If you have ever bought a lipstick that looked perfect in the tube but strangely wrong on your face, personal color analysis starts to make sense very quickly.
In Korea, the idea is usually called personal color (퍼스널 컬러). A consultant compares different colors beside your face and looks for the shades that make your complexion appear clearer and more balanced. The final result can help with clothing, makeup, hair color and accessories—but it is best treated as a practical guide, not a list of colors you are forbidden to wear.
STROK87 in Hongdae offers personal color analysis with English consultation. The photos in this guide were provided by the studio and show international guests going through the consultation, draping and palette-selection process.
STROK87 personal color analysis at a glance
- Location: 4F, 30 Sinchon-ro 2an-gil, Mapo-gu, Seoul
- Nearest station: Hongik University Station, Exit 7
- Language: Korean and English
- Price shown on the official website: $130 for one person, $230 for two, or $330 for three
- Booking: WhatsApp, Instagram DM or KakaoTalk Channel
- Official website:STROK87
Prices and service details can change. Check with the studio before making a reservation.
What personal color analysis is actually looking for
The process is not about choosing the prettiest fabric on the table. The consultant is watching what happens to your face when the color changes.
Does one blue make the shadows under your eyes more noticeable while another makes the skin look calmer? Does a bright pink bring your features forward, or does the color arrive before you do? These small differences are easier to see when fabrics are changed quickly under consistent lighting.
Warm and cool undertones are part of the conversation, but they are not the whole answer. Brightness, depth and saturation also matter. Two colors can both be cool-toned and still create very different effects on the same person.
What happens during the session
Watch the experience: One guest documented her first personal color analysis at STROK87. Watch the Instagram Reel by @biindo.k.
1. Hair, makeup and clothing colors are taken out of the equation
Hair and clothing can affect how we read color. In the photographed sessions, guests had their hair pulled back or covered and wore a white cape over their clothes. This gave the consultant a more neutral starting point.
2. Color drapes are compared one after another
This is the part most people recognize from Korean beauty videos. The consultant places different fabrics below the face, often comparing similar shades with different undertones or levels of intensity.
You are not expected to spot every change immediately. A useful consultation should explain what the consultant is seeing rather than simply announcing a season at the end.
3. The broad season is narrowed into a usable palette
The familiar starting points are Spring, Summer, Autumn and Winter. Many consultations then narrow the result further. In the STROK87 photographs, the visible result boards include Summer Muted and Autumn Deep.
That second word is often more useful than it first appears. “Muted” points toward softer, less saturated colors. “Deep” suggests richer shades with more visual weight. A palette board is handy because it shows a family of workable colors instead of leaving you with one seasonal label to remember.
Turning the result into makeup choices
A season name is interesting. Knowing which lipstick to pick is useful.
The session photos show makeup charts, lip products, palettes and brushes being used while the results were discussed. Depending on the program, color guidance may cover lip, blush, eyeshadow, brow or hair shades.
The official STROK87 website lists personal color analysis but does not spell out every item included in the session. If makeup recommendations or a take-home palette are important to you, ask about them before booking.
Does personal color analysis work across different skin tones?
Personal color should not be treated as something designed for only one ethnicity or a narrow range of complexions. The STROK87 photos show guests with different skin tones taking part and receiving different palettes.
At the same time, a photograph cannot prove that an individual diagnosis is accurate. If you have a deeper skin tone—or you have received conflicting results before—it is reasonable to ask how the consultant works with undertone, depth and contrast before you pay a deposit.
One point that can be confusing: STROK87’s 8×7 system
STROK87 is primarily a K-Beauty brow studio. Its website also introduces an 8×7 facial-analysis system: eight skin-tone categories and seven facial-structure types used to guide brow design.
This is separate from the Spring, Summer, Autumn and Winter system used in personal color analysis. The two may both consider skin tone, but they should not be described as the same method.
What to ask before booking
The website confirms English consultation and lists current prices, but it does not state the exact duration or every take-home item for the personal color service. A short message before booking can clear up the details:
- Will the full consultation be conducted in English?
- How long should I allow for the appointment?
- Should I arrive without makeup or colored contact lenses?
- Are makeup and hair-color recommendations included?
- Will I receive a printed or digital palette?
- Is a deposit required, and what is the cancellation policy?
- Can two or three people complete the session together?
How to prepare
Follow the studio’s instructions first. In general, it is helpful to keep your appearance close to its natural state so the consultant is not reading a heavy base product or strongly colored lenses instead of your own features.
You can also bring a few things you actually use: a favorite lipstick, a shade that never seems to work, or photos of a hair color you are considering. These make the advice easier to connect to daily life.
Using your palette while shopping in Korea
Hongdae is a practical place to have the appointment because you can use the result right away. Take a photo of your palette and compare it with lip tints, blushes and eyeshadow testers while the explanation is still fresh.
If you plan to shop for K-Beauty afterwards, our Olive Young Korea guide for foreign visitors explains what to look for in store. For gifts, see our guide to choosing Olive Young souvenirs without guessing.
Is it worth adding to a Seoul itinerary?
It can be—especially if you enjoy beauty shopping but often feel overwhelmed by choice. The useful part is not being told that you are a “season.” It is learning why two almost identical colors behave differently on your face and leaving with a shortcut you can use later.
Just keep the result in perspective. Personal style, lighting, makeup and the way colors are combined all matter. A good palette should make shopping easier, not make your wardrobe feel like a test you can fail.
Frequently asked questions
Can I receive the consultation in English?
Yes. STROK87 states that English consultation is available. Confirm that your chosen appointment will be handled in English when booking.
How much does it cost?
The official website currently lists $130 for one person, $230 for two people and $330 for three. Check the current price and payment terms directly with the studio.
Where is STROK87?
The studio is on the fourth floor of 30 Sinchon-ro 2an-gil in Mapo-gu, around a three-minute walk from Hongik University Station Exit 7.
Will I receive a color card?
The session photos show guests holding palette boards, but the website does not specify exactly what each booking includes. Ask whether a printed or digital reference is provided with your program.
Disclosure: STROK87 provided the photographs used in this article. JUST KOREA independently prepared this informational guide using the photographed sessions and publicly available information from the studio’s official website. This is not presented as a first-person review. Prices and service details may change.