When Your Colouring Changes With Age: What That Might Mean for Your Colour Palette

March 17, 2026

There often comes a moment, sometimes quite suddenly, when colours that used to feel effortless start to look… different.

A lipstick you wore for years feels brighter than you remember. A favourite black top suddenly looks a little stark. Or the colours you once reached for automatically now seem slightly too strong against your face.

At the same time, other changes may be happening. Hair begins to turn silver or white. Skin tone softens. The contrast between hair, skin and eyes becomes gentler than it once was.

It’s no surprise that many people start to wonder: does my colour palette change as I age?

The answer is rarely straightforward. Most colour analysts agree that undertone — the warm or cool quality of your colouring — doesn’t dramatically change over time. But what can evolve is the overall balance of your colouring: the contrast, depth and intensity.

And that subtle shift can sometimes mean that the colours that feel most harmonious also evolve.

Photo by Photo by Natasha Brazil on Unsplash

Does Your Colour Season Change as You Age?

Below are some of the ways the different seasonal palettes may evolve over time. These observations are not strict rules - colouring is wonderfully varied across all skin tones and ethnicities - but they can offer useful starting points for experimenting with colour.

Exactly how your colouring changes depends on whether your dominant quality is softness, clarity, depth, lightness, warmth, or coolness.

👉 If you’re not sure which colours suit you now, you can explore your colour season here

Spring Colour Palettes and Grey Hair

(Clear Spring, Warm Spring, Light Spring)

Spring colouring is characterised by warmth, freshness and light. Many Springs have naturally bright or golden colouring that feels vibrant and energetic.

When Spring hair begins to turn grey or white, the biggest change is often the loss of warmth in the hair. Because silver hair is naturally cool, very yellow-based or orange tones can sometimes feel slightly stronger than they once did. In most cases, the solution isn’t to abandon warm colours but to choose warmer shades with a little softness or pinkness, such as coral, peach or warm rose.

Silver hair is often associated with cool colour palettes, so sometimes it takes a little thought to make it work with warm coloured clothing. In this image, warm red-orange stripes and camel brown sit alongside cool blue and silver hair. The mix of warm and cool colours keeps the overall look balanced and lively. Photo by Never Fully Dressed.

Clear Spring (Bright Spring)

Clear Springs are defined by brightness and clarity. Their colouring often includes clear eyes and the ability to carry bright, fresh colours such as coral, turquoise and warm pink.

As hair turns grey or white, contrast may soften slightly and the most extremely sharp colour combinations can sometimes feel a little stark. if your colouring is naturally clear, you may still suit brighter colours, just with slightly less contrast or intensity

Instead of very high-contrast pairings, many Clear Springs find they look wonderful in mid-tone bright colours, such as coral, clear turquoise, teal, warm raspberry and true blue.

Makeup can help maintain the palette’s lively energy. Coral or watermelon lip colours, softly defined brows and peachy blush often keep the look bright and fresh.

👉 Think this might be you? Explore the Clear Spring collection

Warm Spring (True Spring)

Warm Springs are defined first and foremost by warmth. Golden skin tones and warm hair colours often give the palette a glowing quality.

When hair becomes grey or silver, it doesn't override the warmth in your skin, but very earthy or heavy warm colours can feel weightier than they once did.

Many Warm Springs find they look particularly radiant in lighter warm tones, such as coral, apricot and peach tones, raspberry pinks, and warm teal.

Makeup that echoes warmth, like peach blush, coral lipstick and soft golden highlights, helps maintain the natural glow of the palette.

👉 Think this might be you? Explore the Warm Spring collection

Light Spring

Light Springs have delicate, airy colouring defined by lightness and warmth.

Because their colouring is already gentle, the transition to grey hair often feels quite harmonious. Silver hair can simply continue the palette’s light quality.

The key adjustment is often making sure there is still enough colour near the face. Light Springs usually shine in light, fresh colours, such as peach, warm aqua, light coral, gentle pinks, and vibrant pistachio green.

Makeup that keeps the complexion fresh, like peach blush, soft coral lips and light eye definition, helps maintain that luminous Spring energy.

