Doing your own colours - sharing tips

[kaykayblue]

There are quite a number of people who would really like to get their colours done, but can't really afford to splash out £90 for the privilege. I've also seen a few people come on and say that they weren't entirely convinced with the colours they were given.

I thought it might be helpful to have a thread where we can share some hints and tips for working out your own colours - it might take much more time and effort, but at least it's free!

1. Don't bother standing in front of a mirror

At least, not if you're like me. I find it impossible to tell what looks good or not, unless there is a hugely pronounced difference which is rare. It's also difficult to find full length mirrors with natural lighting

2. USE natural lighting.

It's the most effective

3. Try using a hand mirror in the garden/kitchen/somewhere with only natural light, and hold up colours to your face only

It's somehow less distracting? It also doesn't have to be clothes. I've used books, bath towels, bed sheets...you name it.

4. Look at photos of yourself out

This is most helpful if you have pictures on your computer. It's surprising sometimes how looking back at pictures of yourself can make you think "wow i look great in that" or "okay, so I look shattered".

5. TAKE photos of yourself with your phone

I personally detest selfies, but they are useful for making a record to look back on. It's often easier to notice differences looking at pictures than when staring into a mirror

6. Write down a list of your favourite and least favourite colours.

I fucking hate hot pink. Likewise, any shade of green. Even if they suit you, there's no point buying clothes in colours that you hate. Make sure you try out your favourite colours, and different shades of it, to see why you like it so much.

7. Don't worry about black

This might be controversial, but personally I think so many people wear black, that it's very difficult to tell if you look good in it or not, as you are so used to seeing everyone else in it. Plus there's really nothing wrong with wearing black trousers, with a top in a colour that suits you. In my opinion.

8. Don't forget about eye colour

If you have brown eyes, then this probably isn't something to worry about too much. But if you have bright blue eyes, or bright green eyes, then bear that in mind. My blue eyes are why I hate green so much.

9. Keep track of the different colours you have tried, that you liked, weren't sure about, hated...etc.

I would recommend an excel sheet. You don't have to worry about losing it, and it's easy to update.

10. Don't worry about pigeon holing yourself.

I've combed through all the different seasons. I am pretty sure I have found colours I suit and don't suit at all in every single season. They can only ever really work on generalisations, so don't feel obliged to try that hideous shade of periwinkle just because it is in whatever season you seem to work well with.

Any more advice?

I think having your skin tone matched for foundation can help work out if you are warm/neutral/cool toned.

Once you know that work out your level of contrast. If you have pale/fair skin and med/dark brown hair= high contrast, warm honey skin and medium brown hair= lower contrast. That then leads you to the level of contrast you need in your clothing and make-up.

You can then apply this to the sci/art palettes.

Soft summer - neutral leaning cool (mac NW15-20 for example) skintone but low contrast.

True/cool summer- cool skintone/ medium contrast.

True/cool winter- cool skintone / high contrast

Bright/Clear winter- neutral cool skintone /high contrast.

Etc

Google the palettes and see if they feel right with you.

Nail varnish! It came to me in a revelation that if a colour looks rubbish on my nails it is because it doesn't suit my skintone and therefore the same colour in clothes will probably look all wrong too. I have tried yellow nail varnish (a terrible mistake), various shades of nude/beige (make my hands look dead) and hot pink does me no favours either. Love navy, grey, muted purples both on nails and as clothes ...

Happy to be told I'm talking a load of nonsense, mind you... it was just a thought.

I'd say have a think back about particular items of clothing you loved or always felt good in....the chances are you felt good in it because you looked good in it.

I have to say though I've had my colours done and it was a revelation...I'd previously worn lots of black, grey etc but was diagnosed as a bright spring and now wear so much more colour and look so much better for it. I think an impartial eye offers more than self diagnosis ever could. Yes - it cost £££ but probably only the equivalent of 3/4 cheapish tops and, for me, it was definitely worth the investment.

Interesting point about nail varnish. I never, ever paint my nails so that didn't occur to me.

I do think that having it fine professionally is your best bet. Now I know my colours, each item of clothing is an investment as I know it suits me. So if you can save buy not buying a few cheap tops, then do!

But if you can't save, my first tip would be to be brutally honest. Even if you don't like a colour, go and try it on anyway and look at how it suits you. Like mustard. It's a colour that's scary to wear, but try it on and look at your face objectively. Does it make you look sallow, or do you glow? Ignore what is in fashion now, you don't have to buy the item!

Second tip, pick two of the same colour, one warm, one cool and try to see which suits you more. Again ignore whether you like the colour or not, it's not about that. So for example, pink. Coral is warm (has golden undertones) and something like fuscia is cool. Does the coral blend into your colouring, enhancing your eyes and face or does the fuscia work better?

Third tip is to try the "extreme" colours in each season. Those that can't be mistaken for another season. So autumn would be mustard, winter something like cobalt blue etc.

I think these tips would work if you suit the more saturated ends of a season/are high contrast, like a bright spring or jewelled winter, they're easier to see and less of a subtle difference. If you can go makeup free whilst doing the trying on, then that'd be best, in case you're wearing the wrong lippie or something.

If you are lower contrast then I think it'd be much harder to do at home.

It does help if you have an eye for colour. If you can't tell that something like mustard is warm and cobalt blue is cool then you will struggle. Admittedly the teals and reds are harder to see.

Agree re nail polish. Warm orangey reds look great on me, cooler reds make me feel like my hands are haggard!

Nail varnish is a very good point. In some ways I thought my skin had cool undertones when I read about the vein colour/reaction to sun etc. Which surprised me as I thought I looked better in gold, so I wondered if that was just because there was gold in my eyes/hair. But nails are removed from the eye/hair influence a bit, so they're a good test I'd have thought. I have noticed if my toenails are gold/orange/red/pink my feet look a good healthy colour, but with blue/silver they look a bit grey and unhappy!