What skin tones looks best w/henna?

[moeZy]

I have pale, blue undertoned skin w/naturally med to light brown hair (I guess, I dye it dark usually) and blue eyes. My eyebrows are dark brown. Do you think the tones of plain (red) henna will be OK on my complexion?

[moeZy]

OH!, but I also tan well even though I am usually pretty pale.

[swearnsue]

Photos would help but I think the website is currently having problems with downloading photos. Starting henna is a pretty big commitment so it might be better to wait until we can see photos of you? In the meantime though you could do a cassia treatment.

[red-again]

I have pink undertoned skin adn the henna orange does not suit me! I have very dark brown/black hair naturally but lots of grey now and they greys go alarmingly orange which looks awful with my skin tone.

I would imagine a warm auburn would look great with your blue toned skin.

But I agree with the prev posterm a pic would help - you could add one as a signature or an avatar or start an album we can have a look at if you want to know for certain.

Another tip is to put some fabric of orange through to cooler red on your head and see which suits best, then at least you will know what reallly doesn't work!

[MintChocChip]

I have pink undertoned skin adn the henna orange does not suit me! I have very dark brown/black hair naturally but lots of grey now and they greys go alarmingly orange which looks awful with my skin tone.

I would imagine a warm auburn would look great with your blue toned skin.

But I agree with the prev posterm a pic would help - you could add one as a signature or an avatar or start an album we can have a look at if you want to know for certain.

Another tip is to put some fabric of orange through to cooler red on your head and see which suits best, then at least you will know what reallly doesn't work!

Yeah I agree it's hard to say without seeing a pic of you.

Red-again - not sure if albums are still working at the moment, I believe there's a glitch with the site. But OP would be able to put the pics in a blog post if she wanted to show pictures that way. :)

[pink.sara]

Pictures Needed! Do you have a Photobucket account to link a photo of your skin/hair colour?

Your skin sounds quite alot like mine, I'm pale and very porcelain in winter but tan like nobodys business if I let the sun get to me. I also have paler eyes (green) and dark brown eyebrows.

And.... henna orange looks awful on me.
I would use it to get the burgundy red tones that look so pretty on other henna users but I don't want to have darkest brown hair inside and only red in sunlight.

Think very carefully about henna! I have spent lots of money and time (and caused damage) recently trying to remove last years henna/indigo with colour b4 and bleach. It's hard to go back.

[Nae]

I have a more olive/yellow complexion and henna looks okay on me I think (hope.) I don't think my complexion is quite as dark as most Italians but I am definitely not going to be fitting in with the Scandinavians lol.

[akilina]

I guess I have a slight pink color but I wear makeup on my face so its not that bad. And it is so so subtle it doesn't cause problems. I am naturally light ash blond and I have never had a hair color I don't pull off henna included :)

[Scarlet_Heart]

I honestly think henna looks good on anyone mostly because the henna doesn't just cover your natural color with solid red. It just adds red tones to whatever you've got. So if you've got golden tones to your hair, henna will give you a more warm red. If you have cool tones in your hair, henna will give you a cooler red. I think it works with whatever you've already got to give you a flattering shade.

[GlennaGirl]

I have pink-ish skin (and light eyes) and I can't do full-on henna. It looks clownish on me. I can do a very deep auburn, which I love. :)

[moeZy]

Thanks for all the replies. I am going to go w/henndigo. I get a little nervous when people say to think carefully about henna. I have used Surya Brasil cream in black previous to this and loved the color result but this stuff just didn't sink into my hair, never rinsed clear and would come off all over my clothes w/any bit of dampness. Too bad because I otherwise really liked that product.
I am waiting for a batch to cure right now..then slop time!
I will have pics up sometime. Million things on my to do list.:rolleyes:

[swearnsue]

Since you have already decided to henna I'll go ahead and tell you that henna is wonderful. It makes my hair so shiny and healthy. I don't like to encourage people to start henna unless they are sure because you can't easily take the red out. I don't care how red my hair gets to tell you the truth because henna (and indigo) is so great for the condition of your hair. You will love it! Let us know how it goes. Remember to take your time rinsing it out, it takes a while!

