Assessment of base color influence on the chromatic appearance of hair colorants

Abstract

Hair colorants of the so-called ‘series of naturals’, a scale of ten colors ranging from deep black to light blonde, are universally recognized as a reference basis for hair coloring procedures. However, it is frequently observed that application results are heavily dependent both in tone and in nuance on the underlying hair pigmentation. We hereby assess the chromatic appearance of a selection of globally marketed series of naturals, both on animal fur and on human dyed hair. Notably, the latter are chosen so to span a consistent range of melanin base, with a varying degree of interlaced depigmented strands. The analysis is carried out by means of a perceptual test based on the Munsell Book of Color, aimed at assessing the perceived tone and nuance with a special focus on the linearity of the scaling.