Is AI colour analysis accurate? Why in-person consultations matter

AI is increasingly being used in all aspects of our lives. It can help us plan our day efficiently, tell us what to buy at the supermarket, advise us on how to manage our finances and even suggest what we should wear. Not only does AI consider itself a pixelated fashionista, but there are now AI chatbots, apps and filters that claim to be able to perform colour analysis consultations. So, how accurate is AI colour analysis? We asked House of Colour Stylist Kate Matthew to share her expert opinion on the accuracy of AI colour analysis tools and the reasons why the in-person experience can’t be replicated.

Human vs. AI colour analysis: how does the process differ?

Between TikTok filters, endless online quizzes and AI colour palette tools that claim to determine your season, it’s easy to see why people are curious about AI colour analysis, but how does it differ from the traditional process? During a professional colour analysis, your stylist will hold an array of coloured drapes next to your makeup-free skin to determine whether your colouring is warm (Spring or Autumn) or cool (Summer or Winter).

Kate explains, “Every House of Colour client sits in front of a mirror, positioned right by a window to allow the maximum amount of natural light to illuminate their features. We then compare different drapes and see how the client reacts to each colour: does it lift and brighten them? Or make them look tired and washed out? Through this process, we identify the client’s best colours and determine their seasonal colour palette, a guide they can use for life.” 

Comparatively, an AI colour analysis attempts to replicate this process using a clear photograph of your face, taken in natural light. The technology analyses your photo, using algorithms and colour theory data to choose your season. It may also ask you to confirm additional details such as your eye colour or the colour of your veins. (Side note: neither of these details are relevant in the House of Colour process!) Sounds simple enough, but how accurate is using a photograph compared to seeing how your skin responds to colour in real life?

How accurate is AI colour analysis?

The main problem with AI colour analysis is that the key factors needed to determine your seasonal colour palette, i.e. your skin tone, natural hair colour and the colours themselves, simply don’t translate the same on a screen as they appear in real life. A camera, no matter how good it is, will slightly distort the colour, leading to an inaccurate result. 

Colour distortion

Remember the black/blue or white/gold dress debate of 2015? The internet was divided over a still image, frozen in fixed lighting, that distorted the true colour of the dress – who knows what AI would have made of it! Kate goes on to explain the problem of colour distortion further, “Cast your mind back to lockdown, when so much of our lives were online. Everything we saw was slightly distorted. The emerald green jumper you gave your Uncle Simon for Christmas probably looked more olive on the family Zoom quiz, didn’t it? It’s a small example, but it highlights a key issue: colours simply don’t appear the same on camera as they do in real life. So, if I’m trying to see whether emerald green suits Uncle Simon, how can I do that accurately if it looks different on screen?”

Personal Bias

During a personal colour analysis session, your stylist can see how you react to colour. Kate says, “In real life, we can see subtle changes, like how your face brightens in the right shades or dulls in the wrong ones, and that dynamic, in-the-moment reaction simply can’t be captured by AI.” When you attempt to do your own colour analysis, there’s also a tendency to be biased towards the colour palette you’re drawn to the most, whether it enhances your features or not!

Kate admits to experimenting with the AI process herself to test its accuracy and found the results less than impressive. “I did a series on my Instagram about online colour quizzes and not one of them got my season right!”

Why in-person colour analysis with House of Colour is more accurate than AI

Kate explains that it’s often her younger clients who have tried out AI colour analysis, thanks to its popularity on social media, and they’re happy to discredit its accuracy. “I’ve had a few clients who have tried AI colour analysis, but thankfully, they all came in with an open mind. In fact, one lady even said to me that AI colour analysis made her ‘even more confused’ about her palette, as different AI programs had different results for her. As soon as she saw the actual process in person, she was able to leave confident in her new colour palette, as she had seen firsthand how fabulous she looked in those colours.”

An in-person colour analysis consultation, much like a personal styling session, is a process built on human connection. When a stylist and client work together, they build a rapport and can discuss the details of why some colours work and others don’t. The client has the opportunity to experience the journey and learn a lot during the process. This knowledge can then be applied every time they get dressed and any time they shop in the future. 

Kate explains more about how important the human element of the process is, “Your consultant can see you physically light up with certain colours. It’s those details that really show us who you are and allow us to get the most accurate results. I just don’t think AI can replicate that. After all, it’s called artificial intelligence, and when it comes to understanding people, there’s simply no substitute for real human connection.” 

Why AI can’t replace professional colour analysis

Using AI for your personal colour analysis may seem like a quick and easy way to find your seasonal palette, but the chances of getting an accurate result are pretty slim. If you’re new to colour analysis, it may help you understand the overall concept, but it’s certainly not reliable enough to base your wardrobe decisions on. 

Kate sums it up perfectly, “For a seasonal colour analysis, I honestly don’t think AI can replicate any part of the House of Colour process. It simply has to be done in natural light, with our precision-dyed drapes, neither of which AI can replicate. You can trust your House of Colour stylist to make the process simple, keep it fun and give you the clarity you need!” 

Ready to book your own professional colour analysis and discover your perfect seasonal colour palette? Get in touch with your local House of Colour stylist today!

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