what is colour analysis?

Personal colour analysis is a concept that has been used for many years to help people understand which colours are most harmonious with their natural features. The idea is simple: some colours naturally complement your skin, eyes and hair, while others can compete with them or make your complexion appear less balanced.

Over time, many different colour analysis systems have been developed, each with its own approach to identifying a person's most flattering colours.

the system I use

I use the 16–23 Seasons System developed by the International Image Institute, a detailed colour analysis method that looks at your natural skin, eyes and hair to identify the colours that harmonise best with you.

Rather than simply asking whether you are a “warm” or “cool” person, the system looks at three important colour characteristics:

Undertone: Is your colouring cool, warm or neutral?
Value: How light or deep is your overall colouring?
Intensity: How bright or soft is your colouring?

from 4 seasons to 16 — and beyond

You may have heard of the traditional four seasons:

Spring · Summer · Autumn · Winter

These four seasons form the foundation of the system. They can then be divided into more specific colour palettes based on your undertone, value and intensity.

I primarily use the 16-season system, as I find that most people can be accurately placed within one of these palettes.

scroll through the 16 colour seasons.

True Summer
True Autumn
True Winter
True Spring
Cool Summer
Cool Winter
Warm Spring
Warm Autumn
Light Summer
Light Spring
Deep Autumn
Deep Winter
Muted Summer
Muted Autumn
Bright Spring
Bright Winter

I am also trained in the 23-season system, which allows for even more specific results when needed.

The 23-season system includes seven additional categories:

True Warm · True Cool · True Muted · True Bright · True Deep · True Light · Universal

but how do we actually find your colours?

This is where the colour draping comes in.

Rather than simply looking at your skin, eyes and hair and making a decision, I compare different colours directly against your face. This allows us to see how your colouring responds to different undertones, values and intensities.

Throughout the analysis, we're essentially asking questions like:

Where does your eye go first?
Where do your eyes and hair come alive?
Where do you see the healthiest glow?
Does the colour harmonise with you, or compete with you?

These comparisons allow us to gradually narrow down the characteristics that work best for you and determine your personal colour season.

You can find more details about this process here.

Comparison of two women showing color coordination, with the woman on the left holding a rainbow-colored fabric cover, and the woman on the right showing a selection of fabric swatches. The left side has a red 'X' mark, and the right side has a green checkmark.

Side-by-side comparison of a woman receiving hair color treatment, with the left side showing her with light hair and yellow cape marked with a red X, and the right side showing her with darker, gray-toned hair and purple cape marked with a green checkmark.

why do the right colours make such a difference?

When a colour harmonises with your natural features, it can create a sense of balance between your skin, eyes and hair.

Side-by-side comparison of a person with long black hair getting a haircut, with the left side showing a bad haircut and the right side showing a good haircut. The left side has a red cross, and the right side has a green checkmark.

Comparison of two images showing the same woman with different clothing; left with a black shirt marked with a red cross, right with a brown shirt marked with a green check.

You may notice that:

your complexion looks more even, fresh and radiant
your eyes appear brighter and your natural eye colour stands out more
your features look more defined without anything actually changing
you feel like you need less makeup to look and feel like yourself
certain makeup shades suddenly feel much more natural on you
colours feel less overwhelming, and you start noticing you before the colour
getting dressed can feel easier because you have a better idea of which colours feel right for you
you feel more confident wearing colours you might not have considered before
you start looking at your existing wardrobe and makeup in a completely different way
you may even discover that some of the colours you've always been drawn to aren't necessarily the ones that complement you most — and vice versa

Everyone experiences colour analysis differently. For some people, the biggest difference might be their complexion or eyes. For others, it might be feeling more comfortable wearing less makeup, becoming more confident with colour, or simply having a clearer understanding of what makes them feel like themselves.

And sometimes, the difference is surprisingly subtle. It's not necessarily about one colour making you look dramatically different. It's about noticing which colours allow you to be the first thing you see — rather than the colour itself.

let’s discover linda’s colour season together

Is she warm or cool?

Find out in the next slide.
She has a cool undertone.
Is she a Summer or Winter?

Find out in the next slide.
Linda has more harmony with Winter colours.
Which Winter season suits her best?

Find out in the next slide.
Note: Linda looks great in all colours, but there is one season that truly makes her shine.
Linda is a True Winter.
Let's do your colour analysis next :)

Book your session now.

Colour analysis isn't about creating strict rules around what you can and cannot wear.

It's about understanding your natural colouring, becoming more aware of what works for you, and having the freedom to make choices that feel more like you.

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