Will My Color Palette Change as I Age? (And What About Tanning or Hair Color?)

The short answer: Your color palette is based on your natural undertones, which don't change with tanning, hair dye, or time. A summer tan or a new hair color changes the surface, not what's underneath, so your palette stays your home base for life. What can shift over time is which colors within your palette you reach for most.

If you're like me, one of the first things you wondered after hearing about color analysis was, "Okay, but what happens when I get a tan? Or go gray? Is this just going to change in a few years?" It's one of the most common questions I get in the studio, and I love it, because the answer is really freeing.

Let's walk through it!

What your palette is actually based on

When we drape you during your session, we're not looking at the color of your hair or how tan you are that week. We're looking at your undertone, the color that sits beneath the surface of your skin. We're also looking at your natural contrast (how much difference there is between your skin, hair, and eyes) and whether your coloring leans soft or clear.

Your undertone is the foundation, and it's the part that stays with you. That's why finding your palette feels less like following a trend and more like coming home to yourself.

What about tanning?

A tan darkens the surface of your skin, but it doesn't change your undertone. You may notice some colors look a little different against sun-kissed skin, but your palette is still your palette.

In the studio, I usually suggest booking when your skin is closer to its natural shade, just so we can see your coloring as clearly as possible. But if you come in with a little summer glow, don't worry! Your undertone still shows up in the drapes, and I'll walk you through how your palette works with your tan, too.

Will my palette change as I get older?

This is the question I hear most, especially from clients who are starting to go gray. Your undertone stays the same, so your palette remains your foundation. What often changes with age is your contrast. Hair lightens, brows soften, and your overall coloring can become gentler.

That doesn't mean your colors stop working! It usually means the softer colors within your palette start to feel even more "you," and you may reach for them more often.

Every once in a while, when someone's coloring softens a lot over the years, a neighboring palette may start to feel a little more harmonious. But your undertone, the heart of your palette, doesn't change. If you ever feel like your colors aren't working the way they used to, that's always something we can look at together.

What if I dye my hair?

Changing your hair color doesn't change your palette, but choosing a hair color that works with your palette can make a huge difference in how everything else looks on you. When your hair harmonizes with your natural coloring, your skin looks brighter, your eyes stand out, and your whole look just clicks.

This is one of my favorite things to help with! Knowing your palette makes choosing a new hair shade so much easier, whether you're going warmer, lighter, darker, or embracing your natural gray.

Pregnancy, postpartum, and other seasons of life

Hormones, health changes, and certain medications can temporarily affect your skin, like extra redness or darker patches. These changes are real, but they're temporary, and they don't change your undertone.

I know this one personally. I got my colors done in the thick of my first postpartum, when I barely recognized myself. Learning my colors during that season gave me something to hold on to. It felt like finding a piece of myself I thought I'd lost. Through every change my body has gone through since, my palette has stayed the same, and it's still the first place I turn when I want to feel like me.

So what does change?

Your palette gives you a foundation, but how you use it can grow with you. Your personal style will evolve. You'll find new favorite colors within your palette. Your makeup shades may shift a bit as your skin changes. Think of your palette less like a rulebook and more like a guide that grows alongside you.

When does a new analysis make sense?

Since your undertones stay the same, most people only need one analysis. A new session might be worth it if:

• You were analyzed with the traditional four-season system and never felt quite right in your colors. The 22 Palette System is far more precise.
• Your analysis was done from photos or a filter instead of in person, where lighting and cameras can throw off the results.
• You just never felt at home in the palette you were given.

Let's find the shades that were always yours

Your colors aren't a trend you'll outgrow. They're a part of you that's been there all along, through every season of life. That's what makes discovering them feel so empowering!

If you're in Ogden, North Ogden, Pleasant View, or anywhere in Weber or Davis County, I'd love to help you discover your palette.