Unnatural Hair Colors for Olive Skin (What To Know Before You Choose)
Fashion or unnatural colours can make quite a statement, but they’re also slowly becoming more normalised to rock daily.
In addition, you can achieve unnatural hair colours in multiple ways with semi-permanent, permanent, or temporary dyes.
Finding the right unnatural hair colour can be challenging, especially if you’re unfamiliar with your skin tone.
Olive skin tones can be the trickiest to match because they’re often viewed as a singular tan complexion when more characteristics exist.
For example, light, medium, and dark complexions can all have olive skin.
Olive skin usually has neutral undertones, but olive complexions can lean more cool or warm.
This makes it more challenging to find a flattering fashion hair colour.
So, what are the unnatural hair colours for olive skin?
Choose a colour that creates a flattering contrast with your skin instead of one that makes your skin look flat. You may also want to stay clear of any hues that are too drab against your olive undertone.
However, multiple other factors play a crucial role in the unnatural hair colour you choose.
Eye colour, how much melanin is present within your complexion, and undertones can all determine the best unnatural hair colour for your olive skin.
What Is Olive Skin?
When most people think of olive skin tones, they usually think of tanned skin.
However, like other skin tones, olive skin tones can appear in light, dark, and medium complexions.
Also, olive skin tones are usually categorised as having neutral undertones, but they can also be calm and warm.
Most olive skin tones can look like they have a greenish or yellowish tint to the skin.
What Are Undertones?
Undertones play a crucial role in colour-matching and often refer to the hues underneath the skin.
Your undertones can help determine your ideal foundation match, a flattering hair colour, or what clothes suit you the best.
The three undertones are cool, neutral, and warm. Olive skin is often categorised as neutral, but it can sometimes be cooler or warmer.
Cool
Cool undertones can appear with all complexions regardless of how much melanin is present.
Blue, red, and pink hues are often associated with cool undertones.
You most likely lean more cool-toned if your veins appear blue.
Another way to tell if you have cooler undertones is to see if silver jewellery is more flattering on you than gold.
Warm
Warm undertones refer to a complexion with a more golden or warm tone.
You may look warmer if your skin has a peachy, yellow, or golden tint to your face.
Green veins can indicate if your skin is considered to have warm undertones.
Likewise, you can see if you have a warm undertone, and whether gold jewellery is more flattering on you than silver.
Neutral
Most olive skin tones fall under the neutral category. Neutral undertones can be identified if your skin tone and undertones are similar or match.
Also, if the veins have a mix of blue and green, you most likely lean towards a neutral undertone.
Both silver and gold jewellery can flatter neutral undertones.
What To Consider Before Choosing A Fashion Hair Colour for Olive Skin
Are you planning to tap into your creative side and rock an unnatural hair colour?
Colour-matching can be challenging for olive complexions because there are various factors to consider before applying any hair dye or even choosing a colour palette when you’re doing makeup for olive skin.
For example, it’s crucial to consider your undertone, skin complexion, and eye colour to figure out the right shades for you.
You may figure out that a deep red is more suitable for you than a bright red.
Undertones
We mentioned how most olive skin tones have neutral undertones.
However, you can have a paler complexion with cool undertones and still be considered olive-skinned.
Undertones can help you choose the right tone or tint of hair colour.
Warm olive undertones may look easily washed out with light, cool, or pastel colours.
Skin Complexion
Your skin complexion and melanin also play a vital role in choosing a fashion colour for unnatural hair.
Different colours will flatter light, medium, and dark complexions.
Think of your complexion and undertone to decipher the best match for your olive skin.
It can be time-consuming to see which colours match your complexion, but it can be worth it in the long run before committing to unnatural hair colour.
Eye Color
Finally, consider your eye colour before choosing a fashion colour.
Lighter eyes may look more flattering with specific colours.
For example, blue eyes and a paler complexion may suit a brighter or more prominent red shade.
Eye colour plays a tiny but noticeable role when choosing an unnatural hair colour for olive complexions.
Unnatural Hair Colours For Olive Skin
What are unnatural hair colours?
Unnatural or fashion hair colours refer to hues that can’t occur naturally, like blue, pink, green, and more.
These shades can be exhilarating to experiment with and make a bold statement.
Olive skin tones can be challenging to match, so which unnatural colours suit them the best?
It’s also crucial to consider your undertone, especially if you have an olive complexion.
Red
Red hair can occur naturally, but we will focus on unnatural red shades like bright red or merlot/wine.
Red shades can be flattering on olive skin, especially if you find the correct undertone to match your complexion.
Thankfully, red hair colours are available in various shades and can easily be adapted to your olive skin.
Additionally, red and green are complementary, making them an excellent option for olive skin, especially if you have a greenish undertone.
Merlot Vs Bright Red
A bright red may be more suitable for a cool and neutral complexion.
This fiery and electric colour can often be cool in tone and may potentially look too jarring for warmer complexions.
You can think of Rihanna in her bright red hair era.
Deep, warm reds like wines can be more suitable for warm tones.
These shades often have a warmer undertone to suit green or yellowish undertones.
Purple
Purple is another vivid and unique fashion colour.
Purple and yellow are complementary colours that work for a wide range of undertones.
Purple can be as deep, bright, or light as you desire, but each one can fit a specific skin tone.
What are the differences between a deep purple and a lavender shade?
Deep Purple Vs Lavender
Deep, jewel-toned purples can look vibrant and flattering on neutral and warm undertones.
It can also suit medium, tan, and deep complexions because the colour is often rich in tone.
Lavender is much more suitable for those with a cool complexion.
Pastels are tricky for olive complexions and are usually a no-go.
However, a cool complexion can look beautiful with an icy lavender.
Pink
Pink is one of the most popular fashion colours because it’s well-loved, and there is a shade for every complexion.
