10 of the Most Flattering Hair Colors for Olive Skin

Experimenting with your hair color can be a fun way to get creative with your look—especially if you choose a hue that flatters your features. The best hair colors for olive skin, for instance, can help warm up your complexion and give your skin a natural-looking glow. If you have an olive skin tone and are on the hunt for a new hair color idea to try, we’re sharing a few picks worth considering next time you hit the salon (or pick up a boxed dye). From summery shades of blonde to rich auburns and classic brunette hues, find inspiration for your new look, ahead.

Is Olive Skin Warm or Cool?

Olive-colored skin features warm or neutral undertones, with prominent hints of green, brown, or yellow. It can be fair—as is the case with pale olive skin—or deeper in tone, making it appear as though you’re naturally tanned. (This may be referred to as “olive brown skin”). Taking a peek at an olive skin tone chart can help you determine where on the olive skin spectrum you lay.

To choose a flattering hair color that complements your olive skin tone, first assess whether you lean more warm or neutral. Then, decide whether you want a natural-looking hair color or something with a bit more contrast. For the former, you’ll want to opt for medium hair colors with neutral to warm undertones. For a more contrasting look, we recommend opting for light or dark shades with cool undertones.

Factors to consider when choosing a hair color for olive skin

Your skin’s undertone is one of the most important factors to consider when searching for the best hair color for olive skin. If your skin leans more warm, choosing a cool hue might create too much contrast against your warmer olive undertone. For a harmonious look, you’ll generally want to opt for warmer hues with golden undertones. Those with neutral olive skin can typically pull off both warmer and cooler shades well, since your skin is neither distinctly warm nor obviously cool in tone.

Looking at your natural hair color—which you can often find at your roots or eyebrows—can also help give you guidance to find a shade that best complements your olive skin tone. Don’t forget to consider your eye color, as well. If you have green eyes, you may want to opt for a reddish hue, as the contrast will help your irises stand out. Those with blue eyes, meanwhile, tend to look great with golden and bronzy hair colors.

With all of that being said, hair color is a matter of personal style and preference. The best shade for you is the one that makes you feel your most confident—so don’t be afraid to experiment.

10 of the Best Hair Colors for Olive Skin

If you’re itching for a hair makeover but aren’t quite sure which direction to go in, keep scrolling. Ahead, we’re sharing 10 of our favorite hair colors to complement an olive skin color.

1. Honey blonde

If you have light or medium-toned olive skin and are looking for a subtle hair color to flatter your complexion, try a warm honey blonde. The summery shade’s golden undertones will help brighten up your complexion and give you a natural-looking glow. To DIY this color at home, try the L’Oréal Paris Superior Preference Fade-Defying Shine Permanent Hair Color in Light Golden Blonde.

2. Caramel

Caramel is a rich, light-to-medium brown hair color with distinct golden undertones, and it pairs beautifully with olive brown skin. To get the luxurious look for yourself, pick up a box of L’Oréal Paris Féria Fade-Defying Shine Permanent Hair Color in Sparkling Amber.

3. Platinum blonde

For a bright, icy hue that will really pop against your olive skin tone, give platinum blonde a go. Be aware that achieving platinum-level lightness without damaging your strands is tricky and can take several processes depending on your starting color. If you want to DIY it, we recommend snagging the L’Oréal Paris Féria Hyper Platinum Advanced Lightening System Bleach, as well as a purple shampoo to help keep brassiness at bay.

4. Cinnamon balayage

Balayage is a great way to opt for a subtle hair color change, as the highlighting technique doesn’t require a full-head dye job. Plus, it’s relatively low maintenance, as the highlights start a bit further down the hair shaft rather than directly at the root. To create the lived-in look, ask your color specialist for subtle balayage that blends in naturally with your base color. We love the way a medium cinnamon brown hue pops against olive skin tones, though you can go lighter or darker, depending on your preferences. If you’re up for DIY-ing the look, we recommend using the L’Oréal Paris Superior Preference Balayage At-Home Lightening Kit in Medium to Dark Brown, which includes a precise applicator for a seamless application.

5. Chestnut

If you’re looking for a hue that strikes the perfect balance between natural-looking and bold, consider chestnut brown. This medium-to-deep shade has warm undertones with very subtle hints of red that give it richness and depth. Get the color at home with the L’Oréal Paris Superior Preference Fade-Defying Shine Permanent Hair Color in Medium Chestnut Brown.

6. Rich ash brown

The best way to choose a hair color that stands out is to choose a hue that contrasts with, rather than complements, your complexion. So if you have a warm olive skin color, you’ll want to opt for a cool-toned shade. We like deep ash brown, as it provides contrast and “pops” while still retaining a natural feel. To recreate a similar look at home, snag the L’Oréal Paris Superior Preference Fade-Defying Shine Permanent Hair Color in Medium Ash Brown.

7. Auburn

It’s often recommended that people with olive-colored skin opt for warm, golden tones when it comes to hair color and makeup. But we’d argue that red makes just as much of an impact. For a flattering look, consider a rich auburn hue—the autumnal hue has the ideal balance of warm and cool tones to flatter olive skin tones. Get the look with an at-home dye kit, like the L’Oréal Paris Superior Preference Fade-Defying Shine Permanent Hair Color in Medium Auburn Brown.

8. Burgundy

If you’re inclined towards darker hair colors and want to go red, burgundy is the perfect shade for you. This hair color has those great cool undertones to provide contrast against your olive complexion. Take it for a spin with the L’Oréal Paris Féria Multi-Faceted Shimmering Permanent Hair Color in Burgundy Blush.

9. Cherry red

For a red shade that commands attention, give cherry red a go. It’s vibrant and impactful with a balance of warm and cool tones, so it’s flattering on a variety of skin tones. Get this sweet and spunky shade at home with the L’Oréal Paris Féria Multi-Faceted Shimmering Permanent Hair Color in Cherry Crush.

10. Pastel pink

If you’re not afraid to play with color and you love the pastel hair color trend, opt for an icy pink shade to pop against your skin and brighten your complexion. Keep in mind that in order to achieve this candy-colored hue, you’ll likely need to bleach your hair first. Then, you can apply a pale pink hair dye, such as the L’Oréal Paris Féria Multi-Faceted Shimmering Permanent Hair Color in Rosy Blush.

Next Up: How to Identify Your Skin’s Undertones