How To Pull Off Purple Like A Celebrity

You know those days when you wake up and just want to do something a little different with your appearance? Like, for instance, try out a three-quarter cat eye, swipe on a super-bold lipstick, or (dare we say it?) dye your hair purple?

Okay, so that last one isn’t a little different; it’s a major change and one only the bold at heart would be willing to pull off. But knowing that style stars like Kelly Osbourne, Nicole Richie, and now Ireland Baldwin have all made the purple plunge may make you feel a tiny bit braver about trying the hot hue yourself. What if we told you that you could nail the look by following a few simple star-approved tips? That's what we thought.

1. Start with streaks

Launching full-force into a purple dye job may be a little overwhelming for the average girl, but testing out the shade by weaving it into your everyday hair color is a great way to experiment with the trend before doing an all-over dye. If you’re a dark-haired beauty like singer Jordin Sparks, work with deep purple streaks that pop against your natural hair color. If you have lighter hair, pastel purple strands will look more subtle and natural.

2. Opt for ombré

If you're looking a bit more color but aren’t quite ready for a full head of purple hair, playing with the popular ombre trend using the bold shade is a great halfway point before going totally purple. Follow in Katy Perry’s footsteps by leaving your roots your natural color, letting strands fade into the bright hue until they’re all purple at the ends.

3. Match your skin tone

It may sound obvious, but not every shade of purple is created equally — and some are better suited to certain skin tones than others. If you’ve got fair skin, complement it with a shade of purple that’s muted, subtle, or even pastel with a hint of gray, like the shade Osbourne has made famous. If you're like Richie and have a darker or olive skin tone, bright, bold purples will enhance your beautiful bronzed skin.

4. Keep your makeup minimal

Sure, Osbourne may wear pastel-pink lipstick and smokey eyes on the reg, but if you’re just starting out with a head full of purple hair, sticking to a more natural and minimal makeup look may be the best bet. Take a page out of the newly purple Baldwin’s book and opt for a soft pink or nude lip and just a swipe of mascara.

5. But don't be afraid to dress it up

Just because you want your makeup minimal doesn’t mean everything else about your look has to be toned down, too. After all, what’s the fun of having bright, bold hair if you’re going to pair it with neutral, all-black numbers at every turn? Follow Osbourne’s lead and complement your purple locks with other jewel-toned or pastel pieces and fun, patterned ensembles.

Sure, the thought of going purple can be scary, but when you have such an array of stylish stars pulling off the look, it can’t be that bad, right?