Colours That Suit Ginger Hair: What Gingers Should Wear

5 min read · Swatch Fan

The colours that suit ginger hair best are greens, blues and teals, plus warm neutrals like cream, camel and chocolate brown. Green and blue sit opposite orange-red on the color wheel, so they make ginger hair look brighter and richer. Which exact shades suit you depends on whether you're a copper, strawberry or auburn ginger.

If you're a ginger who's tired of "just wear green" advice and wants the exact shades for your hair and skin, Swatch Fan finds your season and gives you 12 named colors: Find my colors.

Best colours for gingers at a glance

Quick list, then we'll get specific.

Almost always a win:

• Emerald, forest and olive green
• Teal and turquoise
• Navy and denim blue
• Cream and ivory
• Camel and chocolate brown

Depends on your shade:

• Coral, peach and rust
• Burgundy and plum
• Soft pinks
• Black

Handle with care:

• Bright orange and mustard near the face
• Pastel yellow
• Neon red that fights your hair

Copper vs strawberry vs auburn redheads

Gingers aren't one group. Your red decides your palette.

If you're more strawberry than copper, our strawberry blonde color season guide covers you. And if your freckles are confusing your undertone, read what color season has freckles.

Greens, blues and neutrals: what colours go well with ginger hair

Greens for gingers

Green is the ginger GOAT. It's opposite red, so your hair looks fiery next to it.

• Emerald: for bright copper and deep auburn gingers
• Olive and khaki: for Autumn gingers, especially in jackets
• Sage and mint: for strawberry and soft gingers
• Forest green: the safe everyday pick

Blues for redheads

• Teal and turquoise make copper hair glow.
• Navy is the ginger's black. Less harsh, still smart.
• Denim works for literally everyone.
• Powder blue suits cool, light redheads.

Neutrals

• Cream instead of bright white
• Camel and tan for coats
• Chocolate brown instead of black
• Warm gray if you're more muted

Colours gingers are told to avoid (and when they work)

There's a lot of "gingers can't wear X" out there. Some of it is true, some isn't.

Can gingers wear red?

Yes, if it's the right red. Deep burgundy, wine and brick red look amazing on auburn and Autumn gingers. Bright fire-engine red can compete with copper hair. The trick is going deeper or softer than your hair, not matching it.

Can gingers wear pink?

Yes. Soft blush and salmon pink suit warm gingers. Cool, pinkish redheads can wear rose. Hot pink is riskier but can look bold and fun on bright Springs.

Can gingers wear orange?

Rust, terracotta and burnt orange are great on Autumn gingers. Traffic-cone orange usually makes hair and outfit blur together.

Can gingers wear black?

Deep auburn gingers can. Light and strawberry gingers usually look better in navy or chocolate. Black can make pale skin look even paler and freckles look darker.

This is the part where it gets confusing, because "burgundy yes, bright red no" depends on your exact shade and skin. Swatch Fan's color check reads a top through your camera or from a shop screenshot and tells you yes, close or skip against your season's palette. Find my colors

Ginger prom dress colours

For prom, hoco, formal, grad (Canada) or your Year 13 leavers' ball (UK), redheads have some of the best options going:

• Emerald satin: the iconic ginger look, especially for copper and auburn hair.
• Navy or midnight blue: elegant and softer than black.
• Teal: great if you want color without going full green.
• Champagne or gold: for warm, freckled gingers who want a glowy look.
• Dusty sage: for strawberry and soft, sandy gingers.
• Wine or deep burgundy: for deep auburn Autumns.

For suits, a navy or charcoal suit with a forest green or burgundy tie is hard to beat.

Guys: colours for ginger men

Color advice for a ginger guy, straight up:

• Navy blazers, overshirts and hoodies. Your default.
• Forest and olive green in knits, jackets and T-shirts.
• Charcoal rather than jet black.
• Denim everything.
• Burgundy for going out or formals.
• White tees only if you're not super pale. Otherwise go cream or light gray.

Ginger beard? Same rules. Green and blue make it look intentional and rich.

Colours for red hair and freckles

Freckles love:

• Sage and moss green
• Chambray and denim
• Terracotta and peach
• Cream

Avoid colours that are the exact shade of your freckles right next to your face (like tan or camel if your freckles are tan). They blend in and the look goes flat.

Makeup quick tips for gingers

• Brown or brown-black mascara over pure black
• Brows in soft auburn or taupe, not dark brown
• Lips: coral, peach, brick, terracotta; cool redheads go rose
• Eyeshadow: bronze, copper, olive and plum

A quick ginger shopping checklist

Before you buy anything that sits near your face, run through this:

1. Does it contrast with my hair (green, blue, teal, navy), or blend into it (orange, tan, mustard)?
2. Is it deeper or softer than my hair, not the same brightness?
3. Does it make my freckles look cute or muddy?
4. Would I wear it with at least three things I already own?

Four yeses and it's probably a keeper.

Find your exact season, ginger

Knowing green is good is the start. Knowing which green is the win. Swatch Fan asks quick yes/no questions (no selfie needed) and gives you your season, 12 named colors with hex codes, 6 lipsticks and 6 hair colors. It's free to start.

Find my colors

FAQ

What colours suit ginger hair the most?

Greens, blues and teals are the top picks because they sit opposite orange-red on the color wheel. Warm neutrals like cream, camel and chocolate brown are also reliable.

What colours should gingers avoid?

Be careful with bright orange, mustard and pastel yellow near your face, since they blend into or clash with your hair. Bright red can compete with copper hair, but deeper reds often work.

What colors look good on redheads with pale skin?

Navy, emerald, teal, sage and cream flatter pale redheads. Softer darks like navy and chocolate are usually kinder than black on very pale skin.

What should ginger guys wear?

Navy, forest green, olive, denim, charcoal and burgundy. Swap bright white for cream or light gray if you're very fair.

Can gingers wear red and pink?

Yes. Deep red, burgundy and brick suit many gingers, as do soft salmon and blush pinks. The trick is choosing reds deeper or softer than your hair so they don't compete.