How To Read The Box & Figure Out Your Hair Color Levels (2024)

When you think of coloring your hair, what do you picture? Is it a drastic change for a new season, aslight touch-up, or is it time to cover those pesky grays? If you don’t know, that’s okay!We have plenty of resources to help you understand hair color levels and how to selectthe right one for you.

Check out our lastblog post hereif you need some help with how to decide.

Now that you have your perfect hair color in mind to express your individual style, how exactly are you going to achieve that look?

Picking a hair color may seem a little more overwhelming thanpicking a lipstick shade or a nail polish color, but we’re here to help break it down!We have created a hair color chart to help make this process easier.

But before we dive into the charts, let’s bring it back to the basics – like learning how to read the box!

How To Read The Box & Figure Out Your Hair Color Levels (1)

How to Read the Box

On eachNaturtintbox, you’ll notice that there is a code (made up of a number and letter) that identifies each particular shade.But what exactly does that code mean?

Well,simply put, the number refers to the shade’s color level and the letter represents the shade’s tone.

HairColor levels

Now, let’s break down exactly what a color level is. Color levels refer to the degree of lightness or darkness a shade has, also known as depth.Color levels range from 1-10 with 1 being the darkest and 10 being the lightest.

Within each color family (browns, blondes, coppers, blacks) there aredark, medium, and light levels. For example, you might say that you have brown hair.But,do you actually have dark brown hair, medium brown hair, or light brown hair?

Levels 1 and 2 include the darkest black colors.Levels 3–4are the darkest browns,level 5is amedium brown, andlevels6&7are considered light brown. Level8is amedium blonde,while levels9&10arethe lightest blondecolors.

How To Read The Box & Figure Out Your Hair Color Levels (2)

In order to find the right color level for you, you’ll want to start by identifying your current hair color, or level, if your hair is already color treated.

Keep in mind that you can always go as dark as you want in a single treatment, but you can only lighten by one or two levels at a time.

Hair ColorTones

While color levels refer to the depth of color, the tone refers to the warmth or coolness of the shade.

As you probably already know, there are different tones that are associated with each color. Think about the colors you associate with fall and spring.

Fall is full of reds, oranges, and yellows – which are all warm tones.

On the other hand, spring is full of blues, greens, and violets – which are cool tones.

Tones that fall in the middle of warm and cool are called neutral tones. These typically have a balance of both warm and cool pigments.

But what does this have to do with hair color?

There are a range of hair color tones –we haveseven to be exact.These tonesvary from brand to brand, our tonesrange from Natural to Chocolate.

  • Natural (N)
  • Golden (G)
  • Copper (C)
  • Red (R)
  • Ash (A)
  • Mahogany (M)
  • Chocolate (GM)

Related:What is the Best Hair Color for Me

Understanding your hair’s ideal tone will help you to achieve your desired look.

Mixing it allTogether

Now thatyou’ve got abetter understandofall those numbers and letters,you no longerhave tosolelyrely on the picture on the box to pick the right hair color! You can use the number and letter combination to confidently choose that perfect hair color you’re going for!

Whether you’re looking to darken up your locks, cover up grays,or gradually go lighter over time, you’re now equipped with the knowledge tofigure out your hair color levels andget themost out ofyourNaturtintPermanent Hair Color!

How To Read The Box & Figure Out Your Hair Color Levels (2024)

FAQs

How To Read The Box & Figure Out Your Hair Color Levels? ›

Levels 1 and 2 include the darkest black colors. Levels 3 – 4 are the darkest browns, level 5 is a medium brown, and levels 6 & 7 are considered light brown. Level 8 is a medium blonde, while levels 9 & 10 are the lightest blonde colors.

How to determine level of hair color? ›

To determine your level, take a section of hair from the crown of your head and hold it out where you can see it, away from the rest of your hair. Then, compare it to our level chart, with level 1 being the darkest (black) and level 10 being the lightest (light blonde).

How do you decode hair color numbering system? ›

The decimal part of the hair color number is crucial for understanding the tone of the hair color. It indicates the warmth or coolness of the shade. Even numbers (e.g., 4.0, 6.0) are cool tones, often described as ashy or cool, while odd numbers (e.g., 4.1, 6.1) are warm tones, often described as golden or warm.

How do I figure out my hair color? ›

Start by parting the back of your hair down the center. Then, cover up any dyed sections of hair so that you're able to focus on evaluating your scalp. Have a friend match the color against our color chart to figure out the color closest to your own. For best results, make sure you're in bright, natural lighting.

What do the numbers mean on box hair dye? ›

The first number of a shade always relates to the base colour. The higher the number, the lighter the base colour will be e.g. 1.0 is deep black and 9.0 is a light blonde. REFLECT. The second number of the shade is always related to the reflect.

How do I know if one box of hair dye is enough? ›

Does your hair reach your shoulders, is it shorter than that or are you just dyeing your outgrowth? Then you only need one package of hair dye. But is your hair very thick, do you have curls, a lot of hair or does it reach over your shoulders? Then you need more than one package.

How do I know what shade to dye my hair? ›

A great rule is to stick to within two shades of your natural hair, in terms of light or dark, as your hair shade usually matches your complexion. Go too dark and your natural skin colour will probably be washed out, and vice-versa.

What does level 10 hair color look like? ›

Level 1 is black and Level 10 is Light Blond. what Level Hair color to do you have? Level 1 is black and Level 10 is Light Blond.

What does level 7 hair look like? ›

a level 7 is when it starts to look like it belongs in the blonde family! from a level to 7 to 8 the hair will look like noticeably blonder. Here is a good example of all of these visual breaks on the same strand of hair. for this reason, i am going to mix multiple bowls of toner to ensure an even end result.

What does n mean in a hair color chart? ›

Natural tones (N) are neutral in color, which means they contain a balance of warm and cool tones. They are best for covering gray hair. PRO-TIP: N is best for covering gray hair and giving a natural-looking result. Since gray hairs have lost their natural pigment, they soak up dyes more readily.

What number is medium brown hair? ›

UNDERSTANDING HAIR COLOR SHADE NAMES

It is a Medium Brown (Level 5)

What does 7N mean in hair color? ›

The 7N is a natural level 7. There are of course, different shades in all the different levels. You can have a level 7 that is more golden, ashier, redder, etc. Level 7 refers to a scale of dark to light color.

What is the rarest hair color? ›

Natural red hair is the rarest hair color in the world. A mere one to two percent of people are born with auburn hair. The prevalence is slightly higher in the northern and western fringes of Europe, especially the British Isles (mainly Ireland and Scotland), than in the rest of the world.

How is hair Colour determined? ›

Hair color is determined by the amount of a pigment called melanin in hair. An abundance of one type of melanin, called eumelanin, gives people black or brown hair. An abundance of another pigment, called pheomelanin, gives people red hair.

How do you read a hair color wheel? ›

The position of colors on the hair color wheel indicates the tone. Tonal colors can be natural or artificial and are classified into cool, warm, or neutral. On the left side of the wheel are the cool tones (also called ash tones), which include blue, blue-violet, green, blue-green, violet, and red-violet.

How do I know what color box dye to get? ›

The first "Golden Rule" of color choice is to stay within two levels of your natural or base color. This applies to both lighter and darker shades. Hair color is divided into ten different levels. These levels are used to describe how dark or light your hair color is.

Why do hairdressers tell you not to use box dye? ›

Do box dyes damage your hair? They might do. The main reason some hairdressers hate box dyes is because particular formulas might be too harsh for your hair, but also because the application of hair colour by anyone other than a professional has its own issues.

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