Although initially it may seem overwhelming, learning about color doesn’t have to be. The color wheel, also called the Oswald circle, makes color theory simple to understand even for novices. This easy-to-use tool aids in logical color organization by highlighting the connections between colors.
By classifying colors into groups such as primary, secondary, and complementary, the Oswald circle facilitates understanding of the interactions between various shades. Knowing these fundamentals can help you achieve a much different final look when experimenting with makeup or picking a new hair color.
You can develop your confidence in choosing and combining colors by investigating the Oswald circle. You’ll be able to easily create harmonious, eye-catching styles with a little practice.
| Concept | Explanation |
| Oswald Circle | A tool used to understand the relationship between colors, showing how they complement or contrast each other. |
| Primary Colors | The main colors (red, blue, yellow) that cannot be made by mixing others. |
| Secondary Colors | Colors formed by mixing two primary colors (green, orange, purple). |
| Complementary Colors | Colors opposite each other on the Oswald circle, creating contrast when used together. |
| Analogous Colors | Colors next to each other on the circle that blend harmoniously. |
An essential tool for those new to color theory, the Oswald color circle provides a straightforward explanation of color interactions. It is simpler to select the appropriate color combinations for hair coloring when colors are arranged in a circle since it is easier to identify complementary, harmonious, and contrasting shades. Gaining confidence in creating vibrant, well-balanced hairstyles can be greatly enhanced by learning how to use this color wheel.
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- How a colorist should use the Oswald color wheel: basic rules
- Primary colors and the Oswald circle for coloristics: how to use?
- Secondary colors
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What is the Oswald star in coloristics
You have probably already encountered the Oswald star and coloristics schemes in a variety of online photos, even if you haven’t started to explore the philosophy of color yet. The Oswald circle is used for more than just hair coloristics; it is a constant in our lives, showing up in drawings, clothing, interior design, and the colors we encounter every day.
This is fascinating! Novice hairdressers can take basic and advanced coloristics courses through the training modules of the Access online platform. We cordially invite you to familiarize yourself with the technical nuances involved in applying the Oswald circle to the colorist’s practical work on Access.
Four primary colors were used in Wilhelm Friedrich Oswald’s (sometimes referred to as OSTILD) system: yellow, blue, green, and red. He divided and blended shades to produce what is known as the Oswald circle, which simplified the process of choosing complementary colors and figuring out which ones are antagonistic.
The second name for the color scheme is "Star Oswald." A six-pointed star is created as a result of the location at the extreme points of the pure colors, which are orange, green, purple, red, and yellow.
Oswald’s color circle is a circle with colors spread across 24 sectors. Within the circle, there are diades (opposite colors), triads (two opposite and two nearest colors), and quadriads (two nearest and two opposite colors). Adjacent colors are those that are close together, while complementary colors are those that are opposite each other.
Technological Leader in the Field
According to our expert, the colors that fall beneath and above the imaginary horizontal line that is drawn through the center of the circle are referred to as cold and warm, respectively. This is a tool used by colorists to accurately perceive primary, secondary, and tertiary colors. Blend colors in a pleasing way, neutralize highlights, and produce distinctive tones.
How a colorist should use the Oswald color wheel: basic rules
The Oswald star and coloristics go hand in hand. The laws of shade formation are delineated by the circle. It’s easy: red must be neutralized by green, and orange results from the combination of yellow and red. When colors are used incorrectly, the client’s head may get an unsightly shade. Use the colorist’s circle and always remember the fundamentals to lower risks and obtain a predictable option. Let’s examine the components of the colorist’s circle and the fundamental guidelines you should memorize.
Primary colors and the Oswald circle for coloristics: how to use?
Beginning with mixing basic pigments, the fundamentals of coloristics are taught in school art classes, drawing clubs, and creative studios. For an amateur hairdresser/colorist, the primary row is where the color wheel begins. This includes the colors blue, red, and yellow because you can mix them to create any other color.
The only primary color that isn’t warm is blue, which is added for depth, darkening, and cooling effects. Yellow appears darker in red and lighter in blue. Since yellow is the weakest primary color, it is used to add brightness and lightness. The natural pigment of hair exhibits all three colors in varying ratios.
Secondary colors
You can obtain secondary colors by combining the primary colors in an equal amount. These are orange (red + yellow), violet (red + blue), and green (yellow + blue). Darker or lighter secondary colors are added to the coloristics circle because of the possibility of close shades when the proportions are off.
The master uses the Oswald circle to guide neutralization, taking into account the desired lightning background and shade. The concentration of melanin remaining after the blue pigment has been replaced and the lightener has decreased the amount of other pigments is known as the lightening background. There are two more colors: red and yellow, as we recall from the chapter on the fundamentals of Oswald’s star. The background lightening will be indicated by their remaining ratio.
As an illustration, the initial hue was composed of three parts yellow, two parts red, and one conditional part blue. Bleaching will partially remove the remaining pigments after removing blue, which is technically not there in the first place (another colorist’s secret).
The natural concentration of the melanin substance and the chosen degree of hair lightening determine the final outcome.
Mutual neutralization occurs when two colors in the colorimetry circle are diametrically opposed to one another. For instance, I will need a purple color, which is present in pearl shades, if I need to neutralize the yellow background of the lightning during the dyeing process. The natural pigment’s color after lightening or coloring is known as the lightening background.
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There’s a unique scale at L’Oréal Professionnel that shows the lighting backgrounds. The final color is influenced by the unique lightening background of each tone level.
Therefore, red and dark red can be eliminated with a green pigment, orange-yellow with a blue-violet hue, and red-orange with a blue-green hue. The colorist’s circle aids in selecting the appropriate neutralization shade: take the tone that has to be eliminated, locate the opposite shade in the circle, and that shade will be the neutralizer. Naturally, a colorist’s job involves a little more complexity, but for the purposes of this discussion, the fundamentals are covered.
Neutralization can be thought of as somewhat analogous to arithmetic. We choose one or more mixtones in the appropriate dosage to absorb the undesirable halftone after taking into account the unique background of lightning and the pigments that are characteristic of it. Learning coloristics laws is less complicated than learning logarithms. Try it now: the relevant training modules on the global online platform L’Oréal Access provide you with thorough knowledge and fundamental skills for working with color.
For those who are new to color theory, knowing the fundamentals can lead to endless creative possibilities. A crucial tool for understanding how colors relate to one another and selecting harmonious combinations is the Oswald circle, also known as the color wheel.
Understanding the relationships between contrasting, complementary, and analogous colors will help you add depth and balance to your designs and hairstyles. Additionally, by knowing this, one can steer clear of common blunders like clashing colors or strong contrasts.
Starting with the color wheel ensures a solid foundation, whether you’re applying these concepts to hair color, fashion, or art. These ideas will come naturally to you with practice, giving you the confidence to try new things and express your unique style.
