Best colors · By skin tone
The best colors for dark skin
Deep skin with blue, red, golden or neutral undertones that looks polished in saturated, clear colors and dull in ashy, muddy ones.
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The short answer
Saturated, clear colors with real contrast flatter dark skin most: electric blue, fuchsia, kelly green, golden yellow, watermelon, violet and crisp white, with black, navy and caramel as neutrals. Avoid ashy grays, drab khaki, chalky pastels and browns that match your skin, which flatten deep skin and can leave a gray cast.
The palette
Colors that flatter dark skin
Dark skin covers the deepest part of the range, from deep chestnut to espresso and blue-black, and its undertone varies as much as in lighter skin. Blue-black and cool ebony skin has a slightly blue or plum sheen. Red-brown skin glows mahogany or copper. Golden dark skin has an amber or bronze cast, and neutral dark skin balances warm and cool. Two people with the same depth can look completely different in one color, so undertone matters as much as depth.
Neutrals
Crisp white and black both work on deep skin; ivory and caramel soften the look for golden and red-brown undertones.
- Crisp White#FAFAF7
- Warm Ivory#F3E7CF
- Caramel#C08B52
- Graphite#383A40
- True Navy#1C2C66
- Black#111111
Everyday colors
Clear, medium-to-bright colors for shirts, knits and dresses that keep your features defined.
- Electric Blue#1F5FD6
- Golden Yellow#F0AE1E
- Jade#00A375
- Watermelon#E8556D
- Sky Blue#5FAEE6
- Lilac#C2A8E0
Statement colors
Full-strength colors for events and color blocking; deep skin can carry two at once.
- Fuchsia#C8177F
- Scarlet#C41E3A
- Violet#6B30A6
- Kelly Green#1A9E4B
- Chartreuse#B5C22B
- Burnt Orange#C2561D
Why it works
Why these colors work
Deep skin carries saturated color easily, so strong, clear shades look natural rather than loud. Electric blue, fuchsia and kelly green hold their own against your skin, and crisp white and clear pastels add contrast that brightens the face. The colors that look good on dark skin all avoid one thing: grayness. Ash gray, dusty mauve and drab khaki sit on the skin like a haze, and mid-browns close to your shade blur your outline. Aim for colors that stand clearly apart from your skin.
Your season
Seasons where dark skin is common
Deep Winter
Blue-black or neutral deep skin with very dark hair and eyes: jewel tones, black, white and icy accents.
Deep Autumn
Red-brown or mahogany skin with warm depth: oxblood, forest green, rust and burnt orange.
Warm Autumn
Golden or bronze dark skin: marigold, pumpkin, olive and warm teal look rich rather than loud.
Bright Winter
Deep skin with bright, clear eyes and strong contrast: electric blue, fuchsia and pure white at full strength.
One trait doesn’t settle a season: undertone, depth and how soft or bright your coloring is decide it together. Avarobe reads all three from one selfie and shows your best and worst colors on your own face.
Keep away from your face
Colors to avoid
- Mud Brown#6A5242
- Drab Khaki#A49878
- Cement Gray#9C9C97
- Dusty Mauve#A38C91
- Chalky Peach#EED1BE
- Murky Olive#5D5A3D
Wear them away from your face, in trousers, skirts or shoes, or sharpen them with crisp white, electric blue or gold near your face. Khaki looks far better with a white shirt than with a beige one.
Put it together
How to wear them
- Crisp white looks especially clean against deep skin. If your undertone is golden or red-brown, warm ivory can look softer and richer than blue-white.
- Black suits deep skin, but in all-black outfits add a clear color, a white collar or gold jewelry near your face so your features stay defined in photos and dim light.
- Wear brown in shades clearly lighter than your skin, like caramel, cognac or camel, rather than a mid-brown that blends into it.
- Pick clear pastels, such as lilac, sky blue or icy pink, over dusty ones with gray mixed in, which can leave deep skin looking ashy.
- Try color blocking with two saturated shades, like electric blue with golden yellow or fuchsia with burnt orange. Satin, silk and polished cotton make those colors look even richer.
Makeup
Lips in deep berry, plum, true red or brick; nude lips look best a shade deeper than your skin, with a brown liner. Blush in berry, brick or bright orange-red. Gold, copper and plum eyeshadow flatter every undertone.
Metals
Yellow gold, bronze and copper glow on golden and red-brown undertones. Silver, platinum and white gold look sharp on blue-black and cool ebony skin. If you’re neutral, mixed metals are an easy answer.
Hair color
Natural black and espresso always work. Burgundy, plum and blue-black suit cool undertones; copper, honey, caramel and auburn suit warm ones. Very ashy or platinum shades are a bold choice that works best with cool, high-contrast coloring.
Questions
Dark skin: FAQ
What colors look best on dark skin?
The best colors for dark skin are saturated and clear: electric blue, fuchsia, kelly green, golden yellow, watermelon, violet and crisp white. They have enough strength to match the depth of your skin, so they look polished rather than loud. Within that, lean toward blue-based shades if your undertone is cool and toward gold, orange and red-based shades if it’s warm.
What colors should dark skin avoid?
Ashy grays, drab khaki, dusty mauve, chalky pastels and browns close to your own shade. Gray-tinged colors can leave a dull cast on deep skin, and matching browns blur the line between skin and clothes. You can still wear them in trousers, shoes or bags, paired with crisp white or a clear color near your face.
Can dark skin wear brown?
Yes, as long as the brown contrasts with your skin. Caramel, cognac, camel and tan are clearly lighter and look rich on deep skin. Deep chocolate works best with an ivory or gold layer near your face. The brown to skip is a mid-tone, slightly gray one at the same depth as your skin, since it flattens your face.
Do pastels look good on dark skin?
Clear pastels do. Lilac, sky blue, icy pink, mint and lemon create a striking contrast on deep skin, especially with cool or neutral undertones. The pastels to avoid are chalky or dusty ones, like grayed peach or mauve, which can look ashy. If you lean warm, choose pastels with a touch of yellow, such as soft apricot or butter.
How do I find my undertone with a dark skin tone?
Compare gold and silver jewelry, then crisp white and cream, against your face in daylight. If silver and white make your skin look clear, you likely lean cool; if gold and cream look better, you lean warm. Look at your skin in the shade too: a blue or plum sheen suggests cool, red or copper suggests warm-red, and amber suggests golden.
Keep exploring
Related guides
Avarobe
See your best colors on your own face
One selfie: Avarobe reads your undertone, depth and contrast, names your season and shows the colors that flatter you, and the one to keep away from your face.
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