Hair Colour: What Works & What Doesn’t in Seasonal Colour Analysis

Choosing the Right Hair Colour for Your Seasonal Palette

Choosing the right hair colour can completely transform your appearance, for better or worse. While a new hair colour might seem like just a style experiment, the truth is: if it clashes with your natural undertones, it can make your skin look dull, tired, or even sallow.

That’s where Seasonal Colour Analysis comes in.

Your seasonal colour palette isn’t just about clothing and makeup. It also guides you toward the most flattering hair colours for your natural tones. In this post, we’ll break down what works, what doesn’t, and how to make colour changes that enhance your natural beauty.

Why Hair Colour Matters in Seasonal Colour Analysis

Your hair colour plays a huge role in how harmonious your overall appearance looks. In Seasonal Colour Analysis, your natural colouring, skin undertone, eye colour, and hair tone create a cohesive look. Changing one element (like your hair colour) outside of your season can throw the whole balance off.

When your hair colour complements your season, it enhances your eyes, makes your skin glow, and helps your features look more defined, even without makeup!

Hair Colour Dos and Don’ts for Each Home Seasonal Type

Let’s break it down by home season.

Spring (Light, Warm, Bright)

• Natural traits: Warm undertones, clear eyes, golden or strawberry blonde to light/dark golden brown hair.

  
  

✅ DO go for:

• Warm golden blondes

• Strawberry blonde

• Light golden brown

• Dark warm brown

• Honey tones

  
  

❌ DON’T go for:

• Ashy or cool-toned blondes

• Jet black (too overpowering)

• Dark red

  
  

These cool tones drain Spring complexions and can make the skin look greyish or flat.

Summer (Light, Cool, Soft)

• Natural traits: Cool undertones, soft muted eyes, ashy blonde or brown hair.

  
  

✅ DO go for:

• Ashy blonde

• Taupe

• Ash brown

• Silver

  
  

❌ DON’T go for:

• Warm golden or brassy tones

• Jet black or overly dark colours

• Copper or vibrant red

  
  

Warm tones clash with Summer’s coolness, making the skin look red or blotchy.

Autumn (Soft, Warm, Deep)

• Natural traits: Warm undertones, woodsy eyes, warm brown or auburn hair.

  
  

✅ DO go for:

• Rich golden brown

• Red brown

• Copper

• Chestnut

• Red

• Auburn

  
  

❌ DON’T go for:

• Cool ash brown

• Blue-black

• Blonde

• Icy highlights

  
  

Autumn types can look washed out or greyish with cool-toned hair colours.

Winter (Deep, Cool, Bright)

• Natural traits: Cool undertones, striking eye colours, deep brunette to black hair.

  
  

✅ DO go for:

• Jet black

• Blue-black

• Cool dark brown

• Icy highlights for contrast

• Burgundy (blue-based)

  
  

❌ DON’T go for:

• Warm golden brown

• Copper or orange-red

• Honey blonde

• Warm caramel

  
  

Winter complexions need contrast and cool clarity. Warm tones can look muddy and unflattering.

What If You’ve Already Dyed Your Hair Outside Your Season?

Don’t panic. If your current colour isn’t in your seasonal palette, here’s what you can do:

• Use colour-correcting shampoos to neutralise brassiness or overly warm tones.

• Work with a colourist to transition gradually into a more flattering shade.

• Consider a personal colour analysis refresh if your hair has changed dramatically.

  
  

Final Tips for Choosing the Right Hair Colour

• Stick close to your natural hair depth and undertone. This is especially important if you want a natural-looking result.

• Don’t follow trends blindly. Icy platinum or copper might be on-trend, but that doesn’t mean it will work for everyone.

• Take your season into account when lightening or darkening. Even small shifts in tone can impact harmony.

  
  

Need Help Choosing the Right Hair Colour?

As a certified colour analyst, I help clients discover not only their best wardrobe colours but also their ideal hair colour, makeup, and accessories. We look at your ideal hair colours in the session.

If you’re not sure what season you are or how to adjust your hair colour accordingly, book a 1:1 colour consultation online or in-person in Melbourne! Check out my services page for more details on what's on offer.