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This is another installment in our “How to Wear” series where we break down colors and styles and show you how redheads can rock anything. This series gives you the basics on colors and what to wear them with, as well as how to choose the right ones for you. This time we’re talking about blue:
All About Blue
Blue is a color in every redhead’s palette and for good reason! As the complementary color to orange, blue looks stunning on redheads. Blue also makes our eyes pop and can be paired with so many other colors.
Blue is one of those colors that’s super versatile because its darkest shade navy looks close to black, while its lightest shade can mirror white or gray which are all neutrals.
Finding the Shade
Colors come in different shades (hues) and saturations (intensities), and finding the right ones for your red hair is key to loving any color. Blue is naturally cool-toned, but it can also be more green-toned, or more purple-toned and it can be “true” blue in the middle. This is the shade. Blue can also be dark and rich like a jewel tone, or light and airy like a pastel. It can also be every color in between. This is the saturation of the color. If you don’t like a certain color, try going for a different shade, or even a different saturation of the color.
If you already know which shade of blue you like, you’re well on your way. If not, here are a few things to consider.
- Your shade of red hair – If your hair is a “true red” you may want to opt for rich “true” blue colors. If your hair runs more orange to strawberry blonde, you may want to opt for more of a green-blue. If your hair is a darker red, or perhaps a faux cherry cola red you may want to opt for more purple blues.
- Your complexion – Most redheads have fair to medium skin, but redheads can have any complexion. Consider your complexion when it comes to choosing how dark or light you want your blue to be. Fairer-skinned redheads may want to opt for a darker shade of blue, while redheads with a more medium skin may choose to go lighter. Of course, you can go either way, but lighter colors may wash out a lighter complexion. Choose a saturation that contrasts your skin a bit. You can also consider if you are high, medium, or low contrast.
- Your undertones – Similarly to the shade of your red hair, you want to consider your undertones. If you have cool undertones, you may want to opt for a more green blue, and if you have more warm undertones you may want a more purple-toned blue, and neutral undertones, a more “true” blue.
Pairing Blue with Other Colors
We already know that orange is blue’s complementary color, but what other colors go well with blue? In fashion, there are a couple of colors we consider neutral. This includes black, white, off-white/tan, and denim. So denim isn’t one specific color, but blue jeans go with every color so they are considered a fashion neutral. You can pair any shade of blue with any of these colors. Monochromatic looks are also a great option. Pairing shades of blue together can help create a cohesive look that still feels dimensional.
Other colors that look amazing with blue include the colors found in blue’s color family which are shades of green and shades of purple. These are called analogous colors. Since blue’s complementary color is orange, its secondary complementary colors are yellow and red which are found on either side of orange.
Different shades of blue will pair better with different colors. For example, If you want to pair blue with yellow, opt for a more green blue, and if you want to pair blue with red, opt for a more purple blue.
Now these rules aren’t hard and fast, but they are a good jumping-off point if you’re trying to create a cohesive look. You can easily find any colors complementary colors by going across the color wheel from it, and you can find the analogous colors or the colors in the same color scheme, on either side of any given color.
Rock it like a Redhead!
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