What's the Best Hair Color For You?

Your skin tone has been passed down to you from generation to generation. But what you might not immediately realize is that the color of your skin determines more than whether you turn into a lobster in the sun or what box you check on the census. Not to blind you with science (insert funny '80s quip here) or anything, but the amount and type of melanin you have -- a natural substance which gives your skin, hair and eyes their color -- not only dictates which makeup colors work best on you, but also what shade of hair color is most flattering.

Scroll down to take the quiz and find out what hair color hue you should wear.

Your most beautiful hair color will bring out the subtleties of your skin tone and enhance its natural beauty. Knowing this, we went to celebrity colorist Beth Minardi, who has colored the heads of celebs including Kirsten Dunst, Cameron Diaz and Brad Pitt, to find out exactly which shades of hair color work best on various skin tones. Minardi says that "skin tone is extremely important and serves as a guide for the colorist," and generally a good rule of thumb when it comes to picking shades is, if you have cool-toned skin, your color should also be cool in tone and vice versa. If you have warm-toned skin, you should opt for a warmer-toned hair color.

Before starting the quiz below to determine which skin tone you have and thus which hair colors will look best on you, check out these quick at-home hair coloring tips:

* For the most foolproof and flawless finish, always choose a box that's within two shades lighter or darker than your current color.
* To keep hair healthy, apply color to unwashed hair. The natural oils work to protect your hair from damaging product.
* If you want to use a semi-permanent color, know that you can only go darker or hide grays. Semi-permanent hues won't lighten hair.
* There is a specified time for leaving the dye on your hair for a reason. Obey it or you could end up with two-toned strands.
* If you make a color mistake, don't try and fix it with another box of hair color. If it is a minor mishap, wash it two to three times consecutively with clarifying shampoo. If it's a biggie, bite the bullet and see a professional.

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