Best Copic Markers for Skin Tones and Hair
Quick answer: For skin tones, a versatile Copic collection includes E000, E00, E11, E13, E21, E23, E25, E27, E29 and E49, with R20 for warmth and BV20 for cool shadows. For hair, useful combinations include Y21,Y23, E35 for blonde, E31, E35, E37 for brown, E44, E47, E49 for dark brown, YR21, YR24, E07 for red, and C5, C7, C9 for black hair.
Choosing Copic markers for skin and hair can feel overwhelming at first. With so many shades available, it can be hard to know which colors work well together, which ones are worth buying, and where to start.
We’ve gathered versatile Copic colors for creating a wide range of skin tones and hair colors, from soft fair complexions to rich deep skin tones, plus blondes, brunettes, redheads, black hair, and more.
Whether you’re coloring stamped images, character illustrations, portraits, or handmade cards, these colors give you a flexible starting point without needing to buy the entire Copic collection.
Copic Markers for Skin Tones
When coloring skin, you usually want more than one marker. Using a light, medium, and darker shade helps create dimension around the face, hairline, neck, arms, and other areas where natural shadows would appear.
The colors below can be mixed and matched to create different undertones and depths.
Best Copic Markers for Light Skin Tones
E000 – Pale Fruit Pink
A very light shade that works beautifully as a soft base color.
E00 – Cotton Pearl
A warm, versatile light skin tone that is especially useful for beginner combinations.
E11 – Barley Beige
Adds warmth and gentle shadow without becoming too dark.
E13 – Light Suntan
A deeper warm shade that can be used sparingly for stronger shadows.
A Simple Light Skin Combination
E000 + E00 + E11
Start with your lightest color, add E00 where you want more warmth, and place E11 in the deepest shadow areas.
For even more depth, add a small amount of E13.
Best Copic Markers for Medium Skin Tones
E21 – Baby Skin Pink
A soft warm base that can work in many medium skin combinations.
E23 – Hazelnut
Adds warmth and definition.
E25 – Caribe Cocoa
A rich midtone that helps deepen shadows.
E27 – Milk Chocolate
Useful for deeper shading and contrast.
A Simple Medium Skin Combination
E21 + E23 + E25
For deeper shadows, bring in E27 around the hairline, under the chin, or in areas that naturally receive less light.
Adding Blush and Warmth
Skin usually looks more natural when it includes subtle changes in color. You can add a small amount of pink, peach, or red to areas such as:
cheeks
lips
nose
elbows
knees
fingertips
The key is using very little color and blending it softly into your existing skin tones. Use R20 for Blush and BV20 for cool shadows.
A little goes a long way.
Best Copic Markers for Deep Skin Tones
E25 – Caribe Cocoa
A warm medium-brown that works beautifully as the lighter foundation or highlight tone in deeper complexion combinations.
E27 – Milk Chocolate
A richer brown that adds depth and warmth, especially around the hairline, cheeks, neck, and other shadow areas.
E29 – Burnt Umber
A deep, warm brown that creates strong shadows and contrast without immediately jumping to the darkest possible shade.
E49 – Dark Bark
A very deep brown that is best used sparingly for the darkest accents and deepest shadow areas.
A Simple Deeper Skin Combination
E25 + E27 + E29
Start with E25 as your lighter foundation, add E27 through the midtones and shadow areas, then use E29 where you need the strongest depth.
The key is to preserve some of the lighter tones so the skin still has highlights and dimension.
Quick Guide: Best Copic Markers for Skin Tones
| Skin Tone | Recommended Copic Colors |
|---|---|
| Fair / Light Skin | E000, E00, E11, E13 |
| Light-Medium / Warm Skin | E21, E23, E25 |
| Deep Skin | E23, E25, E27, E29, E49 |
| Blush / Warmth | R20 |
| Cool Shadows | BV20 |
Skin Tone Copic Markers
Hover over color to add to cart.
Favorites From Our Copic for Beginners Community
We asked the artists in our Copic for Beginners Facebook community to share some of their go-to colors for skin tones. Here are a few of their favorites:
“For skin tones, I suggest E50 and E00.”
“I suggest E00 paired with E11 or E21..”
“I use E21 or E11, with E00 and E000”
These community favorites are a great reminder that there isn't just one "perfect" skin-tone recipe. Different artists, papers, lighting, and coloring styles can all change which combinations work best. Use these suggestions as a starting point, swatch them on your favorite paper, and see which blends you love most.
Copic Markers for Hair
Hair is one of the best places to practice creating contrast with Copic markers. Instead of coloring every strand individually, look at the hair as larger sections of light and shadow. Leave some areas lighter where the light would hit and gradually deepen the color toward the roots, underneath sections of hair, and around the face.
Y21 – Buttercup Yellow
Y23 – Yellowish Beige
E35 – Chamois
E37 – Sepia
Y21 + Y23 + E35
Add a small amount of E37 for deeper shadows and extra dimension.
For very light blonde hair, leave more white space or use your lightest shade sparingly so the hair keeps its brightness.
Blonde Hair Combination
E31 – Brick Beige
E33 – Sand
E35 – Chamois
E37 – Sepia
E49 – Dark Bark
E31 + E35 + E37
Brown hair can range from soft golden brunette to almost black, making the earth family especially useful.For darker brunette hair, add E49 in your deepest shadow areas.
