Ordering hair extensions online comes with one big question: "Will this shade actually match my hair?"
It's the number one concern for first-time buyers — and for good reason. A bad color match can ruin the entire look. But with the right approach, you can nail your shade every time, even without trying them on in person.
Here's how to find your perfect match.
Step 1: Identify Your Base Color
Your base color is the dominant shade you see when you look at your hair as a whole. Don't focus on highlights, lowlights, or root color — look at the overall impression.
- Black (#1 Jet Black, #1B Natural Black) — True black with no visible brown tones
- Dark Brown (#2–#4) — Deep brown, from near-black to chocolate
- Medium Brown (#5–#7) — The most common natural shade range
- Light Brown (#8–#10) — Brown with visible warmth or golden tones
- Dark Blonde (#12–#16) — The transition zone between brown and blonde
- Medium Blonde (#18–#22) — Classic blonde shades
- Light Blonde (#24–#613) — Golden to platinum
Step 2: Understand Your Undertone
This is where most people go wrong. Two shades can look identical on screen but completely different in person because of undertones.
- Warm undertones: Golden, honey, copper, caramel, auburn. Your hair catches warm, reddish-golden tones in sunlight.
- Cool undertones: Ash, smoky, silver, platinum. Your hair has no red or gold — it leans grey or blue.
- Neutral: A balanced mix of both. You're lucky — most shades work for you.
Quick test: Step into natural sunlight and look at your hair in a mirror. Do you see golden/red flashes (warm) or muted/silvery tones (cool)?
Step 3: Match in the Right Lighting
This is critical. Always assess your hair color in natural daylight — not under bathroom lights, not at night, not under fluorescent office lighting.
Take a photo of your hair outdoors in indirect sunlight. Compare that photo to our product images on your screen with brightness set to maximum.
Step 4: Consider Multi-Tonal Shades
If your hair has natural dimension (most people's does), a single solid shade might look flat against it. Consider:
- Piano blends (P-shades) — Two shades woven together for natural-looking highlights. Example: P4/27 Chocolate & Honey
- Balayage/Ombre (T-shades) — Dark roots blending to lighter ends. Example: T18-60 Ash Blonde to Platinum
- Melted blends (M-shades) — Colors seamlessly melted together. Example: M8/60 Brown Platinum Blend
Pro Tips from Our Stylists
- Match to your mid-lengths and ends — not your roots. Extensions sit below the root area.
- If you're between two shades, go lighter. Extensions tend to photograph slightly darker than they appear in person.
- Recently colored your hair? Wait a week before shade-matching. Fresh color fades slightly.
- Highlighted hair? A piano blend will almost always look more natural than a solid shade.
- Don't panic if it's not perfect. A shade that's close will blend in once styled — especially with curls or waves.
Our Shade Range
We carry 50+ shades — from #1 Jet Black to #Ice Ice White, plus dozens of multi-tonal blends. Every shade is available across our clip-in, tape-in, and halo collections.
Still not sure? Send us a photo of your hair in natural light and we'll recommend the perfect shade for you — free, no obligation.
