Hair Colour Numbering System | L'Oréal Professionnel UK (2024)

What do the numbers in hair colour mean?

When it comes to changing the colour of your hair – knowing some basic information about how hair colour charts work can be fundamental in understanding the options presented to you in-salon.

THE L’ORÉAL PROFESSIONNEL COLOUR NUMBERING SYSTEM EXPLAINED

Your L’Oréal Professionnel colourist will use our international colour numbering system during your bespoke in-salon consultation to identify which depth and tones/reflects will best suit you and your hair. We have decoded the hair colour numbering system: one of the key tools which will help you better understand the complexity that goes into your hair colour service in-salon.

There are up to 4 figures in a hair colour number, up to 2 before the decimal point and up to 2 after the decimal point.For example, 3, 5.8, 6.13 and 10.21 are all L’Oréal Professionnel hair colour numbers.

Hair Colour Numbering System | L'Oréal Professionnel UK (1)

Understanding Hair Colour Charts

WHAT IS A NATURAL BASE COLOUR?

The level system is made up of 10 numbers which help determine the depth level of your natural hair. 1 is black, 5 is light brown, 6 is dark blonde, 7 is blonde and 10 is the lightest blonde. Your L’Oréal Professionnel colourist will analyse your hair and assess your natural base colour in-salon.

WHAT IS A BASE COLOUR?

The first number which appears on the colour chart is the base colour. This number indicates the base level of the shade you would like to achieve. It shows how light or dark the colour is.

Hair Colour Numbering System | L'Oréal Professionnel UK (2)

WHAT IS A TONE OR REFLECT OF COLOUR?

Next your colourist will look at thesecond and third numberson the colour chart that appear after the period mark. These numbers indicate the primary and secondary reflects/tones that are present in the colour.

For example,.1 = Ash, .2 = Iridescent, .3 = Golden, .4 = Copper

This system also allows your colourist to neutralise the colour, so for example to avoid a blonde hair colour from becoming too warm; they could add more .2 (violet) or .1 (blue) to counteract the yellow or orange tones that appear naturally.

The outcome of your final target shade will also be influenced by several other factors that need to be assessed by your L’Oréal Professionnel colourist such as undercoat and distribution of pigment.

Whether you have a specific colour in mind or are in need of some inspiration, your L’Oréal Professionnel colourist can offer you a bespoke service to identify the best hair colour for you. Taking into consideration your natural hair colour, skin tone and eye colour they will create a personalised shade that can help emphasise and illuminate your features. Ask for a colour consultation at your nearest L’Oréal Professionnel salon today to receive your personalised and tailored colour.

Inspired? Discover what hair colours suit you with ourvirtual hair colour try-on tool.

Hair Colour Numbering System | L'Oréal Professionnel UK (2024)

FAQs

Hair Colour Numbering System | L'Oréal Professionnel UK? ›

The level system is made up of 10 numbers which help determine the depth level of your natural hair. 1 is black, 5 is light brown, 6 is dark blonde, 7 is blonde and 10 is the lightest blonde. Your L'Oréal Professionnel colourist will analyse your hair and assess your natural base colour in-salon.

What do the numbers on L'Oréal hair color mean? ›

It all starts with the hair colour numbering system: The first number is the base colour and indicates how light or dark the colour is. 1.0 is black, 5.0 is light brown, 6.0 is dark blonde, 7.0 is medium blonde and 10 is the lightest blonde.

How do you decode hair color numbering system? ›

The higher the first number, the brighter the tone of the hair. (e.g., 1-black, 10- lightest blonde). Generally, it refers to 1 black, 5 light brown, 6 dark blond, 7 blond and 10 lightest blondes in the rating. This universal numbering system is used by all professional hairdressing brands.

How are hair Colours numbered? ›

To understand this in a real-world application, the darkest hair color (black) is a 1 and light blonde is a 10. Brown-colored locks range from level 2 to level 5 (dark brown to light brown) and level 6 and upwards cover the blonder shades. Some charts even go up to level 12, which is considered ultra-blonde.

