Many consumers in Ho Chi Minh City are now embracing a new cosmetic service: personal color consultation.

Discover the secrets behind selecting the perfect color palette and make the transformation from an ugly duckling to a swan.

Nguyen Thi My Yen, a 27-year-old resident of District 10, is eagerly anticipating her color consultation appointment at a consulting center in District 7.

Despite her love for cosmetics, Yen will attend the appointment bare-faced -- an unusual experience for her.

Huong, the center's founder and Yen's consultant, has instructed that Yen must come without makeup or contact lenses, and the appointment should be scheduled before sunset.

During the consultation, Yen will sit in a space with natural light, allowing Huong to accurately assess the contours of her face and her true skin tone.

What is seasonal color analysis?

At Yen's appointment, Huong starts by snapping a clean-face facial picture of her client, which is confidential and will be kept on file for future appointments.

Huong then covers Yen's skin with various swatches of colors and tones and learns that Yen falls within the midsummer color group.

Many clients walk into their appointments with assumptions about seasonal color ranges.

They are surprised to learn that the color analysis is not based on fashion trends but on the change in sunlight.

As a case in point, sunlight in the spring is different from that in the winter or darker months, and the analysis will focus on 'gentle' hues versus 'icy' winter tones.

At Yen's appointment, she learns that for her skin tone, summer is not a 'warm color' but leans more blue or 'chilly' tones.

Huong's explanation is consistent with climate terminology, and personal color analysis always gives results linked to a seasonal palette.

Whether spring, summer, autumn, or winter, each links to different undertones and color qualities.

For instance, autumn hues are rich and earthy, winter tones are cool and vivid, spring shades are typically warm and vibrant, while summer colors are soft and muted.

These categories help individuals select makeup, accessories, and clothing that enhance their unique color profile and contribute to a well-coordinated wardrobe.

The Golden Ratio

After filing the photograph of Yen's face, Huong sketches the skeleton structure on an app for further evaluation.

To ascertain the visual weight and contrast on the client's face, she examines the eyes, lips, eyebrows, and even iris color.

Yen is extremely eager to see her face against the golden ratio and determine her point count.

The Golden Ratio is 1: 1.618, and the full equation states, "When a line is divided into two parts in a ratio of 1: 1.618, it creates the ideal proportion."

Color analysis can increase a face's golden ratio by bringing forward or highlighting strong features like the neck, cheekbones, or nose.

Huong also realizes the importance of the golden ratio as it "helps decide the type of patterns, materials, shapes of clothing, and accessories."

Yen was surprised to learn she had a cool skin tone.

"I am used to matching the warm tone of my complexion. The outcome of the consultation shocked me as it is the reverse," she said.

Yen is still lucky as she will not have to part from her whole wardrobe.

The consultant said she could still wear the current clothes if she wanted them, but to combine the ensemble with a smaller ratio, perhaps 20-30 percent of the whole look, so she still "looks good."

At another color consulting center in Tan Binh District, 37-year-old Vo Thi Thuy Liem from District 9 received assistance from consultant Dao Tran, who used fabric samples in various tones and colors draped over Liem's shoulders to assess the contrast and determine the best color choices.

Liem sought the consultation because she often received feedback about appearing too serious and hoped to improve her first impression.

In response, Dao Tran concentrated on evaluating Liem’s facial features, including her eye and hair color, as well as her eyebrow shape.

Dao also provided guidance on Liem's outfit style and noted that her ideal color range aligned with her current wardrobe.

Liem was advised on selecting suitable clothes by considering her body measurements and overall body composition.

After about 45 minutes of counseling, Liem felt a boost in confidence.

Smiling, she remarked, "After today, I know which colors suit me and which ones to avoid. I might need to make some changes to my wardrobe when I get back."

Painless, better results than surgery

Personal color consulting is relatively recent in Vietnam. Thao Jaly, the owner of a color consulting center in Tan Binh District, revealed that she battled to choose clothing before receiving a life-changing consultation in South Korea and Japan.

Thao observed that many Vietnamese people wear clothes that accentuate nothing about their face or skin tone.

"I see many young girls struggling when choosing clothes; they just pick them based on their feelings and then realize they don't suit them, which ends up wasting a lot of money and time," Thao added.

Depending on each center and service package, the personal color consulting service fetches VND690,000 - 5,000,000 (US$29-210) per session.

Each appointment banks on the client's needs and can last up to two hours.

Dao Tran reveals one of the most popular items of feedback her center receives is the color palette knowledge that enables clients to save a lot of money on clothing.

"Knowing the correct color group will let clients generate more possibilities from just 10 clothes. The most important thing is to avoid buying clothes that don't suit you." Dao Tran added enthusiastically.

This consultant claims that since everyone's undertone of color will not alter during their lifetime, clients only need the evaluation once.

After the consultation, they also get a result sheet and can confidently follow the information to choose the style and colors that fit them best.

Emphasizing natural beauty, increasing confidence

Dr. Nguyen Thi Ngoc Quyen, dean of the Faculty of Architecture and Art at the Ho Chi Minh City University of Technology (HUTECH), attributes the growing popularity of personal color consulting services to the expanding fashion and beauty industry and heightened awareness of personal appearance and style.

"Choosing the right colors not only enhances beauty but also boosts confidence in everyday life and interactions," Quyen explained.

She also noted that many people believe colors can have feng shui effects, which may improve luck and mood.

"Remember, the right color palette will highlight your best features, enhance your natural beauty, and minimize imperfections," Quyen added.