Do you ever feel like something’s missing in color analysis? If you’ve worked with traditional seasonal or tonal systems, you might have noticed a gap—clients who don’t quite fit into the available categories, tools that feel incomplete, or consultations that leave you questioning the outcome.
You’re not alone. For years, I felt the same way. As a stylist, salon owner, and international color consultant with over 45 years of experience, I saw firsthand how these systems often fell short. They were either too rigid, too complex, or left clients confused about their unique color harmony.
But then, I discovered the missing link: the 7th category.
The Revelation: A 7-Category System - 7 Color Spectrums
The debate over a prefered method of color analysis , kind of misses the point. In my experience the methods were skewed toward the consultants need to get it right and became an informational not transformational experience for the client. Traditional systems like the 4 Seasons, 12 Flow Seasons or the Tonal method with 6 categories, did not fully engage the client with an understanding of color theory that they could relate to and put into practical application when it came to making decisions.
Skintone Debate - For many years now I have utilized the Tonal Method, because it more closely aligns with color theory and is a more accurate and simple way to define categories. The 12 Flow Seasons relies on the subtleties of skin tone and causes confusion for the client. The reality is apart from the distinctive warm and cool categories most everyone else is on a scale of neutral that leans either way toward warm or cool. The tonal approach offers a less rigid and more client friendly approach. But yet there was still a gap . The gap was a missing category in for individuals who don’t fit neatly into one of the 6 predefined box’s. That’s where the Color Harmony Method steps in. By introducing a 7th category, this revolutionary approach bridges the gaps and creates a complete system.
The Fresh Color Harmony Spectrum category is the game-changer. It’s a universal palette of blended, mid-depth tertiary colors that harmonizes beautifully with a wide range of individuals. It’s versatile enough to stand alone and dynamic enough to act as a supplementary palette for other categories.
Imagine a client who doesn’t fit the “bright ” enough for Clear or “mellow and low contrast ” enough for Soft — they are not Warm or Cool or Light or Deep. They are neutral but have a brightness and mid contrast, mid depth . That is me ! Over the years I asked many professional consultants “what am I ? they would ask me back ”what are you ? The truth is I didn’t have a home in the tonal system . (I sat in the spring season but that’s another story)
I had an ahh-ha moment one day and realized all my best colors were tertiary colors, for example orange and pink were not great on me but tangerine, watermelon and citrus colors worked great. They weren't shades, or tints or tones or pure hue. They were blends . I would find them in palettes that were described as universal colors” Then I saw it ! there is a 7th category , just like the rainbow has 7 colors, the musical scale has 7 notes (in traditional Western music generally consist of seven notes and repeat at the octave.) 7 days in a week. 7 makes sense and after gathering a few of my clients that had similar characteristics to me I could confirm that YES ! the 7th category fits and the color spectrum of medium depth neutral blended tertiary colors works and belongs in Tonal Color analysis. I was explaining my theory and desire to name the category to a dear friend who is not into color at all. She said “Its fresh! ” and it felt so right . We then realized that the 6 Tonal categories all describe an aspect of color and water . We felt that FRESH came as a divine inspiration and so FRESH was born and we haven’t looked back .
The Revelation: A 7-Category System - 7 Color Spectrums
The ongoing debate over the "best" method of color analysis misses an important point. In my experience, many systems have been skewed toward the consultant’s need to “get it right,” turning the process into an informational experience rather than a truly transformational one for the client.
Traditional systems, like the 4 Seasons, 12 Flow Seasons, or the Tonal Method with 6 categories, often failed to engage clients with a practical understanding of color theory. Clients struggled to relate to the concepts in a way that empowered them to make confident, informed decisions in their daily lives.
The Skintone Debate
For many years, I utilized the Tonal Method because it more closely aligns with color theory. Its structure is more accurate and simpler for defining categories compared to other systems. However, the 12 Flow Seasons, which heavily rely on subtle distinctions in skin tone, often left clients feeling confused.
The truth is, apart from the distinct Warm and Cool categories, most people fall somewhere along a neutral spectrum, leaning slightly one way or the other. The Tonal Method provided a more client-friendly and less rigid framework. But even with its strengths, there was still a gap —a missing category for individuals who didn’t fit neatly into one of the six predefined boxes.
Introducing the 7th Category
This is where the Color Harmony Method steps in. By introducing a 7th category, this approach bridges the gaps and completes the system.
The Fresh Color Harmony Spectrum is the game-changer. It’s a universal palette of blended, mid-depth tertiary colors that harmonizes beautifully with a wide range of individuals. Versatile enough to stand alone and dynamic enough to act as a supplementary palette, it offers solutions for those who don’t quite fit the standard categories.
Imagine a client who isn’t “bright” enough for Clear or “mellow and low contrast” enough for Soft. They’re not definitively Warm, Cool, Light, or Deep either. They are neutral but exhibit a brightness, mid-contrast, and mid-depth that doesn’t align with the existing categories.
That client is me.
Finding My Home in Color
Over the years, I asked countless professional consultants, “What am I?” only to have them respond with the same question: “What do you think you are?” The truth was, I didn’t have a home in the tonal system. (For years, I was placed in Spring, but that’s another story.)
Then one day, I had an aha moment. I realized that my best colors were tertiary blends. Pure orange and pink didn’t suit me, but tangerine, watermelon, and citrus tones worked beautifully. These weren’t shades, tints, tones, or pure hues—they were blended colors.
I began to notice these shades appearing in palettes labeled as “universal colors.” That’s when it hit me: there is a 7th category. Just as the rainbow has 7 colors, and the musical scale has 7 notes, the number 7 holds a natural completeness. After working with several clients who shared similar characteristics, I confirmed it: YES! The 7th category fits.
The Fresh Harmony Spectrum, composed of medium-depth neutral blended tertiary colors, belongs in the Tonal Method. It completes the system.
The Birth of Fresh
As I was developing this category, I shared my theory with a dear friend—someone who isn’t into color at all. After listening to me explain the concept, she said, “It’s fresh!” And the name felt so right.
We then realized something even more profound. The 6 Tonal categories all describe an aspect of color and water (e.g., Warm and Cool, Light and Deep). Fresh seemed like divine inspiration, perfectly capturing the essence of this new category. And so, Fresh was born— and we haven’t looked back since.
The Power of 7 Categories
Here’s why the 7-category system is a game-changer:
Simplicity: The categories are easy to understand, making consultations more intuitive for professionals and clients alike.
Accuracy : Each color spectrum can be demonstrated by practical color theory examples and the composition of each color spectrum clearly defined.
Clarity: Each client fits confidently into a category, with no more “in-between” frustrations.
Comprehensiveness: The system addresses every possible color harmony, creating a sense of completeness.
Client Empowerment: Clients leave with a revelation about their colors—and the tools to confidently use that knowledge.
Empower Yourself and Your Clients
Imagine offering consultations that leave clients feeling confident, inspired, and truly understood. With the Color Harmony Method, you’re not just helping them find their colors— you’re helping them see themselves in a whole new light.
For professionals, this system is a breath of fresh air. It simplifies your work, boosts your confidence, and ensures you can meet the needs of every client.
Be Part of the Evolution
The missing link in color analysis is no longer missing. The Color Harmony Method’s 7- category system is here to transform how you approach color.
Ready to see the difference for yourself?
Explore the Color Harmony Method and discover how 7 categories can elevate your practice. Learn more here!
