Do You Need a Professional Color Analysis?
You have undoubtedly heard about color analysis or "getting your colors done". It's a trending service that is having a resurgence after originally becoming popular in the 80s.
So why do you need a color analysis?
A personal color analysis with a trained professional will determine which clothing, makeup, and hair colors will look best on you. This leads to you feeling COLOR CONFIDENT! Let's look at what all this entails and then we will wrap up with ways this knowledge will be helpful to you.
First off, what is COLOR ANALYSIS?
Color analysis has its roots in color theory, which is the study of how colors work together and how they impact our feelings and perceptions. It's part science and part art. The 3 types of color theory used for dressing are the color wheel, color harmony, and color context.
The Color Wheel
The color wheel helps us understand the temperature and depth of a color. Plus, it is a tool that is used to pair colors together.
Color Harmony
Color harmony is how well colors work together to enhance an individual's natural beauty, creating a balanced and visually pleasing look. I realize this is probably more than you wanted to know. But, it is important to understand that a good color analysis system is based on these theories, it isn't just a person giving a subjective opinion on what colors will work best for you.
The cool pink is harmonious with her cool tones. Where as, the warm colors drain her and look muddy.
How does a color analysis work?
A good and complete analysis should assess three variables, DEPTH, TEMPERATURE, AND CHROMA. You will be draped, virtually or in person, with different colors and your professional color analyst will use their toolkit to gauge how the shades look against your coloring.
Depth in color analysis
Depth refers to your features appearing light or dark. This is important in defining a range of colors that are in harmony with your tones. A person that is light will look best in a lighter range of colors. A person with dark features will likely look best in a darker range of colors. With the Your Color Style Color Analysis System, the professional color consultant uses a proprietary grayscale chart to help gauge depth.
Temperature in color analysis
Temperature refers to whether you have warm undertones or cool undertones in your coloring. An analyst looks at your skin, your natural hair color, and your eyes to determine your overall temperature. A professional color consultant is trained at seeing color. They can identify the undertone of your skin, which can be different than your overtone. Forget looking at your veins and other suggested methods, leave this to a professional, as those methods are unreliable.
Chroma in color analysis
Chroma refers to the clarity of color. You may be typed as bright or soft. This is an element that is often missed by those trying to self-analyze. A professional analyst will determine if you would look best in pure chroma, known as bright colors, or soft/muted tones. Colors can be softened with many other colors, and it has the impact of turning down the wattage of the shade.
After your professional color analyst makes a determination for each category of the analysis, they will classify you as a color type. Some systems use a seasonal approach, labeling types with the natural seasons. This can be confusing, as the type name doesn't tell you much.
A modern approach uses type names that explain your coloring, such as BRIGHT, WARM, and LIGHT (representing your chroma, temperature, and depth). This approach gives you valuable information to keep in mind. The more modern analysis systems, like Your Color Style, also consider olive skin tones and gray hair in their process and have filled the gaps left by older systems. The YCS system is more flexible for those who in the past felt in between "seasons". This approach is systemized, making it more customizable.
Your Color Palette
After your analysis, you will be provided a color palette of your best colors. This can be in the form of a color fan or color palette. As the rainbow of color is expansive, these palettes represent a selection of your best colors but are not exhaustive. However, once you understand your type, you can better assess whether colors outside of the palette are good for you.
So, back to our original question, why do you need a professional color analysis?
1) Knowing your absolute best colors will help you to select the correct garments when shopping. NO MORE GUESSING! This reduces stress and saves money by eliminating buying mistakes. Shopping becomes easy!
2) Having your printed color palette, in the form of a fan, helps you to discern colors under the lights inside of stores.
3) Knowing your best colors, and having a palette to guide you, allows you to see color combinations that work well together, enabling you to build a cohesive closet and put together interesting outfits (including accessories). A color system with follow-up education will help you learn to use your palette to your best advantage.
4) Knowing your best neutrals will help you to build the core pieces in your wardrobe.
5) Understanding why certain colors look great on you will help you to know which ones don't work.
6) You will learn to differentiate colors. Maybe you look great in blue, BUT WHICH BLUE, and why does it look good on you?
7) You will learn to spot when something is off color wise and why, making it easy to correct an outfit or makeup mistake.
8) Makeup selections become easier when you know your best shades and understand your temperature.
9) Stress is reduced when getting dressed, as your closet will be filled with colors that work together.
10) You will walk out the door feeling confident knowing you are looking your best.
Lastly, a word of caution. With its red-hot popularity, there are now many color systems out there today. You want a PROFESSIONAL analysis that gives you answers, not more questions. When considering an analysis, consider the following:
1) You often get what you pay for. Don't just shop based on price.
2) Know what kind of theory the system uses.
3) How long has the company been in business?
4) How was the analyst trained?
5) What is included in the service?
6) Does the company offer follow-up help to learn to use your colors effectively? Some systems only provide the analysis, which can leave you with questions.
7) Does the company offer a variety of color tools like fans, virtual and printed posters, and color guides?
8) Is there a community around the brand? Peers can be a great help in learning how to wear your best colors.
9) Does the brand offer other services like makeup and styling that may be helpful to you?
10) Does the company provide REAL client makeover pics and testimonials? Yes, some of those photos online are stock photos.
11) Do you want to appear in person or have your analysis in the comfort of your own home? Yes, a trained professional can analyze you virtually. She will tell you exactly how to take pictures of yourself and if needed, she will adjust your photos for the most accurate depiction of you. They can also depict you in different colors as part of the virtual draping. A complete virtual analysis will include a video call to explain your results. Accuracy results are very high with this approach.
The Bottom Line: a professional color analysis is an investment in looking your best. Women report that knowing their best colors and how to wear them gives them a huge boost of confidence. This investment pays off over many years, as your type does not change. You are worth it, don't you think?
Here's to looking your best in color!
Gail Scott
YCS Style & Beauty Director
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