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COLOURING OPTIONS FOR NATURALLY BLACK HAIR
How to choose your hair colour when you have naturally black hair
Do you have naturally black hair? Lucky you. Black is the most common hair colour in the world, whether you’re from Africa, Asia, the Americas or Europe. It is also one of the deepest and most radiant shades. Black hair can be straight, curly, coily, fine, thick and sometimes even has coppery or bluish undertones.
From porcelain skin to deep ebony, women with black hair come in every shade. So how do you enhance that intense colour or change up your look without losing your natural charm? Let me guide you.
The best dye shades for naturally black hair
1 Black 2 Brown 3 Dark Chestnut
If you have naturally black hair, the easiest and most flattering option is to stay close to your base colour. Choose a tone similar to your natural black, or go just one or two shades lighter like dark brown or deep chestnut. This creates a soft and natural result with just the right amount of contrast.
👉 See the hair dye colour chart and code meanings
If you’re after a bolder look, feel free to explore undertones like auburn, burgundy or chocolate. Just make sure they match your complexion for the most flattering result.
💡 I’ve created a personalised selection of the best dye colours depending on your skin tone. Just click below to explore.
👇 Pick your skin tone to see the best hair colours
Find the shades that naturally enhance your black hair.
What dye shade should you choose exactly if you have black hair?
Before getting started, keep two important steps in mind:
- Choose your base shade: This is the first number in the colour code. For black hair, this is often 1 (black), 2 (brown) or 3 (dark chestnut).
- Add undertones: These are the second and third digits in the code. They give depth, contrast or brightness depending on the effect you want.
🎯 To pick the right undertones, take into account both your skin tone and your eye colour. These will guide you toward the most flattering shade.
👉 Access the full guide to hair dye colour codes
Why does your skin tone matter when you have black hair?
Trust me, this is not a small detail. I’ve seen gorgeous shades on paper completely dull a face simply because they clashed with the person’s complexion. When your hair is black or very dark, even a slight shift in tone can change everything. I’ve seen very fair skin paired with warm auburns that looked too harsh. But a golden or olive skin tone with the right chocolate brown? It lights up the whole face.
If you want to go further, I’ve written a full guide to choosing your hair colour based on your skin tone, with tailored recommendations.
👉 How to choose the right hair colour for your skin
What about your eye colour?
You may not realise it, but your eye colour is one of the best guides for choosing a flattering hair dye. A good match can make your eyes stand out and give a natural glow to your whole face. I once helped a friend with very dark eyes who went for a coppery auburn. Her eyes looked flat. We switched to a cool-toned brown, and it made all the difference.
