diff --git a/README.md b/README.md
index dbfac51..e41c6c7 100644
--- a/README.md
+++ b/README.md
@@ -7,8 +7,10 @@
 [![fair-software badge](https://img.shields.io/badge/fair--software.eu-%E2%97%8F%20%20%E2%97%8F%20%20%E2%97%8F%20%20%E2%97%8F%20%20%E2%97%8B-yellow)](https://fair-software.eu)
 [![CI](https://github.com/i-VRESSE/mkdocs_rich_argparse/actions/workflows/build.yml/badge.svg)](https://github.com/i-VRESSE/mkdocs_rich_argparse/actions/workflows/build.yml)
 
-An MkDocs plugin to generate documentation for a [rich argparse parser](https://pypi.org/project/rich-argparse/).
-It renders commands, sub commands and sub-sub commands which can have rich help messages.
+An MkDocs plugin to generate documentation for any argparse parser with [rich-argparse](https://pypi.org/project/rich-argparse/) styling.
+It renders commands, sub commands and sub-sub commands with colored output.
+
+The plugin works with **any** `argparse.ArgumentParser` - you don't need to modify your parser to use `RichHelpFormatter`.
 
 ## Installation
 
@@ -40,6 +42,25 @@ See the [example/](example/) directory for a minimal example and a custom styled
 
 [![Screenshot of example](https://github.com/i-VRESSE/mkdocs_rich_argparse/raw/main/example/screenshot.png)](https://github.com/i-VRESSE/mkdocs_rich_argparse/raw/main/example/screenshot.png)
 
+### Custom Styles
+
+You can customize the colors used in the generated documentation:
+
+```yaml
+plugins:
+    - mkdocs-rich-argparse:
+        module: my_module
+        factory: my_factory_function
+        styles:
+            prog: "#00ff00"      # Program name in usage
+            args: "#ff0000"      # Arguments and options
+            groups: "#00ffff"    # Group headers
+            metavar: "#ff00ff"   # Metavariables (e.g., FILE)
+            help: white          # Help text
+            text: white          # Description text
+            default: grey50      # Default values
+```
+
 ### Colors in Continuous Integration
 
 If you are building the mkdocs site in a Continuous Integration (CI) environment, the colors might not render correctly. To fix this add [TTY_COMPATIBLE=1 and TTY_INTERACTIVE=0 environment variables](https://rich.readthedocs.io/en/stable/console.html#environment-variables) to your CI configuration.
diff --git a/src/mkdocs_rich_argparse/__init__.py b/src/mkdocs_rich_argparse/__init__.py
index acee52f..3fcdb2c 100644
--- a/src/mkdocs_rich_argparse/__init__.py
+++ b/src/mkdocs_rich_argparse/__init__.py
@@ -6,6 +6,7 @@
 import sys
 from collections.abc import Callable
 from textwrap import dedent
+from typing import cast
 import mkdocs.config.base
 import mkdocs.config.config_options
 import mkdocs.plugins
@@ -27,7 +28,14 @@ def _capture_help(parser: argparse.ArgumentParser) -> str:
     # Based on https://github.com/hamdanal/rich-argparse/blob/e28584ac56ddd46f4079d037c27f24f0ec4eccb4/rich_argparse/_argparse.py#L545
     # but with export instead of save
 
-    text = Text.from_ansi(parser.format_help())
+    # Temporarily set RichHelpFormatter to get colored output
+    original_formatter = parser.formatter_class
+    parser.formatter_class = RichHelpFormatter
+    try:
+        text = Text.from_ansi(parser.format_help())
+    finally:
+        parser.formatter_class = original_formatter
+
     console = Console(file=io.StringIO(), record=True)
     console.print(text, crop=False)
     code_format = dedent("""\
@@ -58,7 +66,8 @@ def argparser_to_markdown(parser: argparse.ArgumentParser, heading: str = "CLI R
     subparsers_actions = [action for action in parser._actions if isinstance(action, argparse._SubParsersAction)]
     current_subparsers_action = subparsers_actions[0]
 
-    for sub_cmd_name, sub_cmd_parser in current_subparsers_action.choices.items():
+    for sub_cmd_name, _sub_cmd_parser in current_subparsers_action.choices.items():
+        sub_cmd_parser = cast("argparse.ArgumentParser", _sub_cmd_parser)
         sub_cmd_help_text = _capture_help(sub_cmd_parser)
 
         lines.extend(
@@ -77,7 +86,8 @@ def argparser_to_markdown(parser: argparse.ArgumentParser, heading: str = "CLI R
         ]
         if sub_subparsers_actions:
             sub_current_subparsers_action = sub_subparsers_actions[0]
-            for sub_sub_cmd_name, sub_sub_cmd_parser in sub_current_subparsers_action.choices.items():
+            for sub_sub_cmd_name, _sub_sub_cmd_parser in sub_current_subparsers_action.choices.items():
+                sub_sub_cmd_parser = cast("argparse.ArgumentParser", _sub_sub_cmd_parser)
                 sub_sub_cmd_help_text = _capture_help(sub_sub_cmd_parser)
 
                 lines.extend(
@@ -133,6 +143,7 @@ def _load_obj(module: str, attribute: str, path: str | None) -> Callable:
 class RichArgparseStyles(mkdocs.config.base.Config):
     """Configuration for styles applied to the generated documentation."""
 
