School Uniform Hair Accessories – Finding the Perfect Colour Match

Finding the right hair accessories to match a school uniform can be surprisingly difficult. Schools across the UK use many different shades for colours like navy, royal blue, bottle green, and purple. What one school calls Royal Blue may look completely different from another.

When we started creating school hair accessories at Bowtastic in 2014, we quickly realised how important it was to offer a wide range of colour options to help families match their school uniforms as closely as possible.

Over the years, we’ve invested a lot of time researching school uniform colours and expanding our range so you can find bows and hair accessories that work with your child’s school colours.

Why School Uniform Colours Don’t Always Match

One of the biggest challenges when buying school hair bows and accessories online is that colour names are often used broadly.

For example, many schools list their uniform colour as Bottle Green, but there isn’t just one shade of bottle green used across the UK. Different uniform suppliers produce slightly different tones.

To help solve this problem, our ribbon charts include several shades that could all fall under the same colour name.

For example, our grosgrain ribbon chart includes four different shades often described as Bottle Green, such as:

  • Forest Green

  • Hunter Green

  • Spruce Green

  • Emerald Green

All of these colours could be called bottle green, but only one may be the closest match to your school cardigan or jumper.

Different Ribbon Materials, Different Colour Appearance

Another important thing to know when choosing school hair bows is that ribbon materials can affect how colours appear.

Our bows and accessories are made using different materials such as:

  • Grosgrain ribbon

  • Gingham ribbon

  • Satin ribbon

Even when the colour name is the same, the texture and finish of the ribbon can make colours look slightly different. This is completely normal and happens with most fabrics and trims.

Multiple Shades Available in Our School Range

To give you the best chance of finding the right colour match, our school hair accessory range includes multiple shades for popular uniform colours.

For example, we currently offer:

  • Several shades of purple

  • Multiple shades of royal blue

  • Different tones of green including bottle green options

This variety helps ensure you can find a bow that complements your school uniform as closely as possible.

Our Free Ribbon Sample Service

Because school uniform colours vary so much, we offer a Free Ribbon Sample Service to help you choose the right shade before placing your order.

Ordering a ribbon sample allows you to:

  • Compare ribbon colours directly with your school cardigan or jumper

  • Choose the closest shade with confidence

  • Avoid ordering the wrong colour online

We always recommend requesting a ribbon sample if you're unsure which shade will match your school uniform best.

Helping You Match Your School Uniform

At Bowtastic, we understand how important it is for hair accessories to match school uniforms, especially when many schools have specific dress codes.

That’s why we continue to research school colours and expand our range of ribbons and bows, helping parents find the best school hair accessories for their child’s uniform.

If you’re unsure which colour is right for your school, our Free Ribbon Sample Service is the easiest way to find the perfect match.