What happens during a colour analysis in my studio

Many people book a colour analysis without really knowing what to expect. Will I have to try on lots of clothes? Do I need to come without make-up? And how do you actually see which colours suit you? Let me take you through a session in my studio, step by step.

It all starts with daylight

Colour analysis only works in good light. Artificial light changes how colours look on your skin, so I always work during the day, in natural daylight. My studio in Haarlem has beautiful light, which is exactly why I chose it.

A neutral start

We begin from a neutral base, so that nothing distracts from your face. The idea is simple: we want to see what a colour does to you, not to your outfit or your make-up.

Comparing colours side by side

Then the fun part begins. I have over 200 colour drapes, and I hold them under your face one by one. We compare them in pairs, so you can see the difference for yourself. One colour makes your skin look fresh and even, the other suddenly shows shadows or redness you didn’t notice before.

Along the way we look at four characteristics of your colouring:

• Undertone: is your colouring warm or cool?
• Depth: do lighter or deeper colours suit you best?
• Clarity: do you shine in clear, bright colours, or in softer, muted ones?
• Contrast: how much difference is there between your skin, hair and eyes?

Most clients are genuinely surprised by how visible the difference is. And honestly, that moment of “oh, now I see it” is still my favourite part.

From season to your own palette

Based on those characteristics, we find your season and then refine it. I work with 21 colour types based on the four classic seasons, so we can look beyond simply spring, summer, autumn or winter and find the nuances that truly suit you.

Make-up, metals and accessories

We also look at which make-up shades suit you, whether gold, silver or both look best, and how to choose accessories that bring your look together.

Putting it into practice

A colour analysis is only useful if you can use it in real life. So we talk about how to combine your colours, which neutrals work best as a base, and how to use the pieces you already own. You go home with a personal colour palette card to take shopping and a personal guide (PDF).

In a Colours & Style or Colours, Style & Fit session, we then go a step further and translate your colours into your personal style and the shapes that suit your body.

How long does it take?

A colour session takes 1h30 to 1h45. Colours & Style takes 2h15 to 2h30, and Colours, Style & Fit consists of two sessions of 2 hours.

Written by Carmen Stevens-Levert, colour and style coach at Carmen’s Colours in Haarlem.