In short: Majirel is L'Oreal Professionnel's permanent crème hair colour. Mix it 1:1.5 with OTT Cream Oxydant (one 60ml tube to 90ml developer), apply to dry hair, process for 35 minutes, and get up to 100% white coverage. This guide covers the shade system, which developer to use, application, grey coverage, Boosters and the new vegan, odour-trapping formula.
Written for salon professionals. Reviewed against current L'Oreal Professionnel guidance.
Majirel is one of the most relied-on permanent colours on any salon trolley — rich, true-to-tone results, dependable white 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'Oreal Professionnel's permanent oxidation crème colour — 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.
What makes the new Majirel different?
The reformulated new Majirel keeps the even, rich, root-to-tip colour and up to 100% white coverage colourists rely on, while improving the experience in three ways: it's easier to dispense and mix, gives up to 3x softer hair, and has up to 2x less ammonia odour thanks to Odour Trapping Technology (OTT). OTT traps the ammonia within the formula so it still works in the colour but doesn't evaporate — cutting the smell for a more comfortable, sensorial service for both stylist and client. Two caring agents support smoothness and shine: Candelilla wax and Cetearyl alcohol, both from natural sources and familiar from skincare. It's also now a vegan formula — no animal-derived ingredients or by-products — and the shades correspond to the previous line-up, so you don't need to relearn your formulas.
How do Majirel shade numbers work?
Once the numbering clicks, formulating becomes intuitive across the whole range. Majirel has a wide palette of around 97 shades across natural, ash, iridescent, gold, copper, red, mocha and brown families, plus the Cool Cover and High Lift ranges.
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
- .3 — gold
- .4 — copper
- .5 — mahogany
- .6 — red
- .8 — mocha
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.
The full Majirel shade chart
Majirel spans around 97 shades across the Fundamental, ash, iridescent, gold, copper, red, mahogany and mocha families, plus the High Lift and Cool Cover ranges. For every shade we stock — grouped by depth and tone, with the full High Lift and Cool Cover lists — see our dedicated Majirel shade chart.
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 OTT Cream Oxydant. Mix until smooth and creamy, with no streaks of unmixed colour or developer. Wear suitable disposable gloves and don't use metallic tools (bowl, comb).
What developer do you use with Majirel?
Pair Majirel exclusively with L'Oreal Professionnel OTT Cream Oxydant, choosing the volume by what you need:
- 12.5 vol (3.75%): refreshing lengths and ends; lifts up to 1½ levels
- 20 vol (6%): white hair coverage, darkening natural hair and colouring on the same level; lifts up to 2 levels
- 30 vol (9%): lifts up to 3 levels
For a fuller refresher on developer strengths, see our guide to developer volumes.
How do you apply Majirel?
Wear suitable disposable gloves, avoid metallic tools, mix 1:1.5 and apply to dry hair in neat sections.
Virgin hair:
- Start the application on the lengths and ends, 1.5cm from the scalp.
- Remix a fresh batch of formula and apply directly to the roots.
- Develop for 35 minutes.
Long regrowth: begin on the mid-band section (around 1.5cm from the root), then apply to the roots, and develop for 35 minutes.
At the end of the development time, emulsify gently with a little warm water to lift colour from the skin and hairline, rinse until the water runs clear, then finish with a colour-safe, post-colour shampoo and conditioner. Always carry out an allergy alert test 48 hours before each colour service.
How do you get reliable grey coverage with Majirel?
Majirel gives up to 100% white coverage. The method depends on the percentage of white:
- 0–50% white: use your target shade alone.
- 50–100% white: mix equal parts — ½ (30ml) of your target shade + ½ (30ml) of a same-level Majirel basic shade + 90ml of 20 vol OTT Cream Oxydant.
Match the basic shade to your reflect: for cool reflects, use the same-level fundamental (basic) shade; for warm reflects, use the same-level golden basic shade. Apply to the white areas first, saturate generously and give the full 35 minutes. The basic base supplies the underlying pigment white hair needs to grab onto for opaque, true coverage. For the full method across the brands, see our grey coverage guide.
Refreshing colour on the lengths and ends
To keep faded mid-lengths and ends fresh, take the colour through at the end of the root development time:
- Same colour, or slight loss of tone: take through for the last 5 minutes (TT5).
- Loss of tone: take through for the last 15 minutes (TT15).
- Loss of depth and tone, or a colour change: take through immediately (TTI).
Majirel Boosters and the Contrast service
The Majirel Boosters fine-tune tone within the 1:1.5 system. Add the booster to your target shade to total 60ml, then add 90ml of OTT Cream Oxydant:
- Warm boosters (Orange, Red, Magenta): intensify warm shades.