(or that I like to read! "Luminescent," rather, refers to light. Of course he can, he shot back, because he’s arrogant like that…. I think people are beautiful in all the ways they are. I was really hurt, I guess by the responses. Forgive the late response. Love her deep dark skin is why. is quite rare, so I do not think it should be used to describe most skin tones. Will you be going to a costume party this year? right? When you are articulate, accomplished and confident people are amazed. The idea for the Describing Words engine came when I was building the engine for Related Words (it's like a thesaurus, but gives you a much broader set of related words, rather than just synonyms). Use a Thesaurus to explore each word separately. Illustrate how the eyes are placed in relation to the character’s face—deep-set, wide-set, or close-set. It was said in an attempt to be funny, however it has stuck with I thought the conversation was funny, until another white woman came on the post and said just say they are dark skinned and move on. For some reason, I feel like writing characters without descriptions is a form of erasing difference. Words for Skin Care. I learned a lot about colorism, race and how important race is to the plot when it involves people of color. ( Log Out /  words to use when describing the type of skin that has been naturally blessed The white woman actually went to war with him, saying that he can’t give permission for all people of color. Mocha is with extra melanin. Ebony refers to dark and beautifully smooth skin. Obsidian. You couldn’t candy an entire pomegranate… I guess you could, but it’d be nasty. Dark Skinned Woman 1 Her skin isn’t chocolate. Her hair was kohl-black and it plunged over her shoulders. including pecan, hazelnut and walnut. fair adjective. In comparison to how it is not something white writers or their characters have to consider…. Her hair was midnight-black and it flowed over her shoulders. Can you imagine, someone telling you it is not important to see yourself in your own work? If you look at dark umber, it’s as close to the color as I can find, and she has the cool jewel undertones, in my opinion. The lovely I’m sorry you are experiencing this. How it isn’t necessary to discuss what hue a person is. Many, many people seem to be wrapped up in their own world and fail to notice other people and the things going on around them. A lot of the things I read makes us monolithic. I wish there were more beautiful common descriptors for skin shades in general. 12. Then followed that comment with, skin color couldn’t be that important to the plot and then questioned my ability to write. Erythemic a hint of red. ultra-conditioning. Spiritual: Many Black women describe themselves as women of faith whether they identify as Christian, Muslim, Rastafari, Santero, or "not religious but spiritual." Her black skin a glow with the health of youth and eyes a blaze with intelligence. My point being… What is my point? silky. At this point I’m frustrated and kind of lost. The black woman should be loved and Protected. someone who is dark or fair complexioned has dark or light skin. very positive, feminine vibes. All the onomatopoeic words you need to describe rain falling are on the next page. reddish undertone, but instead a yellow one. Second, someone has of course and which I always expect in a group this large… said I can use steaming excrement or shit to describe the person. I’m a new writer and descriptions don’t come easy to me. lighter, even brown. I want to describe what I see in my head. Thank you! Promoting femininity, fashion and beauty. Well, I hope so. Phrases for Hair Movement You must find great phrases to convey a person's hair movement and hairstyle to a reader. If you are a POC in America your skin is how the plot thickens. When using this term Then I realized that I described my central white character’s skin as flour! Gah!). Not ALL lives matter,either, ie unborn, as per the beat down Gov. Remember, your brothers & sisters speak the Queens English too. We can naturally use types of coffee as inspiration for naming Then a white women posted, “POC hate being described with food.”. Of course skin color matters. Fill in your details below or click an icon to log in: You are commenting using your WordPress.com account. I realise you wrote this a long while ago, but I just wanted to say thank you! If you’re an artist (writer, photographer whatever) it’s simply a beautiful descriptive especially in contrast to other skin. Dark skin is a type of human skin color that are rich in melanin pigments, especially eumelanin. got when he dared opined.. I whole-heartedly agree with your wanting to find a beautiful description for a beautiful character. I mean, nude is not the color of my skin naked. It’s hard as hell but fun. Melanin is the pigment that gives all humans their skin, hair, and eye color. Over all, I felt it was crazy that someone didn’t trust me to weave my own story. Excuse those typos I was on mobile at the time. This word is now considered offensive. BeautyTemplates | Distributed by Blogger, Copyright © jessgivesadvice.blogspot.com | 2016. I did receive some really great descriptive words and a website I’m going to explore after I post this blog. Race and skin color are still very much an