Guides

Color analysis guides.

Plain-English explanations of personal color analysis, undertones, seasonal palettes, makeup, hair color, and wardrobe building. Pick a guide that answers your question, or start with the beginner basics.

Start here

Beginner

What Is Seasonal Color Analysis?

The 12-season system explained: families, undertones, and how each archetype works.

Undertones

Warm vs Cool Undertones: How to Tell the Difference

Vein test, jewelry test, sun test, and how to decode mixed signals.

Quick read

Why Some Colors Make You Look Tired

Why a sweater that looks gorgeous on the rack washes you out at home.

Tool tips

How to Take the Best Photo for Online Color Analysis

Lighting, angle, distance, and what to avoid for accurate results.

By skin type

Fair skin

Best Colors for Fair Skin

Fair doesn't always mean cool. Find the palette that brightens your specific fair coloring.

Olive skin

Best Colors for Olive Skin

Olive undertones are different. Here's the palette that lets olive coloring glow.

Dark skin

Best Colors for Dark Skin

Range within deep skin: warm, cool, neutral — and the colors that make each glow.

Seasonal palettes explained

Spring

Spring Color Palette Explained

Warm, clear, fresh. The three Springs — Light, True, Bright — and what suits each.

Summer

Summer Color Palette Explained

Cool, soft, blended. The three Summers and the dusty palette they share.

Autumn

Autumn Color Palette Explained

Warm, earthy, rich. The three Autumns and their grounded palette.

Winter

Winter Color Palette Explained

Cool, clear, dramatic. The three Winters and their high-contrast wardrobe.

Makeup, hair & jewelry

Jewelry

Gold or Silver Jewelry: Which One Suits You?

The undertone test that ends the gold-vs-silver debate. Plus rose gold and mixed metals.

Lipstick

Best Lipstick Colors for Warm vs Cool Undertones

How to read a lipstick's undertone and pick one that flatters yours.

Hair

Best Hair Colors for Warm vs Cool Skin

Why some hair color jobs look fake and what to ask your colorist for instead.

Style & viral reads

Wardrobe

How to Build a Capsule Wardrobe Around Your Palette

Two anchors, three mid-tones, two accents — the formula for a wardrobe where everything works.

Quick read

Why Beige Washes Some People Out

Most beige is warm. If you're cool, you need a different beige. Here's how to find it.

Viral

Why Black Looks Amazing on Some People and Harsh on Others

Black is universal in fashion but not in flattery. Who it suits, who should swap.

Try the tool About PaletteReveal