True Summer, also called Cool Summer, is the coolest of the summer seasons. True Summers look their best in rose pink, raspberry, periwinkle, slate blue and soft navy, and tend to look sallow in orange, gold and warm browns. Here is the complete true summer color palette, plus the most common question about this season: how is True Summer different from Soft Summer?
What is a True Summer?
- Cool first. Coolness is the defining quality: blue-based colors harmonize with you.
- Medium depth. Not as light as Light Summer, not as deep as a Winter.
- Gently soft. You suit colors with a touch of softness, but you can wear more color strength than a Soft Summer.
Typical traits include ash blonde to ash brown hair, blue, grey, grey-green or cool hazel eyes, and skin with a pink or cool-neutral undertone.
The true summer color palette
| Color family | True summer shades | Example HEX |
|---|---|---|
| Pinks and reds | rose pink, raspberry, watermelon, cool soft red | #E8789C, #C2185B, #E86A80, #C33A4F |
| Blues | periwinkle, slate blue, cornflower, soft navy | #8C9BE0, #6A7FA8, #6495ED, #2E3F63 |
| Greens and teals | cool sea green, blue spruce, soft teal | #5FA79A, #3F6E68, #4A8C8C |
| Purples | lavender, orchid, plum, soft grape | #B19CD9, #C27CB8, #8E4585, #7D5A8C |
| Neutrals | blue-grey, cool taupe, soft white, rose-beige, charcoal-blue | #8395A7, #A39A92, #F5F5F2, #D6BDB1, #3E4A59 |
Best neutrals
Soft navy, blue-grey, charcoal-blue, cool taupe, rose-beige and soft white. These replace black, camel and cream.
Colors to avoid
- Orange, rust and golden yellow.
- Warm browns and camel near the face.
- Black in large amounts.
- Neon and electric brights.
True Summer vs. Soft Summer
This is the most searched comparison for this season.
| True (Cool) Summer | Soft Summer | |
|---|---|---|
| Main trait | cool | muted |
| Color strength | medium, can wear raspberry and periwinkle | low, best in dusty shades |
| Best pink | rose, raspberry | dusty rose, mauve |
| Best blue | periwinkle, cornflower | slate, grey-blue |
| Neighbor season | True Winter | Soft Autumn |
Quick test: compare raspberry with dusty mauve in daylight. If raspberry looks fresh rather than loud, you lean True Summer. If raspberry overwhelms you and mauve looks better, you lean Soft Summer.
True summer hair colors
- Ash blonde and cool beige blonde.
- Ash brown and cool light-to-medium brown.
- Soft cool highlights or icy babylights.
Avoid golden, copper and brassy tones. Preview cool shades with the hair color changer.
True summer makeup
- Lips: rose, raspberry, berry, cool pink.
- Blush: cool pink, rose.
- Eyes: grey, slate, plum, cool taupe, navy liner.
Jewelry and metals
Silver, white gold, platinum, pearls and soft pink or blue gemstones.
How to know if you are a True Summer
Take the free color analysis quiz, then upload a daylight selfie to the AI color analysis, which compares True Summer with Soft Summer, Light Summer and True Winter.
FAQ
What colors suit a true summer?
Cool, medium, gently soft colors: rose pink, raspberry, periwinkle, slate blue, cornflower, lavender, plum, soft navy and blue-grey.
Is cool summer the same as true summer?
Yes. The season is called True Summer in some systems and Cool Summer in others.
What is the difference between true summer and soft summer?
True Summer is defined by coolness and can wear more color strength; Soft Summer is defined by softness and looks best in dusty, muted shades.
What is the best hair color for a true summer?
Ash blonde, cool beige blonde, ash brown and cool light-to-medium brown.
Can true summers wear black?
Black is usually too strong. Soft navy and charcoal-blue are better dark neutrals.
