In the past few weeks, I’ve had several of my Certified Colour Consultants bring difficult case studies into the group. We now have over 100 consultants in the program, and when someone shares a challenging client, it becomes a group learning moment. People weigh in. They share their opinions. And sometimes? We don’t all agree.

That’s when I know it’s time to hit pause.

Because when there’s dissension in the camp—when some consultants are seeing warmth, others are seeing cool, and someone else is seeing neutral—I know it’s time to go back to first principles.

And those first principles are everything.

Too often, we’re rushing through a consultation. Maybe it’s because we’re busy. Maybe it’s because we’re seeing so much fast-paced content online. Maybe it’s just pressure—we want to get it right quickly. But here’s the thing:

Fast doesn’t always mean accurate.

​In fact, speed can be the enemy of precision in our work.

When I say “go back to first principles,” I’m talking about the fundamentals. The building blocks that should guide every consultation you do—whether it’s in person or online, whether you’re working with seasonal, tonal, or flow systems.

Here’s what I mean:

⁉️What is the contrast level I’m seeing?

⁉️What am I noticing in the hair?

⁉️What are the eyebrows telling me?

⁉️What clues is the skin giving?

⁉️What’s going on in the eyes—contrast, the colours, the blood vessels?

⁉️How does the overall look feel? Is it soft? Low contrast? High contrast?

​These are the clues. The puzzle pieces. And if you’re rushing the process—or only testing a couple of colours before making a decision—you could be missing something critical.

One of the biggest shifts I’ve made in how I approach colour analysis is remembering to get the client's input.

Sometimes a client says, “That just doesn’t feel like me,” or “I’ve never felt good in that colour,” and we brush it off. But listening—really listening—is just as important as what you see with your trained eye.

So here’s what I recommend to all my consultants:

1. Take your time. This is not a race.

2. Get the client’s input. What are they noticing? How do they feel?

3. Go through the full process. Don’t skip steps because something “seems obvious.”

4. Be open to second opinions. Sometimes another set of eyes can unlock the insight you’re missing.

And this isn’t just theory. It plays out in my program every week.

Disagreement is actually one of the most useful learning tools in our field—if you let it be.

In our Certified Online Colour Expert program, we want people to bring their tough cases into the group. Because when multiple opinions emerge, that’s a signal. It tells us we need to slow down and go back to the basics.

If five experienced consultants are seeing five different things, we know there’s something subtle going on. Maybe it’s a flow. Maybe it’s a neutral undertone that’s hard to read. Maybe it’s a case of conflicting clues—like soft features but higher-than-expected contrast. The point is:

We don’t assume we’ve got it right. We double-check.

And usually, when we go back through all the clues carefully—hair, eyes, skin, contrast, the overall picture—we come to a much stronger, more confident conclusion. We don’t always get 100% agreement, but we’re generally in the same ballpark.

That level of nuance and collaboration is what makes our community so powerful. And it’s what gives clients the very best result.

Let’s address the elephant in the room: AI colour analysis apps.

There are so many tools right now that claim to do a colour analysis in seconds. And in some groups, you see people “guessing” a season or tone based on one photo—often with terrible lighting and a distracting background.

It’s tempting to think we need to keep up.

But here’s what I believe:

💡 We don’t need to compete on speed. We need to stand out through our expertise.

The real value we bring as personal stylists and image consultants is in our ability to see, listen, interpret, and guide. We don’t just match a face to a palette. We decode someone’s essence. We reflect their identity. We help them see their beauty—sometimes for the very first time.


​That doesn’t come from guessing. And it definitely doesn’t come from rushing.

One of the things I love most about the Certified Online Colour Expert program is the community. It’s not just about learning how to analyse colour. It’s about having a place where you can bring tricky clients, ask for a second opinion, and know you’ll get thoughtful, respectful feedback from others who are just as passionate about colour as you are.

We’ve created a space where:

❣️There are checks and balances.

❣️Different views are welcome.

❣️Learning happens through real-world examples.

❣️No one is afraid to say, “Hmm, I’m not sure.”


​In an industry where many people feel they have to be perfect or have all the answers, this kind of collaborative support is gold.

So if you’re a stylist, image consultant, or colour expert reading this and feeling pressured to go faster or deliver instant results, I want to offer you permission to do the opposite.

✨ Slow down.
✨ Go back to the basics.
✨ Trust your process.
✨ Seek support when you need it.
✨ Don’t be afraid to listen more deeply—to your client and your peers.

​This is how we give better results. This is how we grow our expertise. And this is how we stand out in a sea of fast, superficial solutions.

If you’re interested in learning how to confidently analyse clients online—and build a styling business that gives you freedom, flexibility, and global reach—I’d love to support you.

Inside the Certified Online Colour Expert program, I teach personal stylists how to master the online consultation process using proven systems and practical tools. And yes, we have a 16-palette colour system that allows for nuance, flow, and clarity—without getting lost in complexity.

If you’re ready to stop second-guessing yourself and start growing a truly professional, portable styling business, book an 'Is It A Fit Call' here and let’s chat.

Slowing down doesn’t mean being less professional. It means being more professional. It means being present, tuned in, and deeply committed to getting the best possible result for your client.

In a world that’s moving fast, real expertise takes its time❣️

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