Changing your hair color is one of the easiest and most exciting ways to refresh up your beauty look. However, with so many gorgeous shades to choose from, knowing what hue will look best on you can feel a bit daunting. You may have an idea of what color you want to try, but for a cohesive look, you’ll want to pick a shade with the right undertone, too. Fortunately, our iconic Superior Preference hair color collection includes more than 50 flattering shades, with hues to flatter any skin tone or undertone. Whether you’re looking for golden blonde, a rich auburn, or a jet black blue, there is a Preference hair color for everyone—and we’ll help you find your perfect match, ahead.
When choosing a new hair color, it’s important to consider your skin tone and undertones. These play a huge role in determining which hair colors will be most flattering on you (and make your L’Oréal Paris Preference hair color selection that much easier).
You likely already know what your skin tone is, but if you don’t, it simply refers to the intensity of your skin’s pigment. It’s typically characterized as fair, medium, or deep, and can change depending on the season (for example, you may go from fair to medium if you’re sporting a tan—faux or otherwise).
Undertones, meanwhile, refer to the underlying tint of your skin. To identify yours, take a look at the veins on the inside of your wrist. If they appear blue or purple, your undertones are likely cool. Those with greenish-looking veins, meanwhile, typically have a warm undertone. As for those who have a mix of blue and green tones: you likely fall into the neutral undertones category.
Once you identify your undertones, selecting a Superior Preference hair color will become even easier. As a general rule, it’s best to select a hair color with undertones that correspond with your skin’s undertones—warm with warm and cool with cool for the most cohesive, natural-looking end result. Those with neutral undertones look great in both cool and warm-toned hair colors. Here’s a full L’Oréal Paris Superior Preference Hair Color Chart
Finally, keep in mind that playing with hair color is all about having fun and choosing what color you think is best for you. These recommendations are meant to be a guide for choosing hues that compliment you best, but no color choice is a wrong one if it makes you feel good! As you’ll see from the L’Oréal Paris Superior Preference hair color chart below, you’ll see that there are shades to suit any aesthetic—so you’re sure to find one that makes you feel like your best self.
Tempted to find out if blondes really do have more fun? When you look at the Superior Preference Hair Color chart, you’ll find a range of blonde shades, ranging from ashy blondes to golden-tinged hues to extra light, almost platinum options. Compared to other hair colors, blonde can be tricky. By selecting the best shade for your skin tone, you can breathe life into your complexion rather than looking washed out.
Ash blonde hair is a great choice for those with fairer skin, as the soft, cool-toned hue can help illuminate your features while providing a natural-looking end result. The Superior Preference hair color collection comes in multiple ashy blonde shades, ranging from bright, nearly platinum blonde to deeper wheat tones. If a bold, striking look is what you’re after, try L’Oréal Paris Superior Preference Fade-Defying Shine Permanent Hair Color in Extra Light Ash Blonde. For a more natural-looking end result, we love the slightly deeper wheat hue of Medium Ash Blonde.
Bring out your sun-kissed skin with a warm honey blonde shade. This golden hue pops against medium skin tones and keeps you in a beachy state of mind all year long. To get the look, try L’Oréal Paris Superior Preference Fade-Defying Shine Permanent Hair Color in Light Golden Blonde.
Go for a wow-factor moment with an extra light, almost platinum blonde. An icy-bright hue will contrast beautifully against your deep skin tone and earn you endless compliments. Grab the L’Oréal Paris Superior Preference Fade-Defying Shine Permanent Hair Color in Ultra Natural Blonde for your superstar hair transformation.
Editor’s note: Keep in mind that, depending on your starting shade, you may need to bleach your hair before embracing a new blonde hue. If you’re looking to DIY your transformation, check out our article How To Bleach Your Hair at Home and Keep Your Blonde Bright for tips on lightening your hair.
Red hues are inherently warm, though there are certain shades, like softer auburns, that will pop against those with cool undertones. With more natural-looking options like auburn as well as deeper, statement-making chocolate cherry hues, there’s a red L’Oréal Paris Preference Hair Color shade to suit every skin tone.
Fair skin and red hair were practically made for each other, and there are a range of crimson shades—both subtle and bold—that work well with a lighter complexion. If you’re going red for the first time and want something on the softer side, we suggest reaching for a lighter auburn hue, such as the L’Oréal Paris Superior Preference Fade-Defying Shine Permanent Hair Color in Light Auburn. This rich, coppery red hue will help brighten your complexion without overpowering it.
