Unveiling the Power of Colour Analysis: Discover your Charismatic Colour Palette

What is Colour Analysis?

It feels like everyone has seen the videos on Instagram and Tik Tok where people are being draped to determine their colour season. These videos tend to get mixed reactions, with some people amazed by what a difference choosing the right colours can make and others declaring they could never exclude any colours from their wardrobes. 

My mom has been very interested in colour analysis for a long time and we finally gifted her an analysis experience in Ottawa for Christmas. When she invited me along I was excited but also unsure, knowing that even if my favorite colours weren’t in my season, I probably would continue to wear them anyways. 

After our day, I learned that it really isn’t about including or not including specific colours. Instead, it’s about the warmth, brightness and saturation of the colour. So even though my mom and I are not in the same category, we can both find shades of yellow, blue and orange that make us look our best. Even if you’re a skeptic of the trend, I recommend keeping an open mind and learning more before making a firm decision.

Where Can You Get Colour Analysis Done?

In Ottawa, you need to visit Lisa Kelly for all your colour analysis needs. Lisa is super passionate about colour analysis and runs this business out of her home in the Hintonburg area. 

We took public transit and it was very accessible via the o-train and a short walk. Lisa only books colour analysis on weekends, so you’ll need to book ahead to make sure she’s available. Up to two people can have their colours done together or you can bring a friend along just to watch. Since my mom and I were doing it together, it was a very full day. We arrived around 9 am, took an hour lunch break and wrapped up around 4:30 pm. 

Lisa’s house is conveniently located next to Wellington West with a variety of restaurants you can visit during your lunch break. You can also eat snacks in the drape room so make sure to bring some along.

Find information on how to book an appointment with Lisa at the bottom of this post.

What is the Colour Analysis Process?

Lisa provided excellent information at the beginning of the day so that we understood what we were getting into. The colour analysis uses the four seasons we’re familiar with but with 8 additional categories that fit in between the extremes of fall, winter, summer and spring.

The first part of the day involves determining which of these categories you fit into. This means testing a variety of aspects such as comparing how you react to warm colours compared to cool colours and being draped in each of the seasons to determine which is best. 

No season is ruled out until both you and Lisa feel that there is at least one other season that looks better. In some cases, this can be more difficult but in my case it became clear pretty quickly that I fit into the general spring season. After a few more tests, it became clear that I was a True Spring. 

I was surprised immediately by how much of a difference I could see in my face when I was wearing drapes in my correct season. I could go from looking pale and sick to golden and alive just by making a simple change in the shade and heat of the colour. Once we were comparing within the spring season, it was harder for me to see the difference on myself. My mom and I were glad that we came together because it was a lot easier for me to see the differences in her than in myself and vice versa. When I watched my mom get draped in Bright Spring, I was amazed by how clear it was that those were the best colours for her.

We learned a lot of really valuable information in our session, but my favourite was that visible characteristics like eye, hair or skin colour are not markers of a certain season. This means that you can’t identify what season someone is just by looking at them. The drapes are able to account for less visible characteristics like the undertones in our skin without bias or preconceptions. This is why the same set of seasons can work for individuals with all colours of skin.

My mom being draped. Photo by Torie Wotton.

The Finishing Touches

After you know your season, you may feel like that’s the end of your experience, but you are far from done. The afternoon starts with sampling blush, eyeliner and lipstick colours that are in your season. This was not my favourite part of the day because I don’t typically wear eyeliner or lipstick but it was still very interesting. I learned that black is not a great colour for a True Spring, especially so close to my eyes. I got to try some golden eyeliner and was surprised by how much better I liked that.

After the makeup section is over, you get to the most important part of the day: learning how to identify clothing in your colour season. On the day, this can feel a little overwhelming. We thought that using the fan would be as easy as matching the swatches to clothing, but that was not the case. Instead, it was more about how the fan reacts to the colour it is set on. This was definitely harder than we thought, but Lisa provides a variety of ways for you to practice.

