When choosing accessories, you probably consider your outfit and maybe even your skin tone – but have you thought about how your hair color plays into the mix? Matching jewelry with your hair color can subtly enhance your overall look. However, here’s a secret: it’s actually more important to match jewelry to your skin undertone than to your hair color. Hair color is just one part of the equation. In this guide, we’ll focus on how different hair colors (blonde, brunette, red, black) can influence your jewelry choices, and why your skin’s undertone is the key factor that ties it all together.
We’ll answer questions like “should blondes wear gold or silver?” and “what color jewelry goes best with brown hair,” plus give examples and tips for each hair color. Whether you’re a man with a shock of platinum blond hair, rich brown locks, fiery red hair, or sleek black hair, we’ve got recommendations to help your accessories complement your look.
Pro Tip: If you haven’t already, you may want to read our companion guide on matching jewelry to your skin undertone, since skin tone plays a huge role in what metals flatter you. And once you’ve got hair and skin figured out, check out our advice on matching jewelry with your outfit colors to complete your style.
Table of Contents
- Jewelry for Blonde Hair
- Jewelry for Brown (Brunette) Hair
- Jewelry for Red Hair
- Jewelry for Black Hair
- Conclusion
Jewelry for Blonde Hair
Blonde hair comes in shades from icy platinum to warm honey gold. The key to finding flattering jewelry is to consider the tone of your blond hair and, more importantly, your skin undertone. Many people with blonde hair have fair, cool-toned skin (especially with ash or platinum blond hair), while some blondes have a warmer, golden complexion. The right jewelry color can either echo the cool brightness of your hair or provide a contrasting pop of warmth. Let’s answer some common questions blond-haired men have when choosing jewelry.
What Color Jewelry Goes with Blonde Hair?
Generally, lighter metals and cool-toned pieces tend to complement blonde hair. Silver, white gold, or platinum jewelry often looks terrific with very light or ash-blonde hair because these metals mirror the cool, pale tones and let your features shine without overwhelming your look. For example, a sleek sterling silver chain can pair elegantly with platinum blond hair, creating a modern, understated vibe. If your blond hair is on the warmer side (think golden blond or dirty blond), you can also experiment with warmer metal tones. A soft yellow gold or rose gold piece can accentuate the warmth in your hair, picking up those subtle sunny hues in your locks and skin.
Beyond metals, consider gemstone colors too. Blondes often find that light or pastel gemstones really pop. Think of an aquamarine pendant, a pale green jade cufflink, or even a lavender amethyst ring – against a light-haired backdrop, these colors can be striking without overpowering your look. Soft blues, greens, and purples complement the cool tones in ash-blonde hair beautifully. On the other hand, bold jewel tones can create eye-catching contrast. A deep sapphire blue or rich ruby red stone will stand out vividly against light hair, which can be a great style statement if you want your accessory to draw attention. In short, blonde hair is quite versatile: you can choose jewelry that harmonizes with its light hues or pieces that provide a bold contrast. Just make sure the overall balance with your skin tone feels right (cool vs. warm) for the best effect.
Should Blondes Wear Gold or Silver?
Ah, the classic question: do blondes look better in gold or silver? The answer isn’t one-size-fits-all – it comes down to your skin undertone. If you have blonde hair and a cool undertone (common in very light, Nordic-type blondes with fair or pinkish skin), then silver or white gold typically looks most natural. Silver-toned jewelry picks up the cool tones in your skin and hair, creating a cohesive, subtle look. For instance, if you have platinum-blond or ash-blond hair with a cool complexion, a polished silver chain or stainless steel watch will likely look very crisp and clean on you.
On the other hand, not all blondes have cool tones. If you’re a blonde with warm undertones or a bit of a tan (maybe you have golden blonde hair or a peachy complexion), gold jewelry can look fantastic on you. Warm metals like yellow gold or even rose gold will pick up the golden hues in your hair and the warmth of your skin. Rather than washing you out, a rich gold necklace or a pair of gold-accented cufflinks might add a healthy glow to your style. Many people assume blondes should avoid gold, but if gold complements your skin, it can be a striking choice that actually adds a nice contrast against light hair.
