Can a pivot from navy blue to cerulean truly change your entire look?
Colour analysis was always a microtrend that I would simply scroll past rather than truly consider.
We have all seen it: floating faces in colour wheels, influencers flying out to Korea for professional consultations, celebrity analysis to deduce if a star is a ‘True Winter’ or ‘Dark Autumn.’ It is clear that colour carries cultural weight, but the verdict never truly settled.
Some insist on palette loyalty, while others hunt for trending shades ala brat green for Summer. So where does colour analysis fall under all this?
When I was invited by Garnier to their K-Glow event, I sought to gain clarity on my opinion. The event debuted their three Creamy Nude shades — Rose Latte, Caramel Mocha and Milk Tea, and one of the event’s highlights was the ‘colour analysis’ station, where a professional assesses your facial harmony next to various shade swatches.
What are your ‘True colours’?
In my own wardrobe, softer shades are my tried and trues; baby pinks, creams, lilacs. Understated, light on the eyes. Bold colours seemed like they would overwhelm my features, and so I assumed my colours would be a pastel safety net.
But once the stylist draped the coloured cloths across me, I was pleasantly surprised.
She described my pastel tones as “Fine,” which was just that; a little underwhelming. They blended into me like a blurry sheen. She then decided on a ‘Vivid Spring palette’ which was full of saturated shades. Instead of overpowering me, they seemed to lift my features. My complexion took on a clearer flush with just one minor detail changed.
Particularly, the bright yellow on me caught her eye the most. I typically overlook yellow tops or skirts in my closet; the session had me thinking about all the yellow I need to pluck out from my drawers.
Demystifying the palette
People typically think of colour analysis as one palette being the end-all, be-all. However, the stylist gave a top three range of palettes that can work for me, with ‘Vivid Spring’ as the standout season. This eases a lot of the rigidity, as someone who loves experimenting with colour, that freedom still remains.
Our wardrobes don’t need a huge overhaul, but some clarity is welcomed.
A guide rather than gospel
Personal style should be enjoyed, and there’s no reason to forgo our cherished pieces because of a consultation. Though what we can take from this trend is that we can bend the rules to our advantage. I’ll still be wearing pastels, but with a vivid pop here and there. There are so many more colourblocking avenues to explore.
Since paying closer attention to my palette, I have noticed more compliments on my outfits, and it’s also made me shop with cleaner direction. You don’t necessarily need a formal consultation to explore this either; if anything, this trend can simply inspire us to pay closer attention to what we pick for ourselves.
This grasp of colour theory is what I think is distinctly exceptional for Garnier’s launch. The formula holds an understanding of how certain shades flatter not only warm or cool undertones but also sees to Asian haircare needs, in pursuing a more nuanced understanding of haircare.
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