Home
Blog
The Weekend Read ✨Colour Analysis: Separating The Fact From The Fiction, and Why it Still Matters

May 24, 2025

The Weekend Read ✨Colour Analysis: Separating The Fact From The Fiction, and Why it Still Matters

Jenny Goldsmith | Read in 8 minutes

Hello!

There’s something in the air — and on your social media feeds — about colour analysis. What once felt like an '80s throwback is suddenly everywhere again, but now with Gen Z filters, beauty influencers, and bold claims about finding your 'season' from a selfie. At House of Colour, we’re thrilled to see this renewed interest. After all, we’ve been doing this for over 40 years. But with popularity comes confusion, and lately, there’s been a lot of that.

Just a few weeks ago, an article in The Telegraph by journalist Abigail Buchanan titled 'I Had My Colours Done and It Was Terrible' sparked a heated debate. Buchanan’s experience, unfortunately, wasn’t a positive one and her story reflects a growing problem: not all colour analysis is created equal.

We believe it’s time to set the record straight.

A Brief History: From '80s Novelty to 21st-Century Science

Colour analysis first burst into the mainstream scene in the late 70s. It was the era of Color Me Beautiful, shoulder pads, and a rainbow of pastels. People were fascinated by the idea that some colours made them look radiant while others washed them out. But the methods varied wildly. Some were grounded in theory; others relied on guesswork, personality profiling, or even aura reading.

House of Colour entered the picture in 1985, bringing with it a more rigorous and reputable approach. Our system is rooted in the science of how light interacts with skin, and we’ve spent the past four decades delivering that process. Today, we’re recognised as one of the leading colour analysis providers globally, with consultants trained to use precision-dyed drapes, natural daylight, and tested methodology. We don’t guess your season, we reveal it.

The Weekend Read ✨Colour Analysis: Separating The Fact From The Fiction, and Why it Still Matters

Setting the Record Straight: The Science of Colour Analysis

Let’s begin with the basics: What is colour analysis?

At its core, colour analysis is the process of determining which shades of colour harmonise best with your skin’s undertone. That’s the key word here - undertone. It’s not about your hair colour, your eye colour, or even your personality. It’s certainly not about whether you feel more 'spring' than 'winter'.

What Are Undertones?

Undertones are the subtle hues beneath the surface of your skin. They can be warm (yellow-based) or cool (blue-based). Importantly, undertones don’t change. Regardless of whether you tan or go grey, your undertone stays consistent throughout your life.

And here’s the science bit: when you place certain colours next to your skin using precision-dyed drapes in controlled lighting conditions, you can visibly see whether the colour enhances your natural complexion or detracts from it. When the right colour is placed against your skin, you’ll see brighter eyes, smoother skin, lifted features, and a healthy glow. When the wrong colour is used, skin can appear sallow, tired, or even grey.

Only by seeing these effects in person, with expertly designed tools, can you get an accurate analysis. This is why House of Colour consultants work in natural daylight, with a makeup-free face, and follow a three-hour process to ensure the result is not just good, it’s right.

Some Myths You Might Have Heard

Let’s unpack a few of the biggest myths circulating about colour analysis:

MYTH 1: Your personality determines your season.

No. This is a common misconception perpetuated by stylists who blend personal styling and colour theory too closely. At House of Colour, we separate the two. Colour analysis is based on science - your skin's undertone - not your mood board, star sign, or Myers-Briggs type.

Your style personality (dramatic, classic, natural, gamine, ingenue or romantic) is something we explore during our personal style consultations, not during colour analysis. The two are complementary and entirely distinct processes.

MYTH 2: Online colour analysis is just as good.

We wish it were true. But unfortunately, online colour analysis simply doesn’t work. Screens distort colours, lighting conditions vary and camera lenses skew undertones. A filter or even ambient light from a window can dramatically alter how colours appear on your face. Without placing high-quality drapes physically against your natural skin in daylight, it is impossible to accurately determine your season.

MYTH 3: Colour analysis is limiting.

Another biggie. People often worry that once they know their season, they’ll have to get rid of half their wardrobe. In reality, colour analysis does the opposite. It expands your wardrobe by giving you a whole palette of shades that harmonise with each other and with you.

When your wardrobe is built from colours that work together, getting dressed becomes easier and more joyful. Everything coordinates, shopping becomes more focused and you stop buying things you'll never wear. That’s not limiting — that’s liberating.

MYTH 4: It’s just a trend.

We understand the scepticism. TikTok and Instagram have made colour analysis feel like a passing fad. But House of Colour has been delivering expert, science-backed consultations since 1985. This isn’t a trend for us. It’s our entire business and our results stand the test of time.

What Sets House of Colour Apart?

1. Our Science-Backed Process: We don’t guess your season. We show you the physical evidence using precision-dyed drapes used in natural daylight.

2. Three-Hour Consultation: No rushing. A full analysis an educational talk about the colour wheel, analysing your undertones to discover your season, and a colour-matched make-up session using your seasonal palette of colours.

3. Experienced Consultants: Our consultants undergo extensive training and mentoring before seeing clients. Many have years — even decades — of experience.

4. Longevity and Trust: With more than 40 years in the industry, our track record speaks for itself. House of Colour clients return again and again, for refreshes, make-up, personal styling, wardrobe editing and personal shopping. We’re a trusted guide on your colour journey.

Why It Matters Now More Than Ever

We’re all a little more aware of how we spend our money these days. Fast fashion, overconsumption, and waste are big concerns. Knowing your colours allows you to shop smarter and more sustainably. You buy less, but wear more. You stop settling for 'it will do' and start choosing 'wow'.

And there’s more. A 2023 study from the British Psychological Society found that people who wear colours that suit them report higher self-confidence and are perceived as more competent and attractive by others. That’s the power of colour.

In an age of digital everything, colour analysis is refreshingly analogue. It’s hands-on, it’s human and it’s deeply personal. And when done right, it’s life-changing.

The Truth About Pricing

We know that House of Colour isn’t the cheapest image consultancy out there. And we’re okay with that.

Our prices reflect the quality, care, and precision of what we offer. A three-hour consultation with a trained, experienced consultant using a proven, scientific system. We have beautiful tools and make-up created to match our seasonal palettes. When you buy cheap, you often buy twice. When you invest in a reputable service, you invest in yourself.

The Abigail Buchanan Article: A Missed Opportunity

We read Abigail Buchanan’s article with interest — and sadness. It’s unfortunate that her experience was disappointing, but it also highlights the risks of choosing an underqualified colour analyst.

True colour analysis should never feel rushed or vague and it will be empowering, not confusing. And most importantly, it should leave you feeling more confident and more you.

That’s what we aim for at House of Colour. Every single time.

Final Thoughts: Let’s Clear the Colour Confusion

To the curious scrollers, the sceptical readers, and the cautious shoppers: we get it. There’s a lot of noise out there. But colour analysis, when done right, is not fluff. It’s not a TikTok trend. It’s a tested, trusted tool to help you feel and look your best.

We believe in colour analysis because we’ve seen the impact it has—on wardrobes, on confidence, on lives. If you’ve ever felt that something was “off” in your look but couldn’t put your finger on it, colour analysis might be the missing piece.

It’s not about rules. It’s about harmony. And once you experience it for yourself, you’ll never see colour the same way again.

Click Here For Your May Colour Inspiration Catalogues

Enjoy your weekend! Next week's 'The Weekend Read' is all about Bras - fit facts and more. Lookout for that next Saturday.

Best wishes,

Jenny & Judi x