Redken Shades EQ Toner Guide: Color Chart, Shades & Formulas

Redken Shades EQ is an acidic, ammonia-free demi-permanent gloss used to tone, refresh and deepen color in the salon. It deposits color and never lifts, so the shade you choose depends on your starting level and the tone you want to add or cancel. This guide lists the Shades EQ chart level by level, explains how to read every code, and shows how to mix and convert shades.

Quick facts

Topic	Answer
Type	Acidic, ammonia-free demi-permanent gloss
Lift	None (deposit only)
Levels	01-010 (black to extra light blonde)
Standard mix	1:1 with Shades EQ Processing Solution (or Gloss to Cream Developer)
Dilution	Mix with Crystal Clear (000) to soften intensity
Code format	Level number + tone letters, e.g. 09VRo

Choose the line to see its full chart

Shades EQ is sold as several lines that share the same code system. Pick the one you use, then scroll to your level.

Line	What it is	Best for
Shades EQ Gloss	The core demi-permanent toner and gloss range	Toning, refreshing, filling, root shadowing
Shades EQ with Bonder Inside	Gloss range with bond-protecting technology	Toning fragile or lightened hair
Shades EQ Pastel	Soft, light fashion shades	Pastel and sheer fashion results
Crystal Clear 000	Unpigmented gloss	Diluting shades, adding shine

Redken Shade Level 1 — Black

Level 1 is the darkest depth. There are very few Shades EQ options here, because toning is rarely needed at this level.

Code	Shade name	Tone
01B (01Bn)	Onyx	Blue-black

Use it to: add cool, glossy depth to black or very dark bases.

Redken Shade Level 2 — Very dark brown

Code	Shade name	Tone
02M	Midnight Ash	Cool ash-dark

Use it to: cool down the red cast on very dark hair and add shine.

Redken Shade Level 3 — Dark brown

Code	Shade name	Tone
03N	Espresso	Natural
03NB	Mocha Java	Neutral beige brown
03NW	Cocoa Bean	Natural warm
03G	Cinnamon	Gold
03RB	Mahogany	Red-brown
03RV	Merlot	Red-violet
03V	Orchid	Violet
03A	Terracotta	Auburn
03R	Roxy Red	Red

Use it to: enrich dark brunettes with chocolate, mahogany or burgundy depth.

Redken Shade Level 4 — Medium brown

Code	Shade name	Tone
04N	Chicory	Natural
04NB	Maple	Neutral beige brown
04NA	Storm Cloud	Natural ash
04WG	Sun Tea	Warm gold
04RV	Cabernet	Red-violet
04VRo	Violet Rose	Violet rose
04ABn	Dark Roast	Ash brown
04M	Smoked Cedar	Smoky brown

Use it to: neutralize red-orange in medium brown hair or add reflective warmth.

Redken Shade Level 5 — Light brown

Code	Shade name	Tone
05N	Walnut	Natural
05NA	Smoke	Natural ash
05NW	Macchiato	Natural warm
05G	Caramel	Gold
05CB	Brownstone	Copper brown
05C	Chili	Copper
05RV	Sangria	Red-violet
05RB	Manzanita	Red-brown
05CC	Electric Shock	Intense copper

Use it to: tone light brown bases, add caramel warmth or deepen copper.

Redken Shade Level 6 — Dark blonde

Level 6 has the widest selection on the chart. It is the level where orange pigment shows, so many shades here work to neutralize or enhance it.

Code	Shade name	Tone
06N	Moroccan Sand	Natural
06NA	Granite	Natural ash
06NB	Brandy	Neutral beige
06T	Iron	Titanium (silver-blue)
06VB	Violet Lagoon	Violet-blue
06GN	Moss	Green / matte
06GB	Toffee	Gold beige
06G	St. Tropez	Gold
06GG	Midas Touch	Intense gold
06GI	Tenerife	Gold iridescent
06WG	Mango	Warm gold
06AA	Bonfire	Auburn
06CB	Amber Glaze	Copper brown
06CR	Sunset	Copper red
06RB	Cherry Cola	Red-brown
06R	Rocket Fire	Red
06RR	Blaze	Intense red
06VRo	Mauve Rose	Violet rose

Use it to: neutralize orange, build shadow roots or add a rose or copper tone.

Redken Shade Level 7 — Medium blonde

Code	Shade name	Tone
07N	Mirage	Natural
07NA	Pewter	Natural ash
07NB	Chestnut	Neutral beige
07NW	Milk Tea	Natural warm
07T	Steel	Titanium
07P	Mother of Pearl	Pearl
07V	Crushed Amethyst	Violet
07VB	Violet Star	Violet-blue
07G	Saffron	Gold
07GB	Butterscotch	Gold beige
07C	Curry	Copper
07CB	Spicestone	Copper brown
07CC	Urban Fever	Intense copper
07RR	Flame	Intense red

Use it to: balance orange-gold in medium blondes, add pearl, or warm up a level 7 base.

