Today we’d like to introduce you to Micah Lumsden.
Hi Micah, so excited to have you with us today. What can you tell us about your story?
I started by trying to solve my own problem. I attended fashion school and focused on styling, which I thoroughly enjoyed. But when it came to Colour Seasons, like so many other women of colour, it just didn’t work for me. I was always typed as a Dark Winter because I had dark skin and dark eyes—which technically fit the description—but the palette was far from flattering.
Winters are supposed to look their best in blues and purples, yet only a handful of those shades actually worked on me. I tried the warm counterpart, Dark Autumn, and while not terrible, it still wasn’t what I’d call my best colours.
So instead of relying on other stylists, I went back to the roots of colour theory—studying painters, designers, and later makeup artists—to really understand how undertones and depth work on darker skin. That’s when I realised, I could be a “Spring,” even though I didn’t fit the traditional image of one. It clicked: the system shouldn’t be about physical stereotypes, but about which colours actually make you look your best.
During the pandemic, I started sharing this research on YouTube, and after graduating, I built it into a business. That’s when I realised I had created the first and only method of colour analysis truly adapted for women with darker skin tones. I started out as Cocoa Styling, which remains and will continue to be my blog. However, for the “science” behind my method, there’s no better name than The Theory of Brown—a framework for rethinking colour theory and inclusivity in fashion and beauty.
Alright, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
Definitely more than a few since I basically had to start from scratch. Most of what I learned about colour didn’t actually apply to me, and the advice in books or online was always the same: you’re either a Winter or a Dark Autumn. Then there were claims like “Black women have high contrast because their eyes and teeth contrast against their skin,” which is just nonsensical. Eyes can be more yellow, teeth can be whitened—none of that changes your season.
The problem wasn’t that it took me ages to find the right information—the truth was that the information just didn’t exist. Look up the best colours for dark skin, and besides my YouTube channel, what you’ll find are generic lists of colours, but how we all look good in the same colours when our features vary so much. So I built my own system. Fortunately, all the trial and error paid off, and I’ve been able to help so many people who were just as confused as I was in the beginning.
Alright, so let’s switch gears a bit and talk business. What should we know about your work?
I’m the founder of The Theory of Brown and Cocoa Styling, and I specialise in inclusive fashion and colour analysis for women of colour, particularly Black women. I created the first method of colour theory that’s truly adapted for darker skin tones, which helps people understand which colours, styles, and textures work best for them. Built on the idea of self-discovery, my styling method focuses on self-love, body positivity, and celebrating features
What I’m most proud of is building a system from scratch that fills a gap in the fashion and beauty industry—something that didn’t exist before—and being able to empower others to feel confident in their style. My work is different not just because I’m the first and only one that does what I do, but because it’s not just about trends or aesthetics; it’s about science, self-expression, and inclusivity, all rooted in a body-positive approach.
What’s next?
Quite a few, actually. A big part of my work is recommending products to people, and I’ve noticed there’s still a huge gap between what’s needed and what’s available. Even with monthly makeup launches, it’s still really hard to find products that truly work for darker features. That’s something I’m passionate about addressing. I have the theory on what works, along with insights on what’s missing, because I’ve looked for things that simply don’t exist… yet. I’d love to collaborate with brands to help them create products that are genuinely inclusive, not just surface-level. Create something intentional instead of just adding a few darker shades at the end.
My plan is to keep growing, teaching, and challenging outdated norms in fashion and beauty. I also want to expand into writing a book and offering coaching to share my methods and insights more broadly. Ultimately, it’s about building a more inclusive industry.
Pricing:
- Extended Color Analysys $200
- Body Shape Styling $200
- Body and Style Essence $300
- Complete Makeover $600
- Makup Downloables $40
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.thetheoryofbrown.com/
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thetheoryofbrown/
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/c/CocoaStylingForDarkSkinWomen
Image Credits
Micah Lumsden
Nicola Banard
Deyshennie Peterkin Smith
