Research on harmonization of hair style, skin tone, and hair color

Abstract

In recent years, many Japanese women have dyed their hair. Although hair color can significantly change first impressions, little research has been conducted on hair color appropriate for skin tone and hairstyle. The purpose of this study was to clarify the relation between hair style, skin tone, and hair color suitability. The suitability was evaluated by creating stimulus of the combinations of two types of hairstyles (bob and long), seven skin tones (color of average face, low lightness, high lightness, red, yellow, low saturation, high saturation), and five hair color (4-level, 8-level brown, 8-level natural, 12-level brown, 12-level natural). The results showed that regardless of hairstyle or skin tone, the subjects tended to judge 4-level hair as a good match and 12-level hair as a bad match. Hairstyle and skin tone also affect hair suitability, although within the range of this suitability trend. It was shown that bob or high lightness skin suited 8-level hair almost as well as 4-level. The factors that tend to make people evaluate 4-level hair as a good match include the mere exposure effect, while the factors that influence the suitability of skin tone for hair color include color contrast and harmony effects of color schemes.