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WE'VE GOT YOU COVERED
If you’ve never coloured your hair before, read below for a Hair Colour 101. You’ll get the lowdown on levels and tones, how to find the right hair colour shade, and tips for maintaining your new shade.
LEVELS
“Levels” refer to how dark or light the shade is. Level 1 refers to Black while level 11 refers to Extra Light Blonde. Most permanent hair colours only lift your hair 2-3 levels, while bleach can lighten strands up to 7-8 levels.
![Hair Color Needs New to Hair Color Content Bloc Shades1](/-/media/project/loreal/brand-sites/garnier/usa/ca/needs/hair_color/new_to_hair-color/hair-color-needs_new-to-hair-color_content-bloc_shades1.jpg?w=350&rev=-1&hash=2C409DAC19FCCCF6444061E6B823D960 350w,/-/media/project/loreal/brand-sites/garnier/usa/ca/needs/hair_color/new_to_hair-color/hair-color-needs_new-to-hair-color_content-bloc_shades1.jpg?w=400&rev=-1&hash=0F11DB7C713DD9FA01F588C62BA2F562 400w,/-/media/project/loreal/brand-sites/garnier/usa/ca/needs/hair_color/new_to_hair-color/hair-color-needs_new-to-hair-color_content-bloc_shades1.jpg?w=450&rev=-1&hash=0258E2D8BFA9388BAA15682A125780C4 450w,/-/media/project/loreal/brand-sites/garnier/usa/ca/needs/hair_color/new_to_hair-color/hair-color-needs_new-to-hair-color_content-bloc_shades1.jpg?w=500&rev=-1&hash=D77D47860FCFC6628643EB66FEEF8EED 500w,/-/media/project/loreal/brand-sites/garnier/usa/ca/needs/hair_color/new_to_hair-color/hair-color-needs_new-to-hair-color_content-bloc_shades1.jpg?w=550&rev=-1&hash=28E84960C99F7554AFC9E4E21301D202 550w,/-/media/project/loreal/brand-sites/garnier/usa/ca/needs/hair_color/new_to_hair-color/hair-color-needs_new-to-hair-color_content-bloc_shades1.jpg?w=600&rev=-1&hash=52319402D9CC90B73F47C6708C4B9B44 600w,/-/media/project/loreal/brand-sites/garnier/usa/ca/needs/hair_color/new_to_hair-color/hair-color-needs_new-to-hair-color_content-bloc_shades1.jpg?w=650&rev=-1&hash=CFDDB9AAEC159822C654FB70137221CE 650w,/-/media/project/loreal/brand-sites/garnier/usa/ca/needs/hair_color/new_to_hair-color/hair-color-needs_new-to-hair-color_content-bloc_shades1.jpg?w=700&rev=-1&hash=95093EE11D4CF7208E5D867FE088170A 700w,/-/media/project/loreal/brand-sites/garnier/usa/ca/needs/hair_color/new_to_hair-color/hair-color-needs_new-to-hair-color_content-bloc_shades1.jpg?w=767&rev=-1&hash=FF8C742FB2FD5021A720DE5ECE003FE6 767w,/-/media/project/loreal/brand-sites/garnier/usa/ca/needs/hair_color/new_to_hair-color/hair-color-needs_new-to-hair-color_content-bloc_shades1.jpg?w=800&rev=-1&hash=0959CD81D76EEEED052748DDDCC2211B 800w,/-/media/project/loreal/brand-sites/garnier/usa/ca/needs/hair_color/new_to_hair-color/hair-color-needs_new-to-hair-color_content-bloc_shades1.jpg?w=900&rev=-1&hash=522228F2095582AC7E6C38BB1A3790F3 900w,/-/media/project/loreal/brand-sites/garnier/usa/ca/needs/hair_color/new_to_hair-color/hair-color-needs_new-to-hair-color_content-bloc_shades1.jpg?w=950&rev=-1&hash=7CE75A54714255F90BE7B75DE839143F 950w)
Select Your Shade
For the most natural look with less maintenance, it is important to stay within 2 levels of your natural hair colour. The further you move away, the more dramatic your results will be, meaning your roots could be noticeable more quickly than if you had stayed closer to your natural hair colour. Nutrisse, Olia, and Colour Sensation are designed to lift your hair up to 2 levels so that you can go from a dark brown to a light brown or from a light brown to a blonde, for example, but not as far as a black to a blonde. For more dramatic change, look for our High Lift Brown shades or Blonde shades in Nutrisse Ultra Colour, our highlighting kits, and our Platinum kits.
