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Style and beauty

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Original poster

House of Colour v. Colour Me Beautiful

109 replies

SunnyUpNorth · 24/07/2013 22:32

I have found an old thread discussing this but just wanted to ask what the main differences are and which people think are better.

I really want to get my colours done and have found a few local people from both companies.

From reading old threads it seems HoC is more popular but the pictures of the local HoC people are really off putting. The ones near me are all in bright jewel toned outfits with lots of scarves, lipstick etc. ie v OTT and a bit cliched.

There are two Colour Me Beautiful reps near me. Both of their photos are very natural. They look really nice, young and friendly and much more 'me'. So I am much more drawn to having my colours done by one of them. But I am hesitating due to people not really seeming to rate CMB.

Help!

OP posts:

BeginnerSAHM · 25/07/2013 06:43

Go with the person you think looks the most like you (want to) look.... The colour thing should/will work either way but I think women closer to your age/style will naturally have more appropriate ideas. I know other people will say HOC and it doesn't matter if the consultant looks like hyacinth Bouquet (but wearing the right colours).

For what it's worth, I think CMB has a better differentiation of 'seasons' too - but that's just me! (Had colours done, errr, a few times (boring story) - experience of both!)

nooka · 25/07/2013 06:51

I don't think it particularly matters how the reps choose to look, as it's their choice after all, but it certainly makes sense to go with someone you think may be more sympathetic or 'you'. Why don't you ring them up or send them an email and see what you feel about it then?

I saw someone from the HoC and her sense of style was way way off mine (very polished in a way that I have zero interest in!), but she still gave me really helpful advice. She was a recommendation from a friend though.

MadAboutHotChoc · 25/07/2013 07:04

Another one who had a HoC consultation - she looked like a air hostess but as she has been trained so well, I felt very comfortable with her and more importantly she got my diagnosis right.

Twooter · 25/07/2013 07:10

I struggled not to laugh when I first saw my Hoc consultant. However, she got me spot on, both colour and style, and I realise that she was actually spot on for her own colour and style personality. It's just that hers 'clashed' with mine.

BeginnerSAHM · 25/07/2013 07:45

Agree - it probably doesn't matter. HOC got me wrong once though. Right once. CMB got me right both times. The methods are incredibly similar. Personally, I just prefer the CMB classifications - and, am ashamed to say had my colours done twice with each over the years....

MadAboutHotChoc · 25/07/2013 07:48

I remember you Beginning as usually its CMB who get it wrong so was surprised at your incorrect diagnosis. Hope you are happy with your colours now

BeginnerSAHM · 25/07/2013 08:08

Hello! Yup - I'm happy! Definitely saw the differences and it's correct. I think it must depend on the training or eye of the individual as the drapes and method are virtually indentical! Besides, everybody has an off day occasionally .

I've never done a style day though - don't reckon I fall into any of the categories although am not too comfortable wearing different bright contrasting colours.... (Which is what looks best, apparently - tend to feel like the stereotype of a primary school teacher if I do too much of that.). Sorry! Post hi-jack!

OP - I think you should go with whoever you feel most comfortable with. People on here tend to prefer HOC though - I just rated my CMB person!

QueenCadbury · 25/07/2013 08:23

Go with who you feel most comfortable with. I travelled 60 miles for mine as she was young and looked normal as opposed to my local ones who looked a bit scary.

Original poster

SunnyUpNorth · 25/07/2013 08:46

Thanks all. I have emailed all of them and both the CMB people seem really nice. I was going to go to the hoc intro evening but the next one isn't until the end of September and I hoped to get my colours done before then.

The hoc rep pics are really off putting....you're right, they all look like hyacinth bouquet or retired air hostesses!

Think I will try the CMB lady who can squeeze me in next week.

Beginner I am intrigued as to how you've managed to have your colours done 4 times in a couple of years!! You must be a pro now.

OP posts:

celticclan · 25/07/2013 08:46

at BeginnerSAHM. I have a book from Colour Me Beautiful I was disappointed to find that their colour analysis doesn't include the seasons Autumn, Winter etc. For that reason I would go with HoC.

BeginnerSAHM · 25/07/2013 08:59

I'm a vain insecure spendthrift, what can I say?!?

CMB have just renamed the 'seasons' really. So, i used to be a 'clear spring' and now I'm 'clear and warm'. Exactly the same colours! But it's just I have more colours in common with what used to be a 'clear winter' than a 'light spring'. I think. Or at least quite a few the same as 'clear winter'.

