How To Makeup Color Palette Advice

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We wanted to provide you with an organized approach to selecting the color palette of makeup that is unique to you, no matter what brand you use or age you are.  By using this simple step-by-step plan, you will feel empowered with cosmetic self-knowledge that will enable you to always make the right decisions on makeup choices for yourself!

Top things to know about yourself before purchasing makeup:

1.) Determine your haircolor.  This means determining your principal haircolor group and the your color within it.

The four principal haircolor groups are:
• Copper/Red
• Blonde
• Brown (to Auburn, to Black)
• Grey (then you should know what your haircolor group was before it turned grey)

Next classify your hair into one of the following colors to give yourself your "exact" haircolor name and level from the box of color you use:

Copper/Red Color Group
• light to dark copper red
• Strawberry blonde

Blonde Color Group
• light to medium blonde
• medium to dark blonde
• medium to dark ash blonde

Brown (to auburn, to black) Color Group
• light to medium brown ( all tones including Auburn)
• soft ash brown
• dark brown to black ( all tones including burgundy)

Grey Color Group
• muted golden white to grey (original hair color being - red or light brown)
• soft white to grey ( original hair color being blonde)
• sharp white to salt & pepper ( original hair color being dark)

2.) Determine your eyecolor. The most predominate color in the iris is fine.

Select one of these eye-colors that best match your own:
• Light Blue
• Bright Blue
• Bright Green
• Green
• Teal
• Blue/Green
• Grey
• Grey/Blue
• Grey/Green
• Hazel
• Light Brown
• Dark Brown

3.) Determine your skin color through analysis.  Most makeup lines provide their Makeup Artists with hand held skin color selectors that work with their particular makeup line - this should not be brain surgery as the goal should be to get the closest match to the predominant color in your facial skintone.

4.) Determine your color palette.  This is accomplished by assessing the information you garnered in steps one through three.  Knowing your "Color Palette" is a big key in determining whether you will make great makeup purchases or end up with a drawer full of "bad choices" you will never use.

There are basically 6 color palettes that most people fit into:
• Light
• Dark
• Neutral
• Bright
• Cool
• Warm

For example:  If your principle haircolor group is brown leaning toward auburn or black and your eye color is bright blue, then your palette is bright.  A qualified Makeup Artist of any cosmetic line should be able to quickly assess and develop a palette unique to you based upon eye, hair and skin color information you provide them - If not, consult a new Makeup Artist.

5.) Determine your clothing family.  You can do this by simply quizzing yourself about the top four most predominant colors that are present in your wardrobe closet at home.  Do you mostly wear hunter greens and navy or do you wear corals and earth tones?  Possessing this knowledge will allow you to select eyeshadow, lip and nail colors that will compliment, not clash, with your wardrobe.

Here are the 4 wardrobe families commonly used in determining makeup colors within each color palette:
• ( Family#1) Pink - Fushia - Plum - Purple - Rose - Burgundy - Blue - Violet
• ( Family#2) White - Red - Grey - Black - Navy - Hunter Green
• ( Family#3) Coral - Peach - Orange - Rust - Gold - Aqua - Teal
• ( Family#4) Neutrals - Cream - Ivory - Beige - Brown

6.) Determine your makeup personality.  If you are a natural classic, the Makeup Artist should not be attempting to talk you into the latest way to eyeline your eyes to give you the "cat-like" look, or whatever Vogue's fad is this month.

There are 5 basic "makeup personalities" that women can be either directly or indirectly in combination with another.  Yes, you can have a split makeup personality.

NATURALIST:
• You use minimum makeup.  You like simple, easy-to-use products.  You use just a few makeup shades.

CLASSIC:
• You want to look your best in the simplest possible way.  You like to wear the same makeup every day.  You prefer coordinated makeups.

SOPHISTICATE:
• You are skilled with makeup techniques.  You wear different makeups for different occasions.  You constantly change your look.

ADVENTURIST:
• You are an expert with cosmetics.  You love to experiment with the newest trends.  You constantly change your look.

DRAMATIC:
• You are an "Artist" with cosmetic application.  You like unusual colors and wear several shades at a time on your eyes.  You own the newest colors.

7.) Determine what your budget is.  This is very important if a Makeup Artist is to get your repeat business.  If they have this knowledge in advance, they will be able to quickly put together a complete package for you that will help you stretch the most of your budget and will know to talk about some of the shades they will turn you on to on your next visit.

Makeup Artists should memorize the following line to prevent themselves from overselling you without knowing your budget:

"Be sure to leave room for the mouse when you place cheese on the mousetrap..."

In your Service -
International Beauty Supply Store Cosmetology Staff