Words for Skin Tone | How to Describe Skin Color
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 โSo, if foodโs not an option, what can I use?โ 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 weโve received on this topic.
Standard Description
Basic Colors
Pictured above: Black, Brown, Beige, White, Pink.
โShe had brown skin.โ
This is a perfectly fine description that, while not providing the most detail, works well and will never become clichรฉ.
Describing charactersโ skin as simply brown or beige works on its own, though itโs not particularly telling just from the range in brown alone.
Complex Colors
These are more rarely used words that actually โmeanโ their color. Some of these have multiple meanings, so youโll 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,ย russet brown,ย tawny beigeโฆ
As some of these are on the โrareโ 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.
โHe was tall and slim, his skin a russet, reddish-brown.โ
Comparisons to familiar colors or visuals are also helpful:
โHis skin was an ochre color, much like the mellow-brown light that bathed the forest.โ
Modifiers
Modifiers, often adjectives, make partial changes to a word.The following words are descriptors in reference to skin tone.
Dark - Deep - Rich - Cool
Warm - Medium - Tan
Fair - Light - Pale
Rich Black, Dark brown, Warm beige, Pale pinkโฆ
If youโre looking to get more specific than โbrown,โ 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 โtanโ โfairโ and โlightโ do work alone; just note that tan is less likely to be taken for โnaturally tanโ and much more likely a tanned White person.
Calling someone โdarkโ as description on its own is offensive to some and also ambiguous. (See: Describing Skin as Dark)
Undertones
Undertones are the colors beneath the skin, seeing as skin isnโt just one even color but has more subdued tones within the dominating palette.
pictured above: warm / earth undertones: yellow, golden, copper, olive, bronze, orange, orange-red, coral | cool / jewel undertones: pink, red, blue, blue-red, rose, magenta, sapphire, silver.ย
Mentioning the undertones within a characterโs skin is an even more precise way to denote skin tone.
As shown, thereโs a difference between say, brown skin with warm orange-red undertones (Kelly Rowland) and brown skin with cool, jewel undertones (Rutina Wesley).
โA dazzling smile revealed the bronze glow at her cheeks.โ
โHe always looked as if heโd ran a mile, a constant tinge of pink under his tawny skin.โ
Standard Description Passage
โFarahโs skin, always fawn, had burned and freckled under the summerโs 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.โ
-From my story โWhere Summer Endsโ featured in Strange Little Girls
Here the state of skin also gives insight on character.
Note my use of โfawnโ in regards to multiple meaning and association. While fawn is a color, itโs 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 Iโm no stranger to creative descriptions, and do enjoy the occasional artsy detail of a character.
Creative Description
Whether compared to night-cast rivers or dayโs first lightโฆI actually enjoy seeing Characters of Colors dressed in artful detail.
Iโve read loads of descriptions in my day of white characters and their โsmooth rose-tinged ivory skinโ, 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 theyโre 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 whatโs good for your tale.
Natural Settings - Sky
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 heroineโs 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 to.
Also consider whose perspective youโre describing them from. Someone describing a person they revere or admire may have a more pleasant, loftier description than someone who canโt stand the person.
โHer face was like the fire-gold glow of dawn, lifting my gaze, drawing me in.โ
โShe had a sandyย complexion, smooth and tawny.โ
Even creative descriptions tend to draw help from your standard words.
Flowers
Pictured above: Calla lilies, Western Coneflower, Hazel Fay, Hibiscus, Freesia, Rose
It was a bit difficult to find flowers to my liking that didnโt have a 20 character name or wasnโt called something like โchocolate silkโ so these are the finalists.ย
Youโll definitely want to avoid purple-prose here.
Also be aware of flowers that most mightโve 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.
โHe 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?โ
Assorted Plants & Nature
Pictured above: Cattails, Seashell, Driftwood, Pinecone, Acorn, Amber
These ones are kinda odd. Perhaps because Iโve never seen these in comparison to skin tone, With the exception of amber.
At least theyโre common enough that most may have an idea what youโre talking about at the mention of โpinecone."ย
I suggest reading out your sentences aloud to get a better feel of how itโll sounds.
"Auburn hair swept past pointed ears, set around a face like an acorn both in shape and shade.โ
I pictured some tree-dwelling being or person from a fantasy world in this example, which makes the comparison more appropriate.
I donโt suggest using a comparison just โcuz you canโ but actually being thoughtful about what youโre comparing your character to and how it applies to your character and/or setting.
Wood
Pictured above: Mahogany, Walnut, Chestnut, Golden Oak, Ash
Wood can be an iffy description for skin tone. Not only due to several of them having โfoodyโ 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 itโs appropriate to the character if you do use it.
โThe old warlockโs skin was a deep shade of mahogany, his stare serious and firm as it held mine.โ
Metals
Pictured above: Platinum, Copper, Brass, Gold, Bronze
Copper skin, brass-colored skin, golden skinโฆ
Iโve 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.
โThe dress of fine white silks popped against the deep bronze of her skin.โ
Gemstones - Minerals
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 โfitsโ the book or scene.
Even if youโre able to get us to picture what โrutileโ looks like, why are you using this description as opposed to something else? Have that answer for yourself.
โHis skin reminded her of the topaz ring her father wore at his finger, a gleaming stone of brown, mellow facades.โย
Physical Description
Physical character description can be more than skin tone.
Show us hair, eyes, noses, mouth, handsโฆbody posture, body shape, skin textureโฆ 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 wouldnโt 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 sunspotsโฆ
General Tips
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:ย Obviously, I couldnโt cover every proper color or comparison in which has been โapprovedโ to use for your charactersโ skin color, so itโs 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 isnโt always enough to indicate someoneโs ethnicity. As timeless cases with readers equating brown to โdark whiteโ 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 donโt, you risk implying that White is the default human being and PoC are the โOtherโ).
PSA: Donโt use โColored.โ Based on some asks weโve received using this word, Iโd like to say that unless you or your character is a racist grandmama from the 1960s, do not call People of Color โcoloredโ please.ย
Not Sure Where to Start? You really canโt go wrong using basic colors for your skin descriptions. Itโs 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 โskinโ or โskin colorโ? Try: Appearance, blend, blush, cast, coloring, complexion, flush, glow, hue, overtone, palette, pigmentation, rinse, shade, sheen, spectrum, tinge, tint, tone, undertone, value, wash.
Skin Tone Resources
List of Color Names
The Color Thesaurus
Skin Undertone & Color Matching
Tips and Words on Describing Skin
Photos: Undertones Described (Modifiers included)
Online Thesaurus (try colors, such as โredโ & โbrownโ)
Donโt Call me Pastries: Creative Skin Tones w/ pics Iย
Writing & Description Guides
WWCย Featured Description Posts
WWC Guide: Words to Describe Hair
Writing with Color: Description & Skin Colorย Tags
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 hasnโt been answered within part I or II of this guide, or have more questions after reading this post, feel free to ask!
~ Mod Colette
