Why Your Hair Color Looks Different in Every Selfie (And How to Fix It)

We've all been there. You just spent 4 hours in the chair getting the perfect "expensive brunette" or "cowboy copper," and you feel like a million bucks. Then you snap a pic in your bathroom, and suddenly you look... green? Or orange? Welcome to Color Theory 101.

The Lighting Deception

Your hair color is light reflected off pigments. Different light sources have different temperatures:

• Warm White (Indoor bulbs): Pulls out yellow and red tones. Your ash blonde might look brassy here.
• Cool White / Fluorescent (Office/School): The enemy. Pulls out green and blue tones. Can make skin look washed out and hair look dull.
• Natural Daylight (Golden Hour): The gold standard. Warm, flattering, and shows the true dimension of the color.

The "Metamerism" Effect

This is the scientific term for when colors match under one light source but not another. Professional salons use "neutral" lighting to mix color, but they can't control the sun.

How to Hack Your Photos

1. Face the window: Indirect natural light is the most honest representation of your color.
2. Check your ring light settings: Don't set it to cool blue if you're trying to show off a warm honey blonde.
3. Use purple/blue shampoo: If your selfies are consistently too yellow, you might actually have brassiness that indoor lighting is exaggerating.