As you shift to having gray hair, you may wonder which clothing colors are the best to wear. The colors you wear next to and on your face are the most important, as they enhance or detract from your skin's undertones, making you look your best. Fortunately, color theory for clothing holds with gray hair, as well, so many colors you wore before your hair turned gray will still look good on you.
Colors to Wear With Gray Hair and Cool Undertones
Look at the veins on the inside of your wrist. If they appear blue (as opposed to green), you likely have cool skin undertones and will look best in clothing colors with cool undertones as well. Choose colors with medium to deep intensity to avoid looking washed out.
Scarlet
Scarlet is a deep, cool red that works well with gray hair. Choose a bright or moderate intensity scarlet top near your face and opt for neutral bottoms in black or gray for balance.
Burgundy
Burgundy is another cool variation of red with blue undertones and a bit of purple mixed in. You can use it for pops of color near your face, or wear a top or dress in this lovely color.
Fuchsia
Fuchsia is a deep pink with cool undertones that livens up gray hair and adds brightness to your complexion. Try a fuchsia blouse or opt for fun fuchsia accessories, such as a chunky necklace with fuchsia beads.
Royal or Sapphire Blue
In general, blue is a great color for people with gray hair and cool skin undertones. Royal or sapphire blue is especially lovely, but you can also select navy, true blue, or even a medium-intensity powder blue.
Emerald
Emerald is another jewel tone that works beautifully for people with gray hair and cool skin undertones. It's a cooler shade of green that is especially lovely with green or brown eyes, as well.
Violet
If you have blue or brown eyes and a cool skin undertone, then violet is a lovely color to go with your gray hair. It will highlight your skin hues well and cause your eyes to pop.
Rose/Dusty Pink
If you have fair skin with cool undertones and gray hair, then you'll look lovely in dusty pink or rose. It's a medium-intensity color that looks especially lovely with blue eyes. The cool undertones in the rose color complement your skin and hair tones.
Lavender
Lavender is another medium-intensity color that works well with gray hair and cool undertones skin.
Charcoal
Charcoal will work well next to your face as a shirt, or it makes great accessories such as hats or scarves. It's a deeper intensity gray that won't make you look washed out with your gray hair. It's also a terrific neutral that goes well with all of the above cool colors, so it is a perfect neutral for accessories or slacks.
Black
People with cool skin undertones and gray hair can also wear black well. Brighten it up with small pops of other colors or wear it as your neutral with brightly colored accessories.
True White
True white can also look stunning on people with gray hair and cool skin tones. It looks especially good for darker cool undertone skin, or it will serve well as a neutral to go with virtually any color listed above.
Silver
In metallic colors, silver works best with cool skin tones. Whether it's a silver shirt, silver eyeglass frames, or silver jewelry, it looks beautiful next to your skin.
Rose Gold
The beauty of rose gold is that it works well with both warm and cool undertones. Therefore, it works well as glasses frames, jewelry, or even as a glittery top or dress.
Colors for Warm Undertones and Gray Hair
If the veins on the inside of your wrist appear more green than blue, then your skin has warm undertones. Choose medium- to high-intensity colors with a warm hue.
Orange
Orange and orange shades work very well for people with warm skin undertones, and they offer a lovely contrast to gray hair. You can also choose makeup with light orangey tones (such as peach or apricot) provided it's an intensity that won't overwhelm features.
Rust
Rust also works well with gray hair, whether you wear it as a top or close to your face, or if you use it as a neutral for things like slacks or overcoats.
Terra Cotta
Terra cotta is a pinky, peachy, rusty color that's a great medium-intensity hue perfect for people with warm skin tones, gray hair, and green, brown, or hazel eyes. You can also wear it as a neutral color in accessories to pair with other warm-hued clothes, such as goldenrod or orange.
Peach or Salmon
If you prefer pastels, then a moderate intensity peach or salmon color is a great way to rock an orange shade with gray hair. You can also choose similar colors such as coral or apricot, which are all warm colors with varying degrees of red and yellow in them.
Turquoise
If you have gray hair and warm skin undertones, and you like the color blue, then turquoise is your color. It's especially nice with blue, gray, or hazel eyes.
Teal
Teal has a good amount of yellow/green in it, so it's a warm and vivid color that goes very well with gray hair and warm skin. It will warm up your skin tone further and enhance hazel or gray eyes.
Brick Red
Brick red falls on the warmer spectrum of reds, so it's a great color for warm skin and gray hair. This is a high-intensity color that will provide lovely contrast for your hair, eyes, and skin.
Goldenrod
Goldenrod is a yellow with a little brown in it, so it complements warm skin tones beautifully. Whether it's a shirt, a dress, or a few accessories such as a hat or scarf, this will especially enhance green or brown eyes.
Yellow
Choose a medium to bright intensity warm yellow. If you have a warm, darker skin tone, then you can choose a lighter warm yellow for contrast.
Lime
Lime green can be a medium-intensity color or an extremely vivid one. It's lovely against white hair, and it highlights brown or hazel eyes and makes green eyes pop.
Forrest Green
Forrest green is a more muted green option that still has plenty of warm coloring to it. Choose this if you like green but aren't comfortable with vivid colors.
Brown
Brown and its various shades range from tan to chocolate, and it works well with warm skin tones and gray hair. In fact, if you formerly had brown hair and avoided wearing brown near your face because you felt the look was too monochromatic, give it a try now that you're silver and notice how it complements your skin and hair. You can also use brown as a neutral or for accessories you wear near your face, such as hats, scarves, or tortoiseshell eyeglasses frames.
Cream or Winter White
While pure white isn't a great color near your face when you have warm undertones, it doesn't mean you can't wear white at all. Opt for a warm, creamy white such as winter white, ivory, or cream. It's also a great neutral to add to outfits as slacks, a jacket, hat, scarf, or gloves.
Gold and Rose Gold
For accessories such as jewelry, watches, and eyeglass frames, either gold or rose gold will best complement your skin tone and gray hair. Both bring out the warmth in your skin and show it at its best.
Colors to Avoid With Gray Hair
You are free to wear any color that brings you joy regardless of hair color or skin tone, because confidence always makes you appear even more attractive. However, you may wish to wear certain shades judiciously or away from your face in order to keep you from looking washed out or overdone.
- Neons with their vivid intensity may overpower people with gray hair regardless of skin undertone.
- Very pale pastels and light intensity hues may make you look washed out because there won't be much contrast from clothing to hair color.
- Likewise, light neutrals such as light gray, taupe, beige, and khaki near your face may not provide enough contrast and make you appear washed out; however, these are perfect as neutral pieces away from your face, such as slacks or a skirt.
Enhancing Gray Hair With Clothing Color
Gray hair is beautiful, and you can make the most of it by wearing clothing and accessories close to your face that enhance your natural skin tone and hair color. Whether you just have a little gray, a few gray highlights, or a full head of lovely gray hair, you have plenty of options to help you look your best.
