What hair colour shade should I choose?

Choosing the right hair colour shade can make a big difference in achieving natural-looking results and effective grey root coverage. Whether you're colouring your hair for the first time or touching up grey roots between colourings, selecting the right shade is one of the most important steps.

If you're looking for a solution designed specifically for grey root maintenance, learn more about Root Touch-Up Permanent Hair Color and how it can help you cover grey roots without colouring your entire hair.

Start with Your Current Hair Colour

The easiest way to choose a shade is to match your current hair colour rather than the colour your hair was years ago.

If your hair has already been coloured, choose a shade that closely matches your existing colour. This helps create a seamless blend between the newly coloured roots and the rest of your hair.

If you're unsure whether you should colour your entire hair or only your roots, read Full-Head Coloring vs Permanent Root Touch-Up.

Understanding Hair Colour Levels

Most hair colours are organized by levels:

  • 1N - Black
  • 3N - Dark Brown
  • 4N - Medium Brown
  • 5N - Light Brown
  • 6N - Dark Blonde
  • 7N - Medium Blonde
  • 8N - Light Blonde

In general, the lower the number, the darker the shade.

When covering grey roots, choosing a shade that is close to your existing hair colour usually produces the most natural-looking result.

 

Should You Go Lighter or Darker?

If you're between two shades, many colourists recommend choosing the slightly lighter option rather than going darker.

A shade that is too dark can sometimes make root regrowth appear more noticeable as new grey hair grows in.

You can learn more about why roots become noticeable so quickly in Why Grey Roots Show Again So Quickly.

Consider Your Skin Tone

Your skin tone can help guide your shade selection.

  • Cool skin tones often pair well with cool browns and cool blondes.
  • Warm skin tones often pair well with warm browns, golden blondes, and richer shades.
  • Neutral skin tones can usually wear both warm and cool shades successfully.

For more detailed guidance, see How to Choose the Right Hair Colour for Your Skin Tone.

Covering Grey Roots Successfully

Grey hair can sometimes appear more resistant to colour than pigmented hair. Choosing a permanent hair colour that provides reliable grey coverage can help create more consistent results.

If your grey roots tend to appear around the front hairline, you may also find these guides helpful:

Avoid Choosing a Shade Based Only on the Box

Hair colour results can vary depending on:

  • Existing hair colour
  • Percentage of grey hair
  • Previous colouring history
  • Hair condition
  • Processing time

For the most natural result, focus on matching your current hair colour rather than selecting a dramatically different shade.

The best hair colour shade is usually the one that closely matches your current hair colour, complements your skin tone, and provides the grey root coverage you need.

If your goal is to maintain your colour between appointments, a multi-use permanent root touch-up can help you cover grey roots as they appear while delaying the need to colour larger sections of hair.

You can also browse the full collection of shades on the Caliin Shop page.

Back to Gray Root Touch-Up Permanent Hair Color & Hair Color Tips