Oswald”s circle for coloristics – how to use it correctly

You’re not alone if you’ve ever felt overwhelmed as you stared at a sea of hair color swatches. Selecting the ideal shade can be difficult, but it can be made simpler by knowing how colors work together. This is where Oswald’s Circle proves to be useful. For anyone interested in coloristics, this tool is revolutionary as it provides a visual guide to help you understand the intricate world of hair color.

In essence, Oswald’s Circle is a color wheel created especially to make color selection simple. Whether you want to experiment with a completely different color or just enhance your natural color, it helps you understand how different hues relate to each other. This circle will help you see how different colors work well together or against one another, which will make it easier to get the desired effect.

We’ll look at using Oswald’s Circle effectively in this article. We’ll go over everything you need to know, from fundamental color theory to real-world applications like selecting hair dye. Gaining proficiency with this tool will improve your coloring abilities regardless of whether you work as a hairstylist or are just an experimenter who enjoys trying out different looks.

Aspect	Explanation
Primary colors	These are red, blue, and yellow. They are the base colors used in color mixing.
Secondary colors	Created by mixing two primary colors. For example, red and blue make purple.
Tertiary colors	These result from mixing a primary color with a neighboring secondary color, like blue and green making teal.
Complementary colors	Colors opposite each other on the circle. When paired, they enhance each other, like red and green.
Analogous colors	These are colors next to each other on the circle. They create harmonious looks, such as blue, green, and teal.
Warm and cool tones	Warm colors (like red, orange) evoke energy, while cool colors (like blue, green) are calming.

Basic concepts of coloristics: Oswald"s theory

The diversity of color characteristics was reflected in a theory developed by German scientist V.Oswald. He displayed pure colors graphically, demonstrating their contrast and compatibility with clarity. According to the law of coloristics, there are only three fundamental colors found in nature, and the remaining colors are created by combining them.

Citation. Scientists, psychologists, and artists all concur that the colors we refer to as black, white, and gray are not actually such colors. Put differently, they aren’t even colors. White is a large amount of light in which every color in the rainbow is present, while black is the absence of light. They are referred to as achromatic, or devoid of color, in science.

The scientist’s theory was based on how certain colors evoked emotions in him. This led to the division of tones into warm and cold categories. The finding served as a foundation for all subsequent coloristics tangents. The theory takes into account:

• psychological and intellectual perception of color;
• physical properties of the spectrum;
• rules for harmonious mixing of colors.

Science tells us that the three primary colors of red, yellow, and blue are woven together to create the multicolored picture of the world around us. The other shades are just their different combinations. These colors were arranged in a circle by the scientist, who separated them into warm and cold hues.

Citation. The study of color—specifically, how it forms, is perceived, and is used—is known as coloristics. The characteristics of the color spectrum and how they manifest in different combinations are the focus of the study.

A theory that has been successful in the fine arts, fashion, interior design, and other fields with an aesthetic component has been embraced by the beauty industry.

Gaining an understanding of Oswald’s Circle for coloristics will change the way you select hair colors and style your hair. With the aid of this tool, you can better understand how various shades work together to ensure that the colors you choose enhance and complement one another. You can confidently mix and match colors to create a harmonious, colorful hairstyle that ideally fits your style by understanding Oswald’s Circle.

A circle for selecting color combinations: how to work with it

The scientist produced a graphic representation of primary and secondary colors in order to clearly explain his theory. The Oswald circle for hair coloristics, a geometric shape that facilitates the creation of numerous color combinations, was used as a model.

Three primary colors—yellow, blue, and red—occupy these three positions. The colors that make up the so-called primary spectrum are these.

Complementary or intermediate colors lie between them. They are created by blending similar tones together to produce a palette of colors that blend into one another.

The warm spectrum is displayed by movement that is counterclockwise. A color transformation model that aids in creating color compositions is the hairdresser’s color wheel.

The figure illustrates how:

• red turns into yellow;
• red changes to blue;
• blue turns into green;
• green changes to yellow.

Three primary colors combined yield brown. Similar-colored colors belong to the same sector. We refer to them as related. The opposite tone’s colors are situated across from one another. We refer to them as related-contrasting.

A color star in coloristics is created by joining colors in the opposite spectrum with an imaginary line. The figure serves as a guide for combining and neutralizing colors; the extreme points are represented by related-contrasting colors.

The following are the most basic guidelines for choosing colors in a circle:

1. To enhance the color, take shades of one segment.
2. To neutralize the wrong tone, take paint from the opposite side.
3. For better correction, mix the colors of nearby segments.

