Colour Chart

LColour charts are used all over the world for a variety of different things. They are all the same as every colour comes from the same basic primary colours - red, blue and yellow.
The colour wheel defines different colours -
           - lightness - how light or dark a colour is
           - saturation - how intense or dull a colour is
           - hue - the actual colour itself eg, blue, green, purple etc

When choosing colours for a makeup look you should always things of three different ways of carrying it out and which one would look best for the brief you have been given or what the client/model wants -
           -monochromatic - this is using one colour on the face but in a variety of different shades for example using blue tones you could start from a vivid midnight blue going down to a soft pale blue.
           - analogous - this is using colours which are next to each other in the colour wheel, by memorising the colour wheel you will know which colours are next to each other for example, red and purple are next to each other and so are yellow and green 
           - complementary - these are colours which are on opposite ends of the colour wheel for example, red is opposite to green and blue is opposite orange. Try not to overpower the colours as it can become too much on the face.

Consider colours as expression, when you think of green you think of envy, jealousy and poisonous. So creating a look for some one or a character who will fit that brief would be perfect. Where as, when you think of yellow, it is a very bright, warm colour which can create a brighter mood someone who is happy and bubbly. Also you have to think of skin tone and eye colour when creating looks as you don't want to drown out the face or make the eyes appear smaller.

Primary colours - Blue, yellow and red. The primary colours are what makes a colour wheel, they are the basic shades when mixed together create all the other elements of the colour wheel.

Secondary colours - Purple, green and orange. These secondary colours are what completes the colour wheel, these colours are the basic shades and all the colours that fit in between are made out of these 6 basic colours.

Analogous - these colours are harmonious as they work together with each other, being next to each other in the colour wheel means they will work together to create exciting looks. If a client has blue eyes then purple liner or purple eyeshadow would work really well to make the eyes pop and stand out.

Complementary - as these colours contrast they work very well together, 'complementing' the skin or the eyes etc. For example of a client has redness on the cheeks or around the nose you can apply a green concealer on those areas as green cancels out red. When applying the foundation over the top the redness should be covered.

Monochromatic - using different shades of the same colour you can create a variety of different looks but you choosing the colour to complement the skin or the eyes or it could wash the skin out and drown the eyes.

Achromatic - grey scale or black and white gives an edge to a look, black and white are really common colours to use in a make up look deepening areas and highlighting others. 

Neutral - neutral shades are the 'basics' - beiges, browns and nude colours. Recently the huge fashion trend has been a nude lip and flawless matt skin. These colours work on all skin types as long as you pick the right shade to match the skin.

Chromatic - these colours are pure pigment colours which are the 6 basic colours to a colour wheel - blue, purple, red, orange, yellow and green. Make up looks are very effective and inspiring when basic colours are used.

Warm colours - Red, orange and yellow                     Cool colours - Blue, green and purple