35 Color Seasons?! Let’s Talk About It

If you’ve been anywhere near the color analysis world lately, you may have heard some buzz about a new 35-palette color analysis system. Yep. Thirty-five. 😅

As someone who has spent years working in color analysis, and now trains other analysts, I’m always interested when new methods, systems, and ideas enter the industry. So naturally, I wanted to dig into it.

What exactly does having 35 color palettes mean? How does it compare to a 12-season system, a 16-season system, or the 22-palette system I use and teach through Global Color Analysis (GCA)?

And maybe most importantly: Does having more color seasons automatically make a color analysis system better or more accurate?

The short answer? No. But the longer answer is much more interesting.

First: Why Are There So Many Different Color Analysis Systems?

If you’re new to color analysis, this can be one of the most confusing parts. You’ve probably heard of the traditional four seasons:

• Spring

• Summer

• Autumn

• Winter

But then there are 12-season systems, 16-season systems, tonal systems, 22-palette systems, and now systems expanding into 30+ palettes. So...who is right?

The important thing to understand is that different color analysis systems organize color differently.

Most modern systems are looking at some combination of characteristics like undertone, value, chroma or intensity, and contrast. Where they differ is in how they divide those characteristics into individual palettes and how analysts are trained to identify them.

More palettes can allow an analyst to make increasingly specific distinctions between people whose coloring may be similar. But more palettes does not automatically mean a better system and fewer palettes doesn’t automatically mean a less precise one.

It comes down to how the system is designed, how analysts are trained, and ultimately how useful the result is for the client.

So, What Is the New 35-Palette System?

A well-established company within the image consulting and color analysis industry has recently expanded its color analysis education to include a 35-palette methodology.

Their approach allows trained analysts to make even finer distinctions between palettes using characteristics such as undertone, value, and intensity.

And honestly? I think continued innovation in the color analysis industry is exciting.

Color analysis has evolved tremendously since the original four-season systems became popular decades ago. Continued research, education, and refinement are part of what moves our industry forward. But the conversation around 35 palettes also brings up something I think is incredibly important especially if you’re considering becoming a color analyst yourself.

How Much of the System Do You Learn in Your Initial Training?

This is one of the biggest things I encourage future analysts to consider when comparing color analysis certifications. Don't only ask:

“How many seasons does this system have?”

Ask:

“What am I actually trained to do when I graduate?”

With Global Color Analysis, analysts are trained in our complete 22-palette system from the beginning. You aren't starting with only the four traditional seasons and later learning how to identify tonal palettes. You aren't learning one portion of the system and then discovering there are additional palettes you haven't been trained to analyze yet.

You learn the entire 22-palette framework as part of your foundational certification. That includes traditional seasonal palettes as well as tonal palettes designed to accommodate clients who don't fit neatly into one classic season.

And that was incredibly important to me when I chose the system I wanted to teach. When one of my students graduates, I want them to understand the whole framework they're going to use with clients.

Does That Mean You Never Need More Training?

Absolutely not. I would be a terrible educator if I told you that 😂 There is always more to learn.

Your initial certification should give you a strong foundation, but becoming an exceptional color analyst comes from continuing to refine your eye, working with different clients, discussing difficult cases, learning new techniques, and gaining experience.

That's why continued education is such an important part of GCA.

Our analysts have access to ongoing education, including weekly training calls where we can continue developing our skills, discussing real-world situations, and learning from one another. There are also opportunities to learn advanced techniques and additional services as you grow your business.

The difference is that continued education is about building on your foundation, not completing a palette system you haven't fully learned yet. You graduate understanding all 22 palettes. Then you get better and better at mastering them.

But What About the Client? Can More Seasons Become Too Specific?

This might actually be the part of the 35-season conversation that interests me the most. As color analysts, we LOVE precision. Finding the exact characteristics that make someone's coloring unique is basically our Super Bowl. 

So the idea of creating increasingly specific palettes makes sense. For the right client, being placed into a highly specific palette could create a huge:

“OH. THAT explains everything!” moment.

But there can also be a tradeoff between precision and usability. Imagine you've just had your color analysis. Your analyst tells you that you're a very specific season you've never heard of before. You're excited! So you go home and Google it. Nothing.

You search Pinterest.

Basically nothing.

You look for outfit inspiration, makeup recommendations, hair colors, celebrities with similar coloring, capsule wardrobes...

Crickets. 🦗

Now, instead of having an established library of resources available to help you understand your palette, you're much more dependent on your analyst and the resources they provide while you learn how to use it.

That isn't necessarily a bad thing. Some clients may LOVE having an extremely personalized palette and working closely with their analyst to understand it. But I think it's something worth considering when we're designing the client experience.

The Most Precise Answer Isn't Always the Most Useful Answer

Ultimately, our job as color analysts isn't simply to give someone the most technically specific label possible. Our job is to give them information they can actually use.

• Can they walk into a store and recognize their colors?
• Can they understand which neutrals work for them?
• Can they confidently choose makeup?
• Can they make better decisions about their hair color?
• Can they build a wardrobe where the pieces actually work together?
• Can they continue using what they learned six months (or six years) after their appointment?

Because a color analysis shouldn't make getting dressed more complicated. It should make it easier.

Why I Love the 22-Palette GCA System

This is where I think Global Color Analysis has found a really beautiful balance. Our 22 palettes give us enough range to account for people who don't fit neatly into the traditional four seasons or even traditional expanded seasonal systems. We can analyze undertone, value, chroma, and the relationship between those characteristics to find where someone fits within the system. But we're also giving clients a framework they can realistically understand and use.

Their palette becomes a tool rather than another set of rules they have to memorize. And from an analyst's perspective, there's another huge advantage:

• You learn the whole system from the start.
• You can, and should, continue growing.
• You can refine your eye.
• You can learn advanced techniques.
• You can add new services.
• You can attend continued education.
• You can bring complicated cases to other analysts and learn from them.

But you're not waiting for the "next level" before you're introduced to the complete palette framework you're using with clients.

So...Are 35 Color Seasons Better Than 22?

I don't think that's actually the right question. The number of palettes alone doesn't tell you whether a color analysis system is accurate, comprehensive, or useful. Instead, I think analysts should be asking:

• How is the system structured?
• How am I trained to identify the palettes?
• What tools do I receive to analyze clients confidently?
• What resources will my clients have after their analysis?
• What education and support will I have after I graduate?

And most importantly: Will I feel prepared to actually use what I've learned?

Those questions tell you much more about a color analysis certification than the number printed on the box. For me, that's ultimately what I want for my students. I don't want to teach you just enough to start. I want to give you the full foundation so you can start mastering it. And then we keep learning together. 🤎

If you're looking for the complete package not just learning how to analyze color, but having the tools, education, business support, and continued training to build something with it, GCA might be exactly what you're looking for. Learn more about my training here.