Seasonal Color Analysis Chart: A Comprehensive Guide

Download Article

Color analysis expert Maja Koziara explains how the color analysis chart works and why it’s so useful

Co-authored by Maja Koziara and Jennifer Vasquez, BA, MA

Last Updated: June 30, 2026 Fact Checked

Download Article

• Finding Your Season
|
• The 4 Color Seasons
|
• The 12 Color Seasons
|
• Understanding Color Analysis
|
• Understanding Color Theory
|
• Can people of color use this system?
|
• Do AI tools work?
|
• Video

|Show more |Show less

Color analysis is the key to figuring out which colors look the most flattering on you. The color of your hair, eyes, and skin all affect where you fall within the color seasons. When you’re new to color analysis, it can be tricky to understand, but this guide is here to help! Color analysis experts shared their insight on how to interpret the color analysis chart to figure out your color season. We define color analysis, explain four seasons color analysis and twelve seasons color analysis, and more!

Color Analysis Chart & Season Color Wheel

Download Image

Download Image

Color analysis expert Maja Koziara says that color analysis can help you find a palette that best complements your overall coloring. The different color palettes are organized into the 4 seasons and their 12 sub-types: true/dark/bright winter, bright/true/light spring, light/true/soft summer, and dark/true/soft autumn.

Steps

Section 1 of 7:

How to Find Your Color Season

Download Article

1. 
   1
   Determine if your undertone is cool, warm, or neutral. This can also be referred to as your temperature or hue. Color analysis expert, certified image consultant, and style coach Julia Dobkine says she first looks at the undertone when doing her color analysis. She says it helps her to figure out if she should go with a cool or warm palette. Cool undertones means your skin has a bluish, pink, or rosy hue. Warm undertones indicate a golden, yellow, or peachy complexion.

   • The drape test is one way to figure out your undertone. Try on different colors or drape scarves or shirts around your neck to see how they look against your skin. Which colors wash you out and which ones enhance your features?
   • Cool undertones are associated with winter or summer; warm undertones are associated with spring or autumn.
   • Color analysis expert & professional makeup artist Bethany Brenneman shares makeup tips for each season according to your undertone. Here’s what Brenneman recommends:
     • Spring: Light, warm, and vibrant colors.
     • Summer: Light, soft, and muted shades.
     • Autumn: Warm, deep, and muted tones.
     • Winter: Cool, vibrant, and deep shades.

   Meet the wikiHow Experts

   Maja Koziara is a color analysis expert who’s dedicated to helping her clients find the best colors that work for them.

   Kate Heussler is a branding, etiquette, and image consultant who’s used her color analysis knowledge in the fashion and beauty industries.

   Anqi Xue is a master color analysis consultant & professional makeup artist. They help their clients determine their tone based on the 12 seasonal colors.

   Julia Dobkine is a color analysis expert, certified image consultant, and style coach. She helps people embrace their uniqueness through color.

   Bethany Brenneman is a color analysis expert & professional makeup artist with over a decade of experience in her industry.
2. 
   2
   Evaluate if your overall coloring is light or deep. This refers to your “value” in color analysis. Light value usually includes traits like light hair, skin, and eyes. For example, fair skin, blonde hair, and light green eyes. Deep value encompasses darker features, such as dark brown/black hair and eyes, as well as medium to dark complexions. Below, see how the seasons match with the light and dark values:

   • Spring: Warm and light
   • Summer: Cool and light
   • Autumn: Warm and deep
   • Winter: Cool and deep
   Advertisement
3. 
   3
   Figure out your chroma. This is about how bright or muted your coloring is. If you have bright chroma, you likely have vivid, crisp features, such as bright blue eyes. There may also be a definite contrast between your hair and complexion. Muted chroma means your features are generally softer. The color of your hair, eyes, and skin may all be very similar with little contrast.

   • Koziara says shiny, shimmery, and silky finishes work great for bright seasons, like spring and winter. If you’re a muted season, like summer or autumn, she continues, “more matte and less shimmer is better.”
4. 
   4
   Find your main season by evaluating your characteristics. Are you more spring, summer, autumn, or winter? You can learn where you fall by looking at the color of your eyes, hair, and skin. Compare these things to the common physical traits of each of the four seasons to find where you fit in best.
5. 
   5
   Figure out your subtype within your main season. Once you know which of the four main seasons you fall under, you can then determine which subcategory within that season you relate to most. Your value and chroma play a major part in finding your subtype. The seasonal subtypes are more nuanced and recognize that not everyone fits neatly into just one of the four-season color categories.
6. 
   6
   Consult a color analysis expert for help. If you’re still not sure how to figure out your color season with these steps, seek out help from a professional! A color analysis expert can evaluate your overall coloring and give you a clearer idea of what color season best suits you. Makeup artists are excellent people to consult.

