Colour Theory

Colour is obviously a very big factor in makeup. It allows people to interpret things just by the colours used. Colour can be used to show culture, bring life to blank canvases, coding documents and expressing emotions.

The Colour Wheel
This is an organization of colour hues usually in the form of a circle formation. We can see the relationships between colour and the way they can easily flow from one to another. If the wheel was to split near enough vertically in the middle we can see difference of warm and cool colours. Warm is typically yellows, reds and oranges whereas cool is usually blue, purples and greens. On the other hand, we can see the best of both worlds and still create cool and warm colours using the opposition for example, softer shades of purples could be seen as warm or pastel reds could be seen as cool.

Primary colours
These are colours that cannot be made using other colours. They can however be mixed together to make secondary colours.

Secondary colours
This is the colours that have been created using the primary colours.

Monochromatic:
This is one chosen colour but allowing the use of different shades of that colour. Any single row (outer circle to inner circle) can be used on the colour wheel. Monochromatic is very similar to analogous.

Analogous:
Uses neighboring colours which ultimately creates a warm or cool finished look. Groups of three or four colours on the colour wheel can be used.

Complementary:
The use of colours taken from opposite ends of the colour wheel. This light and contrast scheme gives a striking look although some shades may clash and oppose each other.

Achromatic
This is the use of the grey scale. Any colour between black and white can be used.

Neutral
Browns, creams, beige, greys and even purples create a neutral pallet.