First Star vs Tailwind
First Star (Sherwin-Williams) and Tailwind (Tikkurila) come from different manufacturers. First Star reads as grey, while Tailwind reads as greige-grey — two distinct hue families, not close cousins. Their light reflectance values are nearly the same — 69 vs 68 — so neither will read significantly brighter or darker than the other. A ΔE of 2.0 puts them in subtle territory — distinguishable in direct comparison, less so from across a room. Below you'll find 1 real-room photo comparison where both colors appear side by side, plus 5 simulated room previews.
First Star vs Tailwind in Real Spaces
1 real room side by side. First Star and Tailwind are close enough that the difference can be hard to judge from a chip alone — these photos show how each reads at scale, across different spaces and lighting conditions.
Kitchen
Kitchens often have the harshest, most revealing light in the house — under-cabinet LEDs and overhead fixtures that strip away subtlety. In photos like these you're seeing the difference at its most direct. In a finished room, the distinction is there but not dramatic.
Color Details
First Star vs Tailwind Simulated Comparison
5 simulated room previews — drag the slider on each to see First Star on one side and Tailwind on the other.
Digital color is approximate. These simulations are generated from the manufacturer's hex values and overlaid on grayscale room photos — your screen's calibration, brightness, and viewing angle all affect how they render. Before committing to either color, test physical samples in your own space under the light you actually live with.
More First Star comparisons
See how First Star stacks up against other well-photographed colors across different brands and tones.
Their light reflectance is nearly identical (LRV 69 vs 69), so neither reads brighter in a room.
White Dove reflects far more light (LRV 83 vs 69), opening up a space where First Star encloses it.
First Star reflects far more light (LRV 69 vs 6), opening up a space where Iron Ore encloses it.
At LRV 69 vs 52, First Star is decisively the brighter choice.
At LRV 69 vs 30, First Star is decisively the brighter choice.
First Star reflects far more light (LRV 69 vs 52), opening up a space where Mizzle encloses it.
A 9-point LRV gap (69 vs 60) makes First Star the marginally brighter of the two.
First Star reads slightly lighter (LRV 69 vs 58), a gap that shows most in low-lit rooms.
First Star reflects far more light (LRV 69 vs 27), opening up a space where Denim Drift encloses it.
At LRV 69 vs 43, First Star is decisively the brighter choice.
At LRV 69 vs 4, First Star is decisively the brighter choice.
First Star reflects far more light (LRV 69 vs 55), opening up a space where Tranquil Dawn encloses it.
First Star reflects far more light (LRV 69 vs 13), opening up a space where Bancha encloses it.
First Star reflects far more light (LRV 69 vs 44), opening up a space where Hardwick White encloses it.
At LRV 84 vs 69, Pure White is decisively the brighter choice.
At LRV 69 vs 21, First Star is decisively the brighter choice.
First Star reads slightly lighter (LRV 69 vs 66), a gap that shows most in low-lit rooms.
Shoji White reads slightly lighter (LRV 74 vs 69), a gap that shows most in low-lit rooms.
Snowbound reflects far more light (LRV 83 vs 69), opening up a space where First Star encloses it.
At LRV 69 vs 51, First Star is decisively the brighter choice.
First Star reflects far more light (LRV 69 vs 12), opening up a space where Pewter Green encloses it.
First Star reflects far more light (LRV 69 vs 8), opening up a space where Duck Green encloses it.
With LRVs of 69 and 68, the two reflect almost the same amount of light.
At LRV 69 vs 41, First Star is decisively the brighter choice.
First Star reflects far more light (LRV 69 vs 12), opening up a space where Vintage Vogue encloses it.
First Star reflects far more light (LRV 69 vs 45), opening up a space where Saybrook Sage encloses it.
At LRV 69 vs 31, First Star is decisively the brighter choice.