Blonde Hair Recap: If you’re wondering “should I wear silver or gold?” and you have blond hair, let your skin undertone guide you. Cool undertone blondes will usually find silver-toned metals more flattering, while warm undertone blondes can absolutely glow in gold. However, these are guidelines, not strict rules – personal style trumps all. A cool-toned blond man can still rock a gold chain as a bold contrast, and a warm-toned blond can wear a sleek silver piece for a modern touch. Blondes have the advantage of a hair color that’s light and neutral enough to work with almost any metal when styled right, so don’t be afraid to experiment.
Jewelry for Brown (Brunette) Hair
Brown-haired men have a rich, versatile backdrop that often makes jewelry stand out. “Brunette” covers a broad range – from light brown to deep chocolate – and it often comes with warm skin undertones (think olive or golden skin), though plenty of brunettes have cooler or neutral skin as well. The good news is that brunettes can typically wear both gold and silver well; it really depends on what complements your personal coloring. Let’s break down the best jewelry tones for brown hair and tackle the gold vs. silver question for brunettes.
What Color Jewelry Goes with Brown Hair?
Brown hair is wonderfully versatile when it comes to pairing with jewelry colors. If your brown hair has warm highlights or your skin tone is warm, warm-toned jewelry will accentuate that natural glow. Yellow gold is a classic companion to brunette hair, as its rich hue highlights the golden or red undertones often present in brown locks. For example, a gold chain or a vintage-style bronze cuff on a man with warm-toned brown hair can look harmonious and refined. Rose gold or copper pieces can also work nicely for brunettes with very warm coloring, echoing the earthy richness of your hair color.
Meanwhile, brunettes with cooler or neutral skin undertones might find that cooler metals provide a pleasing contrast. Silver or white gold jewelry against dark brown hair can really “pop” visually, since the bright cool metal stands out against the rich hair color. Imagine a sterling silver signet ring or a platinum bracelet on someone with dark brown hair and cooler, fair skin – the silver catches the light and draws the eye, complementing any cool tones in the complexion. Additionally, brunettes can carry off bold gemstone colors that might overwhelm lighter-haired folks. Deep jewel tones like emerald green, ruby red, or sapphire blue look stunning when you have brown or dark hair, because your hair provides a strong backdrop that lets those vibrant colors shine. Whether you choose warm metals to blend with your look or cool metals and vibrant stones to contrast, brown hair gives you plenty of stylish options.
Should Brunettes Wear Gold or Silver?
If you’re asking, “does gold or silver look better on brunettes?”, the answer comes down to skin undertone and personal taste. For many brunettes with warm or olive undertones, gold jewelry tends to be very flattering. The yellow in gold picks up the golden or greenish hints in warm skin, creating a cohesive look. A brunette with warm skin wearing a gold chain or gold ring often looks naturally put-together – as if the jewelry was made for them. It’s a classic combo: brown hair, warm skin, and yellow gold all have a richness that complements each other beautifully.
But what if you have brown hair and your skin is on the cooler side? In that case, you might actually prefer how silver looks on you. Cooler undertones (maybe you have lighter skin that burns easily, or a subtle pink tone in your complexion) get a nice contrast from silver or steel jewelry. The cool metals stand out against dark hair and can make your overall appearance more vivid. For instance, a dark-haired man with cool, fair skin might find that a sterling silver necklace or watch really pops, whereas yellow gold on him could feel a bit too warm. There’s no one-size-fits-all answer: some brunettes love the crisp, modern look of silver contrasting with their hair, while others adore how gold brings out the warmth of their eyes and skin.
And let’s not forget those with neutral undertones. If your skin tone is neutral (not distinctly pink/red or yellow/golden), you have the advantage of flexibility. Neutral-toned brunettes can generally pull off both gold and silver with ease. You might choose your metal based on your outfit or simply personal preference that day. For example, one day you could wear a gold pendant necklace with your brown hair for a warm, classic vibe, and the next day sport a sleek silver chain for a cooler, modern edge. Both will look good on you because your skin isn’t strongly highlighting or clashing with either metal tone.
In fact, the model above (wearing our Aria Necklace and Pendant in gold) could just as easily switch to silver jewelry and still look great. Notice how when he wears a similar piece in silver, it’s equally stylish. Neutral undertones are truly the best of both worlds for brunettes.
