“I think there’s a warm glow to Hayden Panettiere’s haircolor that’s really flattering.”
“Brooke Shields has golden skin and a rich chocolate brown haircolor with caramel-toned tips. It’s beautiful!”
celebrity colorist
george papanikolas
George Papanikolas is the oh-so-hot celebrity colorist who has created sensational mane moves for such A-listers as Britney Spears and Hayden Panettiere. Besides being a celebrity colorist with Joico, Papanikolas works at the prestigious Andy LeCompte Salon in West Hollywood, CA. Here, the mane man shares his hot tips for how you can get the best haircolor for you…
If you’re a bit undecided about your next mane move, consider choosing a semi-permanent or demi-permanent color. “It’s great because it lasts about 4-6 weeks,” says Papanikolas. “It won’t make your hair lighter, but it will make it deeper, darker and richer. It’s a fun way to experiment without a major commitment.”
If you have pinker skin and cool undertones, you want to choose a shade that harmonizes with your complexion. “If you have rather pink skin, you probably wouldn’t want to go strawberry blonde because it would wash you out. You should go with a deeper, cooler red,” explains Papanikolas.
Can’t figure out your skin undertones? “Go into the sun and look in a mirror,” explains Papanikolas. “If you’re looking at your hair and you see reddish tones, gold tones or yellow tones, then you’re warm. If your hair has a lot of greens, grays and blue tones, then you’re cool.”
PHOTOS: HAYDEN & BROOKE: COURTESY NBC.
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i’ve colored my hair quite a few times in my life. my hair is naturally dark brown. i’ve dyed it blonde and black. the first time i dyed it black it had a red tint to it. i loved that. but within a couple weeks after that it faded out. since its summer my hair is incredibly light. i’m gonna wait until winter to dye it black again but i was thinking i might want to add some type of red in it. like a chest nut red or a color like that. how do i figure out what i would look like with it in. i dont want to go a head and do it if its gonna look bad.
Hi, Elliot!
Black is the darkest color visible to us in haircolor. The only shades we can see at that level are neutral and blue. That won’t give you any red at all. Even if you add red, you won’t see it. Try going with a very dark cherry red. That will be close to the black in depth and still allow you to see the red reflection you are craving. Keep in mind, when going from light to dark might require more than one step and a professional knows how to do that. Choosing the wrong product could result in the color being too light or very off-tone. The only options for red at that dark of a level are a cool cherry red or a violet (purple) red. If you look good in shirts that color, then so will your hair.
Ok…I have pale skin with tons of golden freckles my natural hair color is a blah blah boring dark dark blonde. I recently used sun in and the results were ok, I just want a hairstyle that fits me, my bubbly personality, and something that looks natural without. I so do not want to look freakish or bad because im a cheerleader and in front of alot of crowds. Please!!! HELP ME!!!
Hi, Kendall!
What does your hair look like now (after the Sun-In)? If it lifted to a warmer golden blonde, try adding a few highlights and lowlights to vary the color a bit. And how about something short and spunky! Kristin Cavallari has had the perfect short, flirty haircut for a fun-loving cheerleader! Her color also shows the highs and lows to accentuate any layered cut!
Hi,
I have long brown curly hair that goes down to my shoulders. I really want to color it so I look different before school starts. I want to look mature for school. I dont know what color to get. I have really pale skin and a lot of freckles. I have an oval shape face and I just dont know what do. I dont think blonde will look good because my hair is naturaly dark. What should I do?
Hi, Alex!
Try adding some dimension to your hair with streaks of a darker chocolate alternated with a lighter caramel to make your curls pop. You will also have minimal maintenance
on using this highlighting technique instead of all-over color. Try blow-drying your hair smooth once in a while for additional sophistication.
I think you all are so nice for responding to people! I am thinking about getting highlights before school starts. I have a oval shaped face and a warm skin tone (i think it’s like a lighter olive skintone). my natural haircolor is dark brown almost black. i really like my natural haircolor, so when i dyed it, it wasn’t that much of a change, but i’d like something a little different like highlights or low lights.
Hi, Stephanie!
Try weaving a natural deep copper and caramel shade for a warmer, lighter feel to your deep brown. This adds dimension to enhance your style and make your haircolor seem lighter.
My natural hair color is a dark brown,I have light skin with freckles and golden undertones. I have been dieing my hair Dark Red Blond 6r-6.3, using Ion Color Brilliance permanent cream color. I would like to change my look to something more sophisticated and fashionable. Any suggestions.
Hi, Cece!
Are you having your hair professionally colored? Start there. Making that red hair multidimensional would increase the sophistication factor, and a professional will be able to place those shades in a fashion-forward pattern for the highest impact. Try placing a lighter triangle of copper blonde on your part line while going to a slightly deeper shade of auburn for your base.
