Why your hair colour looks different in every light (and how to get your true shade)

Ever noticed how your hair colour seems to magically change depending on the lighting? One minute it’s rich and glossy, the next it looks a shade lighter (or warmer) — all without a salon visit. You’re not imagining it. Lighting has a huge impact on how your hair colour appears.

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One hair colour, nine different lights

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Our stylist Hannah captured this perfectly with a collage showing how her blonde looked under different lighting — all taken on the same day, with no filter.

From soft daylight to warm indoor lighting, the results were completely different.

“Low lighting will make your hair appear darker with less definition,” Hannah explains. “Artificial lighting isn’t always our friend — especially for blondes. It can exaggerate warmer tones in the hair (aka the yellow that isn’t really there!).”

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The truest hair colour? Natural light.

If you want to see your hair’s real tone, step into soft, natural daylight. The bottom middle photo in Hannah’s collage was taken at the front of the salon, where natural light floods in — and it’s the most accurate reflection of her actual colour.

We love it when clients bring in photos of their dream hair colour. It helps us plan your colour journey and achieve results that truly suit you.

But here’s a pro tip: bring a few different images of your hair inspo, ideally taken in different lighting. This helps us understand your goal shade better and ensures you’ll love the final result, no filter needed.