Abstract: A method of characterizing object color includes acquiring a color data set from a plurality of objects that may be treated with a personal care or beauty product or to which the personal care or beauty product may be applied, the color data set representing color measurements of the plurality of objects, and expressing the color data set in a three-dimensional color space. The color data set may be a hair color data set, for example. The method also includes transforming the color data set into a plane, and defining a region of the plane in which the transformed color data set is disposed and a space about the region as a first character color space. Where the color data is hair color data, the color space may be a natural hair color space, for example.