[Issmene]

In my opinion Henna looks the best with warm skintones (and if you're into the 4 season theory, it probably looks good on most spring and autumns, depending on the shade/brightness and pretty bad on cool winters or cool summers)

[ladylowtide]

I have predominantly cool coloring. Naturally ashy brown hair, bluish light skin, and dark hazel eyes. Light applications of henna resulting in coppery tones looked HORRIBLE on me. But as the red gets deeper and more ruby red, the better it looks with my skin tone.

So I think a cool tone can definitely pull of henna.

[Lissandria]

I am a clear winter colouring with ashy brown hair- and straight henna looks terrible with my skin tone. It comes out orange on my ashy hair too- so I personally don't think that everybody can pull henna off.
Generally speaking, probably more warmer/neutral skin tones could pull off henna than cooler toned kids.
Having said that- henna at full saturation could probably work quite well for most cooler toned people as henna at full saturation is a lovely deep burgundy colour so I think it depends alot on the individual as well as their starting colour and the amount of henna applied as well.

[firevegan]

I think facial shapes also matter when going red. How do you know your skin tone? I'd like to know mine.

[pullanmuru]

I think facial shapes also matter when going red. How do you know your skin tone? I'd like to know mine.

I was thinking about the same thing and looked around and found this:

The Basics
Warm toned individuals tend to look alive and healthy while wearing earthy colors, such as oranges, bronzes, golds, peaches, brick reds, earthy greens, mocha browns and ivory. They look best in yellow based colors.

Cool toned people look best in jewel tones such as vibrant emerald green, royal or icy blues, rosy pinks, silvers, plums, and pure white. Blue based colors look best.

The Vein Test
Probably the most widely used, the vein test is an easy way to determine your skin tone. In natural light (during the day, stand by an open window), make a fist and examine your inner wrist. What color are the veins? Veins that are mainly blue are a sign of cool tones, while green veins are a hint that you are warm toned. If your veins are a mix of blue and green, it could be a sign that you are neutral toned. Lucky you!

The Silver/Gold Test
It's a little known fact that warm and cool and gold and silver go hand in hand. If you can, find a piece of silver fabric and piece of gold fabric. Stand in front of a mirror in natural light. Hold each piece of fabric next to your face, one at a time and examine. If the silver makes your face light up, you are most likely cool toned. If the gold makes you look fresh and alive, you are probably warm toned.


I also found a quiz which resulted me being neutral but a little more to the warmer side although I could not do the white paper test yet as you would need a freshly cleaned and make up free skin in order to do that and I'm at work (naturally! :D ) I'll have to do the quiz later at home... The quiz is here: http://www.bellasugar.com/Warm-Cool-Undertones-Quiz-1843402

[Rosetta]

I have predominantly cool coloring. Naturally ashy brown hair, bluish light skin, and dark hazel eyes. Light applications of henna resulting in coppery tones looked HORRIBLE on me. But as the red gets deeper and more ruby red, the better it looks with my skin tone.
I'm supposedly cool-toned too, a summer in the 4 seasons theory. But this is what's weird - coppery red looks great on me (not too orange though), and ruby/burgundy red doesn't!

So I'm starting to think there's something badly wrong in the cool/warm division thing & the 4 seasons theory... I mean, I know what I see, and I rather trust my own eyes and my own judgement, having years & years of experience in this, than a theory that tells me what theoretically should and what should not suit me!! :)



I honestly think henna looks good on anyone mostly because the henna doesn't just cover your natural color with solid red. It just adds red tones to whatever you've got. So if you've got golden tones to your hair, henna will give you a more warm red. If you have cool tones in your hair, henna will give you a cooler red. I think it works with whatever you've already got to give you a flattering shade.
I think this is a good point.
But then it makes me wonder why henna has always given me coppery red, not a cool-toned shade, even though I'm supposedly cool-toned... ;) (Another reason to refute that seasons theory, methinks...)

