Stigma Against Red Heads
Throughout history, redheadedness has been associated with negative traits such as:
"Redheaded women are either violent or false, and usually are both." They have been targeted as witches, deemed as 'naturally' quick-tempered, and viewed as not being the product of wedlock.
More benign stereotypes of redheads include the idea that they are more promiscuous, wilder, more passionate, and loud-mouthed. Also, redheaded women are more likely to be the subject of said stigma than redheaded men. Interestingly, among women who dye their hair, more women choose red shades than either blonde or brunette.
So if you are a redhead, follow the guide below to ensure that you overcome the unfair bias against you by looking the very best you can through wearing colors that complement and not clash with your hair color.
Colors Complementing Red Hair
Most natural redheads will already have an idea which colors will complement their hair and complexion. If you have dyed your hair red recently, however, some items in your wardrobe might clash with your new color and make your complexion look sallow.
If you have true red, auburn or copper hair
You will probably have an ivory, yellowish or golden undertone to your skin if one of these reds is your natural color or you have chosen a dye that complements your complexion. You might have brown, hazel, green or clear blue eyes, and possibly freckles. Natural and earth tones such as beiges, browns, camel, dark and olive greens, orange reds and gold look good on you, while greys, taupe, purple, navy, pink or bright reds will probably not suit you that well.
The 'universal color' black can make your face look sallow, so wear it for skirts, trousers and accessories rather than close to your face. If you have a black dress, a jacket or shawl in one of the above colors can still make your face glow.
If you have strawberry blonde or light auburn hair
You will probably have an ivory, yellowish or golden undertone to your skin if one of these reds is your natural color or you have chosen a dye that complements your complexion. You might have brown, hazel, green or clear blue eyes, and possibly freckles. Natural and earth tones such as beiges, browns, camel, dark and olive greens, orange reds and gold look good on you, while greys, taupe, purple, navy, pink or bright reds will probably not suit you that well.
The 'universal color' black can make your face look sallow, so wear it for skirts, trousers and accessories rather than close to your face. If you have a black dress, a jacket or shawl in one of the above colors can still make your face glow.
If you have strawberry blonde or light auburn hair
You will probably have peach or golden undertones to your skin and green or blue eyes if you have (or chose!) one of these colors. You can wear most spring colors: apricot, beige, golden yellows and peachy pinks, but marine and violet blues or aqua can also look great on you. Warm greys work for you, but bluish and dark grey, plum and wine colors will not go so well with your complexion.
To clash or not to clash
There seems to be a debate on whether redheads should wear colors that clash with their hair, such as pink and purple. I do not personally recommend going for a clash, but pale pinks can look good on darker redheads whose color is not too coppery if the paler pink is closer to the face. This approach can allow you to carry off an entirely pink outfit with a more intensely pink colored skirt, for example. Very dark, muted purples and lilac can also work with red hair, although will predominantly suit the strawberry blonde and light auburn type described above.
Make them green with envy
It seems that there is at least one complementing shade of green for about every shade of red hair. Green is very versatile and looks good on almost any redhead - the lighter the shade of your hair, the lighter the green you should go for. Warmer greens suit warmer complexions.
You can also work out your color type (spring, summer, autumn or winter) and combine them with the above tips to determine the colors to choose from. If you really love a color that doesn't go well with your hair, wear it as far away from the face as possible or accessorize in that color - shoes, handbags, belts ...
To clash or not to clash
There seems to be a debate on whether redheads should wear colors that clash with their hair, such as pink and purple. I do not personally recommend going for a clash, but pale pinks can look good on darker redheads whose color is not too coppery if the paler pink is closer to the face. This approach can allow you to carry off an entirely pink outfit with a more intensely pink colored skirt, for example. Very dark, muted purples and lilac can also work with red hair, although will predominantly suit the strawberry blonde and light auburn type described above.
Make them green with envy
It seems that there is at least one complementing shade of green for about every shade of red hair. Green is very versatile and looks good on almost any redhead - the lighter the shade of your hair, the lighter the green you should go for. Warmer greens suit warmer complexions.
You can also work out your color type (spring, summer, autumn or winter) and combine them with the above tips to determine the colors to choose from. If you really love a color that doesn't go well with your hair, wear it as far away from the face as possible or accessorize in that color - shoes, handbags, belts ...
