What are the three primary colors used in color theory?

The three primary colors used in color theory are red, yellow, and blue. These colors are foundational because they cannot be created by mixing other colors, and they serve as the basis for creating a wide spectrum of other colors.

When combined in various ways, the primary colors can produce secondary colors: mixing red and yellow gives orange, yellow and blue create green, and blue and red produce purple. This foundational principle allows artists and colorists to understand color mixing, which is crucial in hair coloring and other visual arts. Hence, red, yellow, and blue are essential for any study of color theory as they are fundamental to constructing a color wheel and understanding color relationships.