Pro Tips
Before you buy your colour, always check the box to make sure the shade will give you the result you’re looking for. There are pictures on the side of the box with before and after results. Match the shade at your roots (not your ends) to the “before” picture and you can expect a colour result shown on the after side. Another pro tip? Once you colour your hair, another box of hair dye will not lighten your hair without bleach, so make sure you’re committed to that Black or Dark Brown before you take the plunge! If you’re debating between two shades, it may be best to try the one that is slightly lighter so that if you do decide you want to go darker, you can reapply later.
![Hair Color Needs New to Hair Color Content Bloc Pro Tips1](/-/media/project/loreal/brand-sites/garnier/usa/ca/needs/hair_color/new_to_hair-color/hair-color-needs_new-to-hair-color_content-bloc_pro-tips1.jpg?w=350&rev=-1&hash=937FBB2BD33F7965E3593DF2B29F593A 350w,/-/media/project/loreal/brand-sites/garnier/usa/ca/needs/hair_color/new_to_hair-color/hair-color-needs_new-to-hair-color_content-bloc_pro-tips1.jpg?w=400&rev=-1&hash=EF32190F0979127B501C83B9DE8881A4 400w,/-/media/project/loreal/brand-sites/garnier/usa/ca/needs/hair_color/new_to_hair-color/hair-color-needs_new-to-hair-color_content-bloc_pro-tips1.jpg?w=450&rev=-1&hash=DC9145F1B7FF6E52E776BBC935A2E0DD 450w,/-/media/project/loreal/brand-sites/garnier/usa/ca/needs/hair_color/new_to_hair-color/hair-color-needs_new-to-hair-color_content-bloc_pro-tips1.jpg?w=500&rev=-1&hash=C42F34FFCEB79637B0D2BCE855BE61B5 500w,/-/media/project/loreal/brand-sites/garnier/usa/ca/needs/hair_color/new_to_hair-color/hair-color-needs_new-to-hair-color_content-bloc_pro-tips1.jpg?w=550&rev=-1&hash=2ECA36EC4D3CD666052965180E2FDF3E 550w,/-/media/project/loreal/brand-sites/garnier/usa/ca/needs/hair_color/new_to_hair-color/hair-color-needs_new-to-hair-color_content-bloc_pro-tips1.jpg?w=600&rev=-1&hash=2053B6375C2C8EBA2E9D9B2B230F8E49 600w,/-/media/project/loreal/brand-sites/garnier/usa/ca/needs/hair_color/new_to_hair-color/hair-color-needs_new-to-hair-color_content-bloc_pro-tips1.jpg?w=650&rev=-1&hash=183398344C4B6665EB9B4027168D92C6 650w,/-/media/project/loreal/brand-sites/garnier/usa/ca/needs/hair_color/new_to_hair-color/hair-color-needs_new-to-hair-color_content-bloc_pro-tips1.jpg?w=700&rev=-1&hash=3CD7AE4AA5DD3D32DFE0A6CE09DE7BDD 700w,/-/media/project/loreal/brand-sites/garnier/usa/ca/needs/hair_color/new_to_hair-color/hair-color-needs_new-to-hair-color_content-bloc_pro-tips1.jpg?w=767&rev=-1&hash=548D6186744BC5734F65EE423B723FFD 767w,/-/media/project/loreal/brand-sites/garnier/usa/ca/needs/hair_color/new_to_hair-color/hair-color-needs_new-to-hair-color_content-bloc_pro-tips1.jpg?w=800&rev=-1&hash=5C6176A4C911B14FA5D61EBAD6180427 800w,/-/media/project/loreal/brand-sites/garnier/usa/ca/needs/hair_color/new_to_hair-color/hair-color-needs_new-to-hair-color_content-bloc_pro-tips1.jpg?w=900&rev=-1&hash=DF8E7D57D6E6DEBEBBB0FC4E96B71902 900w,/-/media/project/loreal/brand-sites/garnier/usa/ca/needs/hair_color/new_to_hair-color/hair-color-needs_new-to-hair-color_content-bloc_pro-tips1.jpg?w=950&rev=-1&hash=4B36183BBC0182FACE05033F412A0FE7 950w)
TONES
“Tones” are referred to as warm, cool, red, or natural. Picking the right tone is key to achieving the best shade for you.