   • Still feeling stuck? Take our Color Analysis Quiz to discover your color season!
Advertisement

Section 2 of 7:

The Four Seasons in Color Analysis

Download Article

1. 
   1
   Spring Spring season colors are vibrant and bright. They can include shades like apple green, coral, and turquoise. The undertone is warm with a light value, and the chroma of this season is categorized as bright.

   • If your season is spring, you may have a warm undertone with light-colored hair and light green, blue, or brown eyes.
2. 
   2
   Summer Summer colors are cool, soft, and muted. Branding, etiquette, and image consultant Kate Heussler mentions that they’re light and include more pastels. Lavender, baby blue, and pastel pink are a few colors that can fall under this category.

   • If your season is summer, you likely have a cool undertone with light blonde or medium brown hair and eyes that are grey-blue, cool green, or grey-brown.
3. 
   3
   Autumn Autumn colors are warm and dark. This palette is more muted and contains colors like “seasonal oranges, greens, and yellows,” says Heussler. Shades are deep and rich and can include rust, olive, and deep oranges.

   • If your season is autumn, you may have warm or golden undertones with mid-brown, black, or deep red hair and hazel or black-brown eyes.
4. 
   4
   Winter Winter season colors are cool and dark. They also often include high-contrast shades. Heussler says to think of “deep, dark colors that are still jewels as well.” These can include icy blues, crimson red, and stark black.

   • If your season is winter, you might have cool or olive undertones with hair that’s ashy mid-brown. Your eyes may be black-brown or grey-blue.
Advertisement

Section 3 of 7:

The Twelve Sub-Seasons in Color Analysis

Download Article

1. 
   1
   Light Spring Light spring colors are soft with low contrast. They also balance light and warmth. Below, find common characteristics of a light spring:

   • Hair color: Pale to medium blonde and brown
   • Eye color: Light blue, green, hazel, or soft brown
   • Skin tone: Fair skin, sometimes with freckles
   • Hue: Warm/neutral
   • Value: Light
   • Chroma: Medium
   • Best colors: Light and warm colors, i.e., peach, mint, butter yellow, and sky blue
   • Worst colors: Dark, bold colors
2. 
   2
   True (Warm) Spring True (warm) spring is warm and bright with golden undertones and medium contrast. Take a look at some of the traits associated with this subtype:

   • Hair color: Strawberry blonde, golden blonde, light golden brown, coppery red
   • Eye color: Blue, dark green, light hazel
   • Skin tone: Porcelain to light bronze
   • Hue: Warm
   • Value: Medium
   • Chroma: Clear and bright
   • Best colors: Warm, clear colors, i.e., coral, turquoise, camel, and light navy
   • Worst colors: Cool pastels, darker shades
3. 
   3
   Bright Spring Bright spring has high contrast and encompasses people with a range of skin tones. Eye color tends to be a mix of colors. Here are common characteristics of this subtype:

   • Hair color: Golden light to dark brown
   • Eye color: Blue, green, light brown
   • Skin tone: Porcelain to golden brown
   • Hue: Warm/neutral
   • Value: Medium
   • Chroma: Clear, bright
   • Best colors: Saturated, vivid colors, i.e., hot pink, aqua, lemon yellow, and warm red
   • Worst colors: Nudes, muted pastels
4. 
   4
   Light Summer Light summer includes people with fair, cool skin tones and pale hair and eye color. The palette is fresher and cooler and has soft hues. Some describe light summer colors as uplifting and magical. Here are common characteristics:

   • Hair color: Light ash brown, light to medium ash blonde
   • Eye color: Light gray, light blue, light green, medium blue
   • Skin tone: Neutral undertone
   • Hue: Cool/neutral
   • Value: Light
   • Chroma: Medium
   • Best colors: Soft, cool, and light, i.e., powder blue, rose pink, lavender, and soft aqua
   • Worst colors: Really warm, dark, or bold colors
5. 
   5
   Soft Summer The soft summer color palette is muted with low contrast. There’s usually not as much variation between eye, hair, and skin color. Check out the following traits for this subtype:

   • Hair color: Light to medium brown
   • Eye color: Gray, blue, hazel, brown
   • Skin tone: Light to medium beige, light brown with neutral undertones
   • Hue: Cool/neutral
   • Value: Medium
   • Chroma: Soft
   • Best colors: Softer, cooler colors, i.e., sage, taupe, dusty rose, and misty blue
   • Worst colors: Neon colors
6. 
   6
   True (Cool) Summer True (cool) summer is a balance between cool and muted tones. This can be seen in the color of your skin, hair, and eyes if you fall under this subtype. The following are characteristics of this group:

