You can bring life and attitude to your hair by choosing the right hair color. This can be challenging, but at the same time, fun and exciting.

With so many hues and color variations available in the market right now, it’s easy to get confused. But if you know your hair well enough, you can trust your instincts because they can help you decide which color to pick.

First, ruminate on what goals you would like to achieve. Are you going in for that dramatic look that will catch the attention of your friends and coworkers? Do you want your hair color to describe your mood at the moment just like Kate Winslet’s character in the movie Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind? How about highlights? Do you see yourself sporting bright highlights throughout your hair?

If you work in a corporate setting, it would be best to keep your hair professional looking. You cannot wear purple or bright orange that would look uncharacteristically informal in the workplace. But if you’re taking a short vacation and want something playful and fun, then go ahead and take the jump.

The rule of the thumb when choosing the right hair color is to consider contrast between your hair and skin tone. Your hair color should contrast your skin, not match it. Having a hair color that is similar to your skin can make you look drab and lifeless. There should be a sharp contrast between them to accentuate your face.

Try to be more subtle when picking the hair color. Look first into the shades close to your natural hair and see if there’s one you like. Picture yourself wearing different makeup with this and that hair, and see if they mesh well. If you have pale skin, choose shades that are a few degrees lighter or darker than brown.

Do you have warm or cool skin? Warm skin tones mean reddish or yellowish colors while cool complexion mean green or blue undertones. Use this as a basis for choosing your hair color. For example, if your skin complexion is more cool than warm, choose fiery red hair to complement it.

Lastly, it’s all about comfort. You should be comfortable enough to wear a particular hair color. The last thing you want is to look self-conscious every five minutes. You should wear your hair with confidence. Make sure you get the right cut that perfectly matches your hair color.