The language of colour

Confused about colour terms? Don’t be! We want you to be excited about choosing your new L’Oréal Professionnel colour, not baffled by names and techniques, so we’ve created this simple colour glossary to help.

Colour Products

Getting to know more about colour and what it can do for you is right at the heart of Colour Uncovered.

The great news is that at L’Oréal Professionnel we have something to suit everyone’s needs.

But if you’re unsure of some of the treatments and terms we use, read our glossary of terms.

Temporary: Also known as: Natural, shine, blend, camouflage

Slightly modifies/enhances colour by adding tone and shine. Lasts 1 shampoo. Cannot lighten hair.
Direct semi-permanent: Also known as: Vegetable, organic, conditioning, direct, semi, natural, shine, blend, camouflage

Adds shine, colour and depth to natural or coloured hair. Also available in a clear, high gloss version. Blends and colours up to 30% of white hair. Lasts up to 10 shampoos. Cannot lighten hair.

Ask for L’Oréal Professionnel Symbio
Tone on Tone: Also known as: Quasi, mildly oxidising, glossing, shine colour, cosmetic colour

Shine enhancing, low commitment, often ammonia-free colour used to darken or add reflects to the hair. Blends to leave no visible regrowth. Cannot lighten hair.

Ask for L’Oréal Professionnel Richesse de Diacolor or Diacolor Gelée

Demi Permanent: Also known as: Quasi, mildly oxidising, demi, glossing, shine colour, cosmetic colour

This often ammonia-free colour gives shimmering results, for a high shine effect. Long lasting and gradually fading to leave a tonal re-growth. Will lighten your hair.

Ask for L’Oréal Professionnel Hi.Richesse.
Permanent: Also known as: Dye, tint, cosmetic, colour, oxidation colour, professional colour, global colour, crème colour

To achieve long-lasting results this oxidative permanent hair colour has cosmetic ingredients. Results are permanent. Can noticeably lighten or darken your hair.

Ask for L’Oréal Professionnel Majirel, Luocolor or Color Suprême
Pre-lighteners: Also known as: Bleach, lightening crème

If you have dark hair and want to go blonde, you will need to use a pre-lightener to lighten your natural pigment.

Ask for L’Oréal Professionnel Platinium Plus or Majimèches Double Crème

Colour Techniques

Highlights: One of the most popular hair treatments where fine sections of your hair are lightened to provide contrast and stand-out.
Lowlights: Fine sections of your hair are darkened, or reflects are added.
Underlights: Colour is applied around the perimeter of the hair to create strength or softness.
Partial Techniques: Parts of the hair are coloured, often with more than one shade, to create effects.

Block: Back to back slices of hair are coloured for bold colour placement.
Global Coverage: The whole head of hair is covered.
Slices/Meches: This refers to (thin) slices of your hair which are separated from the rest of your hair and coloured.
Pieces: This refers to random pieces of your hair of varying shapes and size which are isolated from the rest of your hair and coloured.