What is the best way to get my colors done? Virtual color analysis vs in person vs an app

Feb 22

If you’ve considered getting a color analysis, you’ve probably found yourself wondering: what’s the best way to get my colors done?

Historically, color analysis was only available in-person, but over the years we’ve seen a rise in virtual color analysis companies, at-home DIY methods, and even apps. With so many options available, it can feel overwhelming!

We believe that a color analysis can have a HUGE impact on how you feel in your clothes, and we want everyone to experience the joy and value of knowing their colors. So, we’ve broken down some of the pros and cons (and even red flags!) of the various methods so you can make the best choice for you and your budget!

Free websites/quizes/apps

TLDR: You get what you pay for!

PROS:

Inexpensive
Quick
Accessible to anyone with internet access

CONS: :

Not reliable or accurate
Often based on stereotypes with no personalization
Will be wildly inaccurate for WOC
Quizzes will be influenced by your own personal biases

It’s easy to find free resources that claim to help you figure out your palette - just google “free color analysis” and you’ll find plenty of options. These resources often take the form of:

1) quizzes that you fill out

2) a bot that will analyze a photo of you

3) some combination of the two above

Color analysis quizzes rely heavily on your own ability to answer complex questions like:

What are your skin’s undertones? Which colors do you look good in? Which colors do you look bad in?

These questions are not easy to answer and will be impacted by your own bias. It’s difficult to separate the colors you like/dislike from what you ACTUALLY look good/bad in. Had I taken one of these quizzes before my color analysis training, I would have confidently told you that orange and brown look awful on me. Since getting my color’s done, I now know that’s not true. Orange and brown are actually VERY complimentary to my features and are considered some of my best colors - I just don’t like them at face value. I would have also told you that I have an “olive” skin tone, but I actually have a “warm” skin tone. Because of my own biases, I wouldn’t have been able to get an accurate result using this free method. Having an impartial perspective is crucial to getting truthful results. Quizzes will only be as accurate as you are!

Photo analyzers present a different kind of problem. Without a person behind the screen, they will quickly put you in a box based on common stereotypes and can’t assess YOUR unique qualities. As a team, we decided to put one of the photo analyzers to the test! Out of the 23 people who participated, only 6 people got their correct palette - a 26% accuracy rate! When a different photo was submitted, some of us received completely different results, even from one try to the next! Without having a professional to intervene, these results were very fickle and not to be trusted. (For the full results of our experiment, go to the bottom of this post!)

For the budget conscious person, free resources like these can be fun to play around with! You might get lucky and narrow down your palette options, but you’ll have to invest a lot of time and effort into learning the basics of color analysis/color theory to judge the accuracy of your results. Even once you’ve invested that time, you might still find yourself feeling unsure and not having the clarity you need to confidently move forward.

If you can, we recommend saving for a professional consultation with a real human (whether online or in person). If purchasing a service isn’t ideal for you right now, Lindsey (our CEO) shared her recommendation for a free way to use trusted friends to learn some of your best and worst colors in this Huffpost article.

Virtual color analysis

TLDR: a virtual analysis is the most convenient professional option, and can be purchased at various price points. Given the virtual aspect, you should only work with a reputable group. Groups that claim to be able to perform an accurate analysis using very few photos should be a red flag.

PROS:

No need to travel - convenient and can do from home on your own schedule
Many options of people/companies to work with
Often less expensive compared to in-person analysis
More variety in price points
Accessible to anyone with internet access

CONS:

Can be difficult to find a reputable group
Some companies lack experience with People of Color
More responsibility put on the client to submit high quality photos

Virtual color analysis services are becoming increasingly common, made possible by the rising quality of phone cameras. Because it can be done online, anyone with internet access can get their colors done - a HUGE milestone in accessibility! There is a wide range of price points to fit every budget, although, as the saying goes, you often get what you pay for. Some are skeptical about virtual color analysis and as a company who specializes in this service, we honestly think you should be! The results of an online color analysis can only be as good as the process the company uses, and the experience of the analyst.

There is no shortcut to learning your colors accurately; the only way to tell which colors you look best in is to ACTUALLY see how your features respond when draped next to colors in each category (cool, warm, light, dark, bright, and faded colors). Anything less is at best, a guess.

