If you’re at all familiar with the beauty world, you’ve probably heard of high contrast face. People throw the term around and talk about how important it is for fashion and makeup.
Even though the term is prevalent, you might not know what it is. What exactly does contrast mean? What’s the difference between low, medium, and high values? How can you determine your personal value? And most importantly, how can you use these values to your advantage?
In this article, we answer all of these questions and more. You’ll walk away knowing what contrast is and how to make the most of it. Not everyone has a high-contrast face, so it’s crucial to understand what works for you and what won’t. Read on to learn more!
What Is Contrast?
This term is popular in both the beauty and art worlds. It refers to the difference between light and dark areas.
In the art world, the intensities of lights and darks in a picture affect its overall tone. Similarly, your face’s contrast level or the lights and darks affect your appearance. One example is how specific clothes look on you.
Low Contrast vs High Contrast
Something that low contrast tends to be is monochromatic. The light colors are not excessively bright, and the dark colors are not overly dark. The muted, soft image gives off a cohesive appearance.
Something with high contrast is much more striking. The light colors are very bright, and the dark colors are very dark. The high intensity of the colors makes the image pop.
Faces and pictures can also have medium contrast. As you might guess, this balance is somewhat of a middle ground. Both the light and dark colors have a medium intensity. This neutrality results in an image that is not too striking nor too muted.
How Does Contrast Relate to Beauty?
Everyone has a face contrast value. It refers to the relationship between the light and dark areas of your hair, skin, and eyes.
Someone with a high-contrast face value would have dark shadows around their face, bright eye whites, etc. Someone with a low-contrast face value would have a neutral, even appearance.
The features you have often affect what value you have. For instance, dark hair and smooth, luminous skin usually mean you have a high-contrast face. These features reflect light and create distinct shadows.
What Is the Ideal Contrast Value?
One value is not necessarily more desirable than the other. It is all about using the appropriate style tips to complement your unique value.
High Contrast vs Low Contrast Face
High Contrast vs Low Contrast Face is a concept used in photography and fashion to describe the difference in color values between an individual’s skin and hair.
For people with dark skin, a high-contrast face is characterized by hair that is significantly lighter than the skin, creating a striking visual contrast that bold makeup and clothing choices can emphasize. On the other hand, a low-contrast face for someone with dark skin would be characterized by hair that is similar in color to the skin, creating a more understated look.
For people with pale or fair skin, a high-contrast face is characterized by hair that is significantly darker than the skin, creating a dramatic visual effect that bold makeup and clothing choices can emphasize. A low-contrast face for someone with pale or fair skin would be characterized by hair that is similar in color to the skin, creating a more natural, understated look that may be preferred for everyday wear.
By understanding the principles of color values and contrast, photographers and fashion designers can create visually stunning images that capture the unique features of their subjects.
How to Determine Your Face Contrast Level
Not sure if you have low, medium, or high value? Here’s how to figure out your contrast levels:
We recommend taking a picture of your face in good, natural lighting. Then, use an app to apply a black-and-white filter to the image.
Examine the light and dark areas of your pictures. Are your eye whites very bright? Are there dark shadows around your nose, cheeks, etc.? If so, you probably have a high value. If the lights and darks appear more muted, you probably have a low contrast value.
Taking a picture is the easiest way to determine your level of contrast. You can also try out the styling tips below and see which looks best on you. If the high-contrast styling options look good on you, you probably have a high value (and vice versa).
Styling Tips for High Contrast Face
Do you have a high-contrast face? If so, these tips will help you take advantage of your dark darks and bright brights!
Hair and Eyes
The coloring of these two facial features helps a lot to get the right style!
If you have high face contrast, you likely have dark hair color. If you don’t, dying your hair might be a smart move. It will further intensify your darks and lights to create a bold, striking appearance.
Also, remember to bear in mind that your eye color helps when deciding what is best to wear.
Clothes
People in this category should wear clothing that produces the same, stark effect of light and dark. The style will complement their skin tone and create a cohesive look.
Your first thought is probably to wear lots of black and white. This palette is a perfect example of contrast, but you can also have fun and find more colors that will also complement your coloring.
Pair colors that are far apart on the color spectrum (think ROY G BIV). Reds & greens and blues & yellows are two pairs that work well together. Feel free to experiment with patterns, solids with pops of color, and more!
High-Contrast Makeup
Some people are afraid to be bold with their makeup. But, if you have a high contrast level, you will be surprised by how natural stark lip colors and dark eyeshadows look. You should avoid nude colors as they can create a not-so-exciting appearance.
Pro tip: Copper and bronze colors contrast beautifully with blue eyes. If you have green, hazel, or brown eyes, taupe or purple shades should do the trick!
Hair and Eyes
Light-colored hair or eyes tend to create an even, blended appearance. If your face is a neutral color, dying your hair a light color may help accentuate your low value. This tip is also the same for your eyes.
Remember, less is more for this contrast level!
Clothes
As you might expect, you will want to wear low-contrast colors to match your skin tone. You should wear earthy, neutral colors or colors that are close together on the color spectrum (blues and purples, reds and oranges, etc.). It will create a consistent intensity that will match your features.
Low-Contrasting Makeup
Those with high-contrast faces benefit from bold makeup. It suits their skin tone and makes their features pop.
If you have a low value, we recommend avoiding bold makeup. It can look very out of place on your monochromatic canvas. Instead, opt for neutral colors. They will create a balanced look that flatters your natural beauty.
Feel Free to Experiment
Remember that these suggestions are merely just suggestions. These are not hard and fast rules; these tips only help you complement your personal, different contrast levels.
So, feel free to experiment! Choosing between warm or cool colors? Don’t stress! You might discover which particular look pairs well with your unique features and facial skin color.
Good luck, and remember to have fun with these style choices!
