Our guide to the 9 most common colour types and approaches to complementing your clients natural tones.

Type 1

Pigmentation = light depth with warm tone

Hair colour = light red to golden blonde

Eye colour = light blue, turquoise, green or brown

Skin colour = light beige or rosy with warm freckles

Wear shades with pea green, gold and copper tones to add intensity to this light, warm colour type; brown shades should have a light, warm red tone. Avoid grey or black as these counteract natural warmth, giving a pale appearance, which is far less expressive.

Type 2

Pigmentation = light depth with neutral tone

People with this colour type can possess opposing pigment qualities. There are two possible colour orientations:

• When analysing the hair, eyes and skin, the overriding majority have a light colour depth with neutral tones
• Predominant features are exact opposites, for example warm eye colour and cool, ashy hair, both with a light colour depth. These combine to produce a neutral colour type
• In both examples, wear light colours in order to enhance natural pigmentation, for example salmon and apricot shades are extremely flattering

Type 3

Pigmentation = light depth with cool tones

Hair colour = light ash blonde

Eye colour = all light eye colours with a noticeable amount of grey

Skin colour = light beige or rosy

Wear subdued, cool shades in order to complement this delicate pigment type; strong colours will overpower.

Type 4

Pigmentation = medium depth with warm tones

Hair colour = red blonde through to light copper brown

Eye colour = petrol, olive green, brown/green, light and medium brown

Skin colour = beige, olive beige, or rosy with warm freckles

Warm colours enhance and emphasise this colour type. For maximum effect use beige browns, yellows and coppers. Avoid cool colours, as these will counteract the natural warmth.

Type 5

Pigmentation = medium depth with neutral tones

People with this colour type can possess opposing pigment qualities.

• When analysing the hair, eyes and skin, the overriding majority is a medium colour depth with neutral tones

Individuals with these pigmentation features have the greatest number of options for colour accentuation. Just about anything goes, lighter or darker, warm or cool!

Type 6

Pigmentation = medium depth with cool tones

Hair colour = medium ash to dark blonde or brown

Eye colour = all eye colours have a noticeable amount of grey

Skin colour = beige or rosy beige

Complementary shades are in the blue to cool red spectrum; warm golden tones are not advised.

Type 7

Pigmentation = dark depth with warm tones

Hair colour = medium to dark brown and golden brown

Eye colour = olive green, green/brown or medium to dark brown

Skin colour = beige and bronze

This dark, warm type perfectly suits golden autumnal colours and warm, earthy shades, however any warm colour shade should work. Avoid sharp, bright colours as these will clash with natural pigmentation.

Type 8

People with this colour type can possess opposing pigment qualities. There are two possible colour orientations:

• When analysing the hair, eyes and skin, the overriding majority have a dark colour depth with neutral tones
• Predominant features are exact opposites, for example warm eye colour and cool, ashy hair, both with a dark colour depth. These combine to produce a neutral colour type

Bright, intense colours suit this type perfectly, as the contrasts in natural pigmentation are enhanced by strong, vivid colour without creating a clash.

Type 9

Pigmentation = dark depth with cool tones

Hair colour = medium/dark brown to black

Eye colour = dark blue, grey, green, or black/brown

Skin colour = beige, rosy or olive

This type is characterised by the strong pigmentation contrast between dark and cool. Frosty, intensely cool colours create the perfect result. Avoid warm colours as these compete with the cool natural colours.

Correctly diagnosing your clients natural colour type and explaining the process via a detailed consultation, will win client confidence in your expertise and help nuture a great relationship.