+    prog = mkdocs.config.config_options.Optional(mkdocs.config.config_options.Type(str))
     args = mkdocs.config.config_options.Optional(mkdocs.config.config_options.Type(str))
     groups = mkdocs.config.config_options.Optional(mkdocs.config.config_options.Type(str))
     # Overwrite default colors as on mkdocs black text is not visible in dark mode
diff --git a/tests/test_plugin.py b/tests/test_plugin.py
index 338ca52..252b7b4 100644
--- a/tests/test_plugin.py
+++ b/tests/test_plugin.py
@@ -2,6 +2,7 @@
 from textwrap import dedent
 import pytest
 from rich_argparse import RichHelpFormatter
+from mkdocs_rich_argparse import RichArgparseStyles
 from mkdocs_rich_argparse import argparser_to_markdown
 
 
@@ -93,3 +94,75 @@ def test_argparser_to_markdown_with_color(monkeypatch: pytest.MonkeyPatch, sampl
 
     assert len(result) > 3500
     assert '<span style="color: #008080; text-decoration-color: #008080">' in result
+
+
+@pytest.fixture
+def plain_parser():
+    """Parser using default HelpFormatter (the common case)."""
+    parser = argparse.ArgumentParser(prog="plainprog", description="A plain parser.")
+    parser.add_argument("--verbose", action="store_true", help="Enable verbose mode")
+    subparsers = parser.add_subparsers(title="commands", dest="command")
+    sub = subparsers.add_parser("run", help="Run something")
+    sub.add_argument("target", help="Target to run")
+    return parser
+
+
+def test_plain_parser_gets_colors(monkeypatch: pytest.MonkeyPatch, plain_parser: argparse.ArgumentParser):
+    """Verify parsers without RichHelpFormatter still get colored output."""
+    monkeypatch.setenv("FORCE_COLOR", "1")
+
+    result = argparser_to_markdown(plain_parser)
+
+    # Should have color spans from RichHelpFormatter
+    assert '<span style="color:' in result
+    # Should have the program name
+    assert "plainprog" in result
+
+
+def test_plain_parser_formatter_not_mutated(plain_parser: argparse.ArgumentParser):
+    """Verify original formatter_class is restored after capture."""
+    original_formatter = plain_parser.formatter_class
+
+    argparser_to_markdown(plain_parser)
+
+    assert plain_parser.formatter_class is original_formatter
+    assert plain_parser.formatter_class is not RichHelpFormatter
+
+
+def test_subparser_formatter_not_mutated(plain_parser: argparse.ArgumentParser):
+    """Verify subparser formatter_class is also restored."""
+    # Get the subparser
+    subparsers_action = next(a for a in plain_parser._actions if isinstance(a, argparse._SubParsersAction))
+    run_parser = subparsers_action.choices["run"]
+    assert isinstance(run_parser, argparse.ArgumentParser)
+    original_formatter = run_parser.formatter_class
+
+    argparser_to_markdown(plain_parser)
+
+    assert run_parser.formatter_class is original_formatter
+    assert run_parser.formatter_class is not RichHelpFormatter
+
+
+def test_prog_style_option(monkeypatch: pytest.MonkeyPatch, plain_parser: argparse.ArgumentParser):
+    """Verify prog style option is applied to RichHelpFormatter."""
+    monkeypatch.setenv("FORCE_COLOR", "1")
+
+    # Configure prog style
+    styles = RichArgparseStyles()
+    styles.prog = "#ff0000"
+    styles.apply()
+
+    result = argparser_to_markdown(plain_parser)
+
+    # Should have the custom prog color in the output
+    assert "#ff0000" in result or "rgb(255,0,0)" in result.lower() or "color: #ff0000" in result.lower()
+
+
+def test_all_style_options_recognized():
+    """Verify all style options are recognized by the config."""
+    styles = RichArgparseStyles()
+
+    # All these should be valid attributes
+    expected_styles = ["prog", "args", "groups", "help", "metavar", "syntax", "text", "default"]
+    for style_name in expected_styles:
+        assert hasattr(styles, style_name), f"Missing style option: {style_name}"