True winter color palette

The palette

Black, charcoal, navy and pure white are everyday neutrals here, and stark black-and-white contrast suits this palette. True red, fuchsia and royal blue work closest to the face; emerald, pine green and royal purple are strong accents; icy pink, icy blue and icy lavender take the place of pastels. A dark neutral with one vivid or icy color gives the clearest effect.

What makes it true winter

Undertone

Cool, and this is the defining trait. The palette has no golden colors; every shade has a blue or pink base.

Depth

Medium to deep. Dark neutrals carry the palette, with pure white and icy pastels as light accents.

Clarity

Clear. Colors are saturated and pure, or icy and clean. Muted, earthy colors tend to look dull on a true winter.

True winters often have dark brown to black hair (or early silver), cool dark brown, blue or grey eyes, and skin with a cool or neutral cast, with high contrast between hair and skin, across a wide range of skin tones. These are tendencies, not rules.

Hair colors for true winter

These hair colors usually sit well with true winter: they keep a cool base and high contrast. Glossy espresso and jet black are the closest match; cherry cola red and burgundy add a cool red; chocolate brown is the softest option, and platinum blonde is the bold, icy end. Each one opens the shade, so you can try it on your own photo.

For women

• Glossy espresso
• Jet black
• Cherry cola red
• Burgundy hair
• Chocolate brown
• Platinum blonde

For men

• Glossy espresso
• Jet black
• Cherry cola red
• Burgundy hair
• Chocolate brown
• Platinum blonde

Colors to go easy on

Warm, earthy and golden colors are the usual mismatch: camel, orange, mustard, rust and olive. Next to cool, high-contrast coloring they can make skin look yellow or tired. Near the face, swap camel for cool grey and orange for true red; away from the face these matter less.

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Questions