![Hair Color Needs New to Hair Color Content Bloc Tones1](/-/media/project/loreal/brand-sites/garnier/usa/ca/needs/hair_color/new_to_hair-color/hair-color-needs_new-to-hair-color_content-bloc_tones1.jpg?w=350&rev=-1&hash=0FC3874B41ED651B1B7198EE2F462DFC 350w,/-/media/project/loreal/brand-sites/garnier/usa/ca/needs/hair_color/new_to_hair-color/hair-color-needs_new-to-hair-color_content-bloc_tones1.jpg?w=400&rev=-1&hash=C908FE6992B1A7581F89899CE9CC45AA 400w,/-/media/project/loreal/brand-sites/garnier/usa/ca/needs/hair_color/new_to_hair-color/hair-color-needs_new-to-hair-color_content-bloc_tones1.jpg?w=450&rev=-1&hash=F38A0AD3B317E8BF97EC8A030289CB04 450w,/-/media/project/loreal/brand-sites/garnier/usa/ca/needs/hair_color/new_to_hair-color/hair-color-needs_new-to-hair-color_content-bloc_tones1.jpg?w=500&rev=-1&hash=806A9485E54339A37E42E123DCFCECC3 500w,/-/media/project/loreal/brand-sites/garnier/usa/ca/needs/hair_color/new_to_hair-color/hair-color-needs_new-to-hair-color_content-bloc_tones1.jpg?w=550&rev=-1&hash=81C90019980BA6912C32057705A65C66 550w,/-/media/project/loreal/brand-sites/garnier/usa/ca/needs/hair_color/new_to_hair-color/hair-color-needs_new-to-hair-color_content-bloc_tones1.jpg?w=600&rev=-1&hash=32AA911FA2659E53CAF3F7C9889F319F 600w,/-/media/project/loreal/brand-sites/garnier/usa/ca/needs/hair_color/new_to_hair-color/hair-color-needs_new-to-hair-color_content-bloc_tones1.jpg?w=650&rev=-1&hash=93E22A4B9D8319F792D7BE8B41496BF1 650w,/-/media/project/loreal/brand-sites/garnier/usa/ca/needs/hair_color/new_to_hair-color/hair-color-needs_new-to-hair-color_content-bloc_tones1.jpg?w=700&rev=-1&hash=0227BC2A32D329805BE4FA32F23C96AE 700w,/-/media/project/loreal/brand-sites/garnier/usa/ca/needs/hair_color/new_to_hair-color/hair-color-needs_new-to-hair-color_content-bloc_tones1.jpg?w=767&rev=-1&hash=E315D40F6532DBD6C13F6218A458F5EE 767w,/-/media/project/loreal/brand-sites/garnier/usa/ca/needs/hair_color/new_to_hair-color/hair-color-needs_new-to-hair-color_content-bloc_tones1.jpg?w=800&rev=-1&hash=3510545D1865DC0A4C58B2660513C727 800w,/-/media/project/loreal/brand-sites/garnier/usa/ca/needs/hair_color/new_to_hair-color/hair-color-needs_new-to-hair-color_content-bloc_tones1.jpg?w=900&rev=-1&hash=C4C1A3DBA0038C2471E0E56C73189DD1 900w,/-/media/project/loreal/brand-sites/garnier/usa/ca/needs/hair_color/new_to_hair-color/hair-color-needs_new-to-hair-color_content-bloc_tones1.jpg?w=950&rev=-1&hash=60C66CC8CAF365B3630B3A405773B7EF 950w)
Select Your Tone
"Warm tones can brighten your entire look, while cool tones counteract brassiness, especially if you are lightening your hair. Red shades can be either cool or warm. “Mahogany,” “burgundy,” or “violet” are more on the cool side, whereas “copper” shades will be warmer. Natural or neutral tones are not too warm or too cool, and are easily identified by having no tone descriptor in the title, such as “dark brown.” Natural tones are a safe bet to provide the best gray coverage."
