Makeup tips for redheads

Feb 22, 2011 3:00 PM by Kori Ellis

Posted in Beauty & Style / Makeup & Skin Care

Best Makeup Colors
For Redheads

For fair-skinned redheads, makeup colors should natural and not overpowering. If you have red hair, follow these simple makeup tips to bring out your natural beauty and look your best!

Woman with red hair and natural makeup

Use a yellow-based foundation

Stay away from foundation with a red or pink base. They will make your complexion look too ruddy and clash with your hair color. Redheads should use a sheer yellow-based (or peachy) foundation that is sheer enough to let your fabulous freckles show through. Look for makeup that contains SPF 15 or above to protect your fair skin from the sun's harmful rays.

"Redheads usually have fair skin, so it's best to opt for a sheer foundation to let the natural skin and possibly freckles shine through!" says SheKnows Beauty Expert Nina Sutton.

Keep eye makeup neutral

Neutral eye makeup doesn't have to be boring. Pick eye shadow in shades of beige, camel, honey, gold and chestnut. Apply brown eyeliner with a light hand and smudge it a little for evening. Skip the blacks -- brown liner and mascara enhance the skin and hair color of redheads.

Nina advises, "Redheads should opt for brown or mauve toned eye makeup with brown eyeliner or mascara (or other soft colors, such as plum). The eyeliner should also be a pencil or a powder (applied with an eyeliner brush) for a softer look vs. liquid."

When it comes to women with red hair, they can get away with warm peach toned blush and should avoid bronzers, says Nina.

Avoid red lips

"To finish the look nudes and beige lip glosses look great on redheads," says Nina. The general rule is to avoid pink and red lip color if you have red hair. However,you should experiment and find out what works best for you. Blue- and gold-based reds look great on some redheads. Apricot, peach and golden coral lipstick and cheek color are also fabulous options.

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Comments

Comments on "Makeup tips for redheads"

I agree with some of the above comments. I think these rules are a bit old fashioned and nearly all are rules that don't work for me. I get the most compliments with a bright red lip or a clashing fuschi lip and must always have a black liner and mascara as opposed to brown.. I also use different shades of bronzes to highlight my cheeks. Every red head has a different colour skin tone and eye colour so you have to find what works to you. Sticking to the 'traditional' red head rules has definitely stopped me experimenting in the past , but no more of that for me. Breaking these rules has been the best thing I have ever done. I also don't believe the model is a natural read head looking at her skin tone.

I want the last three minutes of my life back. Make up advice for DYED reds is vastly different than NATURAL reds, even when that natural red is enhanced. Skin tone will always relate to natural coloring. she knows nothing.

I am a natural redhead with freckles and couldn't imagine using a foundation with yellow undertones! Not all redheads require the same colors for proper matching. Also, red lips can look incredible on natural redheads when the right red is found. I have found that reds with blue undertones work best for me, and yes, a rich red can be done well. I searched for articles about makeup for redheads to find new and fun ideas, not restrictive rules on what I should never do.

Not all redheads have a yellow undertone. For years, I tried to wear yellow-based foundation (common redhead rule) and couldn't figure out why it didn't work. I have a definite blue undertone. It's true - red is harder if you have red hair and a blue undertone, but it's just like clothing. Try as many on as necessary. There's one out there that will work!

I don't appreciate how the model in the picture isn't even a natural redhead. Dyed redheads have completely different rules than natural redheads. And while such a guide is nice, and I spent years thinking I had to follow it, recently I've branched out and tried things that used to be considered redhead "no-no's" and I've never gotten more compliments. It's all about the particular shade. Any colour could look good on you, just so long as you have a shade that compliments your skin tone. (which varies from redhead to redhead)