Lipstick Colors That Will Complement Your Gorgeous Gray Hair

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Most women discover their hair is beginning to turn gray by the time they're 40. More and more, women are opting to rock their new natural shade rather than covering it with dye. But when you embrace your gorgeous gray hair, you may need to overhaul your personal style – and that includes your go-to makeup look. "As hair grays, it starts to lose its natural warmth and depth, so once we head towards a full head of gray hair, wearing the lipsticks you've always worn can cause gray hair to make the complexion look washed out or aging," celebrity makeup artist Caroline Hernandez tells Women.com exclusively.

That means you'll need to reconsider both your everyday and special occasion shades. "Nude lipsticks in particular can make the complexion look a little drained of color," says Hernandez. Instead, if you haven't before, consider this your cue to adopt bolder color. "As gray hair pigments are cool toned, lipstick is an easy way to add the warmth back into how your face is seen," explains Hernandez. "By adding a more vibrant color to the lips, we can create a focal point, add warmer tones, and also make silver or gray hair look chic, elegant and radiant." Finally, no matter what color you choose, don't overlook these tips for what an older women should look for in a lipstick.

These red lipstick shades have a blue or purple undertone instead of orange or yellow, which means they don't read as warm despite being red. "The cooler undertones cancel out any sallow tones found in the skin and makes silver or gray hair pop and look striking and modern," celebrity makeup artist Caroline Hernandez tells Women.com exclusively. To create this kind of classic red pout, look for a blue red like MAC Retro Matte Lipstick in Ruby Woo.

If you have gray hair, coral lipstick can make your whole complexion glow. This is especially true if your particular shade of gray hair leans a little darker. "[It's] perfect for gray with steel undertones," celebrity makeup artist Caroline Hernandez tells Women.com exclusively. "Coral adds immediate warmth back into the center of the face, keeping gray hair from making the skin look washed out or flat." Look for a pink shade with orange tones, like Charlotte Tilbury Matte Revolution Lipstick in Sexy Sienna.

Berry and plum shades blend red and purple for a bold statement that beautifully complements graying hair. "If your hair is more salt and pepper or darker gray, deep raspberries creates a rich, sophisticated focal point that complements the deeper tones in the hair," celebrity makeup artist Caroline Hernandez tells Women.com exclusively. "[These shades] create a complementary contrast to the cool sheen of silver hair ... without looking dark or heavy." Look for a rich shade like LAURA GELLER NEW YORK Modern Classic Cream Lipstick in Berry Bliss.

Embrace a '90s vibe by complementing your gray hair with a subtle brown lipstick, like Revlon Super Lustrous Lipstick in Rumberry. "Warm browns, with red or terracotta undertones act as a sophisticated daily shade great for everyday wear," celebrity makeup artist Caroline Hernandez tells Women.com exclusively. "The type of colors keep the warmth in deep skin, while sitting nicely next to the white or gray hair." Double down on the brown and pair the lip shade with a brown blush for a lipstick and blush color that looks great together.

Don't be shy about bright colors as your hair turns gray. In fact, bold shades of pink can be very flattering, especially if you select a cool-leaning shade, like Estée Lauder Long Lasting Cream Lipstick in Powerful. "Vibrant fuchsia, magenta and bright jewel tones give deep skin an instant pop of color," celebrity makeup artist Caroline Hernandez tells Women.com exclusively. "The cool undertones in these colors reflect the bright highlights in white or silver hair, while adding color that works to enhance the face."

For everyday wear, a slightly pink shade can be a flattering replacement for beige nudes, makeup artist Caroline Hernandez tells Women.com exclusively. "A rose lipstick with a hint of cool berry gives focus to the face, without being intense," she explains. "These tones are still quite neutral, but can brighten the skin and enhance the cool tones found in silver and gray hair." Look for a natural-feeling shade of pink, like Charlotte Tilbury Matte Revolution Lipstick in Pillow Talk.