The red lippie has been around for many decades and looks like it’s here to stay. Every year, a number of makeup trends will always include a red lipstick to complete the look. However, as a black woman, you may feel reluctant to rock a red lip because of fear of looking ‘’clownish’’.

But the good news is that anyone, no matter their skin colour, can wear a shade of red lipstick. What you would need to be aware of, however, is finding the right shade for your skin tone.
Finding the perfect red lipstick for you is a trial and error process, but it’s a process that’ll be worth it in the end.

But, in order to make this process a little easier- consider the following when looking for a red lipstick:

• Firstly, take into consideration your natural lip colour. The natural redness or pinkness of your lips will give you an idea of which shades of red would best suit you.
• If your lips are naturally dark, then a red lipstick with a blue undertone would best suit you.
• If you have two-tone lips i.e. the upper or lower lip is darker, then choose a red lipstick based on the darker lip. Generally, darker black women look fantastic in red lipstick that is darker and has blue or purple undertones, while lighter black women look dazzling in coral or orange red lipstick shades. 

How to Wear a Red Lip
Once you have found the right shade of red for your lips, applying it and keeping it looking good are key to helping you achieve a sexy pout.

• Start off by wearing a bit of foundation on your lips to ensure that they are the same colour.
• Wear a lip liner that is a shade darker or as close to your red lip colour as possible. You could also use a natural colour lipliner. Black lip liner is a big NO NO, especially if you do not want to look cheap and tacky.
• Put on your delicious red lipstick evenly and make sure there isn’t any outside your lined lips. If you want more of a stained look, use your fingers to apply the lipstick.
• Blot your lips with a tissue and you’ll be ready to take on the world with lively red lips.If you are not yet ready to take the full plunge into the world of red lipstick, you could start off with red lip gloss. With it, you will eventually have the confidence to try out a red lipstick.

Remember that red lips speak volumes, and so you should keep the rest of your makeup toned down, especially your eyes. Wearing your red lipstick, a little bit of blush and neutral eyes will give you a beautiful and seductive face.

Read about What colour eyeshadow works best for ethnic skin?

Article by Sharon Kariwo