Chapter 4 121 L = 49, a = 12, b = 26 and a medium auburn has an L*a*b* value of L = 26, a = 13, b = 12. Table 2 Stylist Descriptors of Color (Lightness and Tone) Level Lightness Descriptor Level Lightness Descriptor 1 Black 7 Medium Blonde 2 Dark Brown 8 Light Blonde 3 Medium Brown 9 Very Light Blonde 4 Light Brown 10 Lightest Blonde 5 Lightest Brown 11 Extra Light Blonde 6 Dark Blonde 12 Ultra Light Blonde Tone Tone Descriptor Tone Tone Descriptor 0 Neutral N Neutral 1 Ash (Gray) A Ash 2 Matt (Green) G Gold (warm) 3 Gold (Yellow) D Drab 4 Red K Cool 5 Red Violet (Purple) C Copper 6 Violet M Mahogany 7 Brown (Warm) W Wine 8 Pearl (Blue) R Red 9 Cendré (Soft Violet) Level 3 Permanent Colorants The Level 3 permanent colorant products are the highest selling of the various types of coloring products. The main reason for this is that these products deliver both lightening of the underlying color and deposition of a synthetic color. Thus, the products can give the consumer the transformation to a lighter shade or a darker shade in a wide range of tones and also deliver the longevity of the tones to greater than 24 shampoos. Permanent products contain three basic components: 1. Hydrogen peroxide: the oxidizing agent that will bleach the melanin (and some of the previously deposited dyes), lightening the underlying hair color, and oxidize the dye precursors to form the final dye chromophores.