What does the level indicate when selecting color formulas?

• A. Level indicates lightness.
• B. Level indicates processing time.
• C. Level indicates warmth of tone.
• D. Level indicates porosity level.

Answer: (A)

Level tells you how light or dark the hair will be after processing. It’s the shade depth, usually shown on a scale from dark to light (for many brands, 1 is darkest and 10 is lightest). When you’re selecting color formulas, the level helps you target the desired lightness and determine how much lift or deposit the formula will provide. If the goal is to lighten several levels, you’d choose a formula with higher lift and often a stronger developer. This concept is separate from warmth of tone (the hue, like gold or ash) and porosity (how well the cuticle opens) and from processing time, which is how long you leave the product on.