My Virtual Color Analysis by Anuschka Rees (The Curated Closet)
Have you heard of a personal color analysis, or have you gotten your colors done before? I’ve seen a lot of buzz about it over on Instagram (I know many folks are big fans of Created Colorful) and have been interested myself but not enough to spend over $100 to get my colors done. A few years ago, I actually purchased a course on color harmony in your wardrobe and don’t think I’ve ever actually done the course (I have a really bad habit of purchasing courses and not starting them OR starting but not finishing them, eep). I can’t even remember exactly what the course is about, LOL. I should probably check to see if I still have access to that…
Anyway, I digress! You may or may not know that I’ve been a big fan of Anuschka Rees since her blogging days at Into Mind. She’s who inspired me to share my Not-My-Style List (first in 2016 and again in 2020). I was thrilled when she published her book, The Curated Closet, and the companion workbook! (Even though I own her book, I’ve yet to read in its entirety. Based on her blog content and from reviews I’ve read on other blogs, I know this book is a fantastic resource if you’re struggling with your personal style.)
Did you know that Anuschka has recently been offering virtual color analyses? I purchased one immediately when I got the initial email back in February! I finally got around to taking my photos in April, and last week, she sent me my personal color guide! I thought it’d be fun to share a little more about color analyses and the process Anuschka follows.
Her virtual color analyses (49 euros) are only available for a limited time, and I highly recommend purchasing one if you’re interested! You can also gift one to a friend or family member (maybe your mom for Mother’s Day?).
Virtual Color Analysis by Anuschka Rees, Author of The Curated Closet
Color Theory
In Anuschka’s personal color guides, she writes, “Each one of us is born with a skin tone, hair color and eye color that perfectly harmonize with each other with respect to their undertone, lightness, saturation and contrast. Why? Because your natural coloring came into existence organically.”
I learned through this process that color analysis is simply applied color theory. It takes into consideration hue/undertone (cooler vs. warmer colors), value (light vs. deep colors), and chroma (saturation level/how much grey is in the color: soft is more grey and clear is less grey). Your color value is based solely on the combination of your natural hair color and eye color for your ethnicity, not skintone. Color harmony is the reason why some groups of colors look better together than others (and really got my thinking about my own branding colors—ha!).
A new color analysis element taken into consideration is contrast: images are turned into black-and-white to analyze your natural contrast, and this does take skintone into effect. Your contrast affects the hair colors and makeup styles that work best with your natural color type.
The 12 Seasonal Color Types
Color analysis started (back in the 80s!) with four seasonal color types: spring, summer, autumn, and winter. Now, there are three subtypes for each season based on the spectrum of undertone, value, and chroma:
Clear Spring
True Spring
Light Spring
Light Summer
True Summer
Soft Summer
Soft Autumn
True Autumn
Deep Autumn
Deep Winter
True Winter
Clear Winter
Anuschka goes into great detail about the 12 seasonal color types in her personal color guides!
Virtual Color Analysis Process
Color analyses are commonly done in person as various colors are draped over you, but nowadays highly trained color analysts can do them virtually with just a few pictures!
Anuschka’s process is very straightforward. Once you purchase a virtual color analysis, she sends an email with a form to fill out. You are to take head-on selfies with your hair down with no makeup wearing a few different colors of tops (true white, any shade of red, any shade of blue, and any shade of green) plus a side profile. (Follow her tips for taking the photos!) You can also add photos wearing a pink/purple top and an orange/yellow top. If your hair is color treated at all, you’re to send a photo of what your natural hair color looks like.
I took all the photos on my phone and then air dropped them to my computer to complete the survey, but you might be able to also do the survey on your phone. If you need to retake any of your photos, Anuschka will reach out to you. Luckily I didn’t have to retake any of mine, phew!
A little over two weeks after completing the form, Anuschka sent me my nearly-40-page-long personal color guide! The first part of the guide starts by discussing color theory and the 12 seasonal color types, and the second part of the guide highlights your personal color type! She also shares a color palette and describes why those colors work for you, complete with examples and suggestions for what hair colors look best and how to do your makeup. It’s very uplifting and super informative at the same time!
My Personal Color Type
Can you guess what my color type ended up being? I was honestly a little surprised! I am a True Summer. I grabbed a few photos of me wearing colors in or close to the true summer color palette for this post. I look best in cool-toned muted shades that aren’t super light nor super deep. It’s so interesting because so many of the colors Anuschka suggested are colors I would not typically reach for! I’m definitely keeping them in mind now when I shop.
Have you ever gotten your colors done? If not, have I convinced you to do it?! Be sure to take advantage of Anuschka’s virtual color analyses while they last! They’re only 49 euros (currently ~$54 USD), which is a fantastic deal.