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Hair color level chart: professional visual guide

Explore all 10 levels of the universal color system with real brand examples, reflect families and underlying pigments.

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Educational guide

How the 10-level system works

The 10-level hair color system is the universal standard in professional colorimetry. It ranges from 1 (black) to 10 (extra light blonde), measuring how light or dark the hair is.

Each level has an underlying pigment that is revealed when lightening. This natural progression goes from dark red (low levels) to pale yellow (high levels):

1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
Dark red Orange Pale yellow

Understanding the underlying pigment is essential to predict how hair will react when applying color. Without this knowledge, you risk unwanted results: orange on brunettes, yellow on blondes, or dull colors.

Blonde hair color chart: levels 7 to 10

Blonde levels (7 to 10) are the most requested in the salon and where colorimetry becomes most critical. The underlying pigment transitions from orange-yellow (level 7) to pale yellow (level 10).

Level 7 - Medium blonde

Pigment: Orange-yellow

Neutralize with: Violet

Level 8 - Light blonde

Pigment: Yellow

Neutralize with: Violet

Level 9 - Very light blonde

Pigment: Light yellow

Neutralize with: Light violet

Level 10 - Extra light blonde

Pigment: Pale yellow

Neutralize with: Pale violet

To achieve cool blondes, ash tones or platinum, it's essential to neutralize the warm pigment using the right corrector or toner. Check our toner selector for a personalized recommendation.

Brown hair color chart: levels 3 to 6

Brown levels (3 to 6) represent the majority of natural hair colors. Their underlying pigment ranges from dark red (level 3) to orange (level 6), which explains why bleaching brown hair reveals coppery and orange tones.

Level 3 - Dark brown

Pigment: Dark red

Neutralize with: Green (matte base)

Level 4 - Medium brown

Pigment: Red

Neutralize with: Green-ash

Level 5 - Light brown

Pigment: Red-orange

Neutralize with: Ash

Level 6 - Dark blonde

Pigment: Orange

Neutralize with: Blue-ash

To darken a brown level, use 10 vol (3%). To lighten 1-2 levels within the brown range, 20 vol (6%) is sufficient. Greater lifts require pre-lightening with bleach.

Reflect families: what .0, .1, .3 mean

The number after the dot or slash in hair color numbering indicates the reflect family. This code determines the visual hue of the final color:

Code Family Description Example
.0NaturalNo additional reflect, pure tone7/0 = Medium natural blonde
.1AshBlue base, cool tones7/1 = Medium ash blonde
.2VioletViolet base, iridescent9/2 = Very light violet blonde
.3GoldenYellow base, warm tones7/3 = Medium golden blonde
.4CopperOrange base, warm tones6/4 = Dark copper blonde
.5MahoganyRed-violet, warm depth5/5 = Light mahogany brown
.6RedRed base, maximum intensity6/6 = Dark intense red blonde
.7MatteGreen base, neutralizes red6/7 = Dark matte blonde

Important: Exact naming varies between brands. Schwarzkopf, for example, inverts some codes. Use our brand converter for exact translations.

We answer your questions

Questions about hair color levels

Everything you need to know about the level system

The first number indicates the lightness level (1 = black, 10 = extra light blonde). The second number after the slash or dot indicates the primary reflect (1 = ash, 3 = golden, 4 = copper, etc.). For example, 7/1 = medium ash blonde.
The level measures how light or dark the hair is on a scale of 1 to 10. The tone (or reflect) is the visible color hue: ash, golden, copper, etc. The same level can have different tones: a 7/1 (ash) and a 7/3 (golden) are equally light but with different colors.
The underlying pigment is the natural warm color that appears when lightening hair. Each level has a different one: levels 1-4 reveal red, levels 5-6 reveal orange, and levels 7-10 reveal yellow. Knowing it is essential to predict results and choose the right corrector.
Compare hair to a professional color chart under natural light. Look at the mid-lengths (not roots or ends). Jet black = level 1-2, brown = levels 3-5, dark blonde = 6, medium blonde = 7, and light blondes = 8-10. If unsure, a color professional can determine it accurately.
With permanent color: up to 2-3 levels. With bleach: up to 4-7 levels depending on the product and hair condition. Lightening more than 4 levels with permanent color is not recommended. For greater lifts, always use bleach in gradual steps to preserve hair integrity.
10 vol (3%): color deposit, toner, gray coverage. 20 vol (6%): 1-2 levels of lift, standard permanent color. 30 vol (9%): 2-3 levels, highlights and balayage. 40 vol (12%): maximum lift, use with caution and only on healthy hair.
The 10-level system is universal, but the reflect naming varies between brands. For example, .1 is ash in most brands, but Schwarzkopf uses .2 for ash. The base scale is the same: 1 (black) to 10 (extra light blonde). Check our brand converter tool to convert between brands.
Orange is neutralized with its complementary color: blue. Use an ash tone (.1) or blue-ash. If the orange is intense (level 5-6), you'll need a strong ash base. If it's orange-yellow (level 7), a medium ash or violet-ash works better. Check our toner selector for a personalized recommendation.

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