Writing with Color: Description Guide - Words for Skin Tone
We discussed the issues describing People of Color by means of food in Part I of this guide, which brought rise to even more questions, mostly along the lines of āSo, if foodās not an option, what can I use?ā Well, I was just getting to that!
This final portion focuses on describing skin tone, with photo and passage examples provided throughout. I hope to cover everything from the use of straight-forward description to the more creatively-inclined, keeping in mind the questions weāve received on this topic.
S T A N D A R DĀ D E S C R I P T I O N
Pictured above: Black, Brown, Beige, White, Pink.
āShe had brown skin.ā
This is a perfectly fine description that, while not providing the most detail, works well and will never become clichƩ.
Describing charactersā skin as simply brown or beige works on its own, though itās not particularly telling just from the range in brown alone.
C o m p l e xĀ C o l o r s
These are more rarely used words that actually āmeanā their color. Some of these have multiple meanings, so youāll want to look into those to determine what other associations a word might have.
Pictured above: Umber, Sepia, Ochre, Russet, Terra-cotta, Gold, Tawny, Taupe, Khaki, Fawn.
Complex colors work well alone, though often pair well with a basic color in regards to narrowing down shade/tone.
For example: Golden brown,Ā russet brown,Ā tawny beigeā¦
As some of these are on the ārareā side, sliding in a definition of the word within the sentence itself may help readers who are unfamiliar with the term visualize the color without seeking a dictionary.
āHe was tall and slim, his skin a russet, reddish-brown.ā
Comparisons to familiar colors or visuals are also helpful:
āHis skin was an ochre color, much like the mellow-brown light that bathed the forest.ā
Modifiers, often adjectives, make partial changes to a word.The following words are descriptors in reference to skin tone.
D a r k - D e e p - R i c h - C o o l
W a r m - M e d i u m - T a n
F a i r - L i g h t - P a l e
Rich Black, Dark brown, Warm beige, Pale pinkā¦
If youāre looking to get more specific than ābrown,ā modifiers narrow down shade further.
Keep in mind that these modifiers are not exactly colors.
As an already brown-skinned person, I get tan from a lot of sun and resultingly become a darker, deeper brown. I turn a pale, more yellow-brown in the winter.
While best used in combination with a color, I suppose words like ātanā āfairā and ālightā do work alone; just note that tan is less likely to be taken for ānaturally tanā and much more likely a tanned White person.
Calling someone ādarkā as description on its own is offensive to some and also ambiguous. (See: Describing Skin as Dark)
Undertones are the colors beneath the skin, seeing as skin isnāt just one even color but has more subdued tones within the dominating palette.
Mentioning the undertones within a characterās skin is an even more precise way to denote skin tone.
As shown, thereās a difference between say, brown skin with warm orange-red undertones (Kelly Rowland) and brown skin with cool, jewel undertones (Rutina Wesley).
āA dazzling smile revealed the bronze glow at her cheeks.ā
āHe always looked as if heād ran a mile, a constant tinge of pink under his tawny skin.ā
Standard Description Passage
āFarahās skin, always fawn, had burned and freckled under the summerās sun. Even at the cusp of autumn, an uneven tan clung to her skin like burrs. So unlike the smooth, red-brown ochre of her mother, which the sun had richened to a blessing.ā
-From my story āWhere Summer Endsā featured in Strange Little Girls
Here the state of skin also gives insight on character.
Note my use of āfawnā in regards to multiple meaning and association. While fawn is a color, itās also a small, timid deer, which describes this very traumatized character of mine perfectly.
Though I use standard descriptions of skin tone more in my writing, at the same time Iām no stranger to creative descriptions, and do enjoy the occasional artsy detail of a character.
C R E A T I V EĀ D E S C R I P T I O N
Whether compared to night-cast rivers or dayās first lightā¦I actually enjoy seeing Characters of Colors dressed in artful detail.
Iāve read loads of descriptions in my day of white characters and their āsmooth rose-tinged ivory skinā, while the PoC, if there, are reduced to something from a candy bowl or a Starbucks drink, so to actually read of PoC described in lavish detail can be somewhat of a treat.
Still, be mindful when you get creative with your character descriptions. Too many frills can become purple-prose-like, so do what feels right for your writing when and where.
Not every character or scene warrants a creative description, either. Especially if theyāre not even a secondary character.
Using a combination of color descriptions from standard to creative is probably a better method than straight creative. But again, do whatās good for your tale.
N A T U R AL Ā S E T T I N G S - S K Y
Pictured above: Harvest Moon -Twilight, Fall/Autumn Leaves, Clay, Desert/Sahara, Sunlight - Sunrise - Sunset - Afterglow - Dawn- Day- Daybreak, Field - Prairie - Wheat, Mountain/Cliff, Beach/Sand/Straw/Hay.
Now before you run off to compare your heroineās skin to the harvest moon or a cliff side, think about the associations to your words.
When I think cliff, I think of jagged, perilous, rough. I hear sand and picture grainy, yet smooth. Calm. mellow.
So consider your character and what you see fit to compare them too.
Also consider whose perspective youāre describing them from. Someone describing a person they revere or admire may have a more pleasant, loftier description than someone who canāt stand the person.
āHer face was like the fire-gold glow of dawn, lifting my gaze, drawing me in.ā
āShe had a sandyĀ complexion, smooth and tawny.ā
Even creative descriptions tend to draw help from your standard words.
