Find Your Perfect Smart Beauty Shade 💜
Choosing the right hair colour doesn't have to be difficult. Whether you're covering grey, refreshing your current shade or trying something completely new, we're here to help you achieve beautiful, salon-quality results at home.
If you already know the type of colour you're looking for, you can browse our <a href="/collections/permanent-hair-colour">Permanent Hair Colour Collection</a>.
Start with Your Current Hair Colour
The most important factor when choosing a new hair colour is your current hair colour, not the colour you would like to achieve.
Permanent hair colour works by adding or changing pigment, so your starting shade will always influence the final result.
If your hair has previously been coloured, this will also affect the outcome.
Covering Grey Hair
If your goal is to cover grey hair, choose a shade that is close to your natural hair colour for the most even, natural-looking result.
Our permanent hair colour range provides up to 100% grey coverage when used as directed.
For hair that is more than 50% grey, we generally recommend selecting a natural-looking shade rather than an intense fashion colour.
Browse our to find the best shade for complete grey coverage.
Going Darker
Going darker is usually straightforward.
You can normally colour your hair several shades darker in one application while achieving rich, vibrant, long-lasting colour.
Popular choices include:
- <a href="/collections/black-hair-dye">Black Hair Dye</a>
- <a href="/collections/brown-hair-dye">Brown Hair Dye</a>
- <a href="/collections/red-hair-dye">Red Hair Dye</a>
Going Lighter
Hair colour cannot significantly lighten hair that has previously been coloured.
If you're looking for a dramatic colour change, you'll usually need to lighten your hair first before applying your chosen shade.
Browse our <a href="/collections/hair-bleach-lighteners">Hair Bleach & Lighteners</a> before colouring blonde or vibrant fashion shades.
Colouring Previously Dyed Hair
Previously coloured hair behaves differently from natural hair.
Existing colour pigments may affect your final result, particularly if you've previously used:
- Black hair dye
- Dark brown shades
- Red hair dye
- Henna
- Colour-depositing shampoos or conditioners
If you're unsure, perform a strand test before colouring your whole head.
Choosing Blonde Hair Colours
Blonde results depend greatly on your starting colour.
Generally:
- Dark hair often requires lightening first.
- Light brown hair usually achieves warmer blonde shades.
- Pre-lightened hair produces the brightest blonde results.
If your hair has unwanted yellow or orange tones, ash blonde shades can help neutralise brassiness.
Explore our:
- <a href="/collections/blonde-hair-dye">Blonde Hair Dye Collection</a>
- <a href="/collections/hair-bleach-lighteners">Hair Bleach & Lighteners</a>
Choosing Fashion Colours
Bright shades such as purple, red, blue and plum achieve their best results on lighter hair.
The lighter your starting shade, the more vibrant your finished colour will be.
Explore our most popular collections:
- <a href="/collections/purple-hair-dye">Purple Hair Dye</a>
- <a href="/collections/red-hair-dye">Red Hair Dye</a>
- <a href="/collections/blue-hair-dye">Blue Hair Dye</a>
How Many Packs Will I Need?
As a general guide:
Hair LengthPacks RequiredShort Hair1 PackShoulder-Length Hair1–2 PacksLong Hair2 PacksVery Long or Thick Hair2–3 Packs
Using enough product helps ensure even colour coverage from roots to ends.
Always Perform a Patch Test
Before using any hair colour, always complete a skin allergy test 48 hours before every application, even if you've coloured your hair before.
Hair colour ingredients can cause allergic reactions, which may develop over time.
Always read the instructions included with your Smart Beauty Hair Colour before use.
We Also Recommend a Strand Test
A strand test allows you to:
- Preview your final colour.
- Check processing time.
- Understand how your hair responds.
- Colour with confidence.
It's especially important if your hair has previously been coloured, bleached or chemically treated.
Still Not Sure Which Shade to Choose?
We're here to help.
Simply <a href="/pages/contact-us">Contact Us</a> and include:
- A recent photo of your current hair in natural daylight.
- A photo of the colour you'd like to achieve (if possible).
- Whether your hair has been coloured before.
- Approximately how much grey hair you have.
- Whether you've recently bleached or highlighted your hair.
Our Customer Care Team will recommend the most suitable Smart Beauty shade for your hair.
Why Choose Smart Beauty?
Every Smart Beauty permanent hair colour is carefully developed to deliver salon-quality results at home.
Our permanent hair colours feature:
- Up to 100% grey coverage
- Smart Plex Technology built directly into the colour cream to help strengthen and protect your hair while colouring
- Rich, long-lasting colour
- Vegan-friendly formulas
- Cruelty-free products
- Easy-to-follow instructions
Browse our complete <a href="/collections/permanent-hair-colour">Permanent Hair Colour Collection</a> to find your perfect shade.
Helpful Resources
You may also find these guides useful before colouring your hair:
- <a href="/pages/hair-colour-faqs">Frequently Asked Questions</a>
- <a href="/pages/track-your-order">Track Your Order</a>
- <a href="/pages/contact-us">Contact Us</a>
- <a href="/blogs/hair-colour-advice">Hair Colour Advice & Inspiration</a>
Colour with Confidence 💜
At Smart Beauty, we're passionate about helping you achieve beautiful, salon-quality hair colour from the comfort of your own home.
If you're ever unsure which shade is right for you, simply get in touch. Our friendly Customer Care Team is always happy to help you find your perfect match.