Black hair powder: how to choose the right thickening powder shade

Key takeaways

• Pick your shade based on your roots, checked in daylight, not on your lengths.
• For black hair, the Black shade is the starting point; if your roots lean brown, mix Black and Dark brown.
• Torn between two shades? Go for the darker one or mix both: a shade that is too light makes the scalp stand out.
• Salt and pepper, grey and white hair have their own shades: Grey, Light grey and White.

Looking for a black hair powder? Black is the easiest shade to choose, as long as you check that your hair really is black and not very dark brown. The same rule applies to every colour: a thickening powder has to blend into your roots, where the scalp shows through. Here is our method, followed by the shades available for each hair family: black, brown, blonde, auburn, grey and white.

How to choose your thickening powder colour

A thickening powder is made of coloured microfibres that cling to your hair and create an impression of density. Our complete guide to hair fibre explains how it works. What makes the result look natural is, first and foremost, colour. The fibres settle at the base of your hair and on the scalp, so they need to match the colour of your roots. The wrong shade creates a visible veil, or a lighter patch that draws the eye straight to the scalp.

1. Look at your roots in daylight

Stand near a window with a mirror and look at the first few centimetres of hair, close to the scalp. Artificial light distorts colour: it warms up browns and can make dark brown hair look black. Ignore the ends, which are often lightened by the sun or by an old colour.

2. Choose the closest shade

Then compare your roots with the available shades and pick the closest one. Ecobell thickening powder comes in 9 shades: Black, Dark brown, Medium brown, Light brown, Medium blonde, Auburn, Grey, Light grey and White, in 10 g, 25 g or 100 g bottles.

3. When in doubt, go darker or mix

Hesitating between two shades? Take the darker one: on the scalp, a slightly deeper shade goes unnoticed, while a shade that is too light shows. Another option: Ecobell shades can be mixed. Combine two neighbouring shades to get an in between tone, for example Black and Dark brown for a deep brown.

If your hair is coloured

If you colour your hair, go by your hair colour, not your natural colour. When regrowth appears, keep the shade of your colour: the powder then hides the roots between two salon appointments. Remember to review your shade every time you change colour.

Black hair powder: which shade to choose?

For black hair, the Black shade of Ecobell thickening powder is the natural choice. Under dark hair, a light scalp creates strong contrast: a black powder of the same intensity softens it. Whether you call it black hair powder or black hair fibres, the principle is the same.

Still, check your roots in full daylight: a lot of hair that looks black is actually very dark brown. In that case, mix Black and Dark brown, or choose Dark brown if your roots clearly lean brown.

If you prefer a spray, the Volumiz thickening spray comes in Black, and the Hairfor2 spray offers two shades for very dark hair: Black and Brown-black. Brown-black is a good option for black hair with brown highlights.

Brown hair: three shades to choose from

Brown is the most nuanced hair family. Ecobell powder offers three shades:

• Dark brown: for deep brown roots, almost black in the shade but clearly brown in the light.
• Medium brown: for a true brown, neither very dark nor light.
• Light brown: for a soft brown that turns dark blonde in the sun.

Between two browns, follow the rule: the darker shade, or a mix of both. In sprays, Volumiz comes in Dark brown and Light brown, and Hairfor2 in Dark brown, Medium brown and Light brown.

Hairvisual tip: test your shade on a small area near your parting before treating the whole thinning zone. Check the result in daylight, then adjust with a mix if needed. With 9 shades that can be mixed, Ecobell thickening powder lets you fine tune your tone without switching products.

Blonde hair: aim for the closest tone

For blonde hair, Ecobell powder offers the Medium blonde shade. It suits medium blondes and works as a base for other tones. For dark blonde, mix Medium blonde and Light brown to get closer to your roots.

On very light blonde hair, the powder will be slightly deeper than your hair, but since the contrast with the scalp is low, the result stays discreet. In sprays, Hairfor2 offers three blondes (Light blonde, Medium blonde, Dark blonde) and Volumiz comes in Blonde.

Auburn and red hair

Auburn hair has its own shade: Auburn, available in Ecobell powder and Hairfor2 spray. If Auburn looks too bright, mix it with Medium brown or Dark brown to soften it. For lighter red hair, test a mix of Auburn and Medium blonde on a small area.

Salt and pepper, grey and white hair

Ecobell powder offers three shades for these hair colours: Grey, Light grey and White.

• Salt and pepper: mix Medium brown and Grey to recreate the mix of dark and white hairs, or choose Grey if white dominates.
• Grey: the Grey shade for a strong grey, Light grey for a silvery grey.
• White: the White shade, or Light grey if your hair still has a slight grey tint.

In sprays, the Hairfor2 spray comes in Grey. If, on the other hand, you want to hide white hair under your original colour, choose the shade of your dark hair rather than that of your white roots.

Mistakes to avoid

• A shade that is too light: this is the mistake that shows the most. The fibres lighten the area instead of darkening it, and the scalp stands out even more.
• A shade that is too dark on light hair: on blonde or light brown hair, a deep brown creates a dark patch, especially along the hairline.
• Too much product: even in the right shade, a thick layer is noticeable. Apply a little, then build up if needed.

Frequently asked questions about black hair powder

Does black powder suit very dark brown hair?

Not always. On very dark brown hair, Black on its own can look too harsh, especially in bright sunlight, because it lacks the warm tones of brown. Check your roots in daylight: if brown highlights show, mix Black and Dark brown, or switch to Dark brown.

Can you mix two shades of thickening powder?

Yes. All 9 shades of Ecobell powder can be mixed. Combine a small amount of each shade, then test the result on a discreet area in daylight. Two combinations are classics: Black and Dark brown for a deep brown, Medium brown and Grey for salt and pepper hair.

Which shade for salt and pepper hair?

It depends on how much white hair you have. If dark hair still dominates, mix Medium brown and Grey to recreate the natural mix of both colours. If white has taken over, Grey on its own is often enough; for almost white hair, move to Light grey or White.

To choose well, look at your roots in daylight. Black for black hair, a mix when your tone sits between two shades, the darker one when in doubt: with these simple rules, the result stays discreet. Find every shade in our hair thickening powder collection.