Confused About Your Season? 3 Easy Signs to Tell If It’s Right
One of the most common questions I get—whether in DMs, emails, or comments—is this:
“Megan, I’ve had multiple color analyses, and the results don’t match. The 4 season said I’m an Autumn, another said Dark Winter. How can I know what’s correct?!”
Or even more puzzling:
If this sounds familiar, you’re not alone! I’ve been there myself. My first color analysis placed me as an Autumn, my second (a virtual one) as a Soft Autumn, but eventually, I was reassessed as a Light Spring within the 12 Seasons. Honestly? I wasn’t convinced at first. So, I took matters into my own hands and did some testing at home to see the difference for myself. And when I finally saw it clearly, everything clicked—I knew I had found my colors in Light Spring. That experience inspired me to dive deep into color analysis, learning everything I could to ensure I provide the most accurate assessments for my clients.
Stay tuned for a follow-up post where I’ll guide you through how to test your season at home!
Why is this all happening? Simply put, the growing popularity of color analysis—whether it’s virtual, 4-season, 12-season, or even 16-season—has brought a wide variety of approaches and interpretations into the mix. Every analyst brings their own training, tools, drapes, and perspective, focusing on different aspects of color theory. It’s no wonder things can feel a bit confusing!
Let me be clear: color analysis is absolutely real. It’s both a science and an art—a skill that takes a trained eye, a deep understanding of color theory, and careful attention to the nuances of each individual. If you’re feeling stuck or overwhelmed by conflicting results, keep reading—I’m here to help you possibly find clarity and trust your instincts along the way.
“Color Analysis can be straightforward, but it takes years and years to master. There is an intuition that you can only gain through repetitive practice of your craft.” - Megan | Colorbook
3 Easy Signs to Tell If It’s Right
Alright, let’s do this! If you’ve been second-guessing your color season, don’t worry—I’ve got three clear and simple signs to guide you. Let’s dive in!
1. Do You Regularly Get Compliments in Your Colors?
When you’re in the right color season, people notice. They’re not just complimenting your outfit—they’re noticing you.
For example, one of my Bright Spring clients shared how, on a normal day, four strangers went out of their way to compliment her sweater and how radiant she looked. It wasn’t just the sweater—it was the power of wearing her best colors.
On the flip side, another client spent three long years wearing Winter colors after being misdiagnosed as a Winter. Compliments? Practically nonexistent. Once we re-draped her in the 12 Seasons and discovered she was a Warm (True) Spring, everything changed. She told me she received more compliments in one day wearing a warm spring green than she had in three years of wearing Winter colors. That’s the magic of being in harmony with your true season—it lets you shine!
Homework: Ask yourself, do you often receive compliments when wearing your colors?
2. Do You Love Yourself in Photos Wearing Your Colors?
Photos don’t lie—they’re like a mirror for your color harmony. If you’re wearing colors from the wrong palette, they can make your skin look dull, washed out, or even off. But when you’re in your correct season? That’s when the magic happens. Your skin looks radiant, your eyes pop, and your natural beauty takes center stage.
“When you’re wearing the right colors, makeup becomes almost optional—it’s that powerful. The right colors naturally enhance your features and brighten your face without any extra effort. You shouldn’t need layers of makeup or frequent hair coloring to make your palette work.”
One tip: make sure you’re looking at unfiltered photos. Filters and portrait mode can tweak colors and lighting, making it hard to get an accurate sense of how your colors are working for you.
Homework: Take a look at your photos—do you love the way you look when you’re wearing your colors? If the answer is a resounding yes, you’re likely in the right season! Do you feel amazing in your colors even without makeup? That’s a big clue! The right colors should instantly brighten your face and enhance your skin tone all on their own.
3. Do You Match the Patterns of Your Color Season?
This One’s Important—Listen Up!!! Based on my training and experience, I can confidently say this is one of the most reliable ways to confirm, question, or narrow down your season.
Every season has distinct patterns in personal coloring—your natural hair, eyes, and skin undertones all tell a story. What do I mean by "pattern"? For example, my Light Summer clients often share similar characteristics—a radiant "lightness" that ties their overall look together.
Do you actually resemble the other examples from your season? Take a good look—do you share similar characteristics with the examples from your season?
Now, if you’ve been coloring your hair for years and aren’t sure what your natural hair color is, no worries. Dig up an old photo of yourself from your 20s with your natural hair color. Use that as your reference point and compare it to the examples below. This can provide valuable insight into whether you’re truly in the right season!
For example, let’s break it down for autumn to see the differences:
Soft Autumn: Soft, warm features with a gentle blend—hair, skin, and eyes are all softly blended.
Warm Autumn: Warm undertones with medium contrast between hair and skin.
Dark Autumn: Rich, deep coloring with much darker hair
Homework: Take a moment to scroll through the examples on my Instagram or website. Study the photos and ask yourself, Do I see myself in these examples? Do I share similar characteristics to those examples?
Soft Autumn, Warm Autumn, Dark Autumn, Dark Winter, Cool Winter, Bright Winter, Bright Spring, Warm Spring, Light Spring, Light Summer, Cool Summer, Soft Summer
Keep an eye out—I’ll be adding more pages with examples early 2025!
(Pro tip: Bright Spring can be tricky since their “brightness” can show up in different ways, so don’t stress if you look a little unique!)
Still Unsure? Don’t Be Afraid to Question Your Results
If something feels off, don’t hesitate to reach out to your color analyst with your questions or concerns—it’s always worth the conversation. A great analyst should be open to revisiting your results and, if necessary, offering a re-drape (ideally, at no additional cost). Why? Because it’s in everyone’s best interest to ensure your season is spot on.
Let me put it plainly:
Wrong palette = much fewer compliments and missed opportunities.
Perfect palette = a lifetime of confidence, compliments, and word-of-mouth referrals about their amazing experience with you!
Getting it right matters—for you and for the analyst’s reputation. When you’re glowing in your best colors, everyone wins! In my early years, I had to re-drape clients multiple times to ensure we got it right. And you know what? Being honest and willing to revisit those results built trust and strengthened my relationships with clients. When they walk out glowing in their true colors, that confidence becomes the best marketing I could ever ask for.
Final Thoughts
Finding your true season can be a wild and exciting journey, but it’s one that’s absolutely worth taking. If you’re feeling unsure, don’t hesitate to ask questions, explore, and dive into your research. Most importantly, don’t settle until your colors feel authentically you.
Thank you for reading and wishing you all the best on your color journey!
PS. Want to get curated color inspiration, seasonal lookbooks, and expert tips sent straight to your inbox. Sign up for my free newsletter and start feeling inspired today!
About the Author: Megan Haynes
My passion for color runs deep, and for the past six years, I’ve been fully immersed in learning everything I can about color theory and color analysis. After completing my 12 Seasons Training with Kerry Jones of Indigo Tones, I’ve honed the art of finding the perfect palette for my clients, driven by a commitment to both accuracy and inclusivity.
Over the years, I’ve explored and used the 4, 12, and 16 color models, and I’ve found the 12 Season approach to be the “just right” method. It’s been an honor to work with over 550 clients in-person in my studio!