Which colour analysis draping kit should you get?
Key takeaways
- Choose your draping kit based on your preference; both seasonal and tonal systems can work together.
- You only need one draping kit, as many drapes are mutual between the seasonal and tonal sets.
- I recommend the Improvability Colour Analysis Starter Set because it includes everything you need to get started.
- Standard drapes are recommended over large ones for ease of use and the best client experience.
- Purchase individual drapes if you prefer to create a bespoke draping kit over time.
If you were just starting out, which draping kit would you get?
- Which approach is easier and better, seasonal or tonal, so that clients understand more?
- Which is easier for me to learn, seasonal or tonal?
- Do I need every drape we do, all 173 of them?
Seasonal and tonal colour analysis are exactly the same thing. You might start out by learning seasonal and then add tonal later. You might choose to learn tonal first, and then add seasonal later. The point is, we don’t run a franchise so it’s your choice, and we’re all different too.
The tonal system didn’t exist when I started so I had no choice; it was seasonal or nothing. At the end of the day, every client wants to know which season they are so that they can tell her friends. Friends will understand Spring, Summer, Autumn, and Winter but probably won’t understand when she says, “I’m a Bright” or “I’m Soft-muted”.
The tonal system may make more sense to you further down the road but just see how it goes. You don’t have to do what I or anyone else does. This is your business. Your choice, and don’t forget, I ran an extremely successful image consultancy using seasonal colour analysis alone for 17 years.
I discuss this in great detail in the course How to Make Money from Colour Analysis and explain which props to get, and why. It’s all in Module 2 of the course.
All our drapes have drape labels that show both seasonal and tonal directions so it doesn’t matter which drapes you choose because they will all work for both seasonal and tonal systems. If you work with the tonal approach, you can use any of the drapes with that method. They are all also labelled with the seasons, so every drape can be used with any system.
You don’t need to order both 60-Seasonal and 90-Tonal drape sets because 42 drapes are mutual to both draping kits.
Which drapes will get you started?
Choose the kit I created, but remember, I don’t run a franchise so you can decide which props to use. However, I understand that it’s not easy to make decisions like this before you even begin. So that’s why I created draping kits and the Improvability Colour Analysis Starter Set – this set contains the drapes and wallets I use on my Fabulous Colour Analysis Course:
- 60 standard seasonal drape set
- 4 seasonal fans – Spring, Summer, Autumn, & Winter
- 6 safe tonal fans – Cool, Warm, Bright, Muted, Deep, & Light
- Antique drape pack (2) – Antique Gold, & Antique Silver
- Armani drape pack (4) – Medium Bronze, Green Grey, Moss Green, & Rose Brown
- Cover-up cape
- Hand-held colour wheel
- Transparent plastic drape case
You only need to purchase your draping kit ONCE because mine is still going strong after over 40 years.
You may prefer to create your own bespoke draping kit which you can easily do by buying individual drapes. There are no minimum orders. So purchase individual drapes whenever you need them and build up your bespoke draping kit over time.
Should you use standard or large drapes?
Over the years, I’ve witnessed so many image consultants faff about, wasting valuable time and energy worrying about the drapes and swatches. Colour analysis is never about which drapes and swatches, or what colour to paint your studio – and all the other brilliant distraction techniques we can think of to stop us getting on with what is truly important.
Colour analysis is about talking with, listening to, encouraging, and supporting our clients and you don’t need a single drape or swatch to be able to do that.
But let’s address the question of which size drapes to use so that you can make a considered decision, order what you need, and then you’re ready to focus on what’s important – to start practising your colour analysis skills on some real clients.
Two drape sizes are available
- Standard drape 28 x 48cm (11×19 ins)
- Large drape 48 x 56cm (19×22 ins)
I use the standard-size drapes, you will only see me using standard-size drapes in my colour analysis training courses because I cover my client’s clothes with a cover-up cape and use the standard-size drapes over the top, but only you can decide if this would work for you.
Due to popular demand, I put together a draping kit of all the props I use myself in the training courses so that you can easily order yourself. It’s called the Improvability Colour Analysis Starter Set.
Why I don’t use large-size drapes
I have no idea how image consultants or clients cope with the huge amount of fabric in the large drapes, but that’s simply my personal opinion. The last time I used them was when I was creating colour analysis training for Wella UK when I seemed to spend more time re-arranging the vast swathes of fabric than doing a diagnosis.
Quite a few of the hairstylists said they felt overwhelmed by the amount and weight of the fabric and I agree. They used me as a volunteer and I threw the drapes off because it made me feel claustrophobic. It was like being restrained in a straight-jacket.
So if you are going to invest in large drapes, you might have to consider folding them in two for clients like me, because colour analysis is always, always about the client experience so before you order anything, consider how the client will feel whilst she’s being draped.
I don’t understand why any image consultant thinks they need to see the colour of the drape from the client’s knees upward, afterall, we should be focusing on the poor darling’s face!
If you’re considering the large drapes because you want to cover up all your client’s clothes, then why not simply use one humongous cover-up cape or a bath towel, and then put the standard drapes over the top. You’ll save loads of money as the large drapes are almost twice the price of the standard ones.
How will you store your drapes?
If you’re going to fold them up again after each consultation, you’ll need twice as many transparent drape cases if you use the large drapes.
How will you display your drapes?
If you lay them out on a table for each colour consultation, you will need to allow lots of extra room for when you open the large drapes out, and where will you find a drape stand that caters for your collection of large-size drapes? Will you need two stands?
How to get drapes to match swatch wallets
How do you get all the drapes to match the contents of the swatch wallets and fabric fans?
I’ve mentioned this before, but it’s worth saying again. If you have purchased the 60 seasonal drape set, you do not need to buy the 90 tonal drape set as well because there are 43 drapes mutual to both sets. Also, don’t forget, every single drape is labelled with both seasonal and tonal drape notation.
We have simply selected 15 drapes for each of the 4 seasons in the 60 Seasonal set that will allow you to conduct Spring vs. Autumn comparisons, Spring vs. Winter comparisons, and Spring vs. Summer comparisons, and all the other permutations, of course. You will just as easily be able to pick out comparison drapes to select or compare the correct tones as well.
The same goes for the 90 Tonal set, where we have selected 15 drapes for each of the 6 tones, so that you can compare Deep vs. Light, Cool vs. Warm, and Bright vs. Muted. But you will just as easily be able to pick out seasonal comparison drapes if you want to.
To get ALL the drapes to match the contents of the swatch wallets and fans:
- Purchase the 60 Seasonal drape set
- Note the 47 Drape-id numbers from the ‘Drapes To Match Swatches’ document below
- Purchase individual drapes from the list of 47 drapes
How to order
Useful product links that take you to our colour supplies store.