A Little Bit More Theory - Part 2: Munsell Meets Colour Analysis

I introduced Munsell's Colour Model in my post "A Bit of Theory - Part 1: Munsell's Colour Model"

Munsell's model: the basics revisited
Munsell's Colour Model arranges colour by 3 characteristics;

Hue – the colour itself;
Value – its lightness or darkness;
Chroma – the degree of “colourfulness”  (also called “saturation”, “brightness”, or “clearness”).

These are the two diagrams which I referred to in my post "A Bit of Theory - Part 1: Munsell's Colour Model":

Every colour has its place somewhere within Munsell's 3D model:

lighter - the upper end;
darker - the lower end;
cooler - centred either side of blue;
warmer - centred either side of the orange (yellow-red in the diagram);
clearer/ brighter -  towards the outer perimeter;
softer - more greyed tones towards the centre.

What is colour analysis?
Colour analysis (also called "seasonal colour analysis") is the process of finding the best colours to match your natural colour.  

This takes into account your skin tones, eye colour and hair colour – finding the best colours (for clothes, makeup and hair colouring) which suit you.

What is our natural colouring?
Our natural colouring is unique to each of us, coming from the colours in our:

Skin – from the tones of our flesh, to our lips, to the colours of our blush, rosy cheeks on a cold day, our veins under our skin, even a bruise;
Eyes –irises, which contain an array of beautiful colours, and the whites of our eyes;
Hair– containing strands of a multitude of colours; a blend of colours, not uniform.


How is the Munsell model applied to colour analysis?
By looking at the hue, value, and chroma of your natural overall colouring (from your skin, eyes and hair) – it’s possible to say "whereabouts" in Munsell's 3D model your own, unique colouring palette may lie.

By knowing whereabouts your colouring is “centered”, this provides the clues to the palette of colours best suiting you. 

In essence, your best colours will harmonise with your own colouring – meaning your best colours will also occupy the same region of the Munsell 3D Model as your own natural overall colouring.