Original poster

SunnyUpNorth · 25/07/2013 09:02

By the way, how would you know if they get your colous wrong? Would you just not feel great in the palette they pick for you?

OP posts:

SeasonofTheWitch · 25/07/2013 09:30

sunny Another HoC fan here, everyone I know (and I know a LOT - almost 30 women) who has been to them have said that whilst their consultant might not have looked like they'd want to, their diagnoses and advice was spot on.

The people I know who were misdiagnosed by CMB said that they never felt good in their new colours and always felt doubtful about their season. No-one I know who's been done by HoC have said that.

BeginnerSAHM · 25/07/2013 09:31

I just kind of knew. Although I was a bit confused as the consultant at the time seemed very sure.... I think I'm a slightly tricky person to diagnose. But I've never heard of anybody else being 'diagnosed' incorrectly

SeasonofTheWitch · 25/07/2013 09:33

I know of 2 (or it might be 3 actually) women in real life who say were misdiagnosed by CMB.

BeginnerSAHM · 25/07/2013 09:40

I don't know anybody else who's had it done (!) but a recommended (on here) HOC person got it wrong for me about 7 years ago now. Suspect it depends on the individual rather than the HOC/CMB thing. CMB was around ages before HOC - think they are both a lot better now than CMB was in the 80s...

MadAboutHotChoc · 25/07/2013 09:45

It shows how important is it that you understand and "see" what the colours do to your face and skin tone when being analysed and that you ask as many questions as possible.

I did my colours as part of a group - that really helped as they could see what worked or didn't work for me.

Sounds like CMB's system have a lot of overlaps with other seasons - I wonder how that would work if you are a cool season wearing warm/yellow based colours?

HoC are different in that they tell to to stay within our own season palette.

SeasonofTheWitch · 25/07/2013 09:48

yy, that's probably true beginner.

btw, sounds like we're a similar season - I'm a paintbox/bright spring (I have dark hair, pale skin, bright acqua-ish eyes)

SeasonofTheWitch · 25/07/2013 09:49

*aqua-ish

BeginnerSAHM · 25/07/2013 09:57

Don't think a cool season would wear warm/yellow based colours. A 'clear and cool' would be what was a 'clear winter' - so they get the 'clear palette' (more neutral than yellow based) plus some extra cool (and clear) colours. It's just a 'dominant' thing. So, my dominant characteristic in CMB is 'clear', so I get the 'clear' palette and then I get the extra 'clear and warm' colours. The consultant should explain!

My wallets from HOC and CMB are almost identical, especially if you focus on the 'double star' colours I got from HOC.

God, I've spent waaaaay too much time thinking about this over the kast few years. Off to pack/clear up/do shopping and go to the library!!

I think what we all agree on OP, is getting your colours 'done' IS very useful for lots of people. Mistakes are rare! (3 out of 4 people got me right after all...)

BeginnerSAHM · 25/07/2013 10:01

Oooh, good seasonofthewitch. I can ask you about clothes then!

I have mid/light brown hair (with a few highlights!), fairly bright but dark blue eyes and pale (warm!) skin that, weirdly, tans easily. And almost black eyebrows! (Colour experts might see why there is potential for error...)

MadAboutHotChoc · 25/07/2013 10:07

Thanks for the explanation - if your CMB wallet is identical to your HoC wallet then surely HoC wasn't wrong when they diagnosed you? Just that different systems were used?

MadAboutHotChoc · 25/07/2013 10:08

*she not they

BeginnerSAHM · 25/07/2013 10:12

Got a new HOC wallet - first one a few years ago was winter. This one is spring. Trust me, I look vile in fuscia and burgandy.... And healthy in 'geranium'. Black is ok but not amazing. Coral is one of my best - wouldn't work for a winter! (And 'tan' and some purples looks good, although I hate them...) Blues/turquoises are v good too.

SeasonofTheWitch · 25/07/2013 10:24

Haha, we're weirdly similar beginner. I have black brows and pale skin that tans easily too! Colouring-wise I look bang between spring and winter but most winter colours are ageing on me.

Our best colours sound mostly the same. I also look lush in navy - do you?

btw, I really rate the style day. I also couldn't see any style types that I could possibly fit but it made complete sense after the day. It's the way the types are combined and interpreted that makes all the difference.

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