What are the 12 color seasons?

Light Spring, Warm (True) Spring, Bright (Clear) Spring, Light Summer, Cool (True) Summer, Soft Summer, Soft Autumn, Warm (True) Autumn, Deep Autumn, Bright (Clear) Winter, Cool (True) Winter and Deep (Dark) Winter.

What is the difference between the 4-season and 12-season systems?

The 4-season system only asks whether your coloring is Spring, Summer, Autumn or Winter. The 12-season system splits each season into three based on your dominant characteristic — light, deep, warm, cool, bright or soft — which gives a much more precise palette.

How do you find your color season?

A color analyst assesses three things: hue (whether your undertone is warm or cool), value (how light or deep your overall coloring is) and chroma (whether you look best in bright, clear colors or soft, muted ones). The combination points to one of the 12 seasons.

Can your color season change?

Your underlying season usually stays the same, but hair color changes, tanning and aging can shift how light, deep or muted your coloring reads. Many people move to a neighboring season rather than a completely different one.

Is seasonal color analysis accurate from a photo?

It can be, if the photo is taken in natural daylight with no filters, makeup kept minimal and hair pulled back. Professionals still confirm the result with their own judgment, which is how Hathaura works: it guides the analysis and the analyst can override the recommended season.

The 12 Color Seasons Explained (With Palettes)

Seasonal color analysis groups people into 12 seasons based on the natural colors of their skin, hair and eyes. Your season tells you which colors make you look healthy, rested and confident — and which ones wash you out. Here is how the system works and what each season looks like.

How seasonal color analysis works

Every season is defined by three color qualities. A color analyst looks at your skin, hair and eyes together and decides which quality is most dominant:

Hue (temperature): are your undertones warm and golden, or cool and rosy? Warm seasons are Spring and Autumn; cool seasons are Summer and Winter.
Value (depth): is your overall coloring light or deep? Light Spring and Light Summer are the lightest seasons; Deep Autumn and Deep Winter are the deepest.
Chroma (clarity): do you look best in clear, saturated colors or soft, muted ones? Bright Spring and Bright Winter are the clearest; Soft Summer and Soft Autumn are the most muted.

The 4-season system stops at Spring, Summer, Autumn and Winter. The 12-season system adds that dominant quality, which is why each season has a Light, Warm/Cool, Bright, Soft or Deep version.

Spring seasons

Warm undertones with clear, fresh coloring. Springs look best in colors that feel sunny and alive.

Light Spring

Coloring: Light and warm, with low-to-medium contrast. Delicate, luminous coloring.

Your coloring is light, warm and luminous, like the first fresh morning of spring. Soft, clear colors such as peach, buttercup and aqua bring out your natural glow without ever overpowering you.

Warm Spring (also called True Spring)

Coloring: The warmest Spring: golden undertones and a bright, sunny palette.

Your coloring is warm, golden and full of life. Sunny, clear colors like coral, golden yellow and fresh green echo your natural warmth and make you look rested and radiant.

Bright Spring (also called Clear Spring)

Coloring: Clear, saturated and warm-leaning, often with striking eyes and higher contrast.

Your coloring combines warmth with striking clarity. Vivid, clean colors like hot pink, turquoise and bright yellow match your natural brightness and bring your whole look into focus.

Summer seasons

Cool undertones with softer, blended coloring. Summers shine in calm, cool and gentle colors.

Light Summer

Coloring: Light and cool with low contrast. Soft pastels look effortless.

Your coloring is light, cool and delicate, like a soft summer morning. Gentle pastels such as periwinkle, soft pink and aqua harmonize with your features and give you a fresh, effortless look.

Cool Summer (also called True Summer)

Coloring: The coolest Summer: rose-toned or neutral-cool skin and a refined blue-based palette.

Your coloring is cool, soft and elegant. Calm blues, rose and soft teal reflect your natural undertones, creating a polished look that feels both refined and approachable.

Soft Summer

Coloring: Muted and cool-leaning. Smoky, dusty shades flatter more than bright ones.

Your coloring is cool and gently muted, with a quiet sophistication. Dusty roses, smoky blues and soft greys blend seamlessly with your features for a look that is understated and timeless.

Autumn seasons

Warm undertones with rich, earthy coloring. Autumns glow in colors inspired by nature in fall.

Soft Autumn

Coloring: Muted and warm-leaning with gentle contrast. Earthy, blended shades work best.

Your coloring is warm, soft and beautifully blended. Muted, earthy shades like sage, camel and dusty rose echo your natural tones and create an effortlessly harmonious look.

Warm Autumn (also called True Autumn)

Coloring: The warmest Autumn: golden, rich coloring that loves spice tones.

Your coloring is rich, warm and golden, like an autumn landscape at its peak. Earthy colors such as rust, mustard and olive mirror your natural warmth and make you glow.

Deep Autumn

Coloring: Deep and warm, with medium-to-high contrast. Intense earthy shades bring out the depth.

Your coloring is deep, warm and rich. Intense earthy shades like wine, forest green and bronze match the depth of your features and give you a grounded, confident presence.

Winter seasons

Cool undertones with high contrast and clarity. Winters look striking in crisp, intense colors.

Bright Winter (also called Clear Winter)

Coloring: Vivid and cool-leaning with very high contrast and clear features.

Your coloring is cool, vivid and high-contrast. Crisp, saturated colors like royal blue, fuchsia and true red match your natural clarity and make your features stand out.

Cool Winter (also called True Winter)

Coloring: The coolest Winter: icy, blue-based coloring and dramatic contrast.

Your coloring is cool, clear and striking. Icy and jewel-toned colors such as cobalt, emerald and magenta echo your natural contrast and give you a sharp, polished look.

Deep Winter (also called Dark Winter)

Coloring: Deep and cool-leaning, with rich dark features and high contrast.

Your coloring is deep, cool and dramatic. Rich jewel tones like navy, burgundy and emerald match the intensity of your features and create a bold, sophisticated presence.

How professionals find a client's season

A professional analysis compares the client's coloring against each of the three qualities, usually with fabric drapes in person or from carefully lit photos for virtual sessions. The result is most useful when it comes with a written report the client can keep: their signature color, accent colors, best neutrals, colors to avoid, and practical guidance for clothing, metals, prints and makeup.

Hathaura is software that guides stylists and color analysts through this exact process — hue, value and chroma — and generates a branded PDF report for each client with their season's full style guide.

The 12 Color Seasons Explained