True Colors
Welcome frazzled friends! This week I have a real treat for you! I have an awesome give-a-way just for you... read on...
Do you remember the days of Color Me Beautiful or the seasonal color analysis? Shari Braendel, author of Good Girl's Don't Have to Dress Bad, my trainer, mentor and friend, developed a way to analyze our true colors (Dominant Color Characteristic = DCC). Shari has worked in the fashion industry for 20+ years and has seen all the different ways to analyze which colors look best on people. Using the Color Me Beautiful approach, she developed her own placing women in six categories rather than twelve, offering more color choices. It works! And it makes SO much more sense.
So your dominant color characteristic (DCC) is based on the color/intensity of your hair, skin and eyes. That's it - real simple. Our natural, God-given coloring is what determines which colors make us look youthful or aged, radiant or washed out.
If asked, what would you say is the most "universal" color? Most would say black. Did you? We've been told that black is slimming and that everyone should own a 'little black dress'. Lots of stores offer lots of clothing choices in black, therefore it must be the best color, right? Not necessarily.
There are six different DCCs. Light, Deep, Soft, Clear, Warm and Cool. In order to determine which category you are in, you must be completely honest about your natural hair color. We will get into the whole highlighting/lowlighting thing later. For now, what is your current God-given natural hair color? If your hair is 75% or more gray, silver or white, that is your natural hair color. If you color your hair, then your natural color is the closest to what it was before turning gray, silver or white. (Not what color hair you had when you were in elementary school). Please be honest with yourself... it makes a big difference!
Once you have determined which category you fall into, there are 36 shades of colors that have been expertly chosen for you! These are the colors that will most flatter you. I will give you a very quick general guideline, but you may want to consider getting your own "Color Swatch Shopping Guide". I have had my color swatches for over 2 years and keep them in a special pocket in my purse at all times. You never know when you will need a new red t-shirt (because yours has faded) and you are in Target and they are on sale... so having my color swatches I can pull out that particular swatch and be sure that I am getting the right shade of red. Store lighting can be very deceiving.
Now to the color analysis (DCC):
If you have fair skin, light eyes and light hair (blonde) then you are a LIGHT. You want to stay with light to medium intensity colors – those look great on you! Beware of black!! Keep it away from your face. Break up with white/black or pop color. If you are changing or enhancing your natural hair color, highlights/lowlights are good (no more than 2-3 shades lighter or darker than natural). Be careful of all over color which might look fake. Your best pop colors: turquoise, pink, lavender, sapphire blue.
In contrast, if you have dark hair, dark/medium skin and dark eyes you are a DEEP. Your best colors will be medium to deeper shades and some brights. You can wear black! Stay away from muted colors. Your dark natural hair color is best, so if you choose to highlight I would suggest no lighter than a caramel or toffee and not too many around your face. Your best pop colors are purple, true red and royal blue.
If you have light/medium hair (sometimes called mousy or dishwater blonde), light/medium skin and medium intensity eye color, you are a SOFT. Wear medium intensity colors. Never, ever, ever, not ever wear BLACK! Black ages you and drains you of your beautiful color. Sorry, but it's true! I suggest charcoal grey, medium brown and camel as your neutral base (instead of black). Also be careful of wearing very bright colors. These will overpower your natural coloring. If you choose to color your hair stay with medium highlights and lowlights (you could do several shades but be careful not to go too copper.) Your best pop colors are mint green, coral, teal blue and butter yellow.
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| I don't know her natural hair color, but here she is a soft |
If you have dark hair, light/medium skin and bright eye color you are a CLEAR. This group can wear bright colors or those with high contrast like black and white. Beware of wearing browns and beiges together. Your dark natural hair is the absolute best for you! This group is the only one that I suggest not get highlights. Best pop colors are bright purple, true red, sunny yellow, hot pink and royal blue. As a side note, I am a clear. When I speak I show my driver's license to my audience (sometimes when I doing color analysis depending on the size of the group). My hair is well, sorta brownish and blonde-ish. A poor attempt at trying to look younger. Since going back to my natural hair color I have received more compliments on my hair color than I can count. I'm telling you from experience friends, stay with your natural color!!
If you have red, golden blonde or brown hair with reddish highlights (maybe some freckles), you are a WARM. Your should wear colors that you see in the fall when the leaves begin to turn. I would suggest chocolate brown instead of black (or at least keep the black away from your face). Wearing pink is a big no-no. What? But you love pink? Well, it doesn't love you back. Pink clashes with your natural coloring and ages you. Go for more coral or peach. Absolutely stay with your natural color! You can add copper highlights if needed. Your best pop colors best pop colors are rust, butterscotch, copper, turquoise.
If you have silver, gray or ash brown hair, light to deep skin (usually pink undertone), and anywhere from light to deep eye color/intensity, you are a COOL. You should wear colors that are light to medium in intensity staying with those with a blue or pink undertone. You can rock some black! Please, oh please keep your hair it's now natural color! It's beautiful! Your best pop colors are ocean blue, royal purple, a blue-red, and soft pink. I would suggest staying away from brown/beige, yellow and orange.
Whew, I no this was a long post but I do hope you gained a lot of knowledge and don't hate me for the whole black or pink thing. And since I am absolutely crazy about my color swatches, this is my give-away this week! To be entered into the drawing to win your own personal color swatch and guide, just leave me a comment which could include anything from a color/style/fashion question or whether you like the length of the blog posts, pictures ok?, should I continue doing Bible segment or just stick with fashion (or just stick with Bible teaching *smile*)!
Next week I will discuss body types. Do you know how best to flatter your God-given body shape? I will also announce the winner of the drawing.
If you are reading this via Facebook, I would love for you to share my post with others in your area.
Blessings!
