Color Analyst Training Course
Color analysis is a rapidly growing industry. In these days of fast fashion and endless cosmetic launches, people are looking to streamline their wardrobes and makeup bags by learning the colors that harmonize with themselves. If you enjoy working with people, are comfortable working with color, and want to own your own business, you may have a future as a personal color analyst.
A decade ago, I was a stay at home mom. I loved being at home with my kids, but I also yearned to exercise my own creativity. I always saw myself as an entrepreneur, and when I read about personal color analysis on a forum, I was hooked. The color analysis world was a lot smaller then, but I read everything I could find about color analysis. The following spring, more obsessed with color analysis than ever, I took a leap of faith and completed my color analyst training with Terry Wildfong of Your Natural Design.
Starting my color analysis business gave me both flexibility and financial independence. Being able to set my own hours and arrange my schedule around my children’s school events and extracurriculars is a huge gift. I have been working full-time as a color analyst and personal stylist since 2014, and I wouldn’t have it any other way.
I am lucky to spend my work days helping women, men, and even children discover their very best and most authentic colors. Knowing your best colors can instill great confidence, which radiates into other areas of your life. It’s fun to talk about finding a great daily driver lipstick, but color analysis is more than that. There’s empowerment in knowing who you are and where you’re going. What if you never worried about what to wear for a business presentation or headshot photoshoot again? What if you knew your best hair color and could stop cycling through different salon experiments? What if you always knew what to pack for a vacation, and could zip up your suitcase in an hour? What if you stopped wasting money on clothes you ended up donating with the tags still on - and put that money in your mutual fund instead? These are just some of the many gifts that color analysis can offer to your clients.
Opening my doors to color analysis students is a natural progression of my love for both color analysis and teaching. I truly enjoy teaching one-on-one, and fostering an intimate space for learning and growth. I also enjoy chatting about the business side of color analysis.
Availability: I am currently booking into early 2025.
About the Training Course
Preliminary Zoom Meetings
Before committing to training, we will share a short Zoom session to chat face-to-face. This is a great time to discuss any questions or concerns you have about training and your business. Our video call is also an opportunity to determine whether or not we are a good fit to work together, and whether embarking on a career as a color analyst is for you. By talking face-to-face, we’ll be able to cover information more quickly and personally than via email. We can also discuss potential dates for your training, if desired.
The training course in brief
The PCA training course is one-on-one, and I do not offer group trainings. It’s important to me that you receive my uninterrupted focus, feel comfortable asking questions, and have several different models to practice on.
Training hours are 8:15am - 4:30pm/5pm (estimated) each day. We will go out for lunch together each day, unless you prefer to have lunch solo. Cost of lunch is not included in your tuition.
You will have five draping models for your educational benefit. I strive to find models of different seasons and ethnicities whenever possible. This is another reason I don’t offer group trainings, as your time with each model would be cut in half or thirds!
You will receive your own Personal Color Analysis, even if you have already had one from another analyst or system.
You will receive analyst-exclusive resources such as Terry Wildfong’s Color Clock, PCA Guide, and Effects at a Glance sheets.
You will receive an extensive Studio Setup Guide from me, with links to the correct lightbulbs for your studio, as well as other materials you will need to get started.
You will receive a copy of The New Munsell Student Set, as well as 1 neutral gray analyst coat, 1 neutral gray client cape, and 1 neutral gray client bonnet.
Tuition
Tuition is $3,500.
6-8 weeks prior to training, I require a nonrefundable deposit of $300 to lock in your dates. This amount is deducted from your tuition. At this point in time, I will also send you your study guide and request your measurements for your analyst coat.
The remaining balance of your tuition may be paid via cashier’s check, cash, or Zelle, either before or on the first day of training.
Additional training days may be purchased on request. I also offer refresher training if you want more help down the line.
Drapes and color fans
Before you arrive for your training, you must purchase a set of the NDU test drapes from NDU Colors. You will pick your drapes up at training and will use your own drapes during the training course.
NDU test drapes are $3,000.
NDU test drapes are approximately 18” x 34”. Test drape sets include 4 Key drapes, 4 sets of True season drapes, and 8 sets of Neutral season drapes.