Redken Shade Level 8 — Light blonde

Code	Shade name	Tone
08N	Mojave	Natural
08NA	Volcanic	Natural ash
08T	Silver	Titanium
08GN	Ivy	Green / matte
08V	Iridescent Quartz	Violet
08VB	Violet Frost	Violet-blue
08VG	Gilded Taupe	Violet gold
08VRo	Rose Quartz	Violet rose
08GI	St. Barths	Gold iridescent
08GG	Gold Dip	Intense gold
08WG	Golden Apricot	Warm gold
08C	Cayenne	Copper
08CR	Sunrise	Copper red

Use it to: cancel yellow-orange and give light blondes a soft cool, rosy or golden finish.

Redken Shade Level 9 — Very light blonde

Level 9 is the most popular range for toning lightened hair.

Code	Shade name	Tone
09N	Cafe au Lait	Natural
09NA	Mist	Natural ash
09NB	Irish Creme	Neutral beige
09NW	Cream Soda	Natural warm
09B	Sterling	Blue (silver)
09T	Chrome	Titanium
09P	Opal Glow	Pearl
09V	Platinum Ice	Violet
09VRo	Rosé	Violet rose
09GB	Butter Cream	Gold beige
09G	Vanilla Creme	Gold
09GI	Hamptons	Gold iridescent
09AA	Papaya	Auburn
09RB	Blush	Red-brown / soft pink
09M	Sand Dunes	Sandy neutral

Use it to: neutralize yellow on pre-lightened hair and finish a blonde with a clean, creamy or cool tone.

Redken Shade Level 10 — Extra light blonde

Level 10 shades hold the least pigment, so they give the lightest, sheerest deposit.

Code	Shade name	Tone
010N	Delicate Natural	Natural
010T	Platinum	Titanium
010P	Ivory Pearl	Pearl
010NP	Pearlescent Luster	Natural pearl
010NV	Iconic Lilac	Natural violet
010VV	Lavender Ice	Strong violet
010VG	Baby	Violet gold
010GI	Tahitian Sand	Gold iridescent

Use it to: finish platinum and very pale blondes without over-toning.

Found the shade on this chart? The app turns it into a formula.

Once you have a code, you still need the mix. Enter the shade you picked, and the app turns it into a ready-to-use formula for your starting base: tone, ratio and processing guidance.

Starter mixing guide

Item	Standard
Developer	Shades EQ Processing Solution (or Gloss to Cream Developer)
Ratio	1:1 color to processing solution
Full-strength example	60 ml Shades EQ
Minimal dilution	45 ml Shades EQ + 15 ml Crystal Clear
Moderate dilution	30 ml Shades EQ + 30 ml Crystal Clear
Maximum dilution	15 ml Shades EQ + 45 ml Crystal Clear
Application	Bowl and brush, or bottle

Example starting points (toning)

Starting hair	Goal	Shade to consider
Pale yellow blonde (level 9-10)	Cool, clean blonde	09V Platinum Ice or 010T Platinum
Yellow-gold blonde (level 8-9)	Neutral creamy blonde	09NB Irish Creme
Orange-gold blonde (level 7)	Neutral beige	07N Mirage or 07NB Chestnut
Brassy light brown (level 5-6)	Cool smoky brown	05NA Smoke or 06NA Granite
Level 6 with warmth	Soft rosy tone	06VRo Mauve Rose

These are starting points. Adjust for porosity, starting level and desired intensity, and strand test before the full service.

Redken Shades EQ numbering system

Every code has two parts: the level, then the tone letters.

Example: 09VRo = level 9 (09) + Violet Rose (VRo)

• The first digits are the level. Levels 1-9 are written 01-09, and level 10 is written 010.
• The letters show the tone family. The first letter is the dominant tone and the second letter is the secondary tone.

Letter	Tone family	What it does
N	Natural	Neutral, balanced result
NA	Natural Ash	Cools and tones down warmth
NB	Neutral Beige	Soft beige, neutral blonde and shadow roots
NW	Natural Warm	Adds warmth, balances excess ash
NCh	Natural Chocolate	Rich neutral chocolate
NP	Natural Pearl	Soft pearl on pale blonde
NV	Natural Violet	Gentle violet neutralizing
T	Titanium	Silver-blue metallic cool
B	Blue	Cool, blue-silver
V / VV	Violet / strong violet	Neutralizes yellow
VB	Violet Blue	Cools yellow-orange
VG	Violet Gold	Balanced violet and gold
VRo	Violet Rose	Rose, mauve tones
P	Pearl	Pearly, soft, luminous
G	Gold	Warm gold
GB	Gold Beige	Buttery, soft gold
GG	Gold Gold	Strong gold
GI	Gold Iridescent	Dimensional shimmer
GN	Green / matte	Cancels red
WG	Warm Gold	Rich warm gold
C / CB / CC	Copper / Copper Brown / Copper Copper	Copper warmth
CR	Copper Red	Copper to red
A / AA	Auburn	Warm auburn
R / RR	Red / strong red	Red
RB / RV	Red Brown / Red Violet	Mahogany and burgundy
Ro	Rose	Pink-rose reflect

Shades EQ Gloss equivalents in other brands

Matching a Shades EQ toner in another line works best by level and tone, not by code. Use this table to find the direction, then check the other brand’s chart.

