How do I pick the right shade of at-home hair color?

The standard to follow when coloring your hair yourself is to stick within one to two shades of your natural base -- lighter or darker. By following this classic rule, you will prevent strong root lines and choose a new hair color that still complements your skin tone.

When it comes to selecting the color at the store, I don’t recommend going by the model’s hair color on the front of the box -- chances are slim that the model has your exact base shade and complexion. Instead, start by matching your hair color to a “before” shade as pictured on the box -- they are pretty accurate. Then, based on your natural shade, look at the “after” chart for a close approximation of the hair color you’ll get.

If you’re covering gray hair, aim to match what your color was five to 10 years ago -- or go slightly lighter, since this better camouflages gray color and gives you more time in between colorings.