💋 Find your perfect red in 3 steps

I used to be so intimidated by the colour red, and felt like a CLOWN every time I wore red lipstick. After spending years learning about personal colour, I can share my tips on finding your best red

In today’s newsletter…

👠 3 steps to find your perfect red

💄 Should red be a key component of your style?

🙈 Q&A: can colour season affect your face type?

✨ Lookbook: conflicting colour season and essence

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3 steps to find your perfect red 🌹

There are so many reasons the red you have picked might look off on you: too bright, too warm, too tomato-ey… and so on. Red is a striking, beautiful colour which feels sensual, sexy, daring and passionate.

1. Contrast

Your contrast level is the difference between your hair, skin and eyes. If you made a photo of yourself black and white, how distinguished would your hair be from your skin? High contrast is usually defined by the difference between extreme darkness and lightness in your features. If you have high contrast, you usually are considered bright, and therefore will suit a strong red lip. If you have low contrast, you will be softer and will suit a more gentle red. This could be achieved with either a sheer gloss, or simply a colour which is less “clear” and more pale.

1. Warmth

Those who are warm toned will find it much easier to find a red which works for them as tomato reds are most popular, being the most striking and passionate of them all. However, it is not true that if you are cool toned you cannot ever wear the colour red. Red for people with cool tones is more raspberry. This means it has a stronger pink influence than orange (this is because pink is closer to blue on the colour scale, and orange is closer to yellow).

2. Use your lips

In David Zyla’s book ‘Color Your Style’ he suggests that to find your romantic colour (your version of red) you would pinch the top of your finger so that it reddens and try to describe the colour which comes up. It could be tangerine, peach, raspberry and so on. I think the key to your romantic colour is also found in your lips. Take a picture of yourself in clear daylight by a window, import the picture into procreate, select the accurate colour of your lips from your photo and try to describe it. Is it cool or warm? Is it closer to orange or purple? Is it light or dark? Is it a bright colour or muddied with grey/brown? The colours you use to describe your lips should be applied to the colour red you purchase

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New Uploads:

👙 YouTube - Tips that will make you love your mousy brown hair | I have been growing out my natural hair in an experiment to see if your natural mousy hair can truly feel beautiful

🌹 Reel - why you struggle to wear red | I demonstrate how different kinds of red affect my summer season features

👑 Reel - Which hairstyle should you be wearing based on your face type? | I show the different types of natural essence and what historical roles they might play

🌙 Instagram - how to transition your wardrobe out of a certain style | Using moon and flower as my examples, I show how your existing wardrobe can be an entry point into a new style before you even know it

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💄 Should red be a key colour in your wardrobe?

Even if it’s possible to find a red that suits you, it doesn’t necessarily mean that red would be a good colour for your personal style. Psychologically, red is associated with shock, passion and romance and so if any of these are key words for you, red would be appropriate in your wardrobe. I have always felt the appeal of red, holding it as a key point of interest in my own wardrobe. There is a reason it is found in so many country’s flags, on the most successful Youtube thumbnails and on the most exotic or even dangerous creatures in nature. However, I have always struggled to feel at home in the colour as I have more gentle style roots at the forefront of my style.

This is a list of style roots in whose wardrobe red will be best suited for:

Fire

Red is most closely associated with fire as it is the most passionate and romantic style root. If you like to feel sexy, incorporating a touch of red into the most basic outfits is a simple way to convey this about your style.

Moon

The dangerous aspect of red makes it perfect for rock n roll and edgy, rebellious style

Sun

Playful, bright styles are perfect for the colour red to make an appearance as this colour is so shocking and attention grabbing