Nova Hair The Complete Hair Extension Colour Guide
Hair extension colour runs on a numbered level system from 1 to 10, where 1 is black and 10 is the lightest blonde, and the codes you see on bundles like “613” describe a specific point on that scale. Understanding the system lets a buyer order the right shade with confidence, judge whether a factory can actually produce it, and match extensions to a client’s hair without guesswork. This guide covers the level system, the common codes, the colouring techniques, and how custom matching works.
The essentials up front: the level number tells you how light the hair is, the code combines level and tone (613 is a light blonde), and raw hair’s value is that it lifts to those lightest levels cleanly. Balayage, ombre, and piano are techniques for placing colour, not shades themselves. Custom matching means colouring hair to your swatch so batches stay consistent.
How does the hair colour level system work?
The hair colour level system rates lightness on a scale from 1 to 10, where level 1 is black, the middle levels are browns, and level 10 is the lightest blonde. Every professional colour references this scale, so it is the foundation for reading any shade code or ordering custom colour. Lifting hair means moving it up the scale by removing pigment, which is why going from a natural black bundle to platinum is a journey up multiple levels, not a single step. The higher the target level, the more the hair’s condition matters, because only healthy, cuticle-intact hair reaches the top of the scale without breaking.
What does 613 mean, and other common codes?
The code 613 refers to a light blonde near the top of the level scale, one of the most requested extension shades. Colour codes combine a level with a tone: the numbers describe how light the hair is and what warmth or coolness it carries. Common codes buyers encounter include 1B (natural off-black), 613 (light blonde), and 60 (pale, cool blonde), alongside natural browns. You do not need to memorize every code, but knowing that a higher first digit means lighter hair helps you order and communicate shade without confusion. We cover the most requested blonde in detail in what is 613 blonde hair.
Why does raw hair colour better?
Raw hair colours better because its cuticle is intact and it has never been chemically processed, so it lifts to light levels evenly and holds toner predictably. Bleaching lightens hair by oxidizing and breaking down its natural melanin, a destructive chemical process, and hair with a damaged or stripped cuticle cannot survive that lift cleanly. This is why a colourist can take genuine raw hair to platinum while processed hair sold as raw turns gummy or patchy. It is also why the bleach test is the industry’s authenticity check, as we explain in the 613 bleach test explained. Nova’s raw bundles are made to take colour.
What colouring techniques are available?
The main techniques describe where and how colour is placed, not the shade itself. Knowing them helps you order the look a client wants.
- Solid colour: a single shade through the whole length, the simplest and most consistent.
- Balayage: colour hand-painted onto the lengths for a soft, natural gradient, lighter toward the ends.
- Ombre: a graduated transition from a darker root to lighter ends, more defined than balayage.
- Piano / highlight: two or more tones blended through the length for dimension.
- Root shadow: a darker root that blends into a lighter body for a grown-out, natural look.
Nova produces all of these in its colour collection, applied in-house so batches match.
Why does batch consistency matter?
Batch consistency matters because a client notices immediately when a reorder does not match their previous set, and inconsistent colour is the most common complaint about hair bought through resellers. When colouring happens at the factory rather than at a middleman, each production run is controlled against the same target, so the shade you reorder matches the shade you sold last month. This is a real advantage of buying factory-direct: the factory owns the colour process end to end. For rare natural shades, see our grey and silver collection.
How does custom colour matching work?
Custom colour matching means the factory colours hair to match a physical swatch or photo you supply, so the extensions blend with a specific client’s hair. You send a swatch or a clear photo, the factory matches it and sends batch photos or a sample before production, and you confirm before the full order runs. This is how brands offer bespoke shades that resellers cannot, and it is why colour is one of the strongest levers for a private-label hair brand. Always confirm the match on a sample before committing to bulk.
Frequently Asked Questions
What does 613 mean in hair?
613 is a colour code for a light blonde shade near the top of the hair colour level system, one of the most requested extension colours. Colour codes combine a lightness level with a tone, and 613 sits high on the 1-to-10 scale where 10 is lightest. Genuine raw hair lifts to 613 cleanly, which is why it is used as a quality benchmark.
What is the hair colour level system?
The hair colour level system rates lightness from 1 to 10, where 1 is black, the middle levels are browns, and 10 is the lightest blonde. Every professional colour references this scale. Lifting hair means moving it up the scale by removing natural pigment, and only healthy, cuticle-intact hair reaches the lightest levels without damage.
What is the difference between balayage and ombre?
Balayage is colour hand-painted onto the lengths for a soft, natural gradient that is lighter toward the ends, while ombre is a more defined transition from a darker root to distinctly lighter ends. Balayage looks blended and subtle; ombre looks like a clear two-tone gradient. Both are placement techniques applied to extensions, not specific shades.
Can hair extensions be colour matched to my client?
Yes, factories can colour-match extensions to a physical swatch or a clear photo of your client’s hair, then send batch photos or a sample for you to confirm before the full order runs. Custom matching is how brands offer bespoke shades. Always approve the match on a sample before committing to a bulk order.
Order the right colour, factory-direct
Nova Hair Factory colours Vietnamese hair in-house in Bắc Ninh, from natural shades to the full blonde scale, with balayage, ombre, and custom matching to your swatch. Because the colour is done at the factory, your reorders stay consistent. Explore the colour collection or message us on WhatsApp at +84 36 216 7992 for a colour swatch and samples.