The Colour of Confidence

What I learned when I swapped an online analysis for the real thing — and why it matters in midlife

A few weeks ago, I went and had my colours analysed. Properly this time.

Years ago, I had done an online version where you send through some selfies and a stylist analyses them, but the problem with that is… photos lie. Lighting, filters, shadows; they all play tricks on the eye. The top you’re wearing or even the wall behind you can throw everything off. So while I got something helpful out of that experience, I always had a sneaking suspicion it wasn’t the full story.

This time, I booked in with Jade, a Colour Analyst from The Seasonal Stylist on the Sunshine Coast. What made her approach different is that she does some of her sessions in a salon, which means you can literally hold up swatches of hair colour next to your face as well as fabric drapes. For me, that was the real pull.

Because while a lot of people get their colours done so they know what clothes to buy, for me, it was more about hair.

Why colours matter

When you wear the wrong tones, it’s not just that the outfit looks “meh.” The wrong colours can actually create shadows that aren’t there, dull your skin, and make you look more tired or older than you are. The right ones, on the other hand, feel like magic. They soften and brighten, they bring out your eyes, and they give you that “you look so well” compliment we all secretly love.

For me, I wasn’t so fussed about whether I should be buying camel, olive or burnt orange knits (although it’s nice to know, and I got more than I bargained for). What I really wanted was clarity about hair.

Midlife hair.

That tricky transition time when greys start peeking through and you’re not sure whether to cover them, blend them, or embrace them.

Since I was a teenager, hair has been my main form of self-expression. I’ve been blonde, brunette, redhead, and just about everything in between. In the last decade, though, I’ve played it safer. I’d go back to warm blondes or subtle brondes, maybe a copper tone, but I avoided going too close to my natural warm brown because it always felt… dull.

Turns out, it’s actually one of my best colours.

What I discovered

Jade walked me through draping with the seasonal palettes, showing me side-by-side the shades that lit up my skin and the ones that washed me out. I was surprised by how obvious it was in person. Colours I thought I couldn’t wear suddenly worked, and a few I’d been loyal to for years did me no favours at all.

I won’t spill all the details of my analysis here (that’s Jade’s magic and you really need to experience it for yourself), but I can say this: the in-person session was far more valuable than anything I’d done online. All you need to do is look at the women on her Instagram page and see how emotional and incredible this gift to yourself can be.

the_seasonal_stylist

A post shared by @the_seasonal_stylist

It wasn’t just about “you’re a True Autumn”; it was about learning how to actually use that knowledge in everyday life. From choosing a softer white for a T-shirt to finding the right shade of denim, it’s the kind of information that makes shopping less overwhelming and more intentional.

And when it came to hair, I got exactly what I wanted: clear direction on how to work with my natural warmth rather than against it.

the_seasonal_stylist

A post shared by @the_seasonal_stylist

A gift to yourself

Having your colours analysed isn’t about becoming rigid or following rules. It’s about giving yourself another tool. Another way to make life a little simpler, and to see yourself in a kinder light.

For me, this year has been about leaning into that. I’ve been calling it my Year of Me. Colour analysis felt like one more piece of that puzzle, another way of aligning the inside with the outside.

And honestly? Sitting in that chair, watching myself glow in some shades and shrink in others, felt like such a gift.

So, if you’ve ever thought about getting it done, consider this your little nudge.

Because sometimes the smallest changes, a lipstick shade, a new top, a hair colour that just works, can shift the way you feel about yourself more than you’d expect.

💬 Have you ever had your colours done? Or maybe you’re tempted to try?

If you’re based on the Sunshine Coast, make sure to check out Jade Long of The Seasonal Stylist, Sunshine Coast Colour Analyst. If you’re not local but still interested, I previously used Created Colourful online (the analysis was pretty close to the in-person result, I think you just can’t be wrong, having it done in person, however). Alternatively, you can reach out to Jade; she may know of someone in your area.

You may also like…