“How to Find Your Accurate Color Palette”
As explained in the Color Theory behind the Seasonal Color Analysis – a person will have a predominant characteristic based on the intensity and quality of their coloring which are: Light, Deep, Clear, Muted, Warm OR Cool.
These 6 characteristics have been grouped into the 4 seasons of the year – Winter, Spring, Summer and Autumn – to show you how they all relate with each other.
For example if you have dark features such as deep eyes and hair then your prominent coloring characteristic is Deep. We also need to find out if you’re a Warm or a Cool Deep – which is an indicator if you’re an Autumn or Winter.
How do I take this seasonal color analysis?
- Find your most dominant characteristics by asking yourself if you are:
1. Deep or Light
2. Soft-muted or Clear
3. Warm or Cool
Continue to the next characteristic (eg. Deep vs. Light) until you’ve found your match!
- Find your secondary characteristic: Are you Warm or Cool?
PS: I recommend reviewing this page first before taking the test 🙂
.. Let’s start!
1. What is Your Dominant Characteristic?
The first step in this seasonal color analysis, is to figure out the the first thing you (or anyone) notice about you when you look in the mirror/enter the room.
Stand a couple of feet away from the mirror – close your eyes for 5 seconds and open them – what stands out when you look at yourself?
Deep-darkIf your dominant characteristic is Deep it means people notice your dark hair and dark eyes first. You have the deepest coloring in the analysis. You have a strong, rich coloring. Majority of women of color fall within this group.Eyes: Black, black-brown, dark auburn, brown, dark green or dark hazel. And in some instances a very deep, dark blue. If you have an eye color other than the ones stated, you are not a deep. Hair: Black, black-brown, chestnut brown, medium brown, dark auburn. Very deep hair color. If you have salt & pepper hair then you may belong to this season. Think Kim Kardashian, Anne Hathaway, Kristin Kreuk, Jessica Alba, Eva Mendes, Leighton Meester, Julia Roberts |
LightIf your dominant characteristic is Light it means your hair and eyes are light. You have the lightest and most delicate coloring in the seasonal color analysis.Eyes: Light to medium blue or green. You may also have light hazel to pale brown eyes. Quite the opposite of Deep. You are NOT a Light if you have brown eyes. There is another group for people with blonde hair and brown eyes (see: Soft) Hair: Light to medium ash or golden blonde or soft/light auburn. Very light hair in general. Think Gwyneth Paltrow, Naomi Watts, Taylor Swift, Kate Hudson, Ashlee Simpson, Reese Withersppon |
None of the above? Is your coloring somewhere between Deep-dark and Light? Try next characteristic in the seasonal color analysis!
Soft-mutedIf your dominant characteristic is Soft-muted it means your coloring is somewhat neutral – a mix of warm and cool. You can appear light but you have a richer look. Neither Light nor Deep-dark. Often classified as ‘mousy’. Many ethnic mixed with light eyes fall within this group.Eyes: Brown to hazel, grey green, blue grey, clear blue, or a mix of everything. Hair: Your hair may appear mousy. Golden blonde (strawberry blonde) to medium brown, soft auburn. Medium to deep ash brown. You may have light grey/yellow grey hair. Think Jennifer Aniston, Drew Barrymore, Mary Kate and Ashley Olsen, Nicole Richie, Katherine Heigl, Vanessa Williams, Rihanna, Jessica Biel |
ClearIf your dominant characteristic is Clear it means you have a bright and crisp look to your coloring. Your eyes have a clear color which is intensified with your bright hair. The opposite of Soft. Peaches n’ cream look. Your eyes are sparkly and jewel-like and often a total knock-out (see celeb examples and you’ll know what I mean).Eyes: Clear blue, turquoise blue or green, clear green, emerald or sparkly amber/topaz. Hair: Black, black-brown, medium to dark brown. You may have very bright golden deep blonde or red hair. You may have very golden white-blonde hair. Think Megan Fox, Liv Tyler, Courtney Cox, Jenny McCarthy, Heather Graham, Emilie de Ravin, Brittany Snow |
None of the above? Try next characteristic!
WarmIf your dominant characteristic is Warm it means you have an all-over glow to your coloring. With obvious warm and earthy undertones to your hair, eyes and skin. The majority of classic red-heads fall within this group. Skin tone has more evident warm undertones than cool.Eyes: Brown, olive green, dark hazel, light hazel, blue. Hair: Is neither deep or light, has a medium intensity – Light to medium golden brown, medium chestnut, rich and warm red (coppery), auburn, deep golden brown, strawberry blonde Think Sarah Ferguson, Amy Adams, Nicole Kidman, Kate Beckinsale, Beyonce, Hilary Duff, Debra Messing, Julianne Moore, Lindsay Lohan. |
CoolIf your dominant characteristic is Cool it means you have an all-over cool look to your coloring. You may appear deep but what sets you apart from the dark-haired (Deep) is your softened, grayish undertones. Many with graying hair fall within this group. Your skin has an obvious grayish, ashy or cool undertone to it. You may have had a warmer coloring when you were younger but it has softened in your aging years.Hair: Ashy (medium-dark or red) hair, silver ashy blonde or grey/silver mix hair Eyes: Gray-blue, hazel, softened blue, violet, soft dark brown, charchoal gray. Think Liz Hurley, Meryl Streep, Jamie Lee Curtis, Brooke Shields, Jennifer Connelly, Kate Middleton, Elizabeth Taylor. |
Am I Done with the Seasonal Color Analysis…?
