Best Shades of Blonde for Your Skin Tone

Question: I'm a natural brunette who wants to go blonde, but I'm nervous the lighter color won't flatter me. Any way to predict the results?

Answer: Apps that wrap cartoonish wigs around your face are fun, but they're not exactly a hard-science means of determining how you'll look with blonde hair in the real world. Luckily, the answer of whether or not you can pull off lighter color is simple: yes. "It's only a matter of finding the blonde that complements your personal color palette, i.e. your skin's overtones and undertones," says celebrity colorist Daniel Moon, whose clients include Madonna, Kylie Jenner and Nicole Richie. Below, Moon's guide to choosing the right shade for your skin.

If you're pale..."Platinum, whether it's cool, ashy, creamy or pearly, is always a showstopper," he says, but keep in mind that it's the most demanding in terms of visible regrowth and it requires lots of deep conditioning and protection. "You can also wear multidimensional golden highlights with platinum, honey and gold silhouettes and if you want to go dark blonde, think in terms of sandy, beige colors."

If you're medium/olive/gold-toned..."Medium skin is like the oval face shape, meaning you can wear just about anything—platinum, honey, ash and strobe-light blonde. Most of my asian clients fall into this category and they can pull off an all-over buttery blonde or a bone white color effortlessly. Strobe highlights of cream around the face paired with honey highlights throughout the rest is beautiful."

If you're dark..."Opt for more of a beige tone highlight; too much ash can drag your complexion down. The bleach blonde look is attainable as well, but think honey and caramel tones as your base, then add creamy strobe highlights for added dimension."

As for your brows, Moon insists it's not necessary that they join in on the color action: "Having a bold brow defines the face and can give your blonde look more of an edge by bringing out your eyes and giving you more makeup options."

Alexandra Tunell is the Senior Digital Beauty Editor at Harper's BAZAAR, where she writes beauty features and covers industry news, health, fitness and wellness trends. She began her career in the Lucky beauty closet, then went on to work at Allure. When she's not testing the latest skin care treatments, the Los Angeles native is searching the city for the best Mexican food, binge-watching Bravo and escaping to the beach as often as possible.

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