Seasonal Color Analysis Misplaces Redheads

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Seasonal Color Analysis Misplaces Redheads

by Samantha Bradley
(Ottumwa, IA, US)

Redhead Beauty

I'm a natural redhead (slightly more brown than red, actually, but still very much red) with fair and cool skin, and dark brown (almost black) eyes.

And, in fact, I feel that I am that certain redhead who's misplaced in Seasonal Color Analysis.

Here's why:

1) Apparently redheads can only be Springs and Autumns, and 'most commonly' in the Warm (I prefer True) Springs or Autumns. These are warm seasons, and my skin leans more cool.

2) I went draping at Wal-Mart, and I found out that silver, *not, not, NOT* gold, enhances me much more. So, how can I be a Spring or an Autumn if SILVER jewelry and fabrics enhance me?

3) Camel, which is an inherent Spring color, makes me look wan, pale, AND it draws out my flaws in my face. Just like gold. Brown, which is an inherent Autumn color, looks bland, 'meh', if you will, on me. It simply sits there. So, once again, how can I be a Spring or an Autumn if these two hallmark colors DON'T enhance me?

4) Black, which is Winter's hallmark color, really enhances me. From what I saw, it hid my skin's flaws, and gave me a bit of a glow. So, once again, how can I be a Spring or an Autumn if BLACK and ONLY BLACK enhances me?

And from what I saw on one of your Q&A's, the COOL palette looks better on me than the WARM one. So how can I be a warm season if the COOL palette looks best on me?

Samantha, I'm glad you brought this up. And you are absolutely right. There are many more variations in redheads than what the seasonal color analysis has shown.

If the Gold or Silver test shows that you look good in jewel, blue based colors then you must be a Cool, despite your auburn hair.

You can find muted, Autumn redheads with golden ivory skin and coppery hair. And there are those with translucent, milky white skin and fiery or deep red hair. There are redheads with pinkish, English rose complexions and strawberry locks. Peaches and cream redheads. Basically, there is a full range of high contrast, low contrast, clear and muted redheads!

This is definitely one of the pitholes in the seasonal color analysis. If I could alter (I probably will in the future) the Color Me Beautiful system I would have placed each of the redhead variations in their appropriate seasonal group and category based on the intensity of their colorings which is based on the intensity of their colorings (hue, saturation, lightness and contrast), like for example:

Low level redheads with a very light golden/olive skin tone which are a very muted Autumns --> Soft Autumn

Gossamer with very translucent skin and from strawberry to medium copper reds --> Clear Winter

High contrast with very pale skin and dark red (black-red, auburn, burgundy) hair --> Cool Winter

--> Deep Winter if you're darker skinned

English rose with pinkish skin, lighter shade of red hair and low contrast level between hair and skin --> Light Summer

Peaches n' Cream with pale to fair peachy golden skin and lighter hair (ex. strawberry blonde with red highlights) --> Light Spring

... and so on. There are again more variations within each of these redhead 'versions'. So YES, I do believe redheads should hold a wider space in the seasonal color analysis.

We have 6 dominant characteristics in our complexions and the seasonal color analysis is based on these:

1. Deep -- Dark and rich
2. Light -- Delicate
3. Soft -- Muted
4. Clear -- Bright
5. Warm -- Warm undertones
6. Cool -- Cool undertones

And finding yours should pinpoint you to your correct color palette in the seasonal color analysis.

So with that in mind, you're either a:

Deep Winter or Autumn

Light Spring or Summer

Clear Winter or Spring

Soft Summer or Autumn

Warm Autumn or Spring

Cool Winter or Summer

The flow color chart shows the similarities (ex. Light Summer and Light Spring have similiar light, pinkish and low-contrasting traits):

Unfortunately no one has gotten their finger out in improving the color analysis system, so redheads (and other women who seem to be stuck in one or two categories) should in the meantime put their trust on the Gold or silver test although it only gives you a general view of what colors suit you. Or you could try to determine the intensity of your colorings on your own based on the information provided on this page and find your season/color palette.

I hope this helps! This page is open for feedback so feel free to comment :-)

Kind regards,

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Seasonal Color Analysis Misplaces Redheads

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May 17, 2010
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I can relate to this.
by: Anonymous

As a child I used to be blond, then my hair went auburn then to dark brown(nearly black). I started to get gray hairs in my 20s and then my hair went salt and pepper. Now it's nearly all gray at age 43. I'm told I look good in gray and people told me not to dye my hair. My hair doesn't have any yellowish twinge to it.

I have a photo of me in beige and it is not a flattering color on me. I still had auburn hair in the photo. I look better in jewel like colors than in muted colors. Pastels don't do much for me either. I remember tying on orange once and saying to myself, oh no I'm not wearing that again!

