The 16 Best Hair Colors For Medium Skin

What color is medium skin?

You have medium skin if you have a tan complexion with yellow, pink, or olive undertones. 

What hair color is best for a medium skin tone?

Before you choose the best hair color for medium skin, you’ll first need to determine your undertones. If you have medium skin with olive undertones, warm-toned hues will work best for you. For those with cool undertones in their skin, opt for cool-toned shades. 

Look at the inside of your wrist if you’re unsure what undertones you have. Blue or purple veins may indicate a cool undertone, while green veins mean you likely have a warm undertone. If your veins match the color of your skin or you can’t tell what color they are, you might have a neutral undertone. 

What hair color is best for medium tan skin?

If you have medium tan skin, choose colors with warm undertones like honey blonde, chocolate brown, and auburn to bring out the warmth in your complexion. 

The Best Hair Color For Medium Skin To Try Now

Good hair day by @jaye_edwards.

Dark Brown With Blonde Highlights

If brightness and dimension is your goal, enhance your dark brown hair with blonde highlights. This classic pairing looks stunning on any skin tone. 

After you highlight your hair, you’ll need to upgrade your hair care routine to a strengthening hair care system formulated to help mitigate the damaging effects of bleach. We recommend Redken’s Acidic Bonding Concentrate Sulfate-Free Shampoo and Conditioner. These formulas strengthen and repair damaged hair, helping to rebalance your strand's natural pH levels for healthier-looking, stronger hair.

Good hair day by @morellosalvatore.

Caramel

A shade like caramel complements any skin tone, but we particularly love how it brings out the warmth in medium golden skin. 

Good hair day by @chilluka.

Mocha

No matter what undertones you’re working with, this deep mocha brown hue is a great option. This chocolatey shade has slightly warm undertones but is still neutral enough to complement cooler complexions. 

Good hair day by @HANDLE.

Warm Blonde

Those with olive medium-toned skin are known for their natural glow, which is why warm-toned, dimensional shades of blonde like honey and golden are so flattering. 

Good hair day by @nurzh8n.

Bronde

If a full head of blonde hair sounds overwhelming to you, consider bronde your ideal in-between shade. Pick up a color-toning shampoo like Redken Color Extend Brownlight Shampoo and Conditioner to neutralize brassy orange undertones in lightened brown hair. 

Good hair day by @xcellenthairsquare.

Silver

Silver hair may seem best suited for pale skin, but we’re strong advocates for pairing it with medium complexions. This cool-toned hue complements medium skin tones with cool undertones. Use a shampoo and conditioner system like Redken Color Extend Graydient Shampoo and Conditioner to neutralize yellow undertones while strengthening and nourishing gray or silver hair. 

Good hair day by @hairbyduhsavannah.

Eggplant

If you like your hair color to look just as delectable as your dinner entree, you can’t go wrong with eggplant. This cool-toned, deep purple hue is a must-try if you have cool undertones in your skin. 

Good hair day by @makeupbyfrances.

Dark To Light Blonde Balayage

This dark to light blonde balayage keeps the strands around your face slightly deeper while letting you test the waters of a platinum shade. 

Good hair day by @adina_pignatare.

Medium Brown

We consider medium brown the most neutral of all hair colors—which makes it an ideal choice for all complexions. Use a shine-enhancing hair serum like Redken Diamond Oil Glow Dry Shine Oil to give your medium brown hue a smoother, shinier finish while protecting your strands from heat damage. 

Good hair day by @xcellenthairsquare.

Smoky Balayage

Your hair color doesn’t have to be bright and vibrant to make an impact. If moodier tones are more your vibe, ask your colorist for a smoky hair color. 

Good hair day by @goodbeautybycarla.

Auburn

There are so many shades of red out there, but none as universally flattering as auburn. This reddish-brown hue can be worn cool or warm depending on what’s best for your skin tone. 

Good hair day by @jessicapowerspaints.

Bronze

Accentuate your skin tone and give your hair color a metallic touch with a bronze hair color. This brunette shade with notes of red, caramel, and gold can add instant warmth and dimension to your look. 

Good hair day by @jaye_edwards.

Copper

Copper is one of our top picks for fair skin tones, but we enjoy it just as much for bringing out the warmth in medium skin. If you want a look that’s slightly bolder, pair your copper hue with a bright blonde money piece. 

Good hair day by @matthewwhair.

Watermelon

If you’re already looking ahead to the warmer months, opt for a neon shade like watermelon. Much like the summertime fruit, this hue is punchy and vibrant, which makes it perfect for medium tan skin. Be sure to pick up a shampoo and conditioner system formulated for high-maintenance hair colors like Matrix Total Results Keep Me Vivid Shampoo and Conditioner. 

Good hair day by @mandaharsche.

Sunset

If you’re reminiscing about eight o’clock sunsets by the beach, use them as inspiration for your hair color. Sunset hair color is a vibrant mix of pink, orange, yellow, and purple shades that pair perfectly with medium skin. 

Good hair day by @beauty_studio_trend_nasice.

Turquoise

For those looking to get out of their comfort zone, experiment with cool-toned fantasy shades like turquoise. While it may be an out of the box choice, it’s one that’s guaranteed to have heads turning. 

Interested in trying a new hair color? Use our salon locator to book an appointment at a salon near you.