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EVERYTHING YOU SHOULD KNOW ABOUT SOFT SUMMER

The “Soft Summer” is one of the twelve color seasons within the seasonal color analysis system, a tool used to determine which colors best harmonize with an individual’s natural coloring. It’s a palette of subtle, muted, and cool tones, designed to enhance the delicate beauty of those who fall within this category.  Unlike the vibrant hues of spring or the deep richness of winter, Soft Summer embraces a gentle, blended look.  If you’ve ever felt overwhelmed by bright colors and found yourself drawn to dusty, diffused shades, you might just be a Soft Summer. This guide will delve into every aspect of this captivating season, from its defining characteristics and ideal color palette to makeup, hair, and wardrobe recommendations, helping you understand and embrace your natural Soft Summer beauty.  

CHARACTERISTICS

When determining if you are a Soft Summer, focus on your overall appearance rather than individual features. The key traits of this season are muted, cool-toned coloring with a soft, blended look.

HOW TO IDENTIFY A SOFT SUMMER

  • Primary Aspect: Muted – your coloring appears soft and toned down rather than bright or vibrant.
  • Secondary Aspect: Cool – cooler shades complement your complexion better than warm ones.
  • Overall Look: Your skin, eyes, and hair blend harmoniously, creating a low to medium contrast appearance.
  • Jewelry Preference: Silver flatters your skin more than gold.

SOFT SUMMER FEATURES

Eyes

Soft Summer eyes are always softly greyed, regardless of their color. They can be:

  • Grey, grey-blue, grey-green, or grey-hazel
  • Muted brown in deeper complexions
  • Often feature a crackled glass pattern typical of Summer eyes

Skin

Soft Summer skin has cool undertones with a soft, muted appearance. It may be:

  • Neutral, olive, or neutral-cool with ashy undertones
  • Fair to tan, always toned down rather than vibrant
  • Occasionally freckled

Hair

Soft Summer hair is muted and ashy, never bright or golden. It ranges from:

  • Medium ash blonde to light/medium ash brown
  • Often develops ash-blonde highlights in sunlight

CONTRAST LEVEL

Soft Summers have a low to medium contrast between their skin, eyes, and hair. The overall effect is blended and harmonious, without stark light or dark elements.

SOFT SUMMER VS. SOFT AUTUMN

Both Soft Summer and Soft Autumn are muted seasons, but the key difference lies in their undertones:

  • Soft Summer leans cool, with grey and olive tones.
  • Soft Autumn leans warm, with walnut and honey tones.

SIMPLE TEST

To determine whether you are a Soft Summer or Soft Autumn, hold a grey fabric near your face in natural light:

  • If your eyes appear more greyish (even if they contain hints of green or brown), you are likely a Soft Summer.
  • If your eyes remain green, hazel, or olive, you likely lean towards Soft Autumn.

This high concentration of grey pigments is what gives Soft Summers their signature cool and muted look.

The Colour Palette

Soft Summer is a season of soft, misty hues, reminiscent of cool summer rains and the gentle transition into autumn. Its colours are delicate and layered, blending both cool and warm tones into a harmonious, almost chameleon-like effect.

SOFT SUMMER COLOURS

True to its muted and cool nature, Soft Summer’s palette consists of desaturated, low-contrast shades that align with the season’s natural softness. The dominant colours are greys, pinks, purples, blues, and greens—each subtle and complex rather than bright or clear. Sitting on the border between Summer and Autumn, this palette is the deepest of the Summer family, with a slight brownish depth from Autumn’s influence.

COLOUR DIMENSIONS

  • Hue: Slightly cool—while not as icy as True Summer, Soft Summer’s colours contain more blue than yellow undertones, resulting in cooler pinks, blues, and greys with minimal yellow shades.
  • Value: Medium—neither overly light nor dark, the palette consists mostly of mid-range tones.
  • Chroma: Low—the colours are highly desaturated and muted, with a distinctive greyed-out softness.