   • Hair color: Medium to dark brown
   • Eye color: Gray, blue, slate
   • Skin tone: Medium beige to dark cool brown
   • Hue: Cool
   • Value: Medium
   • Chroma: More soft and muted
   • Best colors: Medium-cool hues, i.e., periwinkle, cool navy, raspberry, and slate gray
   • Worst colors: Warm and earth shades
7. 
   7
   Soft Autumn The soft autumn color palette has little contrast between eye, hair, and skin color. This subtype typically includes individuals with auburn hair, hazel or olive eyes, and a muted golden complexion. Here are more common features:

   • Hair color: Golden blonde, dark brown
   • Eye color: Green, hazel, blue, light brown
   • Skin tone: Ivory, tan, light brown
   • Hue: Warm/neutral
   • Value: Light
   • Chroma: Soft/muted
   • Best colors: Muted, warm colors, i.e., sage, taupe, warm gray, and muted peach
   • Worst colors: Harsh, really pigmented colors
8. 
   8
   Warm (True) autumn The warm (true) autumn color palette embodies golden undertones and medium contrast. It’s also the most balanced autumn season subtype when it comes to tones and contrast. Here are common traits:

   • Hair color: Warm auburn, medium to dark brown with golden tones, dark red
   • Eye color: Light brown, green, hazel
   • Skin tone: Ivory, golden, medium brown
   • Hue: Warm
   • Value: Medium
   • Chroma: Medium
   • Best colors: Rich and muted colors, i.e., mustard, camel, pumpkin, olive, and rust
   • Worst colors: Pastels
9. 
   9
   Deep Autumn The deep autumn color palette is characterized by robust contrast. Common features may include black hair, deep golden skin, and dark eyes. Here are some more characteristics connected to this subgroup:

   • Hair color: Medium to dark brown, brown-black
   • Eye color: Dark blue, dark green, dark brown
   • Skin tone: Ivory, golden beige, medium to rich browns
   • Hue: Warm/neutral
   • Value: Deep
   • Chroma: Medium-high
   • Best colors: Bold, warm pigments, i.e., espresso, teal, mahogany. and forest green
   • Worst colors: Dusty shades, pastels
10. 
    10
    Cool (True) Winter Cool (true) winter has more contrast between hair, eyes, and skin tone. Icy and cool colors are ideal if you fall under this category. Take a look at the following breakdown:

    • Hair color: Ashy or black brown, black with blue undertones
    • Eye color: Blue, gray, icy hazel, black/brown
    • Skin tone: Pale beige, pale olive, black (no golden hues)
    • Hue: Cool
    • Value: Medium
    • Chroma: Medium-high
    • Best colors: Pure, saturated colors, i.e., navy, cherry red, emerald, and icy pink
    • Worst colors: Golden and brown hues
11. 
    11
    Bright Winter Bright winter usually includes physical traits like fair to medium skin, vibrant eyes, and dark hair. There’s also usually a higher contrast between skin tone and hair color. The following are common traits of this seasonal group:

    • Hair color: Medium brown to black
    • Eye color: Jewel-like eyes, i.e., bright blue, green, gray hazel, deep brown
    • Skin tone: Light olive, cool undertones
    • Hue: Cool/neutral
    • Value: Medium
    • Chroma: High
    • Best colors: Vivid colors, i.e., fuchsia, cobalt blue, icy turquoise, and true white
    • Worst colors: Muted tones, warmer shades
12. 
    12
    Deep Winter Deep winter, also called dark winter, is typically characterized by dark hair and eye color and cool undertones. The deep winter color palette is rich and has higher contrast. Here are some common features of this subtype:

    • Hair color: Medium to dark brown, black, silver gray
    • Eye color: Dark hazel, dark brown, black
    • Skin tone: Olive undertones, deep cool undertones
    • Hue: Cool/neutral
    • Value: Deep
    • Chroma: Bright and clear
    • Best colors: High-saturation colors, i.e., black, charcoal, burgundy, royal blue, and pine green
    • Worst colors: Earthy tones, warm nudes/browns
Advertisement

Section 4 of 7:

What is color analysis?

Download Article

1. 
   1
   Color analysis determines what color palette flatters you the most. It’s a science rooted in color theory that bases results off of physical traits, like your skin tone and the color of your hair and eyes. According to Heussler, it’s about “how color is shown on the human body.” She also adds that color analysis is “a universal color system” that works the same no matter what country you’re in.