Shades EQ tone	Tone goal	Wella convention	L’Oréal convention
N	Natural	/0	.0
NA / T	Ash, silver	/1	.1
NW / G / GB	Warm, gold	/3	.3
C / CB	Copper	/4	.4
R / RB	Red, mahogany	/5	.5 / .6
V / VV / VRo	Violet, rose	/6	.2
P / NP	Pearl	/8	.2

Related lines commonly compared with Shades EQ: Wella Color Touch, Schwarzkopf Igora Vibrance and L’Oréal Dia Light / Dia Color. Numbering and depth differ by brand, so treat the match as a starting formula and test it.

Need this shade in another brand?

Enter your Shades EQ code and the app finds the closest match in another demi-permanent line and gives you a formula for it. Use it when your salon stocks a different brand, or when a shade is discontinued.

Redken Shades EQ Color Chart

Level	Name	Typical underlying pigment	Shades EQ tone families to use
01	Black	Dark red-blue	B
02	Very dark brown	Dark red	M
03	Dark brown	Red	N, NB, NW, G, RB, RV, V, A, R
04	Medium brown	Red-orange	N, NB, NA, WG, RV, VRo, ABn, M
05	Light brown	Red-orange	N, NA, NW, G, CB, C, RV, RB, CC
06	Dark blonde	Orange	N, NA, NB, T, VB, GN, GB, G, GG, GI, WG, AA, CB, CR, RB, R, RR, VRo
07	Medium blonde	Orange-gold	N, NA, NB, NW, T, P, V, VB, G, GB, C, CB, CC, RR
08	Light blonde	Yellow-orange	N, NA, T, GN, V, VB, VG, VRo, GI, GG, WG, C, CR
09	Very light blonde	Yellow	N, NA, NB, NW, B, T, P, V, VRo, GB, G, GI, AA, RB, M
010	Extra light blonde	Pale yellow	N, T, P, NP, NV, VV, VG, GI

Do you know your chart?

Test yourself with three common Shades EQ questions.

Which code is “Mauve Rose”?

06VRo. It is a level 6 shade in the Violet Rose family and gives a soft mauve, rosy tone on dark blonde.

What is 07N called?

Mirage. 07N is a level 7 natural shade with a neutral result.

Which code is “Rosé”?

09VRo. It is a level 9 Violet Rose shade for a soft rosy tone on pale blonde.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is Redken Shades EQ?

Redken Shades EQ is an acidic, ammonia-free demi-permanent hair color gloss used for toning, refreshing, glossing and customizing color. It deposits color and adds shine, and it does not lift hair.

Does Shades EQ lighten hair?

No. Shades EQ is deposit-only. To go lighter, lift the hair first with lightener, then tone with Shades EQ.

How do I mix Shades EQ?

Mix Shades EQ 1:1 with Shades EQ Processing Solution or Gloss to Cream Developer. Apply it with a bowl and brush or with a bottle.

How do I make a Shades EQ shade softer?

Dilute it with Crystal Clear (000). Minimal dilution is 45 ml shade with 15 ml Crystal Clear, moderate is 30 ml with 30 ml, and maximum is 15 ml with 45 ml.

What does the number in a Shades EQ code mean?

The first digits are the level, written 01 to 010. The letters show the tone family, with the first letter dominant. 09VRo is level 9, Violet Rose.

Which Shades EQ shade is best for yellow hair?

Violet-based shades neutralize yellow. For pale blonde, try 09V Platinum Ice, 010VV Lavender Ice or 09T Chrome, depending on how cool you want the result.

What shade should I use for a shadow root?

Neutral beige and natural shades are the usual choices at levels 6-7, such as 06N Moroccan Sand or 07NB Chestnut. Choose the level to sit one to two levels below the blonde.

Can I use Shades EQ over a box dye?

Shades EQ deposits only, so it will not remove the color. Evaluate the current level and tone, and choose a shade that adjusts the tone. Strand test first.

Conclusion

The Redken Shades EQ color chart is easy to use once you know the code system: pick the level that matches the hair, choose a tone family for the effect you want, and mix 1:1 with processing solution.

Natural, ash and titanium families cool warmth, gold and copper families add it, and violet and rose families neutralize yellow or add soft color. Use the chart to find the shade, then let the app turn it into a formula for the hair in front of you, in Redken Shades or in another brand.