For many women, colour analysis can feel like a never-ending puzzle. You might have been told you’re a “Spring,” only to be re-draped as an “Autumn” later. You try on those palettes, but somehow they still don’t feel right. You look washed out in some hues, overwhelmed by others, and the result is confusion rather than clarity.
So why does this happen? And how can you finally find your best colours to create gorgeous outfits that make you the star without starting over again (and again)?
1. Your Colouring Changes and That’s Normal
As we age, our pigmentation softens. Hair loses intensity, skin cools slightly, and contrast often reduces. What once felt warm and vibrant may now look too strong or too yellow.
If you were once a vivid redhead, your current ivory-toned hair will change how colours appear against your face. You might still suit warmth, but now you’ll need softer, more muted versions of those shades.
For example:
- Swap bright coral for soft coral
- Replace golden yellow with warm blush pink.
- Trade orange-red for soft terracotta or rosewood.
Your undertone – warm or cool doesn’t necessarily flip (though some warm people do cool down with age). However, the intensity and value of your colours often require adjustment.
Your hair colour may have changed over time, whether with hair dye or just natural greying, this means that the colours and in particular, the neutrals that suit you now will have changed. Plus, how you put your colours together will also change. It’s worth reassessing your colouring every 5-10 years or anytime your hair colour changes (or if you’re just not feeling as good in your palette as you used to). You can get an online colour analysis here.
2. You Don’t Have to Wear Every Colour in Your Palette
One of the biggest misconceptions about colour analysis is that you must wear every shade in your palette. Not true. Every person’s palette has colours that enhance and others that are just “okay”.
Even within a harmonious group, you’ll have personal signature colours that make your skin glow and your eyes light up. Those are your true allies.
For instance:
- Warm individuals might find orange overpowering but glow in soft salmon or coral pink.
- Cool individuals may struggle with icy pastels yet shine in mid-tones like raspberry or teal.
The joy of getting your signature colours as part of your colour analysis is that you will find out which are your very best colours from a generic palette, so you can adjust your wardrobe to suit who you are today.
Think of your palette as a menu, not a prescription – you get to choose what works best for your unique features.
3. Understanding the Three Dimensions of Colour
Once you understand how undertone, intensity and value work together, you’ll see why specific colours feel more natural.
- Undertone – Is the colour yellow-based (warm) or blue-based (cool)?
- Value – Is it light, medium or dark?
- Intensity – Is it bright or muted (greyed and smoky)?
Many people go wrong by focusing on only one. For example, someone may soften their colours (lower intensity) but accidentally shift them too cool. This can lead to a palette that feels dull or draining. Or you may keep your correct undertone but be wearing colours that are now too dark for you as your hair has gotten lighter with age, so they feel heavy on you.
If your features are soft but still have a hint of warmth, you need muted warm tones, not icy cool ones.
Plus, your colour contrast or value contrast may have changed, so how you put the colours in your palette together may need to change, even if your palette is still the same. Check out my free 3-step process to understanding your contrast levels.
4. Focus on How Colours Make You Feel, Not Just How They Look
The right colours don’t just flatter your skin – they support your confidence.
If you feel uneasy in a hue, trust that instinct. When a colour makes you feel tired or self-conscious, it’s not your best match, no matter what a label says.
Here’s a simple experiment:
- Stand near a window with natural light.
- Hold two garments near your face – one warm and one cool. I find green to be a great tool for this – one a warm olive green, the other a cool emerald green.
- Watch for differences in skin tone, eyes, and expression.
If your skin looks fresher, your eyes brighter, and you feel uplifted, that’s your colour working with you.
5. The Role of Expert Guidance
Colour analysis is a skill built on trained observation, and it’s easy to get confused by DIY methods or inconsistent systems online. If you’ve been re-draped multiple times, it doesn’t mean you’re “hard to classify.” It simply means your colouring is nuanced. It could also mean that the system you’ve had a colour analysis in is lacking in nuance (which is why I developed my 18 palette Absolute Colour System).
An experienced colour consultant will look beyond labels and work with the subtleties of your features – hair sheen, skin undertone, and eye clarity – to pinpoint your ideal balance.
If you’re ready to truly understand your palette and stop second-guessing yourself, my 7 Steps to Style program will guide you through every part of the process from discovering your personal colouring to creating a wardrobe that works harmoniously for you.
6. Embrace Evolution – Not Perfection
Colour isn’t fixed. Just like your personality, it grows, shifts, and refines over time. The goal isn’t to chase one definitive “season” but to understand your current expression of colour harmony.
When you align your wardrobe with your natural colouring, you don’t just look better, you feel more authentic, confident, and at ease in your own skin.
If you’re frustrated with your colour analysis, it’s not failure – it’s feedback. You’re evolving, and so is your palette. Understanding warmth, depth, and chroma will help you interpret colour with confidence instead of confusion. And when you’re ready for expert clarity, you’ll discover your colours aren’t lost – they’ve simply grown up with you.
Further Reading
Personal Colour Analysis: The Hot New Old Trend
Busted! 7 Myths About Personal Colour Analysis Holding You Back From Your Perfect Palette
Why Colour Analysis has Evolved Beyond the Seasons
How to Find Your Ultimate Signature Colours
How to Select Your Best Neutrals