[pyroliske]

I would say a lot depends on what shade of red you want to go really. For instance, Christina Hendricks is naturally a mousy brown colour, and she has pale skin and blue eyes with cool undertones.

I'm a natural redhead, my red is coppery but subdued, I have brownish eyes and golden undertones. I seem to be able to carry off any colour but black (looked terrible :D).

I know that the irish redheads have the blue undertoned (pinkish) skin with blue or green eyes.

Most people can get away with a shade of red, it's just determining which shade suits you best whether it's firey copper or dark burgundy or conker colour.

[jojo]

I would say a lot depends on what shade of red you want to go really. For instance, Christina Hendricks is naturally a mousy brown colour, and she has pale skin and blue eyes with cool undertones.

I'm a natural redhead, my red is coppery but subdued, I have brownish eyes and golden undertones. I seem to be able to carry off any colour but black (looked terrible :D).

I know that the irish redheads have the blue undertoned (pinkish) skin with blue or green eyes.

Most people can get away with a shade of red, it's just determining which shade suits you best whether it's firey copper or dark burgundy or conker colour.

totally agree with this!

[Rosetta]

Most people can get away with a shade of red, it's just determining which shade suits you best whether it's firey copper or dark burgundy or conker colour.
I completely agree with this, too. The problem with henna is just that you cannot really choose the shade...

[spirals]

Plus, there are so many undertones: olive, beige, beige-yellow, peach, peach-yellow, to name a few. It's hard to tell if you are a warm, cool or neutral. If you know you are a cool, though, I'd say put in just enough indigo to make it a cool, blue-based red, or get a pre-mixed burgundy.

[spirals]

This is how I figured out my undertone: http://meowcosmetics.com/ I'm a peach-yellow. There's also a yellow-peach. For me, the peach is dominant. I consider myself warm, though I can get away with wearing a couple of cool colors (purple, kelly green). Also, I have dichromatic eyes: blue-green and olive green in them. So a copper color looks like I should've been born wth it. Notice I don't mention lightness or darkness, as they have nothing to do with undertone.

[Rosetta]

This is how I figured out my undertone: http://meowcosmetics.com/
Could you tell where on that site can you figure out your undertone? As I looked but couldn't find no link/test for this.

This is really interesting to me, as I've always been classified as cool, and in clothes it's cool colours that suit me best, but e.g. copper hair (if not too orange) suits me very well, too...

[indigonight]

this article should give you a good idea
http://www.thehairstyler.com/features/articles/hair-color/hair-color-two-rules-for-success

bottom line is with pale skin with pink tones stick to cool colours

[Tootsie]

I feel like I can finally post on this thread, yey! I have, over the years, dyed my hair chemically numerous different shades of red and not a one looked decent on me. The problem is I LOVE red hair. I finally decided to try henna and my friends and I are surprised at how natural the red looks on me. I have no idea how it does it but apparently the reason it looks so different on everybody is because it is adjusting to their skin tone. OK, not really :). But it really is the first time red has ever looked natural on me so...there ya have it :). Oh, and I am a "cool" with yellow and red undertones...which are warm, I know, lol.

[Nae]

Just so you know, I have been staring at the veins in my hands on and off for three days because of this thread and I still can't exactly tell whether they are green or blue. I am leaning toward green.

I am starting to ask random people at this point lol.

[Anje]

Just so you know, I have been staring at the veins in my hands on and off for three days because of this thread and I still can't exactly tell whether they are green or blue. I am leaning toward green.

I am starting to ask random people at this point lol.
I've never been able to manage that one either.

How about this: find a warm-toned person and a cool-toned person of similar color depth to you. Compare your skin (even just arms) to theirs, see if you can see contrast with one or the other.

If I ever doubted that I was warm-toned, comparing skin to my husband made it very clear. He's much more pink, and my pale skin looks positively golden next to his.

[pullanmuru]

I've never been able to manage that one either.