SISTER PALETTES

Soft Summer is positioned between True Summer and Soft Autumn on the seasonal spectrum. While all three share a muted quality, the differences lie in temperature and depth:

  • Compared to True Summer, Soft Summer’s colours are warmer, slightly darker, and more subdued.
  • Compared to Soft Autumn, Soft Summer’s colours are cooler and more grey-toned, while both remain medium in value and muted.
  • Compared to Light Summer, the colours are deeper and more toned down, though both share a cool-neutral balance.

If you lean towards True Summer, you may borrow its softer shades, like Moonlite Mauve or Lichen Blue. If you have hints of Soft Autumn, you can incorporate its cooler hues, such as English Manor or Dusk Blue.

Styling for Soft Summer

NEUTRALS

Soft Summer’s muted and desaturated nature makes traditional black and white too harsh. Instead, opt for dark greyish browns as your dark neutrals and soft greys, muted sand tones, and gentle browns as light neutrals. These shades complement your natural softness without overpowering your features.

COLOURS TO AVOID

Since Soft Summer thrives on cool, muted tones, avoid bright and overly warm colours. Vibrant pinks, blues, and rich earthy hues, such as orange-based reds and warm browns, will clash with your soft colouring. Highly saturated shades can overwhelm your delicate balance.

COLOUR COMBINATIONS

Soft Summer is best suited to low-contrast, blended colour pairings that mirror its naturally soft appearance. The most flattering combinations include:

  • Monochromatic looks – Pairing different shades of the same hue, such as light and dark green, creates a cohesive and seamless effect.
  • Analogous hues – Colours close to each other on the spectrum, like lavender and soft blue, maintain a harmonious and balanced look.
  • Soft neutrals with accents – Combining a muted beige with a similarly toned soft yellow ensures a gentle, natural flow.

Avoid high-contrast combinations, especially complementary colours like blue and orange, as they create too much visual tension.

PATTERNS & PRINTS

Soft, delicate patterns best suit this season’s understated elegance. Consider:

✔ Watercolour textures, delicate floral prints, and natural elements like feathers and birds.
✔ Small, loosely arranged designs that blend rather than stand out.

✖ Avoid large, bold patterns, geometric shapes, and high-contrast prints, as they will feel too harsh and structured.

METALS & ACCESSORIES

Soft Summer can wear both warm and cool metals, but silver is the most flattering. If choosing gold, opt for soft, muted versions like light rose gold or brushed gold rather than deep, rich yellows.

The best finishes are matte, brushed, satin, or lightly hammered to complement Soft Summer’s subtlety. Bright and shiny metals can appear too stark. Pearls are a great choice, especially those with layered, soft colouring rather than stark white.

20 STUNNING MEDIUM-LENGTH TWIST STYLES FOR NATURAL HAIR

Twists are a versatile and protective hairstyle that can be worn in various ways, from sleek and sophisticated to fun and funky. If you have medium-length natural hair, you’re in luck! There are countless stunning twist styles to choose from that will flatter your face shape and enhance your natural beauty. In this article, we’ll explore 20 of the most gorgeous medium-length twist styles for natural hair. Get ready to elevate your natural hair game with these fabulous twist styles!

Criss-Crossing Hair Twists

Natural hair offers endless styling possibilities, and twist hairstyles are a perfect way to protect your strands while showing off your unique look. Try creating criss-cross cornrows combined with sleek twists, and finish with a light-hold hairspray to keep everything in place and looking polished.

High Pony with Two Strand Twist Locs

This hairstyle features a voluminous, curly ponytail set high on the crown, with plenty of twisted strands adding texture and fullness. Loose tendrils fall gracefully to frame the face, giving it a soft and romantic feel. The twisted strands add a playful, dynamic look to the overall style, perfect for an effortlessly chic vibe.

Medium Twists Updo

Flat twists are an excellent lightweight option, making them ideal for those seeking a protective style without added weight. Have your stylist twist your hair close to the scalp, similar to cornrows, and secure them at the back, leaving a voluminous bun for a stylish finish.

Small 2 Strand Twist Hairstyle with Interlaced Design

In this style, petite twists with soft, curly ends are swept to one side, creating room for a beautifully intricate woven pattern on the other.