Those with medium skin tones can easily rock any red hue, but to add a little spice to your beauty look, we recommend a deep red shade to create a beautiful contrast with your skin. We love the way the L’Oréal Paris Superior Preference Fade-Defying Shine Permanent Hair Color in Intense Dark Red pops against tanned-looking skin.
A rich, sultry hue with a mix of brown and red tones stuns on deeper complexions. Selecting a multi-dimensional color, like L’Oréal Paris Superior Preference Fade-Defying Shine Permanent Hair Color in Medium Auburn Brown, will complement your rich skin tone wonderfully. While the shade has an overall red tinge, it’s more muted until you step into the light—then your hair will look as if it’s ablaze (in the best way possible).
Brown is one of the most versatile hair colors because there’s plenty of variety, from ultra-light browns that teeter on the edge of blonde to rich, inky shades that pass for black in low lighting. And while it’s hard to go wrong with a classic medium brown, there are certain brunette hues that may flatter your skin better than others.
Ease your way into brown and complement your fair skin with a soft golden brown hair color. A bronde shade like the L’Oréal Paris Superior Preference Fade-Defying Shine Permanent Hair Color in Lightest Golden Brown can help give your mane a sun-kissed feel that looks natural, not forced.
Like the sweet dessert for which it is named, caramel hair color is luxurious, indulgent, and hard to resist. It also pairs beautifully with medium skin tones. Try L’Oréal Paris Superior Preference Fade-Defying Shine Permanent Hair Color in Medium Golden Brown, for a rich refresh that looks like molten candy in the sunlight and helps warm up your medium-toned complexion. If you’d prefer something on the cooler side, consider a deep, toasted hue like chestnut. We love the L’Oréal Paris Superior Preference Fade-Defying Shine Permanent Hair Color in Medium Brown.
Complement the richness of your skin tone with a deep brown shade to match. A color like L’Oréal Paris Superior Preference Fade-Defying Shine Permanent Hair Color in Dark Brown mimics the appearance of silky melted chocolate and looks incredibly natural against a deeper complexion.
Contrary to popular belief, there’s not just one black hue in the hair world. The richness of black intensifies depending on the undertone, so along with classic jet-black hues, you can also find shades with blue, red, or even golden undertones. While they’re all dark, each boasts its own qualities and accentuates the skin in different ways.
A straight jet black can be too harsh on fair skin tones and actually wash you out. To prevent this from happening, opt for a very deep brown. Against your fair skin, the L’Oréal Paris Superior Preference Fade-Defying Shine Permanent Hair Color in Dark Ash Brown will appear black from both far away and up close and complement your skin wonderfully.
Much like with light skin tones, those with medium skin look best with a brownish-black hue—it’s dark and inky, but not too stark. Opt for L’Oréal Paris Superior Preference Fade-Defying Shine Permanent Hair Color in Cool Darkest Brown for a seamless, eye-catching refresh.
Selecting a soft black hue, like L’Oréal Paris Superior Preference Fade-Defying Shine Permanent Hair Color in Soft Black, will give your hair a beautiful silky intensity. Compared to jet black, the soft black hue looks a bit more natural. If you do want a pure black shade, though, reach for Ultimate Black. The pitch-black hue is as deep (and striking) as it gets.
Does L’Oréal Paris Superior Preference Color Gray Hair?
Yes, Superior Preference hair color completely covers gray hair. Gray hair is a bit different than the rest of your strands. It’s coarser and drier, and many find it’s less apt to hold color than pigmented hair. However, our unique fade-defying system completely covers gray hair and maintains color vibrancy for up to nine weeks.
If you spot new grays between touch-ups or want to extend the time between hair coloring sessions, you can reach for a root cover-up product to help (temporarily) conceal new regrowth. But to maintain your color, you should aim to color your roots roughly every eight weeks, depending on how fast your hair grows.
How Long Does Superior Preference Hair Color Last?
L’Oréal Paris Superior Preference hair color will maintain vibrancy for up to nine weeks. Most at-home dyes only last about six to eight weeks, but Superior Preference goes the extra mile so you get the most out of your color.
Even with the impressive longevity, there are ways to extend the color even more. After dyeing your hair, swap out your existing shampoo and conditioner for a color-safe system, such as the L’Oréal Paris Elvive Color Vibrancy Protecting Shampoo and coordinating Conditioner. The antioxidant-infused duo helps protect color vibrancy for up to eight weeks when used as a system.
It’s also a good idea to use hot tools sparingly, as excessive heat can result in faster color fading. Finally, remember that all good things—even permanent hair color—come to an end eventually. Aim to touch up your roots once every two months or so to maintain a seamless-looking color.
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