You will see and work with the NDU color fans, swatch books, and posters during your training.
Please note that I will not train using drapes from any other system. My ultimate goal is that every Your Natural Design analyst should be able to reach the same result during a color analysis, and having consistent drape sets is a big key to that success.
Luxury Drapes
Luxury drapes are optional, but may be purchased from NDU Colors at any point. Luxury drapes assist greatly with helping your clients envision their season brought to life in an actual wardrobe.
Luxury sets include 15 colors per season, including several fashion-neutral colors.
Luxury drapes are not a replacement for the NDU test drapes. Test drapes are designed to test, while luxury drapes are designed to showcase the beauty and variety of each season. Luxury drapes help your clients envision their wardrobe in clothing, including different textures and color pairings.
NDU luxury drapes are $3,600.
Certificate of Completion
After you’ve completed the in-person training course, the second phase of PCA training begins: photo reviews. Your first 10 drapings will be reviewed by me for accuracy and discussion. During your training, you will receive more specific information about the types of photos required. We will discuss these drapings at length, whether your analysis is correct or incorrect. If you do reach an incorrect result, remember that mistakes are how we learn and grow. This discussion process is where more valuable learning happens.
You will receive your Certificate of Completion after you successfully complete your 10 photo reviews. You are not officially certified as a Your Natural Design color analyst until this step is complete.
Travel Logistics
Transportation: If you’re flying to your training, the closet airport is Louisville Muhammad Ali International Airport (SDF), which is about 15-20 minutes from my studio. Uber, Lyft, and other ride-sharing services are widely available to get you from the airport to your hotel. Due to my schedule I am currently unable to provide transportation to/from the airport.
Lodging: Depending on where you choose to stay, I may be able to transport you to/from training each day. Here are a few hotels within one mile of my studio in the St. Matthews area:
Hilton Garden Inn St. Matthews - 400 Sherburn Ln, Louisville KY 40207 (particularly convenient - walkable to Whole Foods and a mall without crossing busy streets)
Hawthorn Suites by Wyndham Louisville East - 751 Cypress Station Dr, Louisville KY 40207
Residence Inn by Marriott Louisville East/Oxmoor - 401 Bullitt Ln, Louisville KY 40222
What You’ll Learn during training
A brief history of color analysis
The science of color: how human vision processes color, and optical effects that help us understand how and why PCA works
Munsell’s 3-Dimensional Color System of Hue, Value, and Chroma
How to analyze hue, value, and chroma when conducting a PCA
Explanation of the Your Natural Design seasonal “color clock”
The twelve seasons and how they relate to one another
How to use your test drapes to determine a client’s color season
How to evaluate the draping process using the Your Natural Design PCA Guide
How to use 12-tone color fans to establish color harmony
How to harmonize fabric, jewelry, and cosmetics
How to select specific cosmetics for your client
How contrast levels and overtone can determine cosmetic color choices within a season
The business of color analysis, including social media, setting up your studio, establishing pricing, and more.
What You’ll Receive during/after training
Your Personal Color Analysis and color fan
Laminated copy of the Your Natural Design seasonal color clock
Laminated copy of the Your Natural Design PCA guide
Laminated copies of several exclusive Your Natural Design PCA resources
1 neutral gray analyst coat
1 neutral gray client cape
1 neutral gray client bonnet
The New Munsell Student Set
Photo review instructions for your first 10 clients
Access to exclusive analyst groups on Facebook
Invitation to join Chrysalis Colour
Wholesale pricing at NDU Colors
Wholesale pricing at 12 Blueprints
Your Certificate of Completion (after your 10 photo reviews)
Inclusion in my Student Directory on my website (after your 10 photo reviews)
My ongoing support and guidance as your teacher. Even after you have completed your photo reviews and you’re an officially certified YND analyst, I want all of my students to feel comfortable reaching out to me for support.
If you’re curious about training dates, want to set up a Zoom with me to chat, or have another question I haven’t answered here, please contact me via the form below, or at hello@catelinden.com and I’ll get back to you as soon as I can.
