Colour Theory

What is Colour Theory?

It is a 'rule' in which creates colour combinations which harmonise with one another. This can be shown through a colour wheel. (as shown below)

http://www.color-wheel-pro.com/color-theory-basics.html

As a makeup artist, it is highly important to be able to understand colours, textures, shape and the bone structure of a face. This will give you an advantage into knowing what colours go best together and whether or not they are right for the model you are working on. This can also be shown through face charts, and the different colourations you will be using on that particular model.

'Colour is the perceptual characteristic of light described by a colour name. Specifically, colour is light, and light is composed of many colours—those we see are the colours of the visual spectrum: red, orange, yellow, green, blue, and violet. Objects absorb certain wavelengths and reflect others back to the viewer. We perceive these reflected wavelengths as colour.'
(http://tommybeautypro.wordpress.com/2013/01/05/makeup-101-colour-theory-make-up-artistry/)

There are categories divided into three on the colour wheel; primary, secondary, and tertiary.

Primary - Primary colours are the three main colours which are used to mix and create other colours! The colours are red, yellow, and blue.

Secondary - A secondary colour is when two of the primary colours are mixed, which then creates a new colour. An example of this is mixing red and blue, will create purple/violet.

Tertiary - Tertiary colours are made from combining one of the primary and secondary colours together. The colours are;  yellow - orange, orange - red, red - purple/violet, purple/violet - blue, blue - green, and green - yellow


There is a division on the colour wheel between warm and cold colours. This can really help to understand matching colour to skin tone, and finding the right foundation and concealers.

Warm colours - The colours included are reds, yellows, and oranges. They are usually bright and stand out a lot.

Cold colours - Cool colours include blues, purples, and greens. These are seen to be calm and soothing colours.

Skin TonesSkin tones have underlying colours which are either warm, cool, or neutral. This can be related back to the colour wheel. A good way to tell what colour skin tone a person is, is by looking at the colour of their veins on their wrist (in natural lighting).

Cool skin tones usually have a slight pink colouration to their skin. This type of skin can easily burn under sunlight, as they're skin has less melanin in it. The colour of their veins are usually blue. This type of skin tone suit cool undertone red lipsticks!

People with warm skin tend to have an underlying golden-olive tone. They are less likely to burn under sunlight, and more likely to tan. Their veins are usually a green colour.

Other with a neutral skin tone, have both cold and warm colours under their skin. Therefore, the colouration of their veins are both blue and green.

Analogous Colours
Analogous colours are simply three (or more) colours next to one another on the colour wheel. Using analogous colours in relation to makeup is an excellent way of getting a perfect blended finish, whether it be on the eyes, contouring, lips etc.

 

Here is a makeup look I designed in relation to the analogous colours!

 

 

(http://static.squarespace.com/static)

Complimentary ColoursComplimentary colours are simply two colours directly opposite one another on the colour wheel (as shown above). Due to being so opposite to one another, it creates a fabulous contrast between the two, which is great for makeup which you want to stand out.

'If someone has blue eyes, by using gold/bright yellow eye shadow colours on that person, it will amplify the blueness of her eyes; in other words, the gold eye shadow colours will make her blue eyes stand out more than any other colours!'

Achromatic Colours
A colourless scheme of black, white and gray, which could also refer to any neutral color going from its lightest to darkest. (http://www.skininc.com/treatments/cosmetics/19070719.html)

Monochromatic ColoursMonochromatic colours are one of the same colour, just many different tones and shades of it. There are many different shades of pink in the photograph below. That is a perfect example of monochromatic colours. This is the easiest type of makeup style as you just have to choose many different shades of one single colour. They are guaranteed to go well together.

(https://c2.staticflickr.com/4/3216/2502174940_f4793fb618.jpg)

Here is a monochromatic makeup in which I designed/created...