The diagonal that joins the opposing sectors indicates the contrasting tone that should be mixed in with the primary paint to balance out the excessively vibrant hue.

Take note! The "Coloristics" color wheel, used in hairdressing, has been modified to meet the demands of the cosmetics industry.

Rules for mixing paints of different shades

In order to create works of modern art, stylists educate themselves on color theory. A discerning clientele that is drawn to the creations of renowned stylists means that a master stylist needs to be the greatest in order to maintain their demand.

A colorist’s table can be used to help select a pleasing blend of colors so that you can create a custom dye that is perfect for a particular client.

Hairdressers are imaginative and adventurous individuals. Even so, the most audacious experiments ought to be conducted with consideration for real-world expertise.

Following these guidelines will ensure that you get the best outcome possible:

1. Mix paints that are close in shade of pigment.
2. Do not combine dyes of different brands.
3. Consider the hair type when determining the holding time.
4. Strictly adhere to proportions.
5. Use weighing tools.

The dye’s volume is determined using the standard, which calls for one tube (60 mg) for shoulder-length hair.

No more than three tones should be combined in one composition by beginners. Professionals are the only ones who can make such an intricate mixture.

Take note! The following pairs cannot be combined: green-red, yellow-violet, and blue-orange! They can’t be combined!

Apart from these technical guidelines, it is imperative to take into account:

• the condition, structure and type of hair;
• scalp: sensitive, dry, inflamed.

To create a harmonious image, hair color must be combined with the client’s color type.

Four recognized types of color exist:

• cold: winter-summer;
• warm: spring-autumn.

Women with light hair and the "summer" color type will benefit from platinum, ash, and wheat tones in their coloring. Those of the same type with dark hair can be colored in different tones of brown.

The red tint is eliminated by adding green pigment. In order to do pastel toning, the hair must first be pre-lightened to a level 9–10 and then slightly reddened.

Colors similar in tone are combined with hair color dyes. Tables will assist in making a precise decision. It is advised to dye hair that is gray or unevenly colored in a shade that is similar to its natural color before choosing and combining new shades.

The original color and condition of the hair determine how long it will be held.

The color saturation of the same shades will vary depending on the structures and types of hair. Three basic colors combined in equal parts will give you a gray-brown shade that will darken your hair.

Primary, secondary and tertiary colors

The color spectrum is separated into primary, secondary, and tertiary colors by the laws of coloristics. As per the Ostwald model, which organizes color separation, pure colors without any impurities are included in the first group. Primary and secondary colors combine to create tertiary colors, which are combinations of secondary and basic colors.

Primary colors (Primary)

It is impossible to create the colors blue, red, and yellow by combining them. The first one leads the icy tone palette. The third and second ones are heated. In addition, blue has additional unique characteristics that need to be considered when combining. Out of all the basic colors, this is the darkest. As a result, it is added when tone darkening is required. Blue consistently takes center stage when combined with primary, secondary, and tertiary colors. Its inclusion darkens, adds depth to the combination, and shifts the color toward the cold spectrum.

Secondary colors (Secondary)

A new shade is created when two primary colors are combined. Secondary colors are created by combining two primary colors in an exact ratio. These hues are violet, orange, and green. Blue and yellow are combined to create the first, red and yellow for the second, and blue and red for the third. Colors that contain blue are regarded as chilly. Warm orange is the color created when red and yellow are combined.

Tertiary colors (Tertiary)

Primary and secondary colors can be combined to create a vast array of tertiary shades. This is the process of creating intricate, fascinating colors that enhance the color scheme. hues such as burgundy, lilac, turquoise, etc. This series of colors features compositions that incorporate achromatic colors. They have an impact on the color’s saturation and depth.

Take note! Different brands of coloring agents have varying ratios of primary and secondary colors, which combine to form entirely unexpected tertiary compounds. Such dyes have the potential to produce entirely unexpected outcomes. For this reason, becoming proficient in coloristics is necessary in order to work with them.

Your approach to hair color can be completely changed by comprehending and applying Oswald’s color circle. This tool can assist you in making better decisions by providing a clear visual representation of the interactions between colors. This circle will assist you in understanding how complementary, analogous, and contrasting colors work together, whether you’re a professional stylist or just a person who enjoys playing around with hair color.

You can use your color choices to achieve amazing effects if you can master this circle. It lets you know how various hues will mix together and balance, so you can make color combinations that are both visually arresting and harmonious. This is especially helpful for correcting unwanted tones or creating custom hair colors.

Oswald’s color circle is essentially a method to improve your hair coloring accuracy and creativity rather than just a tool. Accept its tenets, try out various color palettes, and see how your hair color designs soar to new heights.

Video on the topic

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