Also when people comment on my complexion, they nearly always say it's very clear.

Feb 16, 2010
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Oops, sorry!
by: Samantha

I have to apologize for the last comment. It didn't hit me until after I made the comment that I wasn't looking at the *big* picture. I now understand that the 'average' person isn't all cool or all warm, but instead has a nice blend of both.

I may be your 'average' person in that regard, but when I took pictures of myself yesterday looking in the bathroom mirror, I saw that my hair looked more burgundy, and my eyes looked a lot more black than regular brown. So I'm not the average redhead, that's for sure.

The thing I'm really wanting from SCA is this: the analysts to change their attitudes about the beauty of redheads and others who are harder to place. Let redheads who *are* Cool seasons be cool seasons instead of trying to force them into the Warm seasons that clearly don't fit them, as one example. This is what I was wanting to convey.

When I was 20, I had a really dark tan (for me) that allowed me to wear really bright and light colors. I might have been a good hybrid of Cool Winter/Summer then, but I'm not so sure now. I looked at my eye whites, and they are *white* white. So I think now I may be a Cool Winter with just a trace of Clear Winter too, but I'm not sure. That one warm color that I can wear about as well as any cool color? Off-white. That's it.

Feb 16, 2010
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Face of the Season
by: Samantha

How do you leave out the face of the season? When I talk about the 'average', that's what I'm talking about -- the face of the season. Nicole Kidman isn't left out -- she's your 'average' Warm Spring, and therefore, the face of the season. Amy Adams as well. *That's* what I'm talking about when I refer to the 'averages'.

I, however, am *not* the FOTS. You (any analyst in general) couldn't analyze me without trying to squeeze me into a season that I truly *don't* belong to (like Warm Spring or Autumn). And *I* am part of the largest group of people whose DNA is different from the FOTS, that does *not* fit the 'average', of the FOTS. And for me, average = FOTS, or Face Of The Season.

I don't think I'm going to be able to say what I feel like I want to say without going over 3000 chara, max. Maybe I could send you some pictures of me to gauge my coloring better? I also wanted to thank you, Anna, for letting me ask the questions that I wanted to ask, and for this answer.

Feb 13, 2010
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We don't usually fit 110% in one single seasonal group
by: Anna Villaruel

Samantha, I completely agree with you on the celebrity examples. But I do know that image consultants often use their images because they're easier to obtain and give an example.

I've already admitted that the Color Me Beautiful seasonal color analysis isn't perfect and often leaves out 'averages'. This system was invented back in the 80s and the society back then was less broad-minded back then - it was either black or white.

Fortunately many image consultants today are constantly realizing the SCA issues that might leave 'averages' out in the dark. I don't know why Carole Jackson hasn't done a third improvement of the system but I really think it could need some serious revision!

With that in mind and the SCA left untouched since its previous revision over a decade ago, it is important to remember that each and one of us belong to more than one color group (which is called your flow group) - we usually have one main group and an additional for when our complexion changes (turns older or gets tanned). And we don't necessarily look good each and every color of a color palette either but the majority of the hues in a palette tend to do so.

- Anna

Feb 13, 2010
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Essential Colors.com
by: Anna Villaruel

Sounds like a great color system. I would love to receive more information on the analysis. Unfortunately, I do not have the luxury of time right now to start color analysis training but I would love to someday :-) thanks for the tip.

Feb 11, 2010
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Reply: My point on the 'Averages'
by: Samantha

My whole issue with the SCA is this: the most well-known systems seem to only show the 'obvious', or what they call the 'average' for that season. Or those that are close to it. What doesn't help is that they choose celebrities rather than normal women who aren't such to portray the 'seasons'. So where does that leave the majority of the population who doesn't fit the averages? Up a creek without a paddle, that's where. Still searching for their right 'season'.

But I've found mine, and I can honestly say I *love* the colors in that palette wholeheartedly. They do a lot for my coloring, but also for my moods -- they make me happy.

Jan 24, 2010
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Color Analysis HAS been improved
by: Anonymous

I loved seeing your blog post. I am a 24 year color analysis professional who saw the challenge of color typing people like yourself who don't fall into any of the seasonal categories including the ones that divide the harmonies into 12 different types. Twelve type systems leave out four distinct types. My trademarked color system is called Essential Colors (www.essentialcolors.com)and it has 16 color harmonies based on color temperature, value, intensity and enery.

Also, most seasonal systems choose palettes based soley on coloring. Essential Color palettes are also chosen to align with a woman's inner essence so that she feels authentic AND beautiful in her colors. The result is a color harmony that instantly connects with each woman at a gut level. "Yes. I love those colors". There are certified Essential Colors consultants around the country and in Europe and Asia. All are personally trained by me. Would you like to become one?