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Whether you were a born a brunette and are proud of your hair color and resistant to change OR just recently made the switch to a darker hue, changing your makeup and even your highlights routine can help keep you from that dreaded dark-hair possibility: looking washed up. It can be easier to get lost in a crowd with darker hair (but, then, there’s a beauty to that, too). Although darker hair shades can give you a bit of mystery and elegance, they can sometimes come with a cost: without complementary makeup and colors around your face, your skin can look more sallow, especially in the winter.
But don’t go grabbing for that bottle of peroxide. There are plenty of beauty tips here from experts in the know that will give life and color to your face. Here are ways to keep from looking washed out with raven hair.
Makeup
Your makeup colors should ideally change if you are going from light to dark hair. And if you were born with dark tresses and have no idea which shades work best for you, think about focusing on complementary colors when choosing your makeup, advises Beauty Expert Bec Keller at Debt Bombshell. “Warmer shades like peach, apricot, and coral will help to brighten up the face, while cool shades like lavender, mauve, and plum will add depth,” Keller said. “If you have dark circles or puffiness under your eyes, use a concealer that is one shade lighter than your skin tone to brighten up the area.
Another way to avoid looking pale and washed out with darker hair is warm up your skin tone, especially if you are on the paler side. “When going dark, you’ll want to warm up your skin tone either with self tanner or bronzer,” Said Beauty Blogger Elizabeth Dailey at The Blushing Bliss. “As someone with dark brown hair and very pale skin, I never skip bronzer! It instantly brings the life and color back to your skin. On days I don’t wear makeup, I swear by the Drunk Elephant D-Bronzi Anti-Pollution Sunshine Drops to make my skin glow and give my skin some color.”
Your hair color also puts you in the ideal position to experiment with brighter lipstick colors that will look more dramatic on you and create contrast between your skin and hair.
Hair Tips
You can add depth and dimension to dark hair to avoid looking washed out — and still keep your brunette identity intact. Miranda Furtado, an elite Bellami Pro Educator and owner of Love’s In The Hair Extension Studio, provides these hair tips for dark shades:
Consider adding highlights and lowlights: “Adding highlights and lowlights to your hair can help to add depth and dimension, making your hair look more lively and full,” Furtado said. “The combination of highlights and lowlights will create a more natural-looking, multi-dimensional effect that will add richness to your hair. You can choose to go with warm, natural-looking highlights and lowlights, or opt for brighter, more dramatic tones if you prefer. Just be sure to choose a color that complements your skin tone.”
Go for warm, dark shades: “If you want to keep your hair mainly dark, consider trying out warm, dark shades such as chestnut, espresso, or mahogany,” Furtado suggested. “These shades will add richness to your hair without making it look too flat or monotone.”
Opt for a gloss or shine treatment: “A gloss or shine treatment can help to enhance the natural sheen of your hair, making it look healthy and vibrant,” Furtado said. “This treatment is especially effective for dark hair, as it helps to bring out the depth and richness of the color.”
Keep your hair moisturized: It's important to keep your hair moisturized, regardless of your hair color. “Dark hair can be especially prone to dryness, so be sure to use a deep conditioning treatment regularly to keep your hair looking its best,” Furtado said. “By following these tips, you can help to keep your dark hair looking full of life, rather than washed-out and dull. Whether you choose to add highlights and lowlights, switch to a warmer shade, or simply keep your hair moisturized, you can be confident that your hair will look its best.”
Skincare
Because glowing skin is always in — and is one surefire way to keep from looking washed out, Board-Certified Dermatologist Dr. Anna Chacon, who is also a writer at MyPsoriasisTeam, reminds us to follow these crucial skincare steps:
1. Protection from the sun — “Your skin has to be protected from the sun, which is one of the most crucial steps you can do to take care of it,” Dr. Chacon said. “Sun exposure over the course of a lifetime increases the risk of skin cancer and can result in wrinkles, age spots, and other skin issues. Wear protective clothes, look for shade, and use sunscreen.”
2. Stop smoking — There’s no way around it: smoking ages your skin and causes wrinkles, Dr. Chacon reminds us.
3. Bathroom reminders — “Reduce the amount of time you spend in the bath, steer clear of harsh soaps, properly shave, pat your skin dry, and moisturize dry skin,” Dr. Chacon said.
4. Eat a balanced diet — Consume a nutritious diet rich in fresh produce, whole grains, lean meats, and fruits to achieve your optimum physical and mental health, says Dr. Chacon.
Manage stress — Excessive stress can irritate your skin, cause acne, and worsen other skin conditions — managing it with yoga, breathing techniques, meditation. and exercise can help.
