True spring color palette

The palette

Cream and camel replace white and black as neutrals, with warm brown as the dark anchor. Coral, tomato red and golden yellow are the strongest colors near the face; apple green, grass green and warm turquoise are easy everyday accents, and cornflower and warm violet are the cooler end. Two or three warm brights worn together suit this palette better than one bright next to grey.

What makes it true spring

Undertone

Warm, and this is the defining trait. Every color in the palette has a golden or yellow base; nothing is greyed or blue-based.

Depth

Light to medium. The palette avoids very dark colors; warm brown and camel are about as deep as it goes.

Clarity

Clear. The colors are clean and lively. Dusty or smoky versions of the same hues tend to look flat on a true spring.

True springs often have golden blonde, strawberry, golden brown or red hair, clear blue, green or warm hazel eyes, and skin with a golden or peachy glow, sometimes freckled. These are tendencies, not rules; natural redheads, for example, turn up among the autumns as often as among the springs.

Hair colors for true spring

These hair colors come from the spring family. For true spring the warmest of them are the closest match: honey golden blonde, strawberry blonde and caramel balayage. Butter blonde, blonde and blonde highlights are the lighter options. Each one opens the shade, so you can try it on your own photo.

For women

• Honey golden blonde
• Butter blonde
• Strawberry blonde
• Blonde
• Blonde highlights
• Caramel balayage

For men

• Honey golden blonde
• Butter blonde
• Strawberry blonde
• Blonde
• Cowboy copper
• Golden brown

Colors to go easy on

Cool, dusty and stark colors are the usual mismatch: black, optic white, blue grey, dusty rose and burgundy. Near the face they can drain warmth from the skin and make it look grey. Swap black for warm brown and optic white for cream; away from the face, as shoes or a bag, these colors rarely matter.

Close seasons

Questions