Hi. I am planning a long over-due appt. w/ my usual hairstylist (who is a runway stylist/instructor as well). I’m interested as a young, middle-aged woman in some wow factor. I have not had him color/foil my hair in over a year and what color(caramel) is left is at the very ends and feels very dry. (He uses Goldwell colors/product) I’m wonderig about adding colors of deep auburn/burgundy with brunette low-lights to my hair. My hair color is naturally med-dark brown, but definitely swings toward red highlights and seems w/ time to fade to brighter/brassier red tones even with color protectant products. I do have a few gray hairs scattered near my temples/crown. My hair texture is naturally curly near my face/neck, but more wavy throughout the rest, making it often seem dry. My skin tone is medium to slightly fair and has blue/pink undertones; also freckle easily in the sun (burn before tans). My brows and eyes are very dark brown. Can you make a few “Wow Factor” suggestions before I see my stylist? (I wear my hair in layers to take advantage of wash-n-wear curls or occasionally straighten it for more variety.) I appreciate your assistance.
Sherri:
We’re checking with our experts!
Hi, Sherri!
You’re on the money with your ideas! Having dark, rich, glossy hair is sometimes the best way to stand out in a sea of highlights. Use darker reds and chocolate browns, all in rich tones, to create a “wow” factor. Have your stylist use a glaze or a gloss to help with shine and combat the look of dryness.
I’m a, i guess what people would say a medium shade brunette. I have alot of natural red and some blonde hightlight and i’m wanting to color my hair. I’m not sure if i want to do a full a color and maybe go a little darker (lighter skin tone, burn easy) or if i should do a highlight. I wanted to do maybe a warmer blonde color for a highlight so that way i wouldn’t look like a skunk when i pulled my hair back but my husband says i should go for a brillant red. i’m not sure what to do because my natural red highlight only shows when light is hitting my hair and i don’t want to overdo the red. I was also wondering how short is too short for someone who has rounder face with naturally curly thick at the bottom but losing thickness at the top hair? (not sure if that made any sense)
Hi, Ashley!
You have many options! If you want a bold look, listen to your husband. Red hair and fair skin works brilliantly (think Julianne Moore or Marcia Cross). It would also play on your natural red. However, if you want a more subtle look, then highlights are the way to go. They require less maintenance and would ease your way into color. As far as the length, with a round face you are able to go pretty short. A haircut that is short at the nape with graduation to give more fullness at the top would work best. A great example would be a graduated bob.
my natural hair color is a dark brown (level 6 or 7). my skin tone is medium with lots of freckles in the summer. I always like to do some highlights in the summer. This past winter I went back to my natural color and got so many complements I don’t know what to do. Usually my hair pulls a brassy color when I highlight and I hate it. Someone suggested that I go with 3 colors: my natural and a golden and a caramel. This sounds like it will pull a brassy color. Any suggestions? Should I have them use an ash??? HELP!!
Hi, Tiffany!
The word “brassy” is so subjective. Technically, an uncontrolled gold tone is brassy. Your freckled skin indicates that you have some “redhead” in your blood, so chances are you will have warm tones inside of that brown hair of yours. If you want to avoid seeing that internal warmth, your highlights need to be done with lightener. Process them to a pale blonde and then tone them with a demi-permanent color that’s down to the level and tone you wish to see. By pre-lightening past the warmth that shows naturally inside of your hair, the fading process will not return to that stage. I do like the idea of more than one level and tone. How about a medium highlight targeting a caramel and a lighter one that is brought back down to your desired shade? Make sure you only add a few fine strands of each. Then you won’t stray too far from your natural hue, which got so many compliments!
my natural color is a medium brown 2 light brown but its colored medium brown wth a red tent i want it back 2 my natural clor wth blond highlights cause its turns blond in the summer what color blond highlights should i get that would look natural please help i want it to be back to the way it was and let the highlights and sun do the rest please write back
Hi, Marci!
Is there a reason you would take your base color back to brunette first and then add highlights? Why not just highlight that beautiful red-brown shade? Try two levels lighter by adding caramel tones. There’s nothing more striking than a warm brunette with caramel! Once the lighter pieces are added, you can then change the tone little by little each time you visit the salon. Play a little! Work with the sun and see what happens. You can always add deeper brunette pieces in the fall. That would be a beautiful transition!
im a whitish tan skin color and my hair is blackish brown with purple top layers near the crown and top layers of my bangs(side bangs) are purple too. i was thinking of going blondish or have blond highlights, would that look good on me or not? i was also thinking about getting some neon green and pink into the layers of purple for contrast
Hi Ultra Violet:
We answered your questions in the Great Looks section under Cuts For Your Face Shape. Thanks for stopping by our Web site!
i’M A BRUNETTE WITH NOT QUITE SHOULDER LENGTH HAIR WITH ALITTLE LAYERING PLUS A SHORTER BANG TO ONE SIDE GOING ALITTLE LONGER.I’D SAY I HAVE FINE HAIR BUT LOTS OF IT.I HAVE COWLICKS ON BOTH SIDES OF MY TEMPLES.I’M NOT LOOKING TO GO REALLY SHORT I’M USED TO SEEING HAIR.AND I WANT SOME HIGHLIGHTS.WHAT WOULD YOU SUGGEST?
Hi, Kathy!
