Have you ever fallen in love with a hair extension shade online, only to find it looks completely different once you try it on? You’re not the only one.
The secret to finding your perfect hair extension shade isn’t just about whether you’re blonde, brunette, or somewhere in between - it’s also about your skin undertone.
Making sure your extensions match your skin tone will create a natural, radiant look that complements your complexion instead of competing with it.
Understanding this will help you decide whether to go for a blonde extension, or something slightly darker with a brown shade.
In this guide, we’ll help you understand your undertone and choose the best MHE hair extension shade for you, whether you’re warm, cool, or beautifully neutral.
Why Skin Undertones Matter When Choosing Hair Extensions
Undertones are the subtle hues beneath the surface of your skin that affect how colours appear against it - including your hair.
When the colour of your extensions align with your undertone, your overall look feels more balanced and effortless. But when they clash, hair can look brassy, dull, or even make your skin appear tired.
The three main undertones are:
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Warm: Yellow, golden, or peachy base
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Cool: Pink, red, or lighter base
- Neutral: A balance of both, neither distinctly warm nor cool
How to Identify Your Skin Tone
If you’re unsure where you sit on the spectrum, try these simple at-home tests to gauge your skin tone.
The Jewellery Test
You can use jewellery as an easy way to determine what skin tone you are.
If you glow in gold jewellery and this suits you best, you’re likely to have a warm skin tone.
If silver looks better and is your go-to choice, you’re likely cool.
If both look great and neither stand out as a winner, you’re probably a neutral skin tone (lucky you!).
The Vein Test
Look at the veins on your wrist under natural light. If you have:
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Green or olive veins: You likely a warm tone
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Blue or purple veins: You likely have a cool tone
- A mix of both or hard to tell: Probably a neutral tone.
The Sun Test
You’ll generally know what skin tone you are depending on how you react to the sun. Warm skin tones tend to tan easier and have that golden look. While cool tones will burn more quickly. Neutral skin often does a bit of both or sits in the middle.
MHE Tip: If you’re still unsure, try holding different hair swatches near your face in natural light. You’ll instantly notice which shades make your skin come alive and which wash you out.
Best Hair Extension Shades for Warm Skin Tones
Warm undertones naturally pair best with golden, honeyed, or caramel hues. These shades enhance your natural glow and bring out the warmth in your complexion.
The most flattering MHE shades for warm tones include:
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Golden Blonde: A sunlit blonde that adds brightness without brassiness.
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Balayage: Perfect for medium complexions wanting depth and shine.
- Chestnut Brown: A timeless, multi-toned brown that complements olive or golden skin.
- Rich Chocolate Brown/Golden Brown: These work beautifully on golden or olive skin if you’re after a slightly darker hair colour.
Warm undertones work beautifully with blended shades that look like natural highlights, which is why balayage or dirty blonde colours are so great. If you’re wanting slightly darker hair extensions, a chocolate brown or chestnut brown is also a great choice.
MHE Tip: If your skin looks best in gold jewellery or your wardrobe leans towards earthy tones, golden-based extensions will look effortlessly natural on you.
Best Hair Extension Shades for Cool Skin Tones
Cool undertones look best with ashy, icy, or neutral-based colours that balance the skin’s pink or red base.
The top MHE shades for cool skin tones include:
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Ash Blonde: A sophisticated, cool-toned blonde that flatters fair complexions.
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Icy Platinum: For a striking, high-impact contrast.
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Cool Brown or Mocha: Deep, rich browns that don’t pull red or orange.
- Soft Black: A sleek, dramatic choice that complements pink or cool beige undertones.
To keep your extensions looking fresh, use a purple toning shampoo occasionally to neutralise any unwanted warmth that may appear over time.
MHE Tip: If silver jewellery brightens your skin or you tend to prefer blue-based makeup tones, cool-toned extensions will create a polished, balanced finish.
Best Hair Extension Shades for Neutral Skin Tones
If you’re lucky enough to have a neutral undertone, most shades will make you look gorgeous, it just depends on the effect you want to go for.
For a radiant, golden glow: choose warm hues like caramel, bronde, or chestnut.
For a soft, more modern look: go cooler with mocha, ash brown, or beige blonde.
Neutral skin tones also handle multi-dimensional colours exceptionally well. Shades that combine both warm and cool tones, like neutral balayage, look especially natural and dynamic.
MHE Tip: For neutral skin, the key isn’t about avoiding a shade, it’s about balancing the temperature of your overall look. A slightly warmer or cooler tone can shift your style from beachy and radiant to chic and elegant in an instant.
Mixed or Hard-to-Define Undertones
Many women fall somewhere between undertones, for example, cool in winter but warmer in summer, or neutral with subtle olive tones.
If that’s you, blended or transitional shades are your best friend. These include:
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Beige Blonde: A perfect mix of warmth and ash for year-round wear.
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Ash Caramel: A balance of gold and cool tones that adapt to your lighting and makeup.
- Rooted Extensions: Extensions with a slightly darker base that mimic natural regrowth, ideal for mixed tones or anyone unsure of their exact match.
MHE Tip: Always view your hair and skin in natural daylight when colour matching. Indoor lighting can distort tone perception.
Choosing the Right Shade with Maiden Hair Extensions
At Maiden Hair Extensions, we know the right shade isn’t just about colour, it’s about confidence. Our team helps women every day find the perfect extension tone to enhance their natural beauty and lifestyle.
If you’re unsure of which colour will suit you best, you can try our virtual colour match and a member of our team will assist in finding the perfect shade for you and your skin tone.
Final Thoughts
Finding your perfect hair extension shade isn’t about following trends, it’s about enhancing what you already have. When your extensions complement your skin tone, your entire look becomes more cohesive, polished, and effortlessly beautiful.
Whether you lean warm, cool, or neutral, there’s an MHE shade designed to help you look and feel your absolute best.
Explore Maiden Hair Extensions’ premium colour range today and discover the shade that makes you shine.
