When choosing a wig or hairpiece that’s right for you, color plays a role in how it makes you feel. There is a multitude of colors to choose from, including browns, blondes, reds, greys, blacks, and vibrant fantasy colors. Amongst these color categories you’ll find that the tones of each color may make it or break it for you.
When you wear your favorite hairpiece and you feel fantastic, you may be wondering what it is that makes you feel so great in it. Or maybe, you have a favorite wig/topper color and you want to venture out to other colors, but keep the same color tone. It can be difficult to know where to start and how to narrow down your options. We hope this guide can be helpful to you!
What are color undertones?
Color undertones are the underlying hues of a color that are either cool, warm, or neutral (cool and warm).
How do I know what tones are in a color?
Picking out color tones takes experience and training of the eye to perfect. The more you look at colors and practice identifying the colors and dimensions within them, the better you will become at finding the tones.
Cool Undertones
Cool colors are generally ash and beige toned colors. They are cool because the underlying pigments are blue, violet, or green. These colors generally have a more subtle, toned-down appearance. (ex: RL17/23SS Shaded Iced Latte Macchiato)
Warm Undertones
Warm colors are generally gold or copper/red toned colors. They are warm because the underlying pigments are red, yellow, and orange. The vibrancy of warm tones can add dimensions to colors with their golden, reflective properties. (ex: GL8/29SS Shaded Hazelnut)
Neutral (Cool and Warm) Undertones
Neutral-toned colors have a mix of ash and gold tones. You can get the richness of the warm tones while the cool undertones tone down the vibrancy. (ex: 12FS8 Shaded Praline)
Using Color Codes to Figure It Out
Often, you can use the color code of your hairpiece to figure out what undertone a color has. Colors that are blended with certain color numbers can reveal whether it’s a cool, warm, or neutral blend.
IN GENERAL, these are the basic color ranges for synthetic and heat-resistant hair pieces:
1-2 - black
3-12 - darkest brown to lightest brown
13-25 - darkest blonde to lightest blonde
26-27 - strawberry blonde
27-33, 130-133 - red
34-60 & 92 - grey
101-104, 1001, 613 - Platinum
However, color codes don’t always include every hue that’s present in that color. So, that’s why your eye is still the BEST tool. When identifying undertones, look beyond what you first see. Ask yourself: does this color appear golden or is it more beige? Do I see yellow or orange in this color, or do I see blue or violet hues hidden within?
As always, if you need expert assistance choosing a color, you can email us at support@wigsbypattispearls.com or call us at 1-800-670-3292.
For more info on color codes of each brand, click these links:
Understanding Color Codes: Jon Renau
Understanding Color Codes: Raquel Welch
