Introduction to Personal Colorimetry

Scientific fundamentals and optical effects

Colorimetry applied to personal image is not based on subjective aesthetic preferences, but on principles of optical physics and biology.

The central concept is that skin, hair and eyes have natural pigments (melanin, carotin and hemoglobin) that react to light.

When we place a garment or accessory close to the face, it functions as a reflective screen: it bounces the light back to the face, projecting its own wavelength.

If the color chosen shares the same chromatic characteristics as the individual's pigmentation, a harmony is produced by repetition that softens the features.

The objective of this analysis is to discover the client's biological palette, which is immutable throughout his or her existence.

Although external factors such as aging (gray hair) or tanning modify the surface appearance, the basal temperature (cold or warm) never changes.

The impact of the wrong choice is clinically visible: a dissonant shade will cast grayish or greenish shadows on depressed areas of the face (such as the nasolabial fold and eye sockets), accentuate uneven skin texture and bring imperfections such as blemishes or redness to the fore.

In contrast, the right range acts as an instant perfecting filter, defining the facial oval and illuminating the look.

Preliminary diagnosis using biological indicators

Before using the technical diagnostic tools, the practitioner must sharpen observation to pick up biological clues that suggest the client's temperature. These clues help to formulate an initial hypothesis.

The first marker is visible vascularity: the inner aspect of the wrist is examined under natural light.

If the venous network is bluish or purplish, it indicates oxygenated blood under a dermis with pinkish hues, typical of cold harmonies.

If, on the contrary, the veins appear greenish, it is an optical effect generated by the blue of the vein filtered through an epidermis with a high load of yellow pigment (carotin), indicating warmth. Another relevant indicator is the skin's response to ultraviolet radiation.

Dermis that synthesize golden melanin rapidly, achieving an intense and long-lasting tan without going through a significant burning phase, tend to belong to the warm spectrum (Autumn or Spring).

In contrast, skin that reacts with erythema (redness), becomes inflamed or takes on an ashy/grayish tone when tanning, tends to be aligned with the cool spectrum (Winter or Summer).

Natural contrast is also eva luated: the intensity of the difference between the color of hair, skin and the sclera of the eye.

Summary

Applied colorimetry is based on biological and optical principles, where natural pigments react to light. The face functions as a reflective screen projecting wavelengths.

The objective is to discover the client's unchanging biological palette, independent of aging. The wrong shade accentuates blemishes and shadows, while the right shade acts as a perfecting filter.

Before the technical test, biological indicators such as vein color and reaction to the sun are analyzed. These data allow an initial hypothesis on the basal temperature to be formulated.