and hair color can transform your appearance, softening features or adding an energy boost. But which shade should you select?

Coloring too light may accentuate gray regrowth, while dark hues could dull down your appearance. Here are our favorite shades that help make you appear younger:

1. Warm Tones

Warm tones in hair color will make you appear younger; cool brown shades that lack warmth may actually begin to age you instead, according to celebrity stylist Gabriel Samra.

Warm tones reflect light more effectively, creating less harsh contrast than darker tones can. This will bring light back into your face and help make you glow!

Golden blonde is an ideal hue for all skin tones, particularly fair-skinned women who tend to have warm undertones like Nicole Kidman and Kim Kardashian – celebrities renowned for having bronze warmth that pairs beautifully with warm shades like golden blonde. A subtle warm balayage also works to add youthfulness for brunettes.

2. Blondes

Honey blonde is an ideal hair color choice for women with fair skin as its warm undertones enhance natural beauty while softening expression lines and diminishing the look of wrinkles.

Blonds have long been seen as symbols of innocence and grace. Yet despite this stereotype, smart blondes such as Marie Curie have shown that blondes don’t lack intelligence.

If you don’t naturally have blonde locks, use a toner that removes brassy tones and neutralizes orange hues to lighten it further. Or opt for blonde balayage for an effect that exudes youth.

Keep in mind that excessive bleaching or dyeing of your hair can leave it looking dull or grey, while excessive dark-toning may accentuate fine lines and make gray regrowth appear more evident. Aim to stay within two shades of your natural color for best results in terms of health and brightness in your locks.

3. Reds

Red hair can be universally flattering for all ages and skin tones – from Christina Hendricks’ cherry cola red to Snooki’s strawberry blonde hues. Red can complement both ashy blondes and rich brunettes as well as cooler complexions while providing them with an amazing glow. And unlike some pastel hues, it will always remain fresh when styled with face-framing highlights.

As this can make fine lines and wrinkles more prominent, beware of monochromatic dyes or shades too dark for your skin tone; white or light gray tones that do not suit it could wash you out as well.

To prevent brassy tones or your color from fading prematurely, ask your stylist for a gloss treatment every six weeks or so. A gloss will neutralize a dulling orangey undertone while brightening and improving condition at once.

4. Golden Highlights

Golden blonde is the ideal shade to instantly compliment both dark and light brunette hair tones, yet too much yellow or orange can age the complexion, creating an unhealthy complexion and leaving behind unwanted signs of ageing.

Instead, work with a colorist who has an expert eye in balayage techniques combining warm and cool tones. Halle Berry’s honey blonde balayage highlights are sophisticated yet subtle: just what was needed to give her classic bob an update.

To create an authentic, lived-in look on dark hair, consult your colorist on using sandy blonde highlighting techniques. Cassandra Foehr uses Magma by Blondor hair lightener at the roots and ends, followed by demi-permanent Color Touch Light Blonde from root to tip for this balayage balayage on brunette locks.

5. Champagne Blondes

While platinum blonde may technically be trendy, it may not be the most youthful choice for women with warm skin tones. Instead, soft champagne blonde with golden highlights will suit you better and bring out all of its advantages.

Colorists using this look combine an icy blonde base with warm peach highlights for a multi-dimensional hue that’s neither ashy nor brassy, according to Lee. « It has just enough dimension for it to stand out as eye-catching and young, » according to Lee.

Selena Gomez may have returned to her natural brunette locks, yet made quite an impression with this stunning champagne blonde lob. Leake notes how this neutral shade complements Selena’s deep brows and naturally dark skin tone while emphasizing her face shape and bright blue eyes for a truly vibrant appearance.