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What is a Hair Color Wheel?

J. Beam
J. Beam

For anyone who has ever had a botched color job, the chemistry of hair color may seem complicated. While in some aspects it is, the result of a bad color is usually the result of improper application or improper color selection. For proper application, follow manufacturer directions and take your time to avoid mistakes. Color selection is easy when you refer to a hair color wheel, which is essentially the same as any color wheel, and shows the relations between complementary and contrasting colors.

Just as with the color wheel used in art class, the hair color wheel displays primary, secondary, and tertiary colors in a circular format. Colors that sit next to one another on the color wheel are similar, while those opposite one another are contrasting. Though hair color and crayon color are entirely different, the same principles of color apply to both.

By using the color wheel to determine your natural hair color, selecting appropriate and complementing colors is easier and it leaves less room for a color disaster.
By using the color wheel to determine your natural hair color, selecting appropriate and complementing colors is easier and it leaves less room for a color disaster.

Regardless of your natural hair color, your hair pigment is made up of a combination of primary colors. While dark black hair is deeply pigmented with more blue than yellow, and blonde is lightly pigmented with more yellow than blue, the primary colors play an important part of hair coloring. When you are selecting a new hair color that is different from your natural color, you want to choose one with a complementing base. Hair color is typically distinguished by two factors: level and base color. Level implies the lightness or darkness of the pigment, while base color refers to the color or tone.

A color wheel shows colors that contrast and complement each other.
A color wheel shows colors that contrast and complement each other.

To choose a hair color base that will complement your natural color, look for a base color that is the same as or directly next to your hair color on the hair color wheel. This helps you select a complementary color within the same shade as your natural hair, but with slightly varying pigmentation. Select a level within a small range of your natural color as well. Hair color ranges from 1 to 10, with 1 being heavily pigmented hair as close to black as possible and 10 being barely pigmented hair, so light as to be whitish-blonde.

The next time you visit the salon for a haircut, ask to see their hair color wheel. Some hair color wheels are very similar in appearance to traditional color wheels, while others are actually rings of artificial hair swatches that encompass the whole range of level and base colors. By using the color wheel to determine your natural hair color, selecting appropriate and complementing colors is easier and it leaves less room for a color disaster. You can even ask for a color consultation, making note of level and base color suggestions to make selecting do-it-yourself hair color easier.

Discussion Comments

Lostnfound

I've picked hair color from a traditional color wheel, and it wasn't difficult, but I like the hair swatches, too.

I've thought about going for a blazing red or dark, dark brown, but I'm essentially a chicken. I'm scared to death of really messing up my hair, so I go for something in the dark ash blonde/light brown range, just to keep my color fresh.

Maybe I'll get some wash out red for Halloween and see how I like being a redhead.

Grivusangel

Or just make it easy on yourself and stay in your color family, period. If you have dark hair and want to go blonde, get a professional to do it. Once you do, you can touch up your roots and so forth yourself, but do have a pro lighten your hair.

I have medium brown hair. I'm getting some gray, so it's starting to look a little mousy. So, I color. *But,* I stay in the medium brown family, which is usually a level 5. Every company is different, but in general, if I pick something in the level 5 family, I'll be pleased with the results.

I like the actual hair swatches as opposed to picking from a color wheel. It's easier to imagine the color on my hair if I can see it on a hair sample.

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    • By using the color wheel to determine your natural hair color, selecting appropriate and complementing colors is easier and it leaves less room for a color disaster.
      By: Andres Rodriguez
      By using the color wheel to determine your natural hair color, selecting appropriate and complementing colors is easier and it leaves less room for a color disaster.
    • A color wheel shows colors that contrast and complement each other.
      By: WavebreakMediaMicro
      A color wheel shows colors that contrast and complement each other.