Dark skin, like lighter skin tones, can have either cool or warm undertones. It's not a matter of the skin being inherently cool or warm simply because of its darkness, but rather the underlying pigments that give the skin its hue.
Understanding Skin Undertones
Skin undertone refers to the subtle colors beneath the surface of your skin. These undertones influence how certain colors look on you and are largely independent of your skin's overall darkness or lightness.
- Warm Undertones: These appear yellowish or golden. In darker skin tones, this can manifest as a peachy or golden hue. As stated in multiple sources, warm undertones in medium-dark/deep skin tones can appear more peachy/golden. (Source 1, Source 6, Source 7)
- Cool Undertones: These appear pinkish, bluish, or reddish. In darker skin tones, cool undertones can present as purple or reddish tones. In fair skin, cool undertones appear pink/blue and move to purple/red in medium and deep tones (Source 1, Source 6).
- Neutral Undertones: These are a blend of warm and cool tones.
Determining Your Undertone
Several methods exist to determine your undertone:
- Vein Test: Look at the veins on your inner wrist in natural light. Greenish veins suggest warm undertones, while bluish or purplish veins suggest cool undertones. (Source 4, Source 5)
- Jewelry Test: Hold gold and silver jewelry against your skin. Which metal makes your skin look brighter and more radiant? Gold often complements warm undertones, while silver complements cool undertones.
- White Paper Test: Hold a piece of white paper next to your face. Does your skin look yellowish or golden against the paper (warm), pinkish or reddish (cool), or neither strongly (neutral)? (Source 4)
Examples and Clarifications
It's a misconception that dark skin can only have one type of undertone. A person with very dark skin might have cool undertones presenting as a reddish-purple hue, while another with similarly dark skin might have warm undertones showing as golden-peachy tones. (Source 8, Source 9, Source 10) The key is the subtle underlying color, not the overall darkness of the skin. (Source 11)
