High Contrast

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High contrast means there is a considerable difference between the juxtaposed colour qualities of the skin, hair and eyes.

Considering the colour diversity of the human race, there are examples of people who have high contrast between one, two or three colour qualities, across either or all of their colour characteristics.

High contrast between some colour qualities of the skin, hair and eyes, does not mean the person’s colour expression will include overall high contrast.

High contrast can dominate, co-dominate or have moderate influence on a person’s colour expression. It all depends on the levels of tone and variable saturation, the difference of hues and the volume of each contrasting colour quality.

The most common natural high contrast occurs between people with light skin, dark hair and dark eyes.

The greater the volume/area of high contrasting hair, the greater the overall contrast will be.

High tone contrast generally has more than 5 levels of tone difference between juxtaposed characteristics.

The level of contrast is enhanced if the light skin, dark hair and dark eyes are clear, even and highly saturated. If there is a contrast of hue, this can also add to the level of contrast.

There are always exceptions with human beings, and examples of different highly contrasting colour characteristics.

High contrast can be enhanced or reduced, naturally or superficially.

With the reduction of intensity in skin, hair and eye pigmentation as people age, the natural contrast of people changes.

The changes occur to the tone and hue contrast between skin and hair.

People who had low dark contrast between their skin, hair and eyes will change to high contrast with the aging process, as their hair starts to grey and turns silver.

There are also examples of exceptional hue contrast which are developed from the biological effect of health, illness and lifestyle choices.

Colour expression highlights

Highlights of a person’s colour expression are created from highlight colour qualities. Not all people have colour expression highlights.

Colour expression highlights have light tone, the variable saturation is most often clear and even, and the hue is any natural characteristic colour.

Highlights can be part of, the skin, hair or eyes, or the complete eyes. The whites of the eyes or teeth can also be categorised as highlights.

They are bright and attract attention, enliven or transform the colour characteristic and most often create high contrast.  

Colour characteristics with a highlight contrast such as green or blue eyes, rosy cheeks, whites of the eyes or pinkish lips are a focal point.

Highlight colour characteristics rarely dominate a person’s overall colour expression, like overall high contrast can.

However, there are some people whose highlight characteristics may dominate their colour expression, such as people with a lot of hair highlights, pinkish lips, rosy cheeks and blue eyes.

The contrast level of a highlight colour characteristic depends on the juxtaposed colour characteristics.

The lighter and clearer the colour characteristic is, and the darker and duller the juxtaposed colour characteristics are, the higher the contrast will be.

The greater the difference in hue of the highlight characteristic, to its juxtaposed characteristics the higher the contrast will be.

Most often this occurs between cool coloured eyes and warm coloured skin and hair, which create a harmonious high contrast complimentary colour combination.

It is worth noting people with light low contrast - light skin, hair and eyes, can still have highlight tone and hue contrast, through highlight colour characteristics.

With the aging process, white or silver hair can be considered a highlight. Especially if the juxtaposed colour characteristics are significantly different.

Make-up, hair colouring and facial paint can all be used to create superficial characteristic highlights.  

If the underlying hue qualities, tone and variable saturation of a person’s characteristics are taken into consideration, harmonious make-up and hair colouring highlights can be applied.

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