Captivating Twist Braid Hairstyle

Adding various shades to twisted hairstyles opens up endless options for customization and self-expression. For a softer, more feminine look, try incorporating warm caramel extensions that beautifully enhance and complement warm skin tones.

Fulani-Themed Two Strand Twist for Natural Hair

This style gets an extra touch of flair with a bold center braid paired with chunky twists, highlighting the beautiful, natural texture of type 4 hair.

Cornrows and Two Strand Twists

The blend of cornrows and short two-strand twists creates versatile and imaginative hairstyles that perfectly complement natural hair. Twist bangs add a playful touch, offering a fun contrast to the sleek, thin scalp braids.

Full-Size and Side-Parted Twists

We recommend side-parted two-strand twists for women looking to add volume to their hair while enhancing their facial features. This style provides a beautiful lift in the front, creating a balanced and flattering appearance.

Playful Half-Up Twists Style

For the best results, it’s ideal to create twists on your hair wash day when your hair is clean and detangled. After thoroughly moisturizing your hair, part it down the middle and divide it into equal sections before you begin twisting. Be sure to keep the twists loose enough to allow your scalp to breathe comfortably.

Side Cornrows and Honey Ombre

Here’s another stylish take on short two-strand twists—this version features a mix of cornrows and a stunning brown-to-honey-blonde color melt for added depth and dimension.

Voluminous Mini Twist Outs

A twist-out is an excellent styling option for natural hair, particularly for those with type 4 textures. By using smaller sections, you can create a more defined pattern that beautifully highlights your hair’s natural texture and volume.

Dip-Dye Hair with Chunky Locs

Here’s a fantastic example of voluminous two-strand twists for anyone looking to elevate their locs style with a vibrant pop of color.

Twist Braids with Heart Cornrows

Two-strand twists paired with heart-shaped scalp twists bring a touch of sophistication to your hairstyle while offering excellent protection for your hair. Whether you’re heading to a formal event or going about your daily activities, this style will help you radiate confidence and elegance.

Senegalese Twist Braids with Curly Ends

Goddess twists offer a bold and striking hairstyle that beautifully showcases the beauty of your natural hair. The playful, messy twists combined with a half bun give this look a dynamic flair, making it truly attention-grabbing.

Sweet Cinnamon Passion Twists

Twist hairstyles offer a fantastic way to express your creativity and individuality with a variety of styling options and color combinations. If intricate styles aren’t your preference, keep it simple by enhancing the visual appeal of your twists with a rich caramel hue for a striking effect.

Knotless Twists with Curly Ends

Extensions are a great way to add length and volume to thick natural hair, enabling more elaborate and creative hairstyles. When seamlessly blended with your locks, twists provide a range of styling options, including buns, ponytails, and half-updos, enhancing your overall look.

Cornrows and Twisted Ponytail

There are endless styling options to explore with twist hairstyles, and a classic ponytail paired with cornrow braids is a great place to start. You’ll be pleasantly surprised by how easy this style is to maintain, not to mention the compliments you’ll receive wherever you go!

Rich Mahogany Bob Twists

The contrast between burgundy and black hues creates a stunning gradient effect, giving your short passion twists a multi-dimensional look. This color combination adds visual interest to twist hairstyles, similar to how balayage enhances straight hair.

Glamorous Bouncy Twists

The blend of scalp braids and a bouncy twisted bob is the ultimate hairstyle, whether you’re working with your natural hair or adding extensions! The precise twists and mini cornrows make your natural curls more manageable and help reduce frizz. Just apply a moisturizer to your dry hair before twisting to hydrate and nourish your curls.

Short Spring Twist Braids

Whether worn loose or styled into an updo, kinky twists provide a convenient and fashionable option for women looking for a natural look with a touch of flair. For a more modern and funky vibe, consider wearing your twists half-up.

CONCLUSION

Medium-length natural hair offers a canvas for a myriad of stunning twist styles. From classic two-strand twists to intricate patterns and accessories, the possibilities are endless. By experimenting with different techniques and products, you can achieve a look that is both stylish and protective.

Remember, the key to maintaining healthy, beautiful twists is proper care. Keep your hair moisturized, avoid excessive heat styling, and protect your twists at night with a satin scarf or bonnet.