Choosing the Perfect Frame Colour for Your Skin Tone and Hair

Your glasses are one of the few things you wear every single day, so they deserve to do more than simply sharpen your vision. The right pair of frames for your face lifts your colouring and quietly says something about you. And one of the biggest factors in whether a pair feels right is something most people never stop to think about: the colour.

Get the colour right, and your frames look as though they were made for you. Get it wrong, and even a beautiful design can feel slightly off, washing you out or working against your natural tones. The good news is that finding your most flattering shades is far simpler than it sounds, and it is exactly the kind of thing we love helping with in the practice.

Here is how to think about frame colour and how to use it to find glasses you will genuinely look forward to wearing.

Would you rather skip straight to the enjoyable part? You can book a styling consultation, and we will talk it through together, frames in hand.

Why does frame colour make such a difference?

The idea behind all of this is colour harmony, the simple principle that some colours flatter each other and others clash. It is the same instinct that tells you one jumper makes you look healthy and well-rested, while another leaves you looking a little washed out.

Your skin, hair and eyes each carry an undertone, and frames that echo those undertones tend to look balanced and natural. Once you know which family of colours sits well with yours, choosing frames becomes far less of a guessing game. It is the same thinking we bring to our niche frames collection, where every pair is handpicked with individual clients in mind.

Finding your undertone

Before you can pick flattering colours, it helps to know your undertone. Most people fall into one of three groups: warm, cool or neutral.

A quick test is to look at the veins on the inside of your wrist in natural light. If they look greenish, you most likely have warm undertones. If they look blue or purple, you are probably cool-toned. If you cannot quite tell, you may sit in the neutral group, which gives you the most flexibility of all.

Your hair and eyes add another layer. Warm blondes, golden browns, auburn and rich chestnut tend to sit with warm undertones, while ash blondes, cooler browns, black and silver-grey often lean cool. There is no need to be too scientific about it. When you visit us, we can see how different shades sit against your face straight away, which is far more telling than any single test.

If you have warm undertones

Warm skin usually has a golden, peachy or olive cast, and the frames that flatter you most are the ones that echo that warmth.

Earthy tones are your friends here: tortoiseshell, warm browns, honey, amber, gold and soft olive greens. These shades feel rich and natural against golden skin, and they rarely date.

This is where a brand like SALT. comes into its own. Their Californian collections take their cues from nature, with earthy, sunlit colour combinations that suit warm complexions beautifully. The handmade frames from Rolf are another lovely option, crafted in Germany from natural materials with warm finishes that feel made for golden tones.

As a rule, very cool shades such as icy silver or stark blue can look a little harsh against warm skin, so they are usually worth avoiding unless you are after a deliberate contrast.

If you have cool undertones

Cool skin tends to have pink, rosy or slightly bluish undertones, and the colours that flatter you are the ones with a cool edge of their own.

Silver, gunmetal and cool grey look sleek and polished. Black is a reliable classic, and jewel tones such as deep blue, plum, emerald and rich berry add colour without clashing, bringing out the freshness in cool complexions.

For something with real personality, the bold, sculptural designs from Anne & Valentin offer plenty of cooler tones and striking shapes, while Sabine Be is all about playful, confident colour if you want your glasses to be a talking point. Warmer shades like orange, mustard and warm gold are the ones to approach with a little care, as they can fight against cool undertones.

If you have neutral undertones

If your undertone is a balanced mix of warm and cool, you are in luck. You can wear almost anything, which means you get to choose frames based purely on the look you are going for.

Mixed metallics, soft muted shades such as taupe, rose, and dusky blue, and richer tones like burgundy and plum all tend to flatter neutral skin. Understated, beautifully made frames such as the Danish-designed Nine Eyewear collection are a natural fit, though honestly, your real limit here is personal taste rather than your colouring.

Matching frames to your hair colour

Your hair frames your face just as much as your glasses do, so it is worth a thought of its own. These are starting points rather than strict rules, but they tend to flatter.

• Silver and grey hair: cool tones look wonderful here. Crisp black, charcoal, deep blue and burgundy all feel fresh and modern, and clear or rimless styles can be lovely too.
• Blonde hair: warm and golden blondes sit beautifully with tortoiseshell, honey, warm brown and soft gold, while cooler ash blondes are flattered by taupe, grey and rose tones.
• Red and auburn hair: earthy, warm shades are your natural partners, so tortoiseshell, warm brown, olive and amber all work well, with deep green a striking option.
• Brown hair: one of the most versatile of all. Warm browns suit tortoiseshell and gold, while cooler browns carry black, burgundy and jewel tones with ease.
• Black and very dark hair: you can carry stronger, bolder colours than most, from classic black and tortoiseshell to rich jewel tones and confident, sculptural frames.

Of course, your hair colour and your skin undertone work together, which is why seeing the two side by side in the practice is the surest way to land on a shade that flatters both.

Do not forget shape, fit and lifestyle

Colour is a wonderful starting point, but it is only part of the picture. The shape of your frames matters just as much, which is why it is worth reading our guide to choosing glasses for your face shape alongside this one. Material plays a role too, from lightweight titanium to warm, characterful acetate, and our guide to frame materials and styles walks you through the options.

It is also worth thinking about how you live. If you spend a lot of time outdoors or behind the wheel, a flattering pair of prescription sunglasses in your colours is a lovely addition. And whatever you choose, the right lenses will make sure your new frames perform as well as they look.

If all of this feels like a lot to weigh up on your own, that is exactly what we are here for. There is no pressure and no rush, just honest advice and a proper look at what genuinely suits you.

The easiest way to find your colours

Reading about undertones is helpful, but nothing beats trying frames against your own face. This is something we genuinely enjoy at Perspective. We take the time to understand your colouring, your style and your day-to-day life, then guide you towards frames that feel like you. Many clients like to take a few photos in different pairs before deciding, and there is never any pressure to choose on the spot. You will also find plenty of inspiration in our happy client gallery, where you can see how real clients wear their frames.

An eye examination with us is about far more than colour and style, of course. It is a thorough check of your vision and the health of your eyes, which the College of Optometrists reminds us is an important part of looking after your overall health. So you can sort your prescription and find your perfect frames in one relaxed, unhurried visit, with a cup of tea or coffee included.

When you are ready, book your appointment with our Belsize Park opticians and let us help you find frames that suit not just your face, but your colouring, your style and you. We look forward to seeing you.