Definitely throw in some highlights for summertime. With regard to cowlicks, work with them and not against them. Working against natural hair distribution can create uneven results, and the hair simply won’t cooperate. I love working with natural distribution and have created some really fun dimension and shape by using what’s there and not trying to get rid of it. Be sure the highlights have a tone that you like. Look at some photos with your salon professional and let them know what you have in mind. Also, look around your local malls or schools and notice who is wearing what. If you see someone with blonde hair that you like, ask them where they got it done. Your next fabulous color is just a question away.
i have pale skin, and i mean very pale, i’ve been told i’d make an awesome vampire. I have hazel eyes with flecks of gold, green pretty much every color, i’m thinking about going red like ashlee simpson/lindsay lohan red but i don’t know if i can wear it, so what do you think?
Hi, Keira!
A red color would look fabulous on you! Skin tone will tell you everything. Typically, very pale skin is a cool pink, which indicates a blue undertone. So you could do a cool violet-based red, and that would give you a “gothic” look. For a more natural red, combine a cool red and a copper red. Be sure to stay dark enough to avoid gold tones. I recommend something closer to Ashlee Simpson’s red, not Lindsey Lohan—that would be too gold.
I have a lot of different blonde highlights in my hair but i feel like it’s washing out my face. when i was little i used to have very blonde hair. It kept getting darker though over the years and is now some kind of weird brown shade, yuck, I was wondering if a nice light blonde shade with light brown low lites would look good?? I need some tips….I have darker eyebrows and my eye color changes between green and brown. my skin tone i would think is a fair to a little darker than that. I want the perfect hair color for my GRAD! please help
Hi, Christine!
Have you thought of moving into a single-process color at all? Single-process color would really make your green eyes stand out! However, if you really want to stay blonde, I recommend dimensional color with a stylist that knows highlights. Be careful of the browns that are being blended into the highlights or they may end up looking muddy. Soft, neutral tones make for great dimension or low-lights.
My hair color is a dirty blonde and I get blonde highlights to lighten it but I’ve grown tired of the same old look that I’ve had for years. I’ve been thinking about getting a lot of blonde highlights along with pink. I am also wanting to put hot pink on the underside of my hair to have some sort of ‘pop’. I was just wondering if I would like it or should do it. If you have any color suggestions I would be glad to use them. Also I need a haircut style. My hair is one and a half to two feet long. I wanted to do long bangs and shorter layers at the top then jump straight down to longer layers. I’m just not sure what I should do.
Thanks,
Olivia
Olivia, Christine and Kiera:
We’re checking our experts and will be back!
Hi, Olivia!
These “flash-lites” (as I call them) are indeed quite fun. Be careful, though, if you’re doing vibrant colors like red or pink, and be sure the surrounding hair is protected or the color will bleed onto undesired sections, and your hair will look more like cotton candy than a nice precise color application. The good news is that these colors (many of them not permanent) will eventually fade so they are easier to remove than if you did dark browns underneath. Have some fun, experiment a little. If nothing else, there are lots of fun and fabulous clip-in colors that you can simply put in and remove when you want. I might recommend experimenting with these first. See how you like them. They come in lots of different colors and can be cut to your current hairstyle.
my natural color is a med brown with red/goldish highlights
I think my perfect color is blond but im not sure what shade of blonde is best.
Hi, Nancy!
Without seeing your color in person, it would be hard for me to know which blonde is that perfect blonde for you. Have you seen blonde tones on family or friends that you like or think would look good on you? It’s also a good idea to look at magazines such as Sophisticates Hairstyle Guide and clip photos that you like and share these ideas with your stylist. If you DO find someone with blonde hair in your area that you like, ask her where she has her hair done and call the salon for a free consultation. Better yet, ask for your stylist’s thoughts are about your color and if they have any thoughts about taking your color a bit lighter. Good luck on the journey!
How short can I go with my hair? My face shape is between long and oval. My hair right now is short to the nape of my neck and I want to go even shorter to get mor body in it. I have thick and fine hair.Thick because its dense,but the strands are fine.I appreciate any feedback you can give me.
Thanks,
Justine
Hi, Justine!
If your face shape is oval, then you can pull off most any cut! The density of your hair shouldn’t affect the cut since your strands are fine. To decide on a specific cut, please consult your stylist.
I was wondering if dark hair would look better on me to bring out my green eyes. My natural haircolor is strawberry blonde. I have a very fair to medium skin tone with green eyes. I don`t know if I am warm or cool. What brown color would bring out the green in my eyes? What tone is best for me warm or cool? My skin tone can be ruddy at times and I don`t want to highlight this with my new color.How dark can I go with my skin tone? I want to have alot of richness and dimension for my look. I appreciate any of your suggestions.
Thanks.
Justine
Hi, Justine!
If you have a natural red hue, then you probably have combination skin tone: a cool undertone with warm freckles. You can definitely rock a deeper color! Just remember, you need to commit to visiting the salon every four weeks. If you go longer, the hair color may look tragically fake. Try Jennifer Garner’s tress shade. Her hair is naturally highlighted with a deeper scalp and it is gradually lighter ends. The hair has a warm undertone for softness.