In short: Majirel is L'Oréal Professionnel's permanent crème hair colour. You mix it 1:1.5 with L'Oréal Oxydant (one 60ml tube to 90ml developer), process for 35 minutes, and get up to 100% grey coverage. This guide covers the shade numbering system, which developer to use, how to apply it and how to nail grey coverage.
Majirel is one of the most relied-on permanent colours on any salon trolley — rich, true-to-tone results, dependable grey coverage and a creamy texture that's forgiving to apply. Whether you're new to the line, switching from another brand, or just want a clean refresher on ratios and shade logic, here's what actually matters at the backwash.
What is Majirel?
Majirel is L'Oréal Professionnel's permanent oxidation crème colour — a crème de beauté built for even, long-lasting results from root to tip, with up to 100% coverage of white hair. It's a workhorse for natural and fashion shades alike rather than a specialist product for one job, which is why it's a staple in so many salons.
The reformulated new Majirel keeps everything colourists trusted about the original while improving three things: a smoother texture for faster, easier mixing; a caring complex for softer hair after colour; and Odour Trapping Technology, which cuts the ammonia smell to around half that of the previous formula. It's also now a vegan formula, and the shades correspond to the previous line-up — so you don't need to relearn your formulas.
What technology is Majirel built on?
Two long-standing technologies do the heavy lifting. Incell™ targets the three zones of the hair fibre to help reinforce it during colouring, while Ionène G™ works on the surface to support condition and shine. Together they're why Majirel tends to leave hair feeling looked-after rather than stripped, even on repeat colour clients.
How do Majirel shade numbers work?
Once the numbering clicks, formulating becomes intuitive across the whole range.
The number before the point is the depth (level) — how light or dark, on a scale of 1 (black) to 10 (lightest blonde).
The numbers after the point are the tones (reflects) and tell you the colour direction:
- .1 — ash (neutralises warmth)
- .2 — iridescent / violet
- .3 — gold
- .4 — copper
- .5 — mahogany
- .6 — red
So 6.1 reads as a dark ash blonde (level 6, ash reflect), and 7.43 is a level 7 with a copper-gold tone, the first reflect being dominant. Reading shades this way lets you predict the result and mix corrective tones with confidence.
What's the Majirel mixing ratio?
Majirel uses a straightforward 1:1.5 ratio — one part colour to one and a half parts developer. In practice that's one 60ml tube to 90ml of L'Oréal Professionnel Oxydant. Mix with a brush, whisk or bottle until smooth and creamy, with no streaks of unmixed colour or developer.
What developer do you use with Majirel?
Use it exclusively with L'Oréal Professionnel Oxydant, choosing the volume by the lift you need:
- 12.5 vol (3.75%) — depositing or going darker, tone-on-tone work
- 20 vol (6%) — grey coverage and colouring on the same level (around 1–2 levels of lift)
- 30 vol (9%) — up to around 3 levels of lift
How do you apply Majirel?
- Apply to dry, unwashed hair for the most reliable result, working in neat sections with a tint brush.
- Saturate well, especially through resistant or grey areas.
- Process for 35 minutes — give resistant greys the full time, don't cut it short.
- Emulsify: add a little warm water and gently massage to lift colour from the skin and hairline, then rinse until the water runs clear.
- Finish with a colour-safe, post-colour shampoo and conditioner to seal the result.
Always carry out an allergy alert/sensitivity test 48 hours before each colour service.
How do you get reliable grey coverage with Majirel?
For stubborn or high-percentage white hair, balance your target shade with a natural (.0) shade on the same level — typically around half-and-half at the roots — and use 20 vol rather than reaching for a higher developer. Apply to the greys first, saturate generously and give the full development time. The natural base supplies the underlying pigment white hair needs to grab onto for opaque, true coverage.
What are Majirel Mix and Boosters for?
When you need to push or correct tone, Majirel Mix neutralising shades let you intensify a reflect or counter unwanted warmth/coolness — used in small amounts (commonly a 1/4 or 1/8 tube alongside your chosen shade). The Majirel Booster range works similarly for adding vibrancy. Keep them light to start: you can always add intensity, but you can't take it back out.
One important note — Majirel is built to be used as its own system. Don't cross-mix it with other L'Oréal lines such as INOA or the Dia range; they use different chemistry and won't behave predictably together.
Quick reference
- Type: permanent oxidation crème colour
- Coverage: up to 100% white hair
- Tube size: 60ml
- Mixing ratio: 1:1.5 (60ml colour : 90ml Oxydant)
- Developers: L'Oréal Professionnel Oxydant 12.5 / 20 / 30 vol
- Development time: 35 minutes
- Now: vegan formula with Odour Trapping Technology
Frequently asked questions
Is Majirel permanent?
Yes. Majirel is a permanent oxidation crème colour, giving long-lasting results and up to 100% white hair coverage.
What is the Majirel mixing ratio?
1:1.5 — one 60ml tube of Majirel to 90ml of L'Oréal Professionnel Oxydant.
What developer do you use with Majirel?
L'Oréal Professionnel Oxydant only: 12.5 vol (3.75%) for depositing, 20 vol (6%) for grey coverage and on-level work, and 30 vol (9%) for up to around three levels of lift.
How long does Majirel take to process?
35 minutes. Give resistant grey hair the full development time for complete coverage.
Can you mix Majirel with INOA or Dia Richesse?
No. Majirel should be used as its own system — those lines are built on different chemistry and won't behave predictably if combined.
Is the new Majirel vegan?
Yes. The new Majirel is a vegan formula and uses Odour Trapping Technology for up to twice less ammonia odour than the previous version.
How do you read Majirel shade numbers?
The number before the point is the depth (1 black to 10 lightest blonde); the numbers after the point are the tones — for example .1 ash, .3 gold, .4 copper, .6 red.
Stocking up
Majirel earns its place as a salon staple because it's predictable, kind to the hair and broad enough to handle almost any brief. If you're topping up your colour bar, browse the full Majirel range and matching L'Oréal Professionnel developers in our colour section — trade pricing and fast delivery as standard.
Professional use only. Always follow the manufacturer's instructions and complete the recommended allergy alert test before every application.
