Following color accessibility guidelines builds user trust and loyalty by creating experiences that work for everyone. However, accessibility isn't just about maximizing contrast, it's about finding the optimal balance.

Extremely high contrast combinations, like pure black (#000000) text on pure white (#FFFFFF) backgrounds, can actually create problems for some users.^[1] These harsh combinations can trigger eye strain, headaches, and visual distortions that make reading difficult.

Instead, aim for sufficient but comfortable contrast. Slightly softened combinations like dark gray (#333333) on off-white (#F8F8F8) still exceed WCAG requirements while being more comfortable for extended reading.