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Step 1
Determine whether your fair complexion is a cool shade or a warm shade. Though pale skin has overall properties, your choice of highlights will rely heavily on whether your skin tone has particular undertones and color properties beneath the fairness. Most pale complexions are cool, but occasionally even pale skin can be warm. The easiest way to tell is to check the color of the veins on the inside of your wrist and arms: blue is cool, while green is warm.
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Step 2
Pick colors that compliment your fair complexion instead of trying to match your complexion. If your skin tends to turn a lighter shade of pink when flushed, then you'll want to use warm highlights to balance out your pinkness. If you find that you have blueish undertones, especially under your eyes, then you'll want to choose sunny colors like blondes and warm browns to balance out the blue.
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Step 3
Choose pale colors that closely match your scalp color if you are trying to add volume to your look.
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Step 4
Decide on colors that are about two or three shades lighter or darker than your natural hair color. If you dye your hair and you are happy with the results of the color you chose, then pick your highlight colors based on this shade instead.
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Step 5
Decide whether you are looking for a dramatic look or a more natural look. Fair complexions can look quite striking with jet black hair, but you'll want to use warm chestnut brown highlights instead of the cooler blue highlights to avoid looking like a corpse. Choose sunny reds for the best natural-looking highlights regardless of your choice for your primary hair color.
