Behind the Scenes: a Created Colorful Color Consult

Have you ever wondered what the process is like with our virtual color analysis consults at Created Colorful?

A while back, our Lead Consultant, Tori, addressed the pros and cons of the different ways you can get your colors done. She got into the pros and cons of virtaul consults across the board, but I think it’s time to do a deeper dive into our proccess as a company

We pride ourselves on detail and care…

How do we use your questionnaire and first set of selfies?

As soon as you purchase your consult, we send you a questionnaire, and have a spot to upload your makeup-free color selfies (we send you a suggested list of colors and categories to submit).

On the questionnaire, we ask things like describe your natural hair color, eye color/patten. Do you tan easily? What's your ethnicity? Is your hair dyed? Do you have permanent makeup on? What colors do you personally find unflattering?

These questions are designed as a safeguard for our consultants. For example, if your hair appears really dark in the photos, and you tell us it's a medium brown, we know to tell you to sit closer to your natural light source in the next round, so we can get a better read on your hair color. Same if you say you have blue eyes, but they appear shadowy and dark in the photos.

You might say you tan easily, but appear pale in your February photos. We might ask you to submit some reference pics of you from when you had a tan so we can get the full picture.

You might say you find orange and yellow unflattering. We might email you for clarity or a few more photos, if our consultant finds you look amazing in warm autumn colors.

Nervous about getting good lighting for your selfies? There's a video for that.

Our Intake Coordinator sends you a (sweet) welcome email with any notes on your photo lighting and a tailored list of colors for your second round of selfies

We know taking selfies in EVERY color is unrealistic, so our highly experienced intake coordinator (she's done thousands of these), will review your photos, survey, and features, and request a tailored list of remaining colors that will help us narrow down on your perfect palette.

You don't have to submit all of them, but work with what you have, and use her lighting tips so what you do send in gives us the best photos to go off of. After we receive your second round of photos…

Our color analysis experts get to work

Our analysts review your survey and photos, one by one. We suspend any preconceived notions of what palette “you look like” on features alone, and let the draped photos guide us to your best palette.

We jot down observations on how your complexion and features are impacted by each color, look for any patterns in the categories of colors that are drawing out your features most, and the ones that don't do you justice.

Below is an example of some observations a consultant might take on my own draped photos. I notice as a pattern, that pale colors wash me out, bright colors compete for attention, medium depth colors are good, and warm colors (like the earthy orange) bring out my glow the best.

Next, I pull my top 4 or 5 favorite photos of the client into a “knockout grid”

My favorite colors on the “client”, the colors I disliked, and the patterns of how her features responded to bright, light, warm colors, etc. are all aligned with the Warm Autumn palette.

Now I'd look at the survey and notice things like I have warm brown eyes, naturally auburn hair, freckles, and feel washed out in gray, but like rust and olive, as a second source of confirmation.

Lastly, I'd take the best lit photo, and place it on multiple potential digital palettes as a triple confirmation. If Warm Autumn still appears the best fit, I'd assign Warm Autumn as their palette. If any of the evidence was conflicting, I'd bring it to another consultant for a second set of eyes before proceeding, and potentially ask for a few additional photos if needed.

Now, for the encouragement!

Next, your results are sent to one of our wonderful team Encouragers, who review your survey, photos, and the consultant's notes, and write a heartfelt note to you, mentioning the traits of yours that stood out to them most in your best colors, and the way they experience your natural beauty through your photos. They also communicate any important consultant notes to you (i.e. if you pull off certain colors outside of your palette well).

Can you tell I'm a details-oriented, Biology undergrad (natural researcher), masters in counseling, people-loving person with a background in painting in vivid colors from our intense, but people-focused process?