Bright Spring vs True Spring
- Soul of Colour
- Dec 22, 2025
- 6 min read
Updated: Dec 31, 2025
So, you’re pretty sure that you’re a Spring - you’ve clocked that you look best in colors that are warm, light and vivid and your features lean fair and warm as well. But how do you tell if you’re a Bright Spring or True Spring? Sometimes the difference can be subtle. Fear not - we’ll go over the differences in this article!
Both Bright Spring and True Spring fall into the Spring season - being warm, bright and light - and share a lot of similarities with each other.
The difference lies in the primary characteristic.
For True Spring, the primary characteristic is warmth
For Bright Spring, the primary characteristic is brightness (clarity)
If we go back to the colour wheel, this becomes clearer:
True Spring: warm, bright, light–medium
Bright Spring: bright, warm-neutral, medium
True Spring sits at the warmest point of the Spring palette. It is fully yellow-based, sunny, and golden. Bright Spring, on the other hand, sits right next to Winter and borrows contrast and clarity from it. As a result, Bright Spring colours are sharper, more intense, and slightly cooler by comparison.
True Spring colours feel like golden sunlight. Bright Spring colours feel like neon sunshine with a hint of electricity. So while both palettes are energetic and fresh, True Spring is warmer and softer, whereas Bright Spring is bolder, clearer, and more high-contrast.
True Spring colours are warm, clear, and lively. All colours are distinctly yellow-based, with no grey or blue added. Even bright shades feel friendly and glowing rather than sharp.
Bright Spring colours are extremely clear and saturated. These colours are almost jewel-like—high-energy, crisp, and intense. While still warm-leaning overall, they are more neutral than True Spring and can tolerate a touch of coolness without looking drained.
How to Determine If You’re a Bright Spring vs True Spring?
To tell these two apart, you’ll want to focus on warmth vs brightness, and soft glow vs sharp clarity.
True Spring is warm first, bright second
Bright Spring is bright first, warm second
1. Find Your Primary Characteristic:
This can be difficult to determine, since as a Spring you share all characteristics, regardless of your home season. The trick is finding out whether you are primarily light or primarily warm. Which one is your dominant characteristic?
What’s the first thing people notice about you: your golden warmth, or your high-energy clarity and contrast?
Do extremely bright colours energise you, or do they start to overpower you?
Do you need warmth in every colour, or can you handle slightly cooler brights?
How do you feel in neutral-light colors like lavender, pink, light teal vs very warm colors like orange, coral, red, sunshine yellow? Which one feels more harmonious?
If colours ever feel “too loud” or harsh on you, Bright Spring is probably not your season.
2. Eye and Hair Color:
True Spring: True Springs often have clear, warm eyes, such as bright blue, green, or warm hazel. Hair colors can vary from light golden blonde to warm brown or red, typically with a sunny, golden and bright quality. Many natural redheads are True Springs. The overall effect of a True Spring’s appearance is bright, warm, and lively.
Bright Spring: Bright Springs have the most variety when it comes to appearance - they can literally have any hair colour and eye colour. However, they’ll always be high-contrast and have striking features. All features should have a slight warm glow about them. As with Bright Winter, many people with luminous dark skin, hair and eyes can also be Bright Springs if they have some warmth to their features.
3. The Color Test:
Another great way to see which season suits you best is to pick up fabrics from the Bright Spring and True Spring palettes and compare them to each other. Look at the effect the color has on your skin tone, eyes and lips.
Warm Coral vs. Bright Orange: Which one makes your complexion look more vibrant?
Butterscoth vs Lemon Yellow: Which one brightens your eyes and skin?
Spring Green vs. Bright Emerald: Which one makes you look more radiant?
This should give you some indication of which season might be your home season and which colours suit you best. Experiment a little with the different colours and watch how you feel and how other people react - some hints that you are on the right track are:
people asking you if you changed something about your appearance (even if you haven’t)
feeling more refreshed, awake, confident and radiant
not needing to wear as much make-up
4. Contrast and Overall Coloring
Contrast level is a major differentiator here.
True Springs have medium contrast and the hair, skin, and eyes blend harmoniously. Their colouring feels warm, glowing, and unified. Features soften rather than sharpen in colour.
Bright Springs on the other hand have medium to high contrast. Their eyes, skin and hair are often very clear and bright The skin may be warm-neutral rather than golden. Features become more defined with strong colour.
If you need bold contrast to look alive, you’re likely Bright Spring. If harmony and glow matter more than sharpness, True Spring is the better fit.
5. Comparing Sister Seasons
Finally, the method that might give you the most reliable answer - looking at the sister seasons. This should give you a pretty clear answer since one of them will usually be a complete no-go.
All palettes in the 12-season color analysis system have a sister season which shares the primary characteristic. You should be able to borrow some colors from your sister season and feel comfortable in that palette as well.
For Bright Spring, the sister season is Bright Winter. For True Spring, it's True Autumn.
Could you pull off wearing bright jewel tones, electric blues, magentas, and high contrast outfits? Do you still look good in bright silver jewellery if needed? If so, you might be a Bright Spring.
Could you wear mustard, olive green, terracotta, brick red, warm muted browns? Do you look good in bronze and heavy gold jewellery? If so, you might lean more towards True Spring.
Bright Spring: The Vivid and Warm Palette
The Bright Spring palette is filled with warm, bright colors that are clear and lively. These colors have a sunny, energetic quality that’s perfect for those who can handle bold, vivid hues with a touch of warmth. Key colors include:
Warm Coral: A bright, warm coral with a sunny, lively feel.
Bright Orange: A vibrant, zesty, clear and warm color.
Lemon Yellow: A vibrant, warm yellow that’s clear and cheerful.
Bright Peach: A lively, warm peach that’s full of energy.
Spring Green: A vivid, warm green that feels fresh and vibrant.
Bright White: A crisp, warm white that adds lightness and contrast.
Check out the best and worst colors and color combinations for Bright Springs in this in-depth color palette guide.
Wardrobe Staples: Choose bright, warm colors like warm coral, lemon yellow, orange, spring green, and bright peach. Opt for light, natural fabrics in these shades to create a fresh, lively look.
Makeup: Warm, vibrant tones work best for you—think bright corals, warm pinks, and sunny highlighters. Avoid anything too cool, icy or muted.
Hair Color: Embrace warm, golden tones in your hair and stay away from colors that are too cool and muted like ashy browns.
Read more about Bright Springs.
More ideas on Pinterest.
True Spring: The Warm and Bright Palette
The True Spring palette is filled with warm, bright colours that are lively and fresh. These colors are ideal for those who can pull off vibrant, clear tones with a warm undertone. Key colors include:
Warm Yellow: A bright, sunny yellow with golden undertones.
Coral: A lively, warm pink with a touch of orange.
Grass Green: A fresh, warm green that feels full of life.
Turquoise: A bright, warm blue-green that’s crisp and clear.
Warm Ivory: A soft, warm off-white that’s light and bright.
Check out the best and worst colors and color combinations for True Springs in this in-depth color palette guide.
Tips:
Wardrobe Staples: Go for warm browns, creams, and beiges.
Makeup: Choose warm-toned and fresh makeup like coral, bright red, soft bronze, gold. Avoid overly cool-toned and matte products.
Hair Color: Stick to warm-toned highlights or hair colors, such as golden blonde, copper or warm browns. Avoid going too dark or cool.
Read more about True Springs.
More outfit ideas on Pinterest.