Not quite yet… The next step is to figure out your secondary characteristic – do you look best in warm or cool colors?
2. Your Secondary Characteristic
The second step in the seasonal color analysis This is based on the undertone of your coloring. Now this is where cool and warm come in.
For example, if you’ve decided that your main dominant characteristic is ‘Deep’ – if the quality of your coloring is warm which indicates ‘softness’ then you’re a Deep Autumn, however if your coloring is cool which indicates vividness then you’re a Deep Winter.
If you’ve diagnosed yourself as Cool or Warm, you don’t need to test warm and cool colors, but light to medium, medium to dark colors.
The best way to confirm if you’re cool or warm is to test it with various metals and warm and cool colors! Take the Gold or Silver (warm or cool) test here
A Warm Deep is an Autumn in the seasonal color analysis and has a more obvious warm undertone (Tia Carrere). A Cool Deep is a Winter who has a more obvious vivid, cool undertone (Lucy Liu).
If you can’t quite figure out if you’re a warm or cool, do a test drape (below).
| Deep, warm colors = Deep Autumn
|
Deep, cool colors = Deep Winter |
| Salmon pink Light peach Terracotta |
Fuschia Icy pink Burgundy |
More information and advice on what colors to wear with your Deep coloring
A Warm Light is a Spring in the seasonal color analysis and has more obvious warm undertones (Kate Hudson). A Cool Light is a Summer and has more delicate, pinkish-cool undertone (Naomi Watts).
If you can’t figure out if you’re a warm or cool, do a test drape (below).
| Light, warm colors = Light Spring | Light, cool colors = Light Summer |
| Bright coral Camel Light moss |
Deep rose Cocoa Aqua green |
More information and advice on what colors to wear with your Light coloring
A Warm Soft(-muted) is an Autumn in the seasonal color analysis and although neutral, you have more obvious warm undertones and characteristics (Nicole Richie). A Cool Soft(-muted) is a Summer in the color system and has also a neutral look but with more obvious cooler undertones (eg. blue eyes, grayish hazel) (Sarah Jessica Parker).
If you can’t figure out if you’re a warm or cool, do a test drape (below).
| Soft, warm colors = Soft Autumn | Soft, cool colors = Soft Summer |
| Olive green Salmon pink Mahogany |
Blue green Soft fuschia Burgundy |
More information and advice on what colors to wear with your Soft coloring
A Warm Clear is called a Spring in the seasonal color analysis and has more obvious peaches n’ cream warm undertones (Heather Graham). A Cool Clear is a Winter with a more cooler and contrasting coloring (Liv Tyler and Megan Fox).
If you can’t figure out if you’re a warm or cool, do a test drape (below).
| Clear, warm colors = Clear Spring | Clear, cool colors = Clear Winter |
| Teal blue Warm pink True green |
Royal blue Magenta Pine green |
More information and advice on what colors to wear with your Clear coloring
A Medium Warm is called an Autumn in the seasonal color analysis and has more earthy, warm undertones that resemble a typical Autumn coloring, such as Kate Beckinsale. A Light Warm on the other hand is a Spring with a more brighter and lighter coloring, such as Bryce Howard and Nicole Kidman.
If you can’t figure out if you’re a medium or light, do a test drape (below).
| Warm, medium colors = Warm Autumn
|
Warm, light colors = Warm Spring |
| Pumpkin Jade Rust |
Light mango Medium-blue Clear red |
More information and advice on what colors to wear with your Warm coloring
A Dark Cool is a Winter in the color analysis and has more darker and vivid characteristics that resemble a typical Winter coloring (Lisa Vanderpump and Jennifer Connelly). A Medium Cool is a Summer with a more softer and ashy coloring (Kate Middleton).
If you can’t figure out if you’re a dark or medium, do a test drape (below).
| Cool, darker colors = Cool Winter
|
Cool, medium colors = Cool Summer |
| Royal purple Pure white Rust |
Lavender Soft white Raspberry |
More information and advice on what colors to wear with your Cool coloring
Having Difficulties Analyzing Yourself?
Many have difficulties looking at themselves objectively, so if you find yourself stuck (you seem to be a little bit of everything, can’t quite tell what looks dominant, etc.), get a close friend to help you out.
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I also recommend Lora Alexander’s book ‘Color Revival’ which gives you all of the answers to the most frequently asked questions regarding the seasonal color analysis as well as tips on how to diagnose yourself correctly.
It also provides an excellent overview of the differences between the different groups, along with photo examples of real-life people. A great book if you’re interested in color theory and the 12 season color analysis.