MAINTENANCE
How often you should refresh your colour depends on how fast your hair grows, how much gray you have, and how far from your natural colour you have dyed your hair.
![Hair Color Needs New to Hair Color Content Bloc Maintenance1](/-/media/project/loreal/brand-sites/garnier/usa/ca/needs/hair_color/new_to_hair-color/hair-color-needs_new-to-hair-color_content-bloc_maintenance1.jpg?w=350&rev=-1&hash=1AEBE9561B1931B68193058118045498 350w,/-/media/project/loreal/brand-sites/garnier/usa/ca/needs/hair_color/new_to_hair-color/hair-color-needs_new-to-hair-color_content-bloc_maintenance1.jpg?w=400&rev=-1&hash=11AC3AFFF9654AC51549DA7CFF0CA0FC 400w,/-/media/project/loreal/brand-sites/garnier/usa/ca/needs/hair_color/new_to_hair-color/hair-color-needs_new-to-hair-color_content-bloc_maintenance1.jpg?w=450&rev=-1&hash=322C4CE755C962277A302E7D59B39945 450w,/-/media/project/loreal/brand-sites/garnier/usa/ca/needs/hair_color/new_to_hair-color/hair-color-needs_new-to-hair-color_content-bloc_maintenance1.jpg?w=500&rev=-1&hash=85838DF19CEED92C5BF0A9057A94253E 500w,/-/media/project/loreal/brand-sites/garnier/usa/ca/needs/hair_color/new_to_hair-color/hair-color-needs_new-to-hair-color_content-bloc_maintenance1.jpg?w=550&rev=-1&hash=79F0ABC418A6C7BF2E2BEBF34D17A88F 550w,/-/media/project/loreal/brand-sites/garnier/usa/ca/needs/hair_color/new_to_hair-color/hair-color-needs_new-to-hair-color_content-bloc_maintenance1.jpg?w=600&rev=-1&hash=E767A4D6A6195F155AC59F8B608AD75B 600w,/-/media/project/loreal/brand-sites/garnier/usa/ca/needs/hair_color/new_to_hair-color/hair-color-needs_new-to-hair-color_content-bloc_maintenance1.jpg?w=650&rev=-1&hash=F75D7E2A587517A4ED096015B02D0BE3 650w,/-/media/project/loreal/brand-sites/garnier/usa/ca/needs/hair_color/new_to_hair-color/hair-color-needs_new-to-hair-color_content-bloc_maintenance1.jpg?w=700&rev=-1&hash=B1E182C68BD10BD1315A37A93209A24C 700w,/-/media/project/loreal/brand-sites/garnier/usa/ca/needs/hair_color/new_to_hair-color/hair-color-needs_new-to-hair-color_content-bloc_maintenance1.jpg?w=767&rev=-1&hash=3BE8DF50843B26DB96AE77BB9EB4DBAD 767w,/-/media/project/loreal/brand-sites/garnier/usa/ca/needs/hair_color/new_to_hair-color/hair-color-needs_new-to-hair-color_content-bloc_maintenance1.jpg?w=800&rev=-1&hash=745F70C47B556A66A5704BA769C131F5 800w,/-/media/project/loreal/brand-sites/garnier/usa/ca/needs/hair_color/new_to_hair-color/hair-color-needs_new-to-hair-color_content-bloc_maintenance1.jpg?w=900&rev=-1&hash=7E90D0A64525FDC7B2DFDEE1719802B2 900w,/-/media/project/loreal/brand-sites/garnier/usa/ca/needs/hair_color/new_to_hair-color/hair-color-needs_new-to-hair-color_content-bloc_maintenance1.jpg?w=950&rev=-1&hash=D4B9C3E5FF5561B0BFBD5D17FBBFBE73 950w)
Touch-Ups
Generally speaking, you’ll need to touch up your roots every 4-6 weeks. For an on-the-go, temporary root concealer, for those times in-between colouring, our Express Retouch can be used as needed. And don’t forget to use a shampoo and conditioner specifically formulated for colour treated hair. We love our Fructis Colour Shield, our Whole Blends Cranberry Blend, and our Fructis Colour Vibrancy 1 Minute Hair Mask with Goji Extract.