What is the difference between Clairol 5 and 5N?

Author: Mr. Jordon Abernathy  |  Last update: Monday, January 26, 2026

A: According to a rep at Clairol, "5 Medium Brown is a neutral shade while 5N is also neutral, but contains more yellow. 5N is designed to help with gray coverage more as that yellow fills in needed pigment."

What does n mean on hair color?

Natural. 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 color is Clairol 5N?

Clairol Nice'n Easy 5N Medium Neutral Brown. Permanent natural looking color with 100% gray coverage.

What shade is 5N?

5N Light Brown Permanent Creme Hair Color.

What color is 5N hair dye?

5N Natural Light Brown Permanent Hair Dye. This item is a recurring or deferred purchase.

Young Age Gray Hair - An Easy Fix!

What is the difference between 5 and 5N hair color?

A: According to a rep at Clairol, "5 Medium Brown is a neutral shade while 5N is also neutral, but contains more yellow.

What is the best hair dye to cover grey?

Garnier Nutrisse Ultra Permanent Colour

A natural-looking colour that effectively covers grey is what most look for at an at-home hair dye, and you'll find exactly that in this one. There's a wide range of shades to choose from too, from a Honey Blonde, all the way through to Infinite Black.

What base color is 5N?

The Natural (N) series has a cool blue base and offers up to 100% gray coverage when used alone. 5 Light Brown 4.7 out of 5 stars, average rating value.

Which color is darker 5 or 6?

These levels are used to describe how dark or light your hair color is. Level 10 is the 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.

What do the numbers mean on Clairol hair dye?

Each base level indicates how light or dark the color is, with higher numbers being lighter shades.

What does 5 mean in hair color?

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 developer to use with 5N?

The volume of a developer has to do with color deposit or lift. If you are going to use 5N, than 20 volume is the optimal choice if you have some grey hair and or roots that you want to cover. However, if you have a a very minimal amount of grey strands, I suggest 10 percent volume.

What color is Clairol 6?

Clairol Nice'n Easy 6 Light Brown. Permanent natural looking color with 100% gray coverage.

What does V stand for in hair color?

But, some brands of hair color use letters instead of numbers: e. g. Matrix or Goldwell: /N – Natural. /A – Ash. /V – Violet. /R – Red.

How do I tell what level my hair is?

To figure out your natural level:
  1. Grab a section of your hair and hold it away from the rest of your hair. (Hair always looks darker when it's layered against other hair, so pulling a section out is more accurate.) ...
  2. Then, match what you see with the closest number on our chart above, and voilà! You've found your level.

What does M mean 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.

Is it better to dye your hair darker or lighter?

Darker hair is better at camouflaging damage— If your hair needs some TLC, going dark is a smart option. Darker color molecules naturally weigh down flyaways and seal split ends much better than blonde bleach, making hair look thicker and shinier.

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.

Which is lighter 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 color is N5?

N5 is the most commonly used shade of grey in the post production industry as it is approximately equivalent to middle grey (18% reflectance). This paint, combined with high quality bias lighting, helps to create an industry standard (ST2080-3, ITU-BT.

Is it better to go lighter or darker to cover gray hair?

Pick a lighter hair colour

A lighter colour will then look better. Your hair follicles produce less pigment as you're turning older. If there's no more pigment being produced in the hair follicles, your hair turns pigmentless.

What hair dye covers grey the longest?

L'Oreal Excellence Crème Resistant Gray hair color has patented 'Gray Seeking Dyes' that penetrate gray hair to deliver extra concentrated, long-lasting color that ensures coverage of the most resistant gray hair.

Why are hair dyes not recommended for grey hair?

According to hair biology experts and styling experts alike, grey hair is more resistant to color than younger hair because of its texture. The relative lack of natural oils in the hair compared to younger hair make it a rougher surface that tends to reject the color being applied, especially around the roots.

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