issue. Applying for a job is a nightmare as people will always come up with a reason not to hire me. If its not near what you all are going through but it still stings. black hair ebony-black hair moon shadow-black hair cobalt-black hair maw-black hair obsidian-black hair 1. Now that you have your word banks for the seasonal nature of rain, it is time to concentrate more on its sound. Jet Black. There are many factors which influence one person's attraction to another, with physical aspects being one of them. I mean, I was insulted and attacked for not wanting to be invisible. Words used to describe the skin - thesaurus. Which I accepted laughing and in good spirits. Darker-skinned people have more melanin in their skin than lighter-skinned people have. me ever since. Over the past few evenings, I’ve been using this writing group of about 20K writers to help me reach resolutions as I’m editing. More times than I care to remember. What a negative way to describe a dark complexion, right? I found this post trying to find appropriate words to describe the dark skin color of a character in my story. Dark skin women and light skin women have different concerns and challenges. This describes the dark brown color of cocoa or cacao beans. Sorry you experienced this. Thank you for reading me. I’m a writer too, I’m white but I know how much representation matters! I love all the different skin tones in this post… Women I found on the net. Thank you for this post. Thank you so much for posting. As a result, I went to my favorite group and asked, what are some beautiful things I can use to describe dark skin. Another thought, when searching for an uncommon beautiful description pull from inside, how would you want to be described? It is an almost black brown Evidently the beauty products industry agrees that "luminescent" has a positive connotation, since an internet search for "luminescent complexion" returned hundreds of links to skin products. Who doesn't like chocolate, right? You think you’re asking a simple question, and an electronic barrage of rudeness, dismissiveness, ignorance, and oddness is fired back. This type of color can range from various shades of dark brown. Her hair was coral-black and it toppled over her shoulders. If a writer wants to describe a character, do these people think gender, hair color, eyes, or height/weight should be omitted also? Me or anyone else writing a sentence for you wouldn't be correct in terms of continuity and flow, it's best if your write the sentence and work it into your story, here are some words and phrases though that might spark and idea to help you... Ink-like. www.PrettyMocha.com Created with It makes for a refreshing and more fulfilling experience. Fascinating range of responses you got from the group to your question. Unlike mahogany or chestnut, this color does not have a various shades of brown. Whites, me included, are not offended, afraid et al. I always describe all my characters, as someone else mentioned it “paints a picture”. LMAO!!! Over the past few evenings, I’ve been using this writing group of about 20K writers to help me reach resolutions as I’m editing. Espresso is typically one of the I realize she could have died her hair and be dark, but they don’t take that into consideration. Thank you for your article. Physical attractiveness is the degree to which a person's physical features are considered aesthetically pleasing or beautiful.The term often implies sexual attractiveness or desirability, but can also be distinct from either. Amanda Peet. Ebony. If White Characters Were Described Like People of Color In Literature. Pitch Black. ( Log Out /  I got the feeling she thought I was going to take something. 400+ Words to Describe Hair: A Word List for Writers. Discrimination follows me around every damn day. Hope this helps. Interracial relationships. Black lives matter came about from the black “men” gunnred down by cops, not black on blank crime in Chicago mind you. If we, as writers and therefore communicators, are unable to talk about it, come up with more creative ways of describing it and having intelligent conversations about skin tone, than how is the rest of the world supposed to. Dark As Night. Characters A and B are both Caucasian, but I might describe how B has real issues with sun and is very diligent about renewing sunblock every two hours, watches for pink patches to warn of the beginning of a burn, etc. lighter-skinned people have. Find more ways to say dark-skinned, along with related words, antonyms and example phrases at Thesaurus.com, the world's most trusted free thesaurus. Her lips…oh, my! complexioned adjective . I want to express the differences. dark, dappled, dusky, ebony, espresso, fair, fawn, fiery, florid, flushed, flushing, freckled, ghostly, ginger, golden, granite-grey, grey, green I to O ivory, jaundiced, lily-white, liver-spotted, mahogany, mango, milk-white, milky, mottled, ochre, olive I think difference is beautiful. I needed to get all this off my chest. They’ve been very helpful. Keep your wrinkles and worries at bay with this huge and beautiful list of "beauty words". Like when you go to a craft store you learn new possibilities. color. Are you looking a way to describe something that is beautiful in a different manner than just saying "beautiful", this word list is your fix just for that! green adjective. Chestnuts have a nice, warm brown finish. 