Any student that has taken art classes has likely come across the color wheel. Traditionally, the color wheel will display the primary colors of blue, yellow, and red. Next to the primary colors are the secondary
colors that are made by combining the two primary colors, green, orange, and violet. There are some color wheels that will expand even further offering colors that are made by combining a primary and secondary color.
These are called the Tertiary colors and include red-orange, yellow-orange, blue-green, yellow-green, violet-red, and violet-blue.
Color Relationships
The color wheel is designed to show the different ways colors relate to each other. Two colors that are on the opposite sides of the color wheel are considered complimentary to each other. This means that both colors
are intensified when placed next to each other. However, when two complimentary colors are combined in the right proportions, they will neutralize each other. This is what is done when hair color is applied for correction.
Colors that are side by side on a color wheel are called analogous colors. The colors you are looking at together will depend on the depth of the color wheel you have. You may be comparing a primary color with a secondary
color or you could be comparing shades of the same color. Generally, analogous colors are compatible and are made from varying light and dark combinations of the shade. When compared, analogous colors go well together.
When blending these colors, such as when coloring hair, they can be used to intensify hues of someone’s natural color.
Finally, there are monochromatic colors. These are colors that have the same base, but a different value and hue. When compared, monochromatic colors can add a feeling of sophistication to a look, such as in décor and
fashion. When used in coloring hair, using different shades of the same base color can create a dimensional effect that is very flattering.
Color Wheel and Hair
When it comes to hair color, the traditional color wheel is too limited to show the range of colors available. Light levels must be added to the wheel to represent hair color properly. There are three basic groups of
hair color, Redhead, Brunette, and Blonde, and the lightness levels of each group are important.
The hair color wheel uses primary and secondary colors and the combinations of each, but these are on top of a scale of one to ten levels that are available. A 10 is the lightest color available (blonde) and a
one is the darkest shade black. The base colors overlaying the lightness level help portray the differences between hair color options available.
Warm and Cool
The main way hair color is divided is into warm shades and cool shades. A warm shade is a color that is derived from a warm base color, mainly orange, red, and yellow. The names of these colors will typically reflect
the color and warmth, such as auburn, sunlit, golden, copper, or cinnamon. Base colors of greens, violets, and blues are considered cool shades. Some of the names of cool shades include, cool, icy, ash, or platinum.
When you think of warm and cool shades, the terms refer to the three main color classifications, Redhead, Brunette, and Blonde. Redheads are almost always found in the warm category due to the nature of the color. When
they are found in a cool category, it is typically not a natural color, but rather an exotic color that is used to enhance fashion. Brunette and blonde colors can be found in both the warm and cool categories.