First, you get to spend time matching your fan to the corresponding drapes to see how the correct colour looks next to the fan. Then we spent time identifying the seasons of some of our own clothing that we brought with us. You need to be prepared that a lot of your own clothes might be in the completely wrong season. This was the case for me, and it was definitely a bit disheartening after seeing how good the right colours can be. However, it was good to know the seasons of some of our own clothes so we could use them for reference going forward. Finally, you use the fan on a selection of value village items Lisa provides in your season. Then, you get to take one item home with you so that you have an example of colour in your season.

My season’s colour fan on a corresponding drape. Photo by Torie Wotton.

Is Colour Analysis Worth it?

This is an experience that doesn’t end when you leave for the day. For about a week afterwards, Lisa slowly sent us information and resources for our colours to help us learn at a more reasonable pace. We also took some time to go through our closets to categorize what we already had. 

I had a great time getting my colours done, but afterwards, I felt a bit discouraged at first. I found it difficult to identify things that were my season and felt like it might be impossible to actually find my best colours in a style I like that’s available in my price range. 

However, after two short shopping trips with my mom, I’ve decided that getting your colours done is completely worth it. The first time we went shopping, we completely forgot to bring our fans. Instead, we found that taking pictures of each other holding the item up to our faces was a really good way to choose the right colours. We quickly learned what to look for in our own faces. For example, when she finds a colour in her season, my mom’s face gets golden like she’s been tanning, and when it’s not in her season, that colour goes away. When I find something in my season, my skin looks porcelain and rosy rather than pale and sick. Everyone will have different indicators, but we found that taking pictures made these indicators a lot easier to see than when we just looked at each other or in the mirror. 

You can clearly see the difference in the photo below. Both of these pictures were taken on the same day, and I’m wearing yellow tops in both. The important difference is the shade of yellow. On the left, I look pale and unwell, but on the right, I have colour in my face and look alive. I was so surprised by what a difference this subtle change made!

Photo by Torie Wotton.

On our second trip, we remembered our fans and found that they helped us narrow the options down to items that were at least close to our seasons. Then, by trying them on and taking pictures, we could confirm or discard them. Lisa also continued to be a great resource on our first shopping trips. After we finished shopping, we sent her some of our pictures so she could confirm we were on the right track. 

By the end of these two shopping days, we had each found 4-6 items in our season that fit our style and budget. I found items in yellow, purple, navy and pink which are some of my favourite colours. The main difference between the items I purchased and the ones in my closet is the juiciness of the colour. Before, I was wearing cooler shades, but my season really calls for warm and vibrant colours. By making this small adjustment, I’m still able to wear the colours I love and feel really great about the way I look! 

Can you do Colour Analysis on Yourself?

Colour analysis sessions can be pricey, so you might be wondering if it’s something you can do yourself at home. There are many products online that will talk you through doing a colour analysis at home for much cheaper or even free. 

Before we found Lisa, my mom and I tried a program like this, and the quality is not comparable at all. While the home method gave us an idea of what our worst colours were, we did assign ourselves the wrong seasons. This could be because we weren’t practiced at analyzing colours or because we didn’t have the exact right colours for testing at home. Either way, home tests are less thorough and less accurate, and I recommend getting it done professionally if you have the option!

Enjoying wearing true spring colours on the Aylmer Food Tour!

Where to Book Colour Analysis in Ottawa

I highly recommend investing in an experience like this and approaching it with an open mind and ready to learn. You can find Lisa Kelly on Facebook at DNA My Colours, or email her at lisakellycolours@outlook.com to book an appointment or find out more information.

No deposit is required, and when you book, you are added to the cancellation list and may get in sooner. If you want to know more about colour analysis, you can also check out this community website where you can learn more about Lisa Kelly and colour analysis in general.

Check out my recent posts for ideas of things to do.