What do the letters mean in hair color?

Author: Jarrell Stiedemann  |  Last update: Wednesday, December 31, 2025

The letters indicate the underlying tones—for example, Vesuvius Red, the image above with 7NCR, is a “Natural Copper Red”. C stands for copper, A is ash, R is red, and M is mahogany. Warm tones neutralize cool tones and vice versa.

What do letters on hair dye mean?

Typically ``A'' is going to refer to an ash tone (a cool tone), ``V'' refers to a violet tone (usually for pale blonde shades), ``G'' refers to gold (a warmer tone) or ``W'' for warm. ``B'' for blue, also a cooler tone. ``R'' for a red tone.

What does n or g stand for in hair color?

Color Mixes

The first letter is the primary tone and the second letter is the secondary tone, added for dimension. GA - Gold Ash: a blend of gold and ash tones. GC - Gold Copper: a blend of gold and copper tones. NB - Neutral Blue: contains natural and cool tones and underlying blue hues.

What does a and n mean in hair color?

The Letters like N mean natural, A for Ash , V for violet, . So 5N is 5 natural . Each hair coloring company has a hotline might need to call because I'm not sure about just "5" being neutral also.

What does H mean in hair color?

It refers to a product that contains a highlight color that stands out. H is most commonly used for a Highlight product.

hair color letters & numbers (tones) explained

What does C mean in hair?

Your hair type is broken down into two parts, for example, 2B or 4A. The first part uses a number to differentiate either straight (type 1), wavy (type 2), curly (type 3) or coily (type 4) hair. The second part uses a letter, e.g. fine (type A), medium (type B) and coarse (type C).

What does NC mean in hair color?

NC or .000 – Natural Cool: Three pigments of Yellow, Blue, and Red, plus one more Blue for a cooler result. NW or .003 – Natural Warm: Two pigments of Yellow, Blue, and Red, plus one Gold for a natural result. NL or .03 – Natural Light: One pigment each of Yellow, Red, and Blue with a more sheer result.

What does NB stand for in hair color?

The NB is for Neutral Blond/Brown. NB is also really good for gray hair, the amount used depends on the amount of gray.

What two hair colors look good together?

Two-Tone Hair Color Ideas for a Bold and Beautiful Look
  • Black-and-Blonde Hair. Be a brunette and a blonde at the same time with this hair color combo. ...
  • Black-and-Gray, Two-Tone Hair. ...
  • Green-and-Brown Hair. ...
  • Purple and Pink. ...
  • Monochromatic Purple. ...
  • Pastel Pink and Green. ...
  • Red and Moss Green. ...
  • Red Orange Underlayer Hair Color.

What does nn mean in hair color?

For best gray coverage, use NN (Intense Neutral). NN shades are extra pigment packed to eliminate the most resistant grays.

What color neutralizes orange?

The key to fixing orange hair is usually to neutralise the orange with its opposite colour – blue. Here are some tried and trusted tips we've curated to banish your orange strands at home.

What does G stand for in hair color?

Every natural hair color is some combination of black, brown, yellow, and red. Tones range from warm to cool, and are represented by a letter. For example, in the shade “8G,” the 8 stands for level 8 (Blonde), the G stands for tone (Golden).

Why do they say box dye is bad for your hair?

Box dyes often say they contain moisturising ingredients or are 'ammonia-free'. However, even these usually contain PPDs, salts and other chemicals that will damage hair, especially with repeated use.

What is hair color code?

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.

What does R stand for in hair color?

C stands for copper, A is ash, R is red, and M is mahogany. Warm tones neutralize cool tones and vice versa. If you're coloring your hair lighter, warm tones become naturally exposed, so we recommend using a cool tone for more neutral results.

What are the four 4 basic types of hair colour?

What are the four categories of hair colouring? The four categories of hair colouring are temporary, semi-permanent, demi-permanent, and permanent. Each category offers different levels of colour intensity, longevity, and coverage, catering to various needs and preferences.

What does TT mean in hair color?

TL : Three Tone Blend. TM : Two Tone Mix. TT : Two Tone, Top and Bottom.

What color hides grey hair best?

Cool shades like ash blonde and mushroom brown are among the best hair colors to hide grays, since the cool tones won't clash with your silvery streaks.

What is the most non damaging hair color?

Least Harmful Dye Options
  • Herbatint: Organic/Vegan; 8 herbal extracts to help protect the scalp.
  • Naturtint: Plant-based; Provides long-lasting colour, made from seed oils proven to benefit hair health.
  • Madison Reed: Non-Toxic; Uses keratin, argan oil and ginseng root extract to fortify and nourish hair.

Which is darker 5N or 5NN?

A: 5NN is double Pigment for grey coverage. It is NOT lighter than 5N. They are the same level but NN may appear slightly darker because of the extra pigment.

What does CG mean in hair color?

CG products means Curly Girl approved according to Lorraine Massey's method. At WECOLOUR, you will find more and more Curly Girl approved products. These are often our newest products and in some cases we have had the formula of existing products adapted to fully comply with the Curly Girl ingredient lists.

What is ABC hair?

56% less breakage, 82% less visible split ends, pH balancing for all hair types and textures. “ABC” stands for “Acidic Bonding Concentrate” and it brings life to dry, damaged hair.

What do the letters mean in hair types?

The letters represent the width of the curl: A being the widest, B representing medium curls, and C being small circles. Type 2 - Wavy. Type 3 – Curly.

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