What does 4.15 mean on hair dye? ›

The first number of a Hair Colour is how Light or Dark the Brown hair dye will be, for example brown shades range from 4, Dark Brown to 6, Light Brown. The second number is the reflect which can be Natural (. 0), Warm (. 3, .

What does Level 3 mean on Loreal hair color? ›

Level 1 hair colour is black, level 2 hair colour is the second darkest black, 3 is brown/black, level 4 hair colour is dark brown, level 5 hair colour is light brown, level 6 hair colour is dark blond, level 7 hair colour is dark blond, level 8 hair colour is medium blond, 9 is light blond and 10 is white/platinum.

What does n and nn mean in hair color? ›

"N" means natural. This is base color. "NN" means extra coverage. "A" or .1 means "ash" "V" or .

What is the color code numbering system? ›

What are RGB color codes? RGB defines the values of red (the first number), green (the second number), or blue (the third number). The number 0 signifies no representation of the color and 255 signifies the highest possible concentration of the color.

What do letters and numbers mean for hair? ›

Levels and Tones:The Basics

Levels represent how light or dark a shade is and are indicated by numbers. Tones represent how warm or cool a shade is and are indicated by letters.

What is the best hair color for a 60 year old? ›

Silver, ashy, blond, and platinum are indeed the most popular hair color choices for women over 60. And with good reason! Instead of coloring to hide your grey hair, you can choose to embrace it. I've seen way too many women with poorly colored dark brown hair color that just doesn't look natural or flattering.

How to read a hair color chart? ›

The numbers on a hair colour shade chart represent the depth and tone of the colour. Anything that appears before the decimal point is the depth (how light or dark a colour is).

When reading a chromasilk creme hair color box, what does the first number indicate? ›

The first number after the point represents the primary base tone of the color. Ifthere is a second number following the point, it represents a secondary base tone(accent tone).

What is number 7 in hair color? ›

Depth: Level 7 hair color has a moderate depth, meaning it is neither extremely light nor very dark. It often appears as a medium-toned color. Undertones: Level 7 hair color can have various undertones, including warm (golden or caramel), neutral, or cool (ashy or slightly blue-toned).

Is a 4 or 5 darker in hair color? ›

These levels are used to describe how dark or light your hair color is. Level 10 is lightest blond, level 9 is light blond, level 8 is medium blond, level 7 is dark blond, level 6 is light brown, level 5 is medium brown, level 4 is dark brown, level 3 is darkest brown, level 2 is black brown and level 1 is black.

Is number 2 hair darker than 4? ›

Hair Color Levels 1 to 4

From that level, the hair will slowly get lighter as they level up, with level 2 being the darkest brown, 3 and 4 being darker to medium brown tones. Level 4 or so is typically the darkest base feasible for color change without pre-lightening.

Is higher number lighter for hair color? ›

Levels refer to how light or dark your hair is, and it is a universal method that colorists, hair color manufacturers, and cosmetologists use to standardize hair color charts. Lower numbers refer to darker colors and higher numbers refer to lighter colors.

What color is 7N? ›

Basically black-white. The lower the number, the darker the color. This is from my color chart for Goldwell hair color. The 7N is a natural level 7.

Is 4 darker than 5 in hair color? ›

These levels are used to describe how dark or light your hair color is. Level 10 is lightest blond, level 9 is light blond, level 8 is medium blond, level 7 is dark blond, level 6 is light brown, level 5 is medium brown, level 4 is dark brown, level 3 is darkest brown, level 2 is black brown and level 1 is black.

How do I choose Loreal hair color? ›

Let your skin tone guide your hair colour choice

“When your undertones are warm, tawny or peach, try light golden blonde, medium brown hair with golden highlights or dark brown to black hair with warm red shades,” advises Demelo. He also adds that ash tones are the most flattering hair colour for dark skin tones.

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