How to puzzle out a hair color chart and pick a flattering shade?

How to read a hair color chart and how to choose a perfect shade?

A hair color chart may seem like something completely alien to you. Don’t worry, you are not alone when standing in a store and feeling somewhat confused with their choice of dyes. Choosing a hair color requires some unscrambling (see those letters, numbers, or both on the boxes?), understanding hair color names, and even exploring yourself. But we are, as always, here to break it down for you.

By jkatzcolorzz Hair Color Levels

When picking your new perfect look, start with identifying your base color also known as color level. Since hair experts don’t recommend going more than two levels lighter or darker in a single session, you should opt for something within four levels of your current base.

Generally, hair color numbers go from jet-black (1) to the lightest blonde (10) with dark, medium, and light levels of brown and blonde in between. However, some brands assign up to 12 bases to their products, so make sure to check with the particular chart.

By schwarzkopfusa Hair Tones

While the level is printed first on the box, the next thing to look for is the tone number, which is usually separated by a dot or slash. Yet, some brands encode their hair shades with letters, making deciphering a bit trickier. Anyway, the code shows whether you are getting a cold or warm hue along with your main color.

Gold, copper, and red add warmness to hair, while green, blue, and violet cool it down. There are also neutral tones with gold and ash undertones balancing each other. The problem is that many brands stick to their own labeling systems, so you will need to carefully explore their charts before grabbing a box.

By primehairandbeautydesign The 4 Main Hair Colors