Pink can share many similarities with red fashion colours, and the shade you choose should match your complexion for a lively finish.
Pink can range anywhere from pastels, neons, and even rose golds.
Rose Gold Vs Hot Pink
For most olive complexions, regular, hot, and pastel pink tones can be challenging to pull off.
The shades can appear stark or make the skin tone look flat.
So, these types of pink can be flattering for those with a cooler complexion, especially since pink undertones within the skin are considered cool.
Neutral and warm complexions can try rose gold, which offers a pink hue with added warmth to suit the skin.
Green
Olive skin can appear to have a greenish tint, but do green shades flatter olive complexions?
Again, it heavily depends on your undertones and what shades you gravitate to the most.
Regular and jewel-toned greens can suit a wide range of olive skin tones.
Also, green can easily be adaptable to fit your skin’s characteristics.
Emerald Green Vs Green
Emerald green is considered a jewel tone and can flatter deep, tan, and warm complexions.
Regular green has the potential to suit most olive skin tones.
Also, lighter or neon greens can be suitable for cool or lighter complexions.
Your eye colour can also help pinpoint which shade of green can flatter your olive skin.
Blue
Typical blue hair colours can potentially look brash on most olive skin tones.
So it may be beneficial to try to adapt your desired blue to your undertone and complexion.
A deep, jewelled tone, or navy blue, can suit medium, deep, warm, and neutral skin.
Other unique shades of blue to consider are turquoise and pastel blue.
Turquoise Vs Pastel Blue
Pastels may easily wash out most olive skin tones.
However, you might be able to rock pastel blue if you find that your undertone is cool.
Blue is often an indicator of a cool undertone, and pastel blue can flatter almost all cool complexions.
Turquoise is also unique because it’s a mix of blue and green, so it can potentially lean towards a warm undertone depending on how much green is present.
A warmer turquoise can flatter an olive skin tone that appears more golden.
Yellow
Yellow is not an everyday fashion colour, and there’s an argument made that it can be similar to blonde.
Most yellow shades can look too drab or unflattering on most skin tones.
However, a bright, neon yellow can flatter warmer olive complexions.
When it comes to colours like yellow, it’s better to make a statement with a neon colour because it shows that this unnatural hair colour has a purpose and is prominent.
Orange
Another tricky colour is orange. Regular oranges can appear quite striking for normal olive skin.
It’s best to adapt orange into a copper shade to suit neutral and olive skin tones.
Orange may be able to complement some skin tones or those with a lighter eye colour.
Fashion Colours To Avoid
It’s crucial to note that which unnatural hair colours suit olive hair the best are general guidelines, including which fashion colours to avoid.
It can be acceptable to choose a colour that doesn’t match your skin if you find you genuinely love the shade you picked out.
Also, all hair colours can easily be adapted to fit your specific olive complexion, along with your other features.
Pastels
Pastel shades can easily make olive complexions look drab or flat.
This is regarding true olives with neutral or warm undertones.
They can appear chalky or lifeless.
However, cool-toned olive complexions may find that pastel hair is suitable.
Pastels are also a good introduction to unnatural hair because they aren’t as bold or striking as standard fashion colours.
Grays
Grey colours can quickly look dull, too.
It may be tempting to get silver strands, but it can be pretty tricky to do so for most olive skin tones.
Also, there is a chance you can naturally acquire grey strands with time and through the ageing process.
A better option could be a platinum blonde shade because it can easily be adapted to fit most undertones.
Best Colours For Each Undertone
So, what are the most suitable unnatural colours for olive skin tones?
It’s essential to remember that olive skin can be warm or cool and is not just strictly neutral.
Picking an unnatural hair colour can be overwhelming, especially with many options.
Each undertone has a set of flattering shades that your olive skin tone may be interested in trying out.
Cool
Cool undertones have a better chance of rocking bright, neon, and cool-toned hair colours.
For example, pastels, neon green, or bright red can suit cool tones.
Also, a paler complexion or lighter eye colour may suit cooler fashion hair dyes.
A deep and calm complexion may look stunning in a lavender hue, while a medium cool complexion may rock a neon green.
Warm
Warm undertones may feel more comfortable wearing warmer shades.
Coppers, reds, and purples may suit a wide range of olive skin tones even outside of the warm undertone category.
All complexions can find their ideal warm fashion colour.
Also, warmer undertones, especially those with medium to deep complexion, may gravitate towards deep or jewel-toned colours.
These shades can also be adaptable to fit your features.
Neutral
Finally, a classic, neutral olive tone can pull off most unnatural hair colours with the correct undertone.
For example, a neutral olive can be paired with navy blue, wine red, or bright red/copper.
Deep purple tones can also suit neutral olive complexions.
Rose gold or a warmer pastel hybrid colour can also look flattering on neutral olive complexions.
Consult A Hairdresser
Are you still feeling overwhelmed?
Olive skin tones can be the trickiest to colour match, so getting a professional’s opinion won’t hurt.
A hairdresser can listen to your desires, set attainable expectations, and help you get a beautiful fashion colour.
They can also provide other expertise, like how long the colour will last or how to take care of it, so it remains vivid for as long as possible.
If you’d rather do your research from home, take a look at this helpful video about choosing the best hair colour for your skin tone from stylist Brad Mondo on YouTube.
Takeaway
Olive skin tones can wear a wide range of unnatural hair colours.
However, keeping your undertone in mind when choosing your ideal shade is crucial.
Your hairdresser can also adapt your desired colour to fit your skin’s characteristics.
Overall, deep, warm tones suit neutral and warm olive skin, while cooler tones can pair well with pastels or bright neons.
These are general guidelines for picking the best unnatural hair colour for olive skin.
Which fashion hair colour will you try next?
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