3. BTW all the models in your blog are stunning but the first woman is breath-taking. The word *‘ploppy’ is technically not a word, but it sounds so right for raindrops I just had to put it in! I’m annoyed that so many people wanted to argue it wasn’t and that I should write omitting skin. I’m glad you addressed this. It’s so expected it goes almost unnoticed. Embracing every beautiful difference is what makes art (and more importantly life!) I also think it’s ignorance that would say, race and color doesn’t matter as we march, protest and riot as black people are killed. When you add “dusky” to a color, it means it has a dark shade. Beautiful listing! Mist: cloudy moisture, or similar literal or virtual obstacle Leech: parasite, A beautiful word that I think should be added is ‘pendulum’, such lovely nasal ‘n’ and ‘m’ sounds that make it so pleasant to hear. If you go after someone just because she's beautiful but don't have anything to talk about, it's going to get boring fast. Anyway, I landed in here trying to find a better description for an old white woman as I think everyone should be described, it’s important or the default in readers minds will fall on white. very pale in the face because you are frightened, angry, or ill. yellow adjective. The way the light hits her skin, she is obsidian in the flesh. Find phrases and words to describe beauty products, including make-up and skin care. It’s just crazy. 11. Creamy. Your information is mostly good but not quite right. I expect us as artist to sit with our stuff more. It's best if you choose the right one as this story is in your voice and your style. That I simply asked for writers to give me some uncommon descriptive words to describe dark skin and then had to defend why I even needed to mention skin. Like TVTropes, Springhole, and Wikipedia, an author could spend hours following one link (Black Panther Fanfic Writing) to the next (Bad to have a Disabled Love Interest?) Some how I began defending my need to discuss color. She 25. There is a group with maybe 40k writers, possibly more now. Most of the white writers explained that they might describe the hair color of a woman and her eyes… But like if her hair is red, their audience would automatically assume she’s fair. I, personally, think fresh, rich, earth is a good one but I’m not sure since comparing people to dirt obviously has some negative connotations, no matter how nice the dirt is. The beauty of black skin comes in its diverse and radiant nature. I am really upset how uninformed people are. sweet compliment. My degree is in Sociology. Thank you for this beautiful description. Think about the entire orbital structure, from eyelids to eyelashes. Personally when I get responses like this I realize they don’t know themselves and are probably embarrassed. darkest shades when picking a foundation or even furniture pieces. shows off an almond complexion. The way the light hits her skin, she is obsidian in the flesh. I found your blog because I have a character in my book who’s black and she’s showing her friend a recent picture of her daughter and I wanted to describe her skin tone. Beauty Highlight of the Week: Duckie Thot, Beauty Highlight of the Week: Sevyn Streeter, 40 Halloween Costume Ideas for Brown Girls. All rights reserved.. Powered by. It’s frightening that people who claim to be writers don’t see the value in having diversity in their characters. However, they’re less likely to burn than people who have lighter skin complexions. The term has gained A positive name for brown skin and also a The effects of the African American self-hate toward each other because of one’s skin color is rather eye opening and sad, to say the least. No. Oh! P.S. by Especially since I’m a black person. But she’s the closest to God. Share. Consider an almond's external skin. I’m a “would-like-to-be-an-ally-but-don’t-want-to-dominate-other-peoples’-experiences” in-training and you have a very level-headed and enlightening perspective. THE BLACK WOMAN. Darker-skinned people have more melanin in their skin than (See “dun”–a bay is a darker form of a dun.) But there are green apples, yellow apples and candy apples. What are some good words to use to describe those skin tones without using the generic and not actually that descriptive black, white, and tan? Black piano keys and black chess pieces are often made with ebony. high-quality coffee. It’s amazing. would describe someone closer to an ebony shade and is typically used to There is coal, ebony, and onyx. I found your website by searching for descriptive words for dark skin. Of course, it’s important to be able to describe someone’s skin colour if, as the author, you feel it’s right to do so. People in this skin tone range tend to tan. This woman is considered dark skinned but she is not as dark as the first woman. This shit has to stop! British someone who is tanned has darker skin than before because of spending time in the sun. It can also be related to the activity, whether natural hair movement or movement due to dancing. The white racist comments, directed at you comes from…we as a society are not supposed to talk or even think about black/white skin. Thanks.I’ll be releasing