How to use the undertone quiz
- Go to natural daylight. Stand by a window without makeup. Warm indoor bulbs make every skin look more yellow.
- Add a selfie if you like. Upload or take a photo and the quiz reads the color of your cheeks and forehead to pre answer some questions.
- Answer the questions. Check the color of your wrist veins, which jewelry flatters you and how your skin reacts to the sun.
- Read your undertone. See whether you are warm, cool, neutral or olive, with the hair colors, jewelry and clothing shades that suit you.
What is a skin undertone?
Your skin has two layers of color. The surface tone is what you describe as fair, light, medium, tan or deep, and it can change with the seasons and sun exposure. The undertone sits underneath and stays the same all year. It is the reason two people with the same surface tone can look amazing in completely different hair colors.
There are four undertones. Cool skin has pink, red or blue hints. Warm skin leans golden, peach or yellow. Neutral skin has a balance of both. Olive skin has a muted green or gray cast, usually over a warm or neutral base, and it is more common than most people think.
Can a photo tell my undertone?
A photo gives a helpful first reading. The tool finds your face, samples small patches on both cheeks and your forehead, and measures how much red versus yellow is in your skin. More red and pink points to cool, more yellow and gold points to warm, and a muted, low red reading with some yellow suggests olive. The circles on your photo show exactly where it looked.
Cameras and light bulbs change colors, though, so the photo only answers one question. The other five questions confirm the result, which is why the quiz and the photo together are far more reliable than either alone.
How to find your undertone at home
The quiz above combines the classic at-home tests so you don't have to rely on just one. Each test on its own can mislead you, especially under warm indoor lighting, but together they point clearly in one direction.
The vein test
Turn your wrist over in daylight. Veins that look blue or purple suggest cool skin, green veins suggest warm skin, and a mix points to neutral. Green here comes from blue veins seen through yellow-toned skin.
The jewelry test
Try on a silver ring and a gold ring. If silver makes your skin look brighter, you are probably cool. If gold makes you glow, you are probably warm. If both work, you are likely neutral.
The white paper test
Hold a sheet of bright white paper or a white towel next to your bare face. Next to pure white, cool skin looks rosy and warm skin looks more golden. Olive skin often looks slightly green or gray beside the white.
The sun test
Skin that burns quickly and rarely tans often has a cool undertone, while skin that tans easily is often warm. This test is less reliable for deeper skin tones, which is why we weight it the same as every other question.
Worked example
Imagine your wrist veins look greenish, gold jewelry makes your skin glow, you tan easily and pure white looks a little harsh on you while ivory looks softer. Every one of those answers points warm, so the quiz returns a warm undertone and suggests golden, copper and caramel hair shades. If your answers split evenly between warm and cool signs, you get neutral, which suits both families of color.
Best hair colors for each undertone
| Undertone | Hair colors that flatter | Shades to approach with care |
|---|---|---|
| Cool | Ash and platinum blonde, ash brown, jet black, burgundy, plum | Very golden or brassy blondes, orange coppers |
| Warm | Honey blonde, caramel, copper, auburn, strawberry blonde | Icy platinum, blue black, very ashy browns |
| Neutral | Balayage, chocolate, rose gold, dirty blonde, mahogany | Very extreme versions of either family |
| Olive | Chocolate brown, mahogany, cherry cola, rich brunette balayage | Brassy yellow blondes and very pale ash |
These are guidelines rather than strict rules. A skilled colorist can tweak almost any shade to suit you by warming it up or cooling it down, so bring your result to your appointment. For inspiration, read our complete guide to hair color and the art and science of hair color.
Undertone and makeup
Your undertone also helps you choose foundation. Most brands label their shades with a letter or word: C, P or pink for cool, W, Y or golden for warm, and N for neutral. Olive skin often suits neutral or slightly yellow shades with a hint of green. Always swatch along your jawline in daylight and choose the shade that seems to disappear.
Pair your result with our face shape finder to plan both the cut and the color before your next salon visit, and see our morning and night skincare routine for glowing skin under any shade.
