Cool | True Winter: The Complete Guide

The Cool | True Winter color palette is defined by its cool, crisp, and intense tones. This palette’s icy and high-contrast colors perfectly suit those with striking, cool-toned personal coloring. Explore this complete guide, which includes examples of Cool Winters, outfit ideas, makeup tips, hair inspiration, denim, jewelry, and more!

Are you a Cool Winter?

To determine if you are a Cool Winter, observe the following characteristics when you look in the mirror:

Darker Features: Your hair tends to be deep and rich in tone, often darker than medium brown, such as deep browns or black.
High Contrast: There is a noticeable contrast between your hair, eyes, and skin tone. For example, your hair and eyes may be significantly darker than your skin.

Hair: Black, deep brown
Skin: Cool undertones
Eyes: dark brown, ebony, hazel, olive, blue

Cool Winter Examples

Here’s a selection of Cool Winter examples with their natural hair color from my in-person color analysis consultations.

Were you analyzed correctly?

To ensure you were correctly identified as a Cool Winter, here are some helpful tips to verify your results.

Photo Comparison: Do you resemble the Cool Winter clients in the photos above and the description?
Silver: Cool Winters wear 100% silver jewelry. Gold can look unflattering against their skin.
Compliments: Do you often receive compliments when wearing Cool Winter colors?
Winter Colors: Do Bright Winter’s hues feel like they overpower you, making the color stand out more than you do? Do Dark Winter’s deep, sultry tones feel like they’re missing the intensity you need? You might be a Cool Winter, sitting perfectly in the middle!

Cool Winter colors are like the icy, intense hues of a winter landscape—think crisp navy blues, pure whites, and rich jewel tones like emerald and amethyst. These shades are cool, bright, and striking, perfectly complementing the clear, high-contrast features of a Cool Winter complexion. Unlike the depth of Dark Winter, Cool Winter’s palette is brighter and striking, creating a look that’s both bold and refined.

Cool Winter colors have these characteristics:

Hue: Cool Winter’s colors are unapologetically cool, with no hint of warmth. Each shade leans towards icy and clear tones, reflecting the season’s pure, cool undertones.
Value: Cool Winter colors cover a wide range of values, from deep, bold shades like navy and charcoal to lighter, frosty hues like icy lavender and soft gray. This range creates the striking contrast that defines the season.
Chroma: The colors of Cool Winter are vivid and clear, yet not overly bright. They maintain a balance of cool intensity and sharp clarity, giving them a refined, polished quality that feels crisp and striking.

Cool Winter and Dark Winter both feature cool, intense tones, but their unique qualities set them apart in striking ways.

Cool Winter: This palette is defined by crisp, bold shades with a distinctly cool undertone. Think icy purples, deep navy, and frosty grays. Cool Winter thrives on high contrast and clarity, delivering a look that is sleek, sharp, and refreshing. Its colors are vivid yet balanced, with a cool brightness that feels crisp and elegant.
Dark Winter: Dark Winter combines cool undertones with deep, sultry shades. Its palette includes colors like espresso brown, deep plum, and dark teal. This season embraces both coolness and richness, creating a dramatic and grounded aesthetic. Dark Winter’s colors feel mysterious and intense, with a depth that exudes sophistication.

Cool Winter and Bright Winter both feature cool, striking tones, but each season carries its own distinct characteristics.

Cool Winter: This palette is defined by deep, bold shades with a cool undertone. Imagine rich hues like deep navy, icy purples, and charcoal grays. Cool Winter thrives on crisp, high-contrast combinations that feel powerful and dramatic, with a sense of elegance rooted in its depth and cool intensity.
Bright Winter: Bright Winter, while still cool, shifts focus to icy, high-energy tones like cobalt blue, bright red, and intense fuchsia. Unlike Cool Winter’s depth, Bright Winter colors are lighter, clearer, and more vibrant, delivering a fresh and dynamic look that feels electric and luminous.

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Beautiful neutrals

Ideal neutral colors for this palette are charcoal, true black, bright white, and navy.

Neutrals to avoid

Cool Winters should generally avoid warm or muted neutrals, as these can dull their natural coloring. Neutrals to steer clear of include beige, tan, light browns, and ivory.

Choose dark and rich denim

For Cool Winters, I recommend opting for dark, saturated denim. These tones complement your color palette.

Avoid light and faded denim

Light and faded denim can detract from the cool and striking tones of the Cool Winter palette. Instead, stick to darker, more intense hues to enhance the overall depth of your outfit.

Here are some stylish ways to showcase your color palette while keeping your look natural and balanced:

Neutral + accent

Combine a neutral with any of your Cool Winter colors. For example, pair navy with fuchsia.

Denim + color

Choose dark denim and pair it with any of your Cool Winter colors.

High contrast

Pair dark colors with lighter shades to achieve a striking contrast. For example, combine pine green blazer with a bright white top.

The Cool Winter makeup is all about the cool and bright hues that enhance your natural beauty. Look for shades like: raspberry, berry, plum, wine, cranberry, burgundy, crimson, or a cool red. Click here for a full list of Cool Winter makeup recommendations, including blush, lipstick, eyeshadows, and mascara suggestions to complement your coloring.

Here’s a guide to help you choose the best metals, stones, and other accessories to complement your Cool Winter palette.

Metals & Jewelry

For Cool Winter, cool-toned metals are your best friends. Embrace sleek and icy tones like pewter, silver, platinum, and chrome. These metals beautifully complement the crisp, vibrant nature of the Cool Winter palette, adding a touch of elegance and refinement to your look. Avoid warm metals like gold or brass, which can clash with your cool undertones.

Stones

Enhance your Cool Winter palette with gemstones that feature vivid, rich, and icy hues. Perfect choices include ruby, amethyst, diamond, emerald, sapphire, black onyx, and malachite. These striking stones align with the sharp contrast and cool brilliance of the season, creating a cohesive and polished appearance.

Other Ideas

Cool Winter thrives on clarity and contrast, so accessories with glossy and polished finishes are ideal. Choose modern, minimalist designs that reflect the sleek and bold aesthetic of this season. Sharp lines and geometric patterns can also enhance the structured feel of your palette.

What to Avoid

Steer clear of warm metals like yellow gold and copper, as they can dull your naturally radiant complexion. Avoid overly earthy textures or muted, rustic jewelry, which may feel out of place with Cool Winter's crisp, clean aesthetic.

Since Cool Winter’s primary color characteristics are cool tones, the least flattering colors for you are warm and golden.

Warm | Earthy Colors:

Warm, earthy colors like golden oranges and browns can detract from your natural vibrancy and may leave you looking less refreshed.

Here’s the hair advice I share with my Cool Winter clients, along with examples of their natural hair below.

Embrace Your Natural Color

Your natural hair color is perfectly suited to your Cool Winter palette! Embrace its natural beauty as it will harmonize beautifully with your colors.

Opt for Dark & Cool Hues

For your hair color, it's best to embrace your natural darker hair tones and avoid highlights. Introducing highlights can make you appear washed out. If you do decide to color your hair, opt for dark and cool tones that softly blend with your natural hair color.