Maybe it’s the dark nights since the clocks went back, or maybe we’re still vibing from Halloween, but for November ‘Colour of the Month’ we’ve chosen one of our very darkest shades – the 2N Brown-Black. This super sultry shade regularly graces our top 10 best-selling colours and like with the 1N Ebony Black, keeps your hair in tip top condition and the line of shine achieved can be dazzling! This is the perfect hair colour for November.

What kind of colour is it?

On its own the 2N looks like any other black shade but put it next to the 1N Ebony Black and you’ll see that is instead a very, very dark brown – ideal if you’re looking for a colour that isn’t quite a true black, but also not as brown as the 3N Dark Chestnut Brown. When we first launched this shade many moons ago, there was much discussion about whether it was needed, being so similar to the 1N and 3N. Well, the sales soon justified the launch and so far in 2023, it has been our fourth best-selling shade in the Naturtint Permanent Gel range.

Can anybody wear this colour?

Black and brown-black hair can look oh-so glamourous and as we always say, you do you, but, a word of warning – if this is a new shade for you be prepared for a big change if you are naturally lighter, as it could look very intense and dark compared to what you’re used to! If you perhaps used to colour your hair very dark and fancy reliving your younger years, go for it, just bear in mind that as we age, our skin tone changes and some of us lose some of our natural warmth, so a very dark colour could make the skin look a little washed out.

If you are naturally blessed with darker skin or you have strong natural features like big brown eyes, a shade like 2N can really work for you. And if you do have a naturally fair complexion, it doesn’t mean the 2N isn’t for you, but you might benefit from wearing a stronger makeup look too, so your features don’t become lost.

How do I care for it?

Unlike some of the shades we’ve looked at in this series (we’re looking at you, 6.66 Fireland!), our hair colour for November, 2N Brown-Black, doesn’t have a high concentration of red pigment molecules that are notorious for fading, so with the right care and the right application, the 2N will remain as rich and intense a shade from the day you colour your hair right through to your next application.

When you do apply the 2N, or indeed any shade, if your hair is already coloured, only apply it to the root regrowth or ‘virgin’ hair to begin with – this is the hair that will need the full development time, whereas the previously coloured hair will only need 5-10 minutes. And if you are reapplying the same colour, you should aim to only recolour the lengths of the hair every 3-4 applications and only if you think the colour needs refreshing. That way you avoid overprocessing the hair through repeatedly colourings, which can lead to colour fade and a lack of shine.