Brunette Hair Recap: Should brunettes wear gold or silver? If you have warm undertones, you’ll likely glow in gold; if you have cool undertones, silver might be your best friend. And if you have neutral skin undertones, lucky you – you can enjoy the luxury of alternating between gold and silver as you please. Brown hair provides a rich canvas, so focus on what makes your skin and eyes come alive. Don’t hesitate to try both metal tones and see which makes you feel more vibrant. Often you’ll find that both can work, just giving you a different vibe (one more warm and classic, the other more cool and modern).
Jewelry for Red Hair
Red hair – whether it’s natural ginger, deep auburn, or a bright copper – is a showstopper on its own. It often comes paired with fair skin and warm undertones (think freckles and a peachy glow), though some redheads have a cooler, porcelain complexion. When matching jewelry with red hair, you can either complement the hair’s fiery warmth or contrast with it for balance.
Best Metals for Redheads: Many redheads find that cooler metals like sterling silver, white gold, or platinum create a beautiful contrast with their hair. The cool sheen of silver against warm red hair makes the hair color appear even more vibrant. For example, a simple silver chain or a pair of understated white gold cufflinks can look very sharp on a man with coppery hair – the jewelry stands out without clashing. On the flip side, rose gold and copper-toned metals are in the same color family as a lot of red hair, which can create a very cohesive look. A rose gold watch or a copper pendant on a redhead will echo the tones of the hair, almost blending in for a mono-tonal effect that some find very appealing. It’s a warmer, mellower approach where the jewelry complements rather than contrasts.
Gemstones and Colors: One of the most striking combinations in fashion is red and green – they’re opposite on the color wheel, so they make each other pop. For that reason, a classic recommendation for those with red hair is to try green gemstones. Emeralds, jade, or even green accents on a piece of jewelry can look phenomenal with red hair, because the green intensifies the richness of the red. Imagine a pair of emerald cufflinks or a tie pin with a green stone on a red-haired gentleman; it would immediately draw attention (in a good way) and complement his coloring. Blue stones can also be a great choice: deep blue sapphires or even a cool aquamarine create a cool contrast to fiery hair, highlighting the hair’s warmth. What about red or orange stones? Generally, if a gemstone is too close to the hair color, it may not stand out – for instance, a ruby might get a bit “lost” next to bright red hair, and an orange carnelian could clash with copper tones. That said, a darker garnet (which is a red stone but veering towards brown) can look nice with auburn hair, and some redheads love wearing amber or topaz for an autumnal palette. It really depends on whether you want your jewelry to pop or blend.
Gold vs. Silver for Red Hair: Should redheads wear gold or silver? This is a case where many lean towards silver or white gold, because of the contrast effect we mentioned. Silver jewelry against a warm red or orange hue can be stunning. However, if your skin undertone is very warm and you have, say, strawberry-blond or light ginger hair with a lot of freckles, you might find that yellow gold also looks nice because it matches the overall warmth. Rose gold, in particular, is often cited as extremely flattering for redheads – it’s like a mix of gold and coppery pink that mirrors both the hair and the often rosy-cheeked complexion.
In contrast, a cool-toned redhead (rare, but if you have very blue eyes and super fair, pinkish skin with red hair) might favor silver more heavily.
In practice, many red-haired men will have a mix of preferences: a silver wedding band might be chosen to contrast the hair, but a rose gold necklace could be a favorite for how it blends in. Don’t be afraid to try different looks. Red hair is a standout feature, so whether you highlight it with contrasting silver or complement it with warm golds, you’re going to turn heads.
Jewelry for Black Hair
Black hair (or very dark brown hair that appears black) provides a striking, high-contrast backdrop for any jewelry you wear. It’s essentially a neutral canvas, which means almost any metal or color can work – but the level of contrast will vary. Men with black hair span a wide range of skin tones, from very fair to very deep, so undertone once again plays a significant role in choosing gold vs. silver. Here’s how to think about pairing jewelry with black or dark hair:
Metals: If you have black hair and a lighter or cooler skin tone, white metals like silver, platinum, or white gold tend to look especially sharp. The cool gleam of silver against black hair creates a bold contrast that can emphasize the shine in both your hair and the metal. For example, a man with jet-black hair and cool, fair skin wearing a stainless steel watch and a sterling silver bracelet will have a very crisp, modern look – the jewelry pops against the neutral backdrop of his hair.