Pictured above: Calla lilies, Western Coneflower, Hazel Fay, Hibiscus, Freesia, Rose
It was a bit difficult to find flowers to my liking that didnāt have a 20 character name or wasnāt called something like āchocolate silkā so these are the finalists.Ā
Youāll definitely want to avoid purple-prose here.
Also be aware of flowers that most mightāve never heard of. Roses are easy, as most know the look and coloring(s) of this plant. But Western coneflowers? Calla lilies? Maybe not so much.
āHe entered the cottage in a huff, cheeks a blushing brown like the flowers Nana planted right under my window. Hazel Fay she called them, was it?ā
A S S O R T E D Ā P L A N T S & Ā N A T U R E
Pictured above: Cattails, Seashell, Driftwood, Pinecone, Acorn, Amber
These ones are kinda odd. Perhaps because Iāve never seen these in comparison to skin tone, With the exception of amber.
At least theyāre common enough that most may have an idea what youāre talking about at the mention of āpinecone.āĀ
I suggest reading out your sentences aloud to get a better feel of how itāll sounds.
āAuburn hair swept past pointed ears, set around a face like an acorn both in shape and shade.ā
I pictured some tree-dwelling being or person from a fantasy world in this example, which makes the comparison more appropriate.
I donāt suggest using a comparison just ācuz you canā but actually being thoughtful about what youāre comparing your character to and how it applies to your character and/or setting.
Pictured above: Mahogany, Walnut, Chestnut, Golden Oak, Ash
Wood is definitely an iffy description for skin tone. Not only due to several of them having āfoodyā terminology within their names, but again, associations.
Some people would prefer not to compare/be compared to wood at all, so get opinions, try it aloud, and make sure itās appropriate to the character if you do use it.
āThe old warlockās skin was a deep shade of mahogany, his stare serious and firm as it held mine.ā
Pictured above: Platinum, Copper, Brass, Gold, Bronze
Copper skin, brass-colored skin, golden skinā¦
Iāve even heard variations of these used before by comparison to an object of the same properties/coloring, such as penny for copper.
These also work well with modifiers.
āThe dress of fine white silks popped against the deep bronze of her skin.ā
G E M S T O N E S - M I N E R A LS
Pictured above: Onyx, Obsidian, Sard, Topaz, Carnelian, Smoky Quartz, Rutile, Pyrite, Citrine, Gypsum
These are trickier to use. As with some complex colors, the writer will have to get us to understand what most of these look like.
If you use these, or any more rare description, consider if it actually āfitsā the book or scene.
Even if youāre able to get us to picture what ārutileā looks like, why are you using this description as opposed to something else? Have that answer for yourself.
āHis skin reminded her of the topaz ring her father wore at his finger, a gleaming stone of brown, mellow facades.āĀ
P H Y S I C A LĀ D E S C R I P T I ON
Physical character description can be more than skin tone.
Show us hair, eyes, noses, mouth, handsā¦body posture, body shape, skin textureā¦ though not necessarily all of those nor at once.
Describing features also helps indicate race, especially if your character has some traits common within the race they are, such as afro hair to a Black character.
How comprehensive you decide to get is up to you. I wouldnāt overdo it and get specific to every mole and birthmark. Noting defining characteristics is good, though, like slightly spaced front teeth, curls that stay flopping in their face, hands freckled with sunspotsā¦
Indicate Race Early: I suggest indicators of race be made at the earliest convenience within the writing, with more hints threaded throughout here and there.
Get Creative On Your Own:Ā Obviously, I couldnāt cover every proper color or comparison in which has been āapprovedā to use for your charactersā skin color, so itās up to you to use discretion when seeking other ways and shades to describe skin tone.
Skin Color May Not Be Enough: Describing skin tone isnāt always enough to indicate someoneās ethnicity. As timeless cases with readers equating brown to ādark whiteā or something, more indicators of race may be needed.
Describe White characters and PoC Alike: You should describe the race and/or skin tone of your white characters just as you do your Characters of Color. If you donāt, you risk implying that White is the default human being and PoC are the āOtherā).
PSA: Donāt use āColored.ā Based on some asks weāve received using this word, Iād like to say that unless you or your character is a racist grandmama from the 1960s, do not call People of Color ācoloredā please.Ā
Not Sure Where to Start? You really canāt go wrong using basic colors for your skin descriptions. Itās actually what many people prefer and works best for most writing. Personally, I tend to describe my characters using a combo of basic colors + modifiers, with mentions of undertones at times. I do like to veer into more creative descriptions on occasion.
Want some alternatives to āskinā or āskin colorā? Try: Appearance, blend, blush, cast, coloring, complexion, flush, glow, hue, overtone, palette, pigmentation, rinse, shade, sheen, spectrum, tinge, tint, tone, undertone, value, wash.
Things that are Brown (blog)
Skin Undertone & Color Matching
Tips and Words on Describing Skin
Photos: Undertones Described (Modifiers included)
Online Thesaurus (try colors, such as āredā & ābrownā)
Donāt Call me Pastries: Creative Skin Tones w/ pics 3 2 1
Writing & Description Guides
WWC Guide: Words to Describe Hair
Writing with Color: Description & Skin ColorĀ Tags
Describing Characters of Color (Passage Examples)
7 Offensive Mistakes Well-intentioned Writers Make
I tried to be as comprehensive as possible with this guide, but if you have a question regarding describing skin color that hasnāt been answered within part I or II of this guide, or have more questions after reading this post, feel free to ask!
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