… especially when designing an online colour analysis questionnaire
“Kim, I want to ask you if you have the equivalent skin colours to the Fitzpatrick skin type so I can use those to program my online tonal quiz to see which exact category the client is.” Bernwiga
Dear Bernwiga,
I would never use the Fitzpatrick skin phototype for colour analysis.
It describes a person’s skin type in terms of response to ultraviolet radiation (UVR) exposure, and is for the dermatological industry, specifically for skin therapists and skin surgeons who need to understand the potential impact of the treatment they are about to apply to the skin of their patient/client.
I would only ever consider a typing method for colour analysis that includes Cool and Warm.
When you are asking your clients to describe/select the colour of their own skin, hair, and eyes, you need to take into account:
- Most women haven’t got a clue what colour their own skin, hair, and eyes are!
- You must make it simple for them to choose an easily-identifiable option that sounds and/or looks remotely like what they think their own hair, skin, eyes are
- You cannot possibly expect a client you have never met, who has never studied colour, who has no idea how to describe her own colouring, to provide the specific information you need ‘to see which exact category the client is’
There are no exact categories in the world of colour analysis!
Also there is no central regulatory body that decides what is, or is not, the correct name or term for any colour on the planet.
It’s all down to personal opinion and choice.
For example, what you call ivory, another consultant, client, or make-up company may call porcelain, fair, linen, soft white, bisque, old lace, or even simply light…
And, to be able to advise a client what season or tonal direction she is…
You must consider Cool and Warm
For instance, you can have:
- Cool ivory skin
- Warm ivory skin
- Neutral ivory skin
The same goes for porcelain, medium brown, beige, dark brown, and all the other skin colour options.
Keep it simple
Instead of spending loads of time trying to match the terms used by other systems, I suggest you use simple words and descriptions of hair, skin, and eye colour from everyday life that your clients will understand, and also keep the choices to a minimum.
If you make it too difficult for your prospects to choose, they will give up and go somewhere else.