👉 Think this might be you? Explore the Light Spring collection

Summer Colour Palettes and Grey Hair

(Soft Summer, Cool Summer, Light Summer)

Summer colouring is defined by coolness and softness. Interestingly, many people find that silver hair sits naturally within this palette, as it echoes the cool, muted tones that already define Summer colouring.

For many Summers, the transition to grey hair can feel surprisingly harmonious.

One elegant way to dress with silver hair is to echo its tones in your clothing. Greys, charcoals and smoky neutrals can create a beautifully cohesive look for summers. Photo by Never Fully Dressed.

Soft Summer

Soft Summers are characterised by muted, blended colouring with low contrast. Hair is often ash blonde or soft, cool brown, with gently cool skin tones.

Grey or silver hair often complements this palette beautifully, enhancing its natural softness.

Many Soft Summers find medium muted tones like dusty rose, soft berry, misty blues and teals, soft sage greens, and periwinkle/lavender are especially flattering as their colouring softens.

Makeup works best when it preserves gentle definition: rose lipstick, soft blush and dusky grey-brown eye definition keep everything harmonious.

👉 Think this might be you? Explore the Soft Summer collection

Cool Summer (True Summer)

Cool Summers sit at the centre of the Summer palette and are defined primarily by cool undertones.

Silver hair often blends very naturally with this colouring, echoing the cool tones already present.

Very dark colours such as black may feel a little stark as contrast softens, but medium cool shades such as rose and powder pinks, cool navy, soft teal, and violet blue often remain extremely flattering.

Makeup that maintains cool harmony, like berry lips, pink blush and charcoal eye definition, helps keep the look refined and balanced.

👉 Think this might be you? Explore the Cool Summer collection

Light Summer

Light Summers have delicate colouring defined by lightness and coolness.

Grey or silver hair often blends seamlessly with this palette, reinforcing its light, airy quality. If your colouring is naturally light, ageing may simply reinforce what already suits you.

As with Light Spring, keeping colour near the face ensures the lighter seasons don't start to look "washed out". Colours that work especially well include cool rose pinks, powder blue, lilac and lavender purples, sea greens and light French navy.

Fresh pink lips, cool rose blush and gentle eye definition help keep the complexion lively without overwhelming naturally delicate colouring.

👉 Think this might be you? Explore the Light Summer collection

Autumn Colour Palettes and Grey Hair

(Soft Autumn, Warm Autumn, Deep Autumn)

Autumn palettes are defined by warmth and depth. Because many Autumns begin with rich golden or copper hair, the transition to grey can feel like a bigger change.

The key adjustment is usually not losing warmth, but allowing colours to become a little lighter and more luminous so they sit comfortably with silver hair.

Silver hair can work beautifully with tonal neutrals. Soft pewter, cream and gentle beige echo the tones of the grey hair while creating a calm, balanced look. Photo by Alexandra Tran on Unsplash.

Soft Autumn

Soft Autumn colouring is warm, muted and low contrast. Hair is often soft brown or chestnut, with warm or neutral skin tones.

Grey hair can complement the palette’s softness beautifully.

Medium warm tones such as warm rose, muted terracotta, soft olive, dusty peach and warm taupe often remain particularly flattering.

Makeup that keeps warmth without heaviness, like peachy nudes, warm rose lips and soft bronze blush, maintains the palette’s gentle warmth.

👉 Think this might be you? Explore the Soft Autumn collection

Warm Autumn (True Autumn)

Warm Autumn palettes are rich and golden. Hair often includes auburn, copper or golden brown tones.

When hair turns silver or white, very heavy earthy colours can sometimes feel darker than before.

Many Warm Autumns look wonderful in warmer colours with a little more lightness, such as coral, warm salmon, golden camel, honey gold and warm teal.

Peach blush, coral lips and bronze eye tones help keep the palette’s natural warmth glowing.

👉 Think this might be you? Explore the Warm Autumn collection

Deep Autumn (Dark Autumn)

Deep Autumn colouring combines warmth with depth and contrast.

When hair lightens, extremely dark shades can sometimes feel heavier near the face. If your colouring is deep, you may still need depth in your colours, but with slightly less stark contrast than before.

