L'Oréal Professionnel INOA is one of the most requested hair colours in our salons, and the first question is almost always the same: "Which shade will suit me?" The INOA shade chart can look confusing, with numbers like 4, 5.3 or 6.45. Once you know how the numbers work, choosing becomes much easier. This guide explains the chart, the shades that tend to suit Indian skin tones, and what "ammonia free" really means.
What is INOA?
INOA is L'Oréal Professionnel's ammonia-free permanent hair colour. Instead of ammonia, it uses an oil-based system to carry the colour into the hair. In practice, our customers notice three things:
- No strong ammonia smell during the colour.
- A gentler feel on the scalp for most people.
- Soft, shiny hair afterwards, with good grey coverage.
It is still a permanent colour, so it lasts until it grows out, and like any hair colour it needs a skin patch test before use.
How to read the INOA shade chart
Every INOA shade has a number. Read it in two parts.
The number before the dot: how dark or light
This is the "level", from 1 (black) to 10 (lightest blonde):
| Level | Name |
|---|---|
| 1 | Black |
| 2 | Very dark brown |
| 3 | Dark brown |
| 4 | Brown |
| 5 | Light brown |
| 6 | Dark blonde |
| 7 | Blonde |
| 8 to 10 | Light to lightest blonde |
Most Indian hair is naturally level 1 to 3.
The numbers after the dot: the tone
These describe the colour "reflect", the tint you see in the light. The first number after the dot is the main tone; a second number is a softer, secondary tone.
- .1 ash (cool, smoky)
- .2 iridescent (soft violet)
- .3 gold (warm, honey)
- .4 copper (warm orange-brown)
- .5 mahogany (red-violet brown)
- .6 red
- .8 mocha (cocoa brown)
So a shade like 5.3 is a light brown with a golden tone, and 4.5 is a brown with a mahogany tone. A plain number such as 4 or 4.0 is a natural shade with no added tone.
Shades that suit Indian skin tones
Indian skin usually has warm or neutral undertones, which is why warm browns, golds, coppers and reds tend to look the most flattering. As a starting point:
Fair to wheatish skin
- Level 5 to 6 golden or copper browns (for example 5.3 or 6.4) add brightness without looking brassy.
- Soft mocha browns look rich and natural.
Wheatish to medium skin
- Level 4 to 5 mahogany or golden browns (4.5, 5.3) give warmth and shine.
- Chocolate and mocha are a safe, elegant choice for a first colour.
Medium to dusky skin
- Level 3 to 4 browns with red, mahogany or burgundy tones look stunning and catch the light beautifully.
- Very light, ashy shades can make the skin look dull, so we usually steer away from them.
These are guidelines, not rules. Your stylist will also look at your natural hair colour, how many greys you have, and your eye colour before suggesting a shade.
What INOA can and cannot do on dark hair
- On natural, uncoloured hair, a permanent colour can lift about one to three levels. Going from black (level 1 to 2) to a light brown is realistic; going to blonde is not, without highlights or lightening.
- Colour does not lift colour. If your hair is already coloured darker, putting a lighter colour on top will not make it lighter.
- Mehndi (henna) on the hair can change how the colour takes. Tell your stylist if you have used it.
INOA or Majirel?
Both are L'Oréal Professionnel permanent colours. INOA is ammonia free and gentler, which suits sensitive scalps and anyone who colours often. Majirel is the classic formula with excellent grey coverage at a lower price.
At Coolcut: INOA global colour ₹1,500 for women, ₹600 for men; INOA root touch-up ₹1,000 / ₹400. Majirel global colour ₹1,000 / ₹400. See all hair colour prices.
Prices at Rohini Sector 13, Rohini Sector 9, Vikaspuri and Munirka; Paschim Vihar prices may differ.
Making your INOA colour last
- Wait 48 to 72 hours before your first wash after colouring.
- Use a sulphate-free, colour-safe shampoo and rinse with cool water.
- Book a root touch-up every four to six weeks if you are covering greys.
- A hair spa once a month keeps coloured hair soft and shiny.
Frequently asked questions
Does INOA cover grey hair?
Yes. INOA is a permanent colour and covers greys well; your stylist chooses a shade and mix to suit how much grey you have.
Is INOA safe for sensitive scalps?
Many people with sensitive scalps find INOA more comfortable because it is ammonia free. Anyone can still be allergic to hair colour, so a patch test 48 hours before is important every time.
How long does INOA last?
It is permanent on the hair it colours. What you notice after four to six weeks is regrowth at the roots, which a root touch-up fixes.
Can men use INOA?
Yes, for both hair and beard. INOA beard colour is ₹800 at Coolcut.
Still unsure which shade is you? Bring a photo of a colour you like to your nearest Coolcut branch, and our L'Oréal-trained colourists will match it to your skin and hair.