   • Koziara says she uses color analysis to find the colors that enhance a person’s skin tone and make their features pop. She refers to it to help individuals coordinate their outfits, accessories, and makeup.
2. 
   2
   Color analysis is divided into color seasons. There’s the four-season system and the twelve-color system. These seasonal color analysis methods consist of various color palettes that coordinate with the nuances of your unique color traits. They’re broken down into many shades and take into account characteristics like temperature, chroma, and value. Human coloring is diverse, so seasonal color analysis helps to represent all of the variations.

   • Four-season color analysis is categorized as spring, summer, autumn, and fall. It looks at the undertone of your skin, hair, and eyes, as well as how light versus deep your overall coloring is.
3. 
   3
   12-season color analysis divides the main seasons into smaller groups. Dobkine explains that “each home season also has another three sub-seasons.” This results in 12 sub-seasons all together. This is where temperature (hue), value, and chroma play a big role. The twelve seasons color palette is beneficial when your overall coloring blends different characteristics of the main four seasons.

   • Dobkine also uses a 16-season color analysis system. She says the main difference is that the 16-season method “has four neutral seasons; 12 doesn't have neutral seasons.” She goes on to add, “For 16, we have warm palettes, we have cool palettes, and then we have neutral palettes, and it's very, very defined.”
   • Figure out your season in our guide on finding your color palette!
4. 
   4
   The development of color analysis happened during the 20th century. Although the concept has existed for centuries, the formulas we know today began to emerge during the 1920s and ‘30s. Artist Johannes Itten was one of the first people to evaluate how colors interact with the face and other physical characteristics. However, it was Carole Jackson’s book Color Me Beautiful, published during the 1980s, that really defined color seasons.
Advertisement

Section 5 of 7:

Understanding Color Theory

Download Article

1. 
   1
   Color theory explains how colors work together. It shows how colors affect what we see and how we feel and plays an important role in color analysis. It looks at what colors pair well together and how they’re best used. It also uses the color wheel, which visually shows how colors relate to each other.

   • The color wheel breaks colors down into primary, secondary, and tertiary colors. Primary colors can’t be mixed with other colors. Secondary colors are the result of two primary colors being combined, while tertiary colors blend a secondary color with a primary color.
     • Primary colors: red, blue, yellow
     • Secondary colors: green, orange, purple
     • Tertiary colors: vermillion, amber, chartreuse, teal, violet, magenta
2. 
   2
   Hue, value, and chroma are essential elements of color theory. They help find your complementary shades. According to master color analysis consultant & professional makeup artist Anqi Xue, these factors are integral to color analysis. They work together to determine which colors flatter you and bring out your best features.

   • Hue is the temperature of your overall coloring (skin, hair, eyes). It’s measured by warm cool, and neutral. Warm undertones have a yellow or peachy base. Cool undertones have a pink or bluish base. Neutral undertones have a balance of cool and warm and may be more beige or medium.
   • Value refers to how light or dark your overall coloring is. Light value is usually someone with soft coloring, like light blonde hair and fair skin. Dark value can be someone with dark brown or black hair and medium skin.
   • Chroma looks at the intensity of a color. Xue says, “Chroma is basically how bright or saturated the color is. For example, the higher the chroma, the more saturated the color is. The lower the chroma, the more muted the saturation is.”
Advertisement

Section 6 of 7:

Color Analysis & People of Color

Download Article

1. 
   Color analysis includes people of color and can be used by everyone. While there’s a misconception that color analysis is only for those with fair or lighter skin tones, it does work for people with deeper skin tones. People of color can fall under any of the four main seasons, not just autumn and winter, because their skin tones also encompass a broad spectrum. For example, singer Rihanna is considered a soft summer, while actress Jada Pinkett Smith is a spring.

   • People of color can wear a range of colors and don’t have to stick to only darker shades. Once you know your undertone, you can find what colors work best for you.

Section 7 of 7:

Do color analysis apps and AI tools work?

Download Article

1. Online color analysis tools and apps may not be accurate. There are mixed opinions on whether using apps and AI platforms, like ChatGPT, can properly help with color analysis assessments. These tools typically evaluate your overall coloring based on an uploaded photo, which may not be the most accurate depiction of you. Factors like lighting and picture quality can lead to an inaccurate reading.

   • AI tools and apps can’t detect the subtle nuances of your undertone, which can affect results.
   • You don’t have to avoid color analysis AI tools and apps. They can be a great starting point on your color season journey, but it may be beneficial to get a second opinion from an expert in person.
Advertisement

Expert Q&A

Search

Add New Question

Ask a Question

200 characters left

Include your email address to get a message when this question is answered.

Submit

Advertisement

Video

Tips

Submit a Tip

All tip submissions are carefully reviewed before being published

Name

Please provide your name and last initial

Submit

Thanks for submitting a tip for review!