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 orange:
All About Orange
Orange is a color near and dear to our hearts like red. While we’re called redheads, most of us have tones of orange mixed into our hair. For some redheads, their hair may lean more orange altogether. Like red, a lot of redheads think they can’t rock orange because it will clash.
Orange’s complementary color is blue. This is why the redhead with blue eyes combo is so striking because the blue eyes really bring out the brightness of red hair. The same can be said for the red tones in redheads who have green eyes since those two are complementary.
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. Orange can also be more yellow-toned, or more red-toned and it can be “true” orange in the middle. This is the shade. Orange 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 orange 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” orange” colors. If your hair runs more orange to strawberry blond, you may want to opt for more of a yellow-orange. If your hair is a darker red, or perhaps a faux cherry cola red you may want to opt for more red oranges.
- 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 orange to be. Fairer-skinned redheads may want to opt for a darker shade of orange, 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 yellow orange, and if you have more warm undertones you may want a more red-toned orange, and neutral undertones, a more “true” orange.
Pairing Orange with Other Colors
We already know that blue is orange’s complementary color, but what other colors go well with orange? 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 orange with any of these colors. Monochromatic looks are also a great option. Pairing shades of orange together can help create a cohesive look that still feels dimensional.
Other colors that look amazing with orange include the colors found in orange’s color family which are shades of red and shades of yellow. These are called analogous colors. Since orange’s complimentary color is blue, its secondary complimentary colors are green and purple which are found on either side of blue.
Different shades of orange will pair better with different colors. For example, If you want to pair orange with green, opt for a more yellow-orange, and if you want to pair orange with purple, opt for a more red-orange.
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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