On the other hand, if you have black hair and a warm or deeper skin tone, yellow gold can look incredibly luxurious against your coloring. Think of classic combinations like a gold chain resting on a medium or dark skinned man with black hair – the gold doesn’t pop in a bright way like silver, but it contrasts in color, offering a rich and refined accent. Gold on black hair has a timeless, elegant vibe (just look at formal styles where men with dark hair often choose gold detailing for a touch of luxury).
Gemstones and Colors: With black or very dark hair, you have the advantage that no color will really clash with your hair (since black goes with everything). Instead, your hair will make lighter or brighter colors stand out even more. Vibrant gemstones can be a fantastic choice. Deep blues, rich purples, and bright reds – like a royal blue sapphire ring, a violet amethyst pendant, or a ruby lapel pin – will all show boldly against the contrast of black hair. Even a pure clear diamond or a simple crystal is going to catch the light and be noticeable, because your dark hair won’t distract from it. If you wear earrings, a diamond or white stone stud in a man’s ear against black hair is a classic, striking look. Alternatively, if you want something low-key, black hair also allows for monochromatic styling: onyx or black diamonds, or matte black metal jewelry (like a black titanium ring or a gunmetal chain) can blend subtly with black hair for a sleek, modern aesthetic. This works well if you prefer your jewelry not to stand out too much.
Balancing with Skin Tone: As always, consider your skin undertone. Men with black hair and cool undertones (which might include some Asian and European complexions that are fair or medium with pinkish tones) will often find silver-tone metals more naturally flattering, as they align with the coolness in the skin and hair shine. Men with black hair and warm undertones (for example, olive, golden, or deep brown skin) often look excellent in gold, as it mirrors and enhances the warmth. But black hair is so neutral that you can truly choose whichever metal you prefer on a given day – the hair color isn’t likely to ever clash with your jewelry. In fact, a lot of style-forward guys with black hair mix metals, wearing both silver and gold together for a fashion-forward look, knowing their hair can pull it off.
Finally, a note for those with a touch of gray in that black hair (salt-and-pepper temples, anyone?): Silver or white gold pieces can echo the cool tone of your gray strands and create a nice harmony. A steel watch or silver tie bar might subtly pick up the gray in your hair for a distinguished look.
Meanwhile, if you’ve got mostly black hair with just a little gray, wearing gold can inject a bit of warmth and contrast, which can also be very handsome.
As with all hair colors, black-haired men should use these guidelines as a starting point. Don’t be afraid to try on different metals and see which makes you feel confident. Black hair gives you perhaps the widest range of workable options – take advantage of that versatility to craft your personal style.
Conclusion
Matching your jewelry to your hair color is a fun way to refine your look, but remember that it’s just one factor. We’ve seen that skin undertone often plays an even bigger role in whether gold or silver will flatter you, regardless of hair color. In general, cool undertones (often found with platinum blondes, some brunettes, and many redheads) tend to shine in silver or white gold, while warm undertones (common with golden blondes, many brunettes, and most redheads) glow in yellow or rose gold. Dark hair like black provides a neutral backdrop where contrast is king, and light hair like blond or gray lets you play with subtle complements.
The ultimate takeaway is: use these guidelines to inform your choices, but let your personal style be the final judge. If you’re a cool-toned guy who loves the way a gold pendant looks on you, wear it with confidence. If you’re warm-toned but prefer the modern vibe of silver, go for it. Jewelry is a form of self-expression, and the “rules” (hair color, skin tone, etc.) are there to help you find what might naturally look best – not to box you in. Often, the most stylish looks come from knowing the guidelines and then artfully breaking them.
One more thing: don’t forget to consider your outfit as well. Your hair and skin create a foundation, but the colors of your clothing will also interact with your jewelry. A certain metal might look great with your hair but clash with a shirt, or vice versa. To truly complete your look, you’ll want to coordinate all these elements. For further reading on that aspect, be sure to check out our Ultimate Guide to Matching Your Jewelry with Your Outfit Colors. By considering hair color, skin tone, and outfit together, you’ll be well-equipped to choose the perfect accessories every time.
In the end, matching jewelry with your hair color is about enhancing your natural features and personal vibe. Whether you’re a blond making a statement with a gold watch, a brunette elevating your style with a cool silver chain, a redhead rocking an emerald tie pin, or a black-haired gentleman alternating between platinum and gold, the right jewelry can tie your whole look together. Use the tips from this guide, have fun experimenting, and wear your choices with confidence – that’s the hallmark of true style.