Where Level 6 Sits
Level 6 is a mid-depth shade on the 1–10 scale, where 1 is the darkest black and 10 the lightest blonde. Most charts call it dark blonde, though others call it light brown.
Lower numbers are darker, higher numbers are lighter, and some systems stretch the top of the scale with 10+, 11 and 12.
The name wobbles because level 6 sits where brown turns blonde. A common chart lists level 5 as light brown and level 6 as dark blonde, while L’Oreal Excellence Creme sells its number 6 as Light Brown.
Professional and drugstore lines don’t always share level numbers, so the 6 on a box is no guarantee of a true level 6.
What Level 6 Looks Like
Light brown is the shade most people picture at level 6, and it fills the box dye shelves.
The level also covers brighter medium reds, and medium auburn usually lands at 5 or 6. The level describes depth, not the final tone, so two level 6 boxes can read golden, ashy or coppery depending on the tone on the label.
Level 6 can flatter anyone whose natural level falls between 3 and 9. Which shade works for you depends on your undertone, natural level, eyebrow color and age.
Start with undertone. Your vein color, how your skin reacts to sun and whether gold or silver jewelry looks better on you all point warm or cool.
I’d also hold the swatch next to your brows, since a shade far from them tends to look pasted on.
Lift Between Levels
Subtract the target level from your current level to get the lift you need. Going from a level 7 to a level 10 takes 3 levels of lift.
Each option has a ceiling:
| Method | Lift per sitting |
|---|---|
| Dye | 1–2 levels |
| 20 Vol with color | 1–2 levels |
| 30 Vol with color | 2–3 levels at most |
| Bleach | 3–4 levels |
Past 30 Vol, the answer changes.
For more lift than that you are going to need to use either a high lift color or a bleach.
That 7 to 10 jump calls for bleach or a high lift color. Bleach is hard on hair, and already bleached hair should wait 4–6 weeks before another round.
Red and Orange Tones
Warm tones are reds, oranges and golds, and level 6 leans toward them.
Cool tones are blue, green and purple, and a toner uses those to cancel brass. Brunette level 6 can drift red or copper, while bleached hair passes through orange, yellow-orange, yellow and pale yellow.
| Unwanted tone | Neutralizer | Example |
|---|---|---|
| Red or copper | Green or blue corrective tone, or a color-depositing product | n/a |
| Orange | Blue/green (ash) | Ash Grey Additive |
| Yellow-orange, yellow | Blue | 6.1b–10.1b toners, Ash Blue Additive |
| Pale yellow | Purple | n/a |
For orange, add Ash Grey Additive to your mix. It cancels the orange and leaves an even brown.
Find Your Level
- Look at a small section of hair in natural light. Owners on Reddit point out that the same hair can read as a level 5 in one lighting setup and a level 6 in another, so bright daylight is the safest place to check.
- Take a photo of that section in the same light.
- Hold the photo against a level chart and pick the closest swatch.
- If two swatches look alike, convert both the photo and the chart to black and white. Depth is easier to judge once tone drops out.
- Check your number against the chart’s own names. One breakdown calls level 5 light brown and level 6 dark blond, but charts label levels differently, so I trust the name and number together.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is level 6 blonde or brunette?
Level 6 sits right where brown turns blonde, so the name shifts by brand. Most professional charts call it dark blonde, while many drugstore boxes label the same depth as light brown.
What are the hair levels?
Hair levels are a numbering system for depth, running from 1 (darkest black) to 10 (lightest blonde). Lower numbers are darker, higher numbers are lighter, and some charts extend the scale with 10+, 11 and 12.
How do you find your hair level?
Check a small section in bright daylight, photograph it in the same light, then hold the photo against a level chart and pick the closest match.
If two swatches look alike, convert both photo and chart to black and white so depth is easier to judge without the distraction of tone.
How many levels do I need to lift my hair by?
Subtract your target level from your current level. If you’re at level 7 and want level 10, you need 3 levels of lift.
How many levels can I lift with color?
Dye or 20 Vol with color lifts 1 to 2 levels per sitting, and 30 Vol with color lifts 2 to 3 levels at most. Past that ceiling you need bleach or high lift color, which can manage 3 to 4 levels.