Same here. Some of the veins look more blueish and some more greenish to me depending on how close they are to the skin. I have very see through skin anyway. My boyfriend then again thought they were all more blueish than green.

I look good in some cool colours like pure white, teal, ruby red, royal blue but awful on cool pastel shades like light blue or light pink. Warm reds and greens look great on me, but beige for example makes me look so washed out and tired. So I haven't got a clue! I think silver and gold jewellery looks equally good on me, I think it depends more on the tone of my hair and clothes whether I'd choose gold over silver or vice versa.

I can't for the life of me tell whether my skin has pink or yellow undertones, I just see myself pale and somewhat colourless without make up :) I guess I'm neutral then.

[Diamond.Eyes]

After seeing all of the gorgeous shades that people can achieve with henna, I think pretty much any skin tone looks great with warm hues in their hair. If my hair wasn't already red, I would probably try it out. :p

[Ephemeral]

My 'original' coloring is dark brunette and I have cool-toned olive skin and blue eyes. I have been coloring my hair some shade of red for probably ten years or more. Burgundy shades definitely are a no-no and I get a lot of compliments on a more coppery shade. My avatar is my first attempt at henna and I couldn't be happier.

[spirals]

Could you tell where on that site can you figure out your undertone? As I looked but couldn't find no link/test for this.

This is really interesting to me, as I've always been classified as cool, and in clothes it's cool colours that suit me best, but e.g. copper hair (if not too orange) suits me very well, too...

Oh, sorry. Go to the bottom of this page http://www.meowcosmetics.com/Foundation.htm Each color has it's undertone listed. I'm either persian or chartreux. It's fun to find your cat breed.

[TheMechaGinger]

I have pale skin with pink-ish undertones, blue eyes, and blonde eyebrows and when I used to henna I rocked it! I am a natural strawberry blonde, more on the strawberry side than blonde so that may have affected it

[spirals]

I see angora, persian, abyssinian, manx, chartreaux, and siamese as having enough yellow to get away w/ red hair. The others look too cool. Compare your neck to the chart in natural light.

[Rosetta]

Thanks so much, Spirals! Looking at that chart, I'm pretty sure I'm either Manx or Chartreux (also based on other mineral makeup I've used earlier, those shades look most similar to them).

I think I'm going to have to order some samples from that site when I get some more funds, if only to figure out my exact skin tone :wink:

[3azza]

I honestly think henna looks good on anyone mostly because the henna doesn't just cover your natural color with solid red. It just adds red tones to whatever you've got. So if you've got golden tones to your hair, henna will give you a more warm red. If you have cool tones in your hair, henna will give you a cooler red. I think it works with whatever you've already got to give you a flattering shade.

yes that exactly :)

[cmg]

Cool link!

/ CMG

[Anje]

I see angora, persian, abyssinian, manx, chartreaux, and siamese as having enough yellow to get away w/ red hair. The others look too cool. Compare your neck to the chart in natural light.
I'm a natural redhead (turning quite brunette since I was about 25, though) who wears Mau. For what it's worth.

[pullanmuru]

After seeing all of the gorgeous shades that people can achieve with henna, I think pretty much any skin tone looks great with warm hues in their hair. If my hair wasn't already red, I would probably try it out. :p

Is that you in your avatar pic? you're gorgeous! Love the hair colour too.

[cmg]

I actually have that haircolor of hers in my hair right now (from henna). :) I have been strawberry blonde for about three years (the two last ones from henna) and I decided about a week ago to go darker. The first whole henna treatment took me from blonde to this shade. It looks great, but I wanted darker. So tomorrow I will do another full head treatment, that will probably take me to the medium brown end of henna. Or perhaps even darker, I am not sure about the cheap henna I bought the last time.

I have pinkish skintone and dark brown eyes. Warm tones should not work for me, but henna has always been all right. It doesnt get better when I tan, I go sort of grey or chokolate then, not the usual warmish tan color for fair skinned people. So I am really happy henna always worked so far.

/ CMG