Which hair colour suits you?

Stuck in a colour rut? If you're considering a change, read this first. We spoke with  top colourists about how to pick the right hue for you.

Blonde:

From icy cool to a warm shade of caramel, blondes can have plenty of fun with colour. The trick to carrying it off, bombshell-style, is to work with a shade that complements your complexion. "If you have slightly golden skin tones stick to honeys, caramels and warmer colours," says Barney Martin from Sydney's Barney Martin Hairdressing. "If you have pinkish skin tones, stick to cooler colours like ice blonde."

Brunette:

"Going brunette is like a holiday for your hair because years of repeated bleaching leave hair porous and sensitised," says Robert Maiolo owner of boutique MC Salon in Darlinghurst. Once you've decided to step over to the dark side, choosing the right shade of brown is crucial if you want to look glowing, not washed-out. "Go for a warm brown if you have reddish skin tone and a cool brown shade if you have yellow-toned skin," advises Robert.

Black :

"Black is not for the fainthearted," says Jacen Ward, national technical director for Toni & Guy. "It makes a strong statement and can look harsh on some people. I think it's also about having the right hair cut with this colour." But, if the urge strikes, Ward says it's best to experiment with this colour while you're young. "Black can work on a variety of skin tones from cool pale skin to warmer tones." Consider the condition of your hair before you go black — porous locks can resist darker shades.

Red  :

"Women with more pink undertones can wear cooler, brighter coppers while warmer skin tones work well with more rusty, earthy tones of red," says Ward. Although colour technology has improved in leaps and bounds, red washes out the quickest and can leave hair looking brown and brassy, so make sure you've got a good colour-saving shampoo and conditioner in the shower.