An in-person draping costs $245 to $400 for one person at the four US studios we checked, for a session of 80 minutes to about 2 hours, usually including a swatch book or color guide. A virtual session costs less: one of those studios charges $145 (source). Color analysis apps are free to download, with paid plans listed from about $3 a month up to $40. Doing it yourself with a mirror and clothes you own costs nothing. In-person is the most thorough; an app or DIY is a sensible first step if you’re not sure the $250+ is worth it.
In-person draping: real studio prices
We looked up four independent US studios that publish their prices. This is a small sample, not a survey; prices in your city may differ.
| Studio | Where | Session | Price, 1 person | Included (per the studio) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Samira Atash | Northern Virginia | 80 minutes | $245 (virtual: $145) | 12-season fabric drape; undertone, intensity, depth; best metals; hair and makeup advice; digital guide |
| House of Colour Holdrege | Holdrege, Nebraska | 2 hours | $245 weekday, $275 weekend | House of Colour drapes; makeup shades and lipsticks; review of your season’s colors |
| Color Savvy Studio | Denver, Colorado | about 1.5–2 hours | $375 | True Colour International drapes; canvas swatch book; hair color swatching; checking up to five of your items |
| Cate Linden | Louisville, Kentucky | not stated | $400 | 12-tone draping; canvas swatch book and wallet color card; makeup consultation; in person only |
A guide from a consultant training school puts typical professional sessions at $150–$400 and all-inclusive packages at $500–$800 or more (Sterling Style Academy). It sells consultations itself, so read it as one industry view.
What the extra money buys
- Controlled conditions. Studios use full-spectrum lighting and neutral gray surroundings so nothing tints your skin (example). At home, your lamp, your wall color and your phone camera all shift what you see.
- Real fabric compared side by side on your face, judged by someone trained to see the difference.
- A physical swatch book to take shopping. One studio values its book at $110 (Color Savvy Studio).
- Advice beyond clothes: makeup, hair color and jewelry metals.
What it doesn’t buy: certainty. Studios use different systems (12-tone, House of Colour, True Colour International), and the training-school guide above says independent research backing consultant credentials is thin and that vendor claims about “accuracy” are “marketing rather than proven fact” (source).
Virtual sessions
A virtual analysis means sending photos or joining a video call. It costs less ($145 at one studio we checked), but it has the same weakness as an app: the analyst sees your face through a camera, in your light. Some analysts refuse to do it for that reason; one says “online analysis is guesswork” (Cate Linden).
Apps
| App | Download | Paid options (US) |
|---|---|---|
| Hue: Color Analysis (ours) | Free | Pro $2.99/month or $14.99/year |
| My Best Colors | Free, ad-supported | Lifetime premium $14.99 |
| Hue IQ | Free | $4.99/month or $24.99 lifetime |
| Dressika | Free | Several options listed, $4.49 to $40.00 |
| Palette | Free | Several options listed, $3.99 to $39.99 |
More on what each app does in color analysis apps compared.
Doing it yourself, for free
- Stand by a window in daylight, no makeup, hair pulled back, in a white or gray top.
- Hold pairs of tops or scarves you own under your chin: a warm color (camel, coral, olive) against a cool one (navy, fuchsia, icy gray).
- Look at your skin, not the fabric. The better color evens your skin and brightens your eyes; the worse one makes shadows, redness or a gray cast stand out.
- Take photos of each in the same light and compare them side by side.
Our undertone guide and 12 seasons guide walk through it step by step. It takes patience, and it’s easy to see what you hope to see, so a second opinion from a friend helps.
So which should you choose?
- Curious, low budget: DIY or a free app first.
- Planning to rebuild your wardrobe or makeup around it: an in-person draping is worth considering.
- Already draped: an app is handy as a shopping reminder, not a second opinion.