What is the hair depth level?

Author: Veronica Mraz  |  Last update: Thursday, September 4, 2025

Hair levels are a numbering system representing the depth of color — darker or lighter — your hair is. Color levels go from dark to light, with Level 1 as the darkest black and Level 10 as the lightest blonde, what you may think of as platinum blonde.

What is the depth of hair?

Depth refers to the lightness or darkness of your hair. Lower level shades, often your natural base color, creates a varied appearance of shadowing also known as depth and can be used to create the appearance of it.

What is the difference between a 20/30 and 40 developer?

A 10 Volume developer provides minimal lift, perfect for depositing color. A 20 Volume developer lifts hair by 1-2 levels, while a 30 Volume developer lifts by 2-3 levels. A 40 Volume developer offers the most significant lift, up to 8 levels, for dramatic color changes.

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 is the average depth of a hair follicle?

Results: The mean length of a scalp hair follicle is 4.16 mm. The infundibulum measures 0.76 mm, the isthmus 0.89 mm, and the inferior portion 2.5 mm. The insertion of the arrector pili muscle is located 1.65 mm deep. CK15 immunoreactivity starts at a depth of 1 mm and extends down to 1.8 mm.

hair color levels & tones explained | 2024

How deep does your hair go into your head?

Humans have about 90,000 - 100,000 of these on the scalp. Individuals with hair loss have less. All of the machinery to make a hair lies below the scalp surface. Hairs typically extend 4-7 mm below the surface.

Does thick hair mean more follicles?

Hair density refers to the number of follicles on your scalp, while hair thickness measures the width of each strand—these are distinct characteristics,to check hair density, examine your scalp in the mirror; if your scalp is hard to see, you likely have dense hair.

What color is level 7 hair?

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.

How do you know if your hair is high or low density?

Try the ponytail test: If your hair is long enough, tie it into a ponytail and measure its circumference. A measurement of less than 2 inches indicates low-density hair. Between 2-3 inches implies medium-density hair. Four or more inches indicates you have high-density hair.

How many levels can hair lift in one session?

“It all depends on how light you want to go and what was previously done to the hair,” says Pearl. “On virgin hair, you can most likely lift up to seven levels [in one session]. This can become harder on a darker level hair.”

What happens if I use 20 developer instead of 30?

Either would work. A 30 developer just processes faster. At the salon I was able to bleach my cousins deep dark hair blonde using a 20 developer, it just takes longer you just have to make sure it doesn't dry out and it should be fine. 20 developer works slower so it's easier to get an evenly bleached.

What developer to use to go darker?

However, you can get away with using a lower volume developer, such as a 10-volume developer, to achieve a darker shade than your natural color.

What happens if you put developer in your hair by itself?

But we don't recommend that you apply just developer to the hair. You will get an uncontrolled lift, without any re-coloration and you will end up damaging the hair. Always use developer combined with bleach or color or toner. Never by itself.

What is the 2 inch hair rule?

A brief summary of the 2.25-inch rule: Grab a ruler and a pencil. Place the pencil horizontally under your chin and the ruler vertically at your earlobe (see the image above). If the pencil and the ruler meet at a point less than 2.25 inches from your ear, chop away.

How do I give my hair depth?

This is done by keeping the roots darker than the ends. Layering different shades of light and dark will give the illusion of depth, or volume, letting your hair appear thicker. And finally, colorists use a lighter color in the area where light would naturally hit your style to create a permanent glossy look.

What color neutralizes orange?

The key to fixing orange hair is usually to neutralise the orange with its opposite colour – blue.

Does anything really make hair thicker?

While there is no way to change the texture of the hair follicles, there are many ways to make the hair appear thicker and reduce breakage and hair loss, such as eating a nutritious diet and scalp massage. Thin or thinning hair is common and can affect anyone.

Which vitamin is good for hair?

Ans: The best vitamins for a good hair care experience are Vitamin B12, Vitamin C, Vitamin D, and Vitamin E. They should be ably supported with other nutrients and minerals like Zinc, Biotin, Iron, and Keratin for the best results.

Which hair density is best?

For a natural look we recommend choosing a density that is close to your own. Medium density is the average choice. It is generally better to have more hair than less because you can always thin it out. You will also have more hair to accommodate for normal shedding from daily grooming.

How do I know what level my hair is?

What Level Is My Hair?
  1. Level 1: Black.
  2. Level 2: Darkest Brown.
  3. Level 3: Dark Brown.
  4. Level 4: Medium Brown.
  5. Level 5: Light Brown.
  6. Level 6: Dark Blonde.
  7. Level 7: Medium Blonde.
  8. Level 8: Blonde.

What does depth mean in hair color?

Depth. The numbers on a hair colour shade chart represent the depth and tone of the colour. Anything that appears before the decimal point is the depth (how light or dark a colour is).

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 is the ponytail test for hair density?

The ponytail test: Pull up your dry hair into a ponytail, then loop it with a piece of ribbon to measure the circumference of your 'do. Place the ribbon next to a ruler. If it's less than two inches, you likely have low-density hair, and if it's more than four inches, your hair is on the denser side.

Can I increase my hair density?

Massaging the scalp with a nourishing hair oil promotes blood flow and improves hair density. Its effect can be improved with a diet rich in Protein, Vitamin D, Folic Acid, Zinc, and Iron improves hair density.

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