When it comes to understanding personal style and enhancing your natural beauty, colour analysis is an invaluable tool. One often-overlooked yet essential element of colour analysis is contrast.
Understanding your natural contrast can transform how you see yourself, guide your hair and makeup choices, and even simplify your wardrobe. But what exactly is contrast, and why is it so important?
What Is Natural Contrast?
Your natural contrast refers to the level of difference between the colours in your features: your skin tone, eye color, and natural hair color. Think of it as the "visual dynamic" of your appearance. For instance:
High contrast:Â Found in individuals with stark differences between their features, such as fair skin with dark hair and bright eyes. Classic examples include Snow White-like coloring skin and dark coloring eyes. This level of contrast can be found in individuals with a winter, autumn or spring seasonal palette. Anne Hathaway is a perfect example of a high-contrasted beauty.
Medium contrast:Â A balance between light and dark elements, such as medium-toned skin with soft brown hair and brown or hazel eyes. This level of contrast can be found in summer, spring and autumn seasons. Julia Roberts is a perfect example of a medium contrast.
Low contrast:Â Occurs when there is little difference between features, such as light skin, light hair, and light eyes, or dark skin with dark eyes and hair. This level of contrast is mostly found in spring and summer seasons. Elle Fanning is a perfect example of a low contrast.

Your natural contrast level plays a key role in determining how you harmonize with the colours around you.
Why Is Contrast Important?
Contrast serves as a "blueprint" for your styling choices, ensuring your look feels harmonious and authentic. Here are some key reasons why understanding your contrast is essential:
1. Guides Hair Color Choices
Choosing the wrong hair color can disrupt your natural harmony. For example, someone with low contrast and light features might look overwhelmed by jet-black hair, while a high-contrast individual can pull it off beautifully. Understanding your natural contrast ensures your hair color enhances your features rather than overshadowing them.

2. Informs Makeup Application
Contrast determines the intensity of makeup you should wear. High-contrast individuals can rock bold lipstick and dramatic eyeliner, like Selena, while low-contrast individuals often shine with soft, blended tones that mirror their natural harmony - Gwyneth showing how it's done below.

3. Streamlines Wardrobe Choices
Your contrast level helps you identify the best patterns and colour combinations for your wardrobe. High-contrast individuals look stunning in bold, high-contrast prints like black-and-white stripes, while low-contrast individuals are complemented by softer, tonal patterns. That's the reason why Viola Davis looks stunning in bold, high-contrasted prints, but Jessica Alba and Isla Fisher not so much, because they have softer, warmer features and medium contrast.

An important thing to notice is that not only the contrast level doesnt work, but also the undertone is off for Jessica and Isla. The undertone plays a huge part in colour analysis, and just like every other feature, we should always repeat our undertone in our clothes.
For example, JLo has definitely a medium contrast and a warm undertone. The photo below shows her in a perfect medium contrast print - but also a cool undertone print. When we change the colour of the dress to a warmer brownish tone, the print works a thousand times better for her.

You can also notice below if she uses an animal print that is high-contrasted, she doesnt look her best. But when the print is medium contrast - and also warm - that's a winner!

4. Boosts Confidence
When your appearance aligns with your natural features, you’ll feel more confident and polished. Understanding your contrast helps you choose colours and styles that amplify your natural beauty rather than working against it.
Practical Tips for Using Contrast in Your Image
Stick to your contrast level:Â Match the contrast in your outfits to your natural contrast. For example, if you have medium contrast, aim for outfits with a similar balance, like navy with soft white instead of pure black and white.
Experiment with accessories: If you’re unsure about incorporating contrast into your wardrobe, start small. Use scarves, jewelry, or handbags to test how different contrasts work with your look.
Revisit your makeup routine: Adjust your makeup intensity to complement your natural contrast. Try softer looks if you’re low contrast or bolder colours if you’re high contrast.
Consult a professional:Â A colour analysis session can provide a tailored understanding of your contrast and how to apply it to all areas of your style.
What if I dont want to follow my natural contrast?
Like I said above, following your natural contrast creates harmony and it will make you look your best. If you decide to go against your contrast, you will get the opposite result.
However, there are definitely some situations where you want to stand out and going against your contrast might help you to achieve that. It is all about finding some balance: do you want a dramatic, but still sohpisticated look? Or do you want to create impact no matter what?
Nicola shows a great example below, looking naturally wonderful in the first photo, and adding a drama to the second photo, but still looking extremely sophisticated and polished. The last 2 photos show an impactful look, which was probably the intention of the make-up artists and the editorial stylists.

Playing with make-up and different levels of intensity is a great way to experiment with your contrast. And, at the end if the day (or night) you can just remove the make-up and go back to your naturaly beautiful self.
I would be more cautious when it comes to hair, since it's not as easy to change, and it will definitely last more than a day or night.
Notice below how Katy Perry glows in her natural high contrast. The second photo shows a different hair colour, but sticking to her natural contrast, and she looks amazing. In the last 2 photos she tries a medium contrast with a red tone and a low contrast with a blonde look - and they simply make her look off.

How to Find Your Natural Contrast
Finding your natural contrast requires a close look at your features and how they interact. Here’s a step-by-step guide:
Assess your skin tone:Â Determine whether your skin is light, medium, or dark.
Look at your natural hair color: Observe the depth and chroma of your hair—is it medium, light, or dark? Is it soft and ashy or bright and shiny? PS: If you dye your hair, you need to consider your NATURAL hair colour.
Examine your eye color:Â Note whether your eyes are light, medium, or dark, and whether they are bright or muted.
Compare the differences:Â Observe the level of contrast between your skin, hair, and eyes. For instance, do you see stark differences (high contrast) or more subtle gradations (low contrast)?
Another way to determine your contrast is by taking a photo of yourself without any make-up or skincare on.
Make sure you take the photo in natural lighting and ideally facing a window. You dont want direct sunlight, but a fair amount of natural light so you can clearly see your skin tone and eyes.
Edit your photo and change the saturation to the lowest level (usually -100).
Make sure you cover your hair if your hair colour is not natural.
Analyse the difference between light and dark using the edited photo. Try to also notice if there are any striking features, like your eyes or hair for example.
For a precise analysis, work with a colour consultant who can evaluate your contrast alongside your seasonal palette.

Embrace the Power of Contrast
Your natural contrast is a vital piece of your personal style puzzle. By understanding and embracing it, you’ll gain insight into how to harmonize your hair, makeup, and wardrobe with your natural features. Contrast isn’t just about aesthetics—it’s a powerful tool for feeling your best and presenting your most authentic self to the world. So why not take the time to discover yours? You may be surprised by the transformative results.
Yours in style,

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