Digitally draping your photo next to different color graphics or a filter is also inaccurate, because discrepancies in the lighting of the photo skew the results (i.e. a photo where you were in the golden sunlight won’t look right next to a cool digital palette, and dimly lit photos won’t look right next to light and bright colors).

A reputable virtual anaylst will need to see you take multiple photos draped in different types of colors in the same sitting, in natural light, and have the experience and skill to account for different lighting scenarios in order to discern the patterns of which colors do and don’t work for you.

At Created Colorful, we require a survey, a handful of personal photos, and two rounds of what we call “color selfies” to see how your features ACTUALLY respond to various colors. We even have a team member who gives you lighting feedback in between the rounds to help us get the best possible photos. Our consultants (who have collectively helped over 15,000 clients) rely on all of this information to accurately analyze you, and match you with your best palette.

Unfortunately, we’ve seen too many virtual companies operate on minimal photos or information when performing color analysis and we view this as a red flag. Sure, it’s “easier” and in some cases, it might be less expensive. However these methods take a very simple approach to a complex and intricate process. They often rely on color palette stereotypes and don’t take into account the unique beauty of each client.

Even worse, People of Color are often completely mistyped because color analysis methods have historically been based on White women, and those stereotypes do not apply for other skin tones and ethnicities. One must have tailored training and experience with many ethnic groups and skin depths in order to provide a thoughtful and accurate analysis for People of Color. If a company doesn’t require any draped selfies at all, you shouldn’t give them your business.

A friendly tip: Always look up client testimonials on a company's website or social media. As a POC, it is especially important to ensure there are reviews from other POC and that the group has experience working with diverse clients. You deserve to get your colors done by someone knowledgeable and experienced, and not to be “lumped into a palette” based on the color of your skin, eyes, or hair. You can see reviews from many POC on our instagram here.

The moral of the story here: color analysis is complex and anyone who makes it too “easy” should be a red flag. If you come across a company who requires very little information/photos from you, they are likely making decisions based on common stereotypes rather than how you ACTUALLY respond to colors. They might get it right, but it’s better to work with a company who takes the time to investigate and has actual evidence behind the palette they select for you.

In-Person color analysis

TLDR: An in-person analysis is a great option for those with higher budgets and who have access to a trusted consultant in their area

PROS:

Client can be hands off - the consultant will do all the work at the appointment
Likely to get accurate results*

*If you're a POC, always verify that your consultant has experience and good reviews from other POC.

CONS:

Lack of access (might have to drive many miles to find someone who does this)
Less options to choose from - you might only have one near you
Typically the most expensive option
Might be difficult for those with a restricted schedule (daytime - only appointments)

In-person color analysis is a tried and true way of getting your colors done. If you work with a reputable company, you can expect a quality experience. While this method typically costs more than virtual services, it’s hands-off for the client – you show up to your appointment and your consultant will take it from there.

Unfortunately, GETTING to an appointment might prove to be the most challenging task. Between the driving time (assuming you even have a consultant within driving distance) and the appointment length, in-person appointments can be a challenge for those with a limited schedule. This method requires the highest level of investment (time and $$$), making it less accessible when compared to virtual services.

You might also want to check and see what sort of follow-up support is offered by an analyst in your location. Do they have a blog? Client groups you can join? Resources for integrating your palette into your real life when you get home?

All in all, if you have the time and budget, an in-person analysis is a great option. If you’re limited in these areas, a virtual consultation with a reputable company can get you accurate results without the hassle of commuting and the high price point.

Getting your colors done can add major value to your life! There are many options for getting an analysis but we strongly recommend both in-person and virtual consultations as long as it’s with a trusted company. Here are some things to ask yourself when browsing companies:

Does the company showcase testimonials on their website or social media?
What’s my budget? What companies are within my budget? Am I okay saving for a particular service?
How does the company approach diversity? Do they have a history of working with POC? Do they value diversity in their hiring process and have POC on their team?
Do I have the time and energy to attend an in-person appointment? or would virtual be easier for me?
Does this company have a team of consultants? Or do they work by themselves?
What kind of support/resources does the company offer to their clients after a color consultation?
What is the process? Does it feel sufficient/thorough enough that I can trust the outcome?

Everyone deserves to experience a color analysis! We hope this gives you the inside scoop on the various methods and clarity on which might be best for you! We hope to see you thriving in your colors very soon!

And no matter which method works best for you, we would love to help cheer you on in your color journey! Check out our free blogs with educational and shoppable content for your palette.