Many Deep Autumns find that deep, rich colours with a little brightness: deep teal, aubergine, warm plum, rich berry, and warm navy, continue to look striking while feeling balanced against lighter hair.

Makeup that restores some contrast, such as berry lipstick and softly defined brows, often works beautifully.

👉 Think this might be you? Explore the Deep Autumn collection

Winter Colour Palettes and Grey Hair

(Clear Winter, Cool Winter, Deep Winter)

Winter palettes are defined by coolness, clarity and contrast. When dark hair turns grey or white, the biggest change is often the softening of contrast.

The cool undertone that defines Winter colouring usually remains, but extremely stark combinations may feel stronger than they once did.

As a Winter, grey hair doesn’t necessarily mean you need less contrast, but pure black can sometimes feel too stark. A softer neutral or a clear pop of colour can bring everything back into harmony.Photo by Nicolas Nicolic on Unsplash.

Clear Winter (Bright Winter)

Clear Winters are vibrant and high contrast, often able to wear bold colours such as fuchsia, cobalt and icy brights.

As hair lightens, you may find that slightly less contrasting combinations can start to feel more balanced.

Cerise pink, cool teal, emerald green, electric and cobalt blue, and graphite often retain the palette’s clarity while working beautifully with silver hair.

Berry lipstick and defined brows help maintain the crisp, polished energy of this palette.

👉 Think this might be you? Explore the Clear Winter collection

Cool Winter (True Winter)

Cool Winters are defined by clean cool tones.

Silver hair often harmonises beautifully with this palette, reinforcing its cool elegance.

Medium cool colours such as magenta and berry tones, royal purple, cobalt blues and navy, teals and emerald green, and graphite grey frequently become especially flattering as contrast starts to soften.

Cool berry lipstick, pink blush and charcoal eye definition help maintain Winter’s refined balance.

👉 Think this might be you? Explore the Cool Winter collection

Deep Winter (Dark Winter)

Deep Winters combine depth with cool clarity.

When hair becomes silver or white, the palette’s dramatic depth may feel slightly heavier than before.

Rich but luminous shades such as crimson, cool teal, aubergine, navy, and charcoal grey often keep the palette’s drama while balancing lighter hair.

Berry or wine lip colours and softly defined brows help maintain definition and contrast.

👉 Think this might be you? Explore the Deep Winter collection

Letting Your Colour Palette Evolve With Age

Colour analysis systems often focus on identifying a palette at a particular moment in time. But in reality, our colouring continues to evolve slowly throughout our lives.

Hair changes, skin changes, and the overall balance of our features changes with them.

Rather than thinking of colour palettes as fixed forever, it may be more helpful to think of them as something that can mature and soften over time, just as personal style does. The goal isn’t to chase a perfect palette, but simply to notice which colours feel harmonious now, and to allow those choices to evolve as naturally as everything else does.

And if there’s one reassuring truth about colour and style, it’s this: the colours that feel most like you tend to find their way back, sometimes just in slightly softer, brighter or more luminous ways than before.

Frequently Asked Questions About Colour Seasons and Grey Hair

Does your colour season change when your hair turns grey?

Your undertone (warm or cool) and your core season usually stay the same. However, as hair loses pigment, your overall contrast and depth can shift. This may mean you sit slightly differently within your palette—for example, moving toward softer, lighter, or lower-contrast combinations.

How does grey hair affect contrast in your colouring?

Grey or white hair often reduces the contrast between your features. If you were naturally high contrast (for example, dark hair and light skin), this softening can change how bold or sharp colours appear against you.

Do warm colour palettes work with grey hair?

Yes. Warm undertones usually remain the same throughout life, even when hair turns grey. Many people with Spring or Autumn colouring simply find that warmer shades with a little softness, such as coral, warm rose or honey, sit more comfortably alongside silver hair.

Why do some colours start to look harsher as we age?

As overall colouring becomes lighter and less contrasted, very dark, highly saturated, or extremely sharp colours can dominate rather than harmonise. Adjusting the intensity, depth, or contrast—rather than changing your palette entirely—usually creates a more balanced look.