new lists every Monday for the next several weeks. Whenever I find a non-racism orientated novel with a black protagonist, I find that I automatically connect with them. Say them to others and use them to describe your I found this while looking up words to describe dark skin. Yes, this group is as amazing as it sounds. Well, hmm... PrettyMocha is the name of this site, so why not Beauty Beautiful Look. Posted on May 6, 2015 by Nik Nicholson. What adjectives can you use to describe buildings/ architecture? I think it’ll help me describe black characters in a respectful, creative way, thank you so much! Recently I heard dark-brown skin described as, "charcoal". skin cream. I’ve started to using color charts, so I can be really crazy. I hate talking to teck support people for help if they are American (I am treated way better if I get someone from inda O.o) their voices become cold and they make things really difficult. I am not critical of how it is I express whatever is on my heart. illustrate dark makeup colors. I’m a white person trying to write about all skin tones, and it bothers me that we only seem to be able to come up with shades of food or earth (dirt) to describe black and brown skin tones. literary with dark skin. I have been trying to find the right words to describe the skin tones of women just like the lady you have pictured at the top. As a young black reader, the feeling of being represented is one thing that I love. I’ve been reading webtoons lately which have the most diversity of any medium I’ve read. If you are checking the messages on this old post, would dark umber skin with a silvery glow work for that lady? The cool and sexy songstress, Amber Denise Streeter, is my beauty of the week. Or if they’re a side character (in most cases) they are automatically my favourite since I can relate to them. Use these banging and exceptional beauty synonyms and words to fight off any impurities and dirt! Brainstorm a list and then compare with the list below. If you are in a crowded store, the clerk watches you because to them your skin tells them you are most likely to steal. Oh, and then people started to go into how skin isn’t important. This color range can describe the skin of offensive a very offensive word used for describing the colour of the skin of people from some parts of Asia. Sadly, I feel in the three years you wrote this, it’s gotten even worse. I know it’s dumb to apologize for random strangers… but I am sorry that someone turned a genuine and important question into irrational negativity. LOVE this post. Even. I’m also glad to hear you are venturing into adding representations of other cultures. Another word for dark-skinned. For she’s not just the mother of all. Also, avoiding the use of food to describe darker skin tones, as this association with food is sometimes considered offensive. Specifically it describes a chocolate flavored caffe Initially, the writers used all the words I could imagine. Keep your wrinkles and worries at bay with this huge and beautiful list of "beauty words". Over all it’s the underlying plot of all Black lives on some level. To describe this in the book, I would use words like “waxy” and “golden”. Change ), You are commenting using your Twitter account. It is similar to the pigment of former Destiny's Child singer, Kelly Rowland. I always felt writing and regularly being creative is such a spiritual thing it requires you to be more mindful. a florid face is red. Was just looking for words to describe a main character’s skin color in my work and happened upon this article. must-have. Do your characters nod or roll their eyes like marionettes? Always seeking replacement words that tie to one of the senses. I don’t want to just describe all my characters as having “darker skin”, that just doesn’t seem right to me. What a negative way to describe a dark complexion, supermodel, Naomi Campbell. I hope you’re having a wonderful day, whenever you see this. Maybe we all just love to eat so that’s why we like to describe color with food! Speaking proper English vs street means yer acting white, same with education. bronze (other metals too, can be used to describe an especially tough character of color) The stor clirk kept spying on me and following me around. has very dark skin which is very similar to that of ebony wood. feel free to add or let me know if any have the same issues as food comparisons that I just happened to miss. Blemish-free. When you go in for a job they will offer you less money and be put off if you ask for what you deserve. Is skin tone important to my plot? Also, avoiding the use of food to describe darker skin tones, as this association with food is sometimes considered offensive. I also think it’s privilege not to understand how skin tone affects POC. Black women come in a variety of different shapes, sizes, and backgrounds from all walks of this earth. I learned some descriptive words as well as was enlightened to the real behavior of some of my fellow white people. When used to describe a skin tone, it could mean a shade less dark than caramel brown. 4. Articles, recipes, grandma profiles, movie reviews, product reviews, and more. If you are “painting a picture” of characters and their surroundings, naturally a vivid description of all features would be included.