Medium Brown Hair Combination
YR21 – Cream
YR24 – Pale Sepia
E07 – Light Mahogany
E09 – Burnt Sienna
Red Hair Combination
YR21 + YR24 + E07
Start with YR21 in the lightest areas, add YR24 through the mid tones, and use E07 for deeper sections and shadows. For a darker auburn look, add a small amount of E09 in the deepest shadow areas.
Red Hair Combinations
E44 – Clay
E47 – Dark Brown
E49 – Dark Bark
Using a slightly lighter brown before your darkest shade helps prevent dark hair from looking flat.
Leave narrow areas of the lighter color visible to create shine.
E44 + E47 + E49
Start with E44 in the lighter areas and highlights, add E47 through the midtones, then use E49 in the deepest shadows, especially near the roots and underneath sections of hair.
Leaving some E44 visible helps keep dark brown hair from looking flat.
Dark Brown Hair Combination
One of the biggest mistakes beginners make when coloring black hair is using only black.
Using several dark grays allows you to create highlights, shadows, and texture while still making the finished hair read as black.
C5 – Cool Gray No. 5
C7 – Cool Gray No. 7
C9 – Cool Gray No. 9
100 – Black
C5 + C7 + C9
Use 100 Black only in the very darkest areas if you want additional contrast.
Leaving portions of C5 or even untouched paper visible can help create realistic shine.
Black Hair Combination
Quick Guide: Best Copic Markers for Hair
| Hair Color | Recommended Copic Colors |
|---|---|
| Blonde Hair | Y21, Y23, E35, E37 |
| Brown Hair | E31, E35, E37 |
| Dark Brown Hair | E44, E47, E49 |
| Black Hair | C5, C7, C9, 100 |
| Red / Auburn Hair | YR21, YR24, E07, E09 |
Copics for Hair
Hover over color to add to cart.
Copic Marker Y23 Yellowish Beige
Y23 is a muted yellow that is great for landscapes and florals. We rate Y23 as an easy blending color and recommend it in combination with Y21 and Y26.
Learn more about Y23:
Article Link: Copics Uncapped Y23
Video Link: How to Clean and Maintain Your Copic Markers
Refill: Y23 Refill here. We recommend purchasing a refill with your Sketch Marker. Blending is significantly easier with a full marker.
About Copic Sketch Markers: Sketch are a dual-ended marker with Copic’s exclusive Super Brush Nib on one end for juicy and expressive strokes. The other end is a Medium Broad (chisel style) nib for precise lettering and drawing. Sketch style Copics have an ergonomic oval body and are the most comfortable style of Copic for long coloring sessions and for those with arthritis.
NOTE: Due to manufacturer restrictions, Copic Items can only be shipped to the USA and Canada (excluding the island of Oahu, Hawaii).
Disclaimers:
Frequently Asked Questions
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For a versatile beginner skin-tone collection, start with E000, E00, E11, E13, E21, E23, E25, E27, E29, and E49. Add R20 for blush and warmth, and BV20 for soft cool shadows.
These colors can be mixed and layered to create a range of fair, light, medium, tan, and deep skin tones.
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A useful light-skin combination is E000, E00, E11, and E13.
Use E000 and E00 for the lightest areas, then add E11 and E13 gradually for warmth and shadow. R20 can be added lightly to the cheeks, lips, ears, and other naturally warm areas.
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For medium and warm skin tones, try E21, E23, and E25.
E21 works well as a lighter base, E23 adds warmth and midtone depth, and E25 can be used for stronger shadows and contrast.
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A flexible deeper-skin combination is E23, E25, E27, and E29, with E49 for the deepest accents.
Layer the colors gradually and preserve lighter areas for highlights so the finished skin keeps dimension instead of looking flat.
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For blonde hair, try Y21, Y23, and E35.
Add a small amount of E37 for deeper shadows and stronger contrast. Keeping some lighter areas visible helps create natural-looking shine.
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A simple brown-hair combination is E31, E35, and E37.
E31 can be used in lighter areas, E35 builds the midtones, and E37 adds depth. For darker brunette hair, add E49 sparingly in the deepest shadows.
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For dark brown hair, try E44, E47, and E49.
Use E44 in the lighter areas, E47 through the midtones, and E49 only in the deepest shadows. Leaving some of the lighter brown visible helps keep dark hair dimensional.
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For red hair, try YR21, YR24, and E07.
Use YR21 for golden highlights, YR24 for warm copper midtones, and E07 for deeper reddish-brown areas. Add E09 if you want a darker auburn look.
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For black hair, try C5, C7, and C9 instead of coloring the entire area with black.
Using several dark grays creates visible highlights and shadows while still making the hair read as black. 100 Black can be added sparingly in the very darkest areas.
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You can begin with just three compatible markers: a light color, a midtone, and a darker shadow color.
As you build your collection, adding extra shades for blush, undertones, highlights, and deeper shadows gives you more flexibility.
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Yes. Paper can change how quickly Copic ink absorbs, how easily colors blend, and how much the ink feathers.
Smooth, alcohol-marker-friendly paper generally gives you more control and uses less ink than very absorbent paper. Always test your color combination on the paper you plan to use before starting your finished artwork.
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No. Copic skin-tone combinations are starting points, not strict rules.
Lighting, paper, surrounding colors, undertones, and your coloring style can all change which markers work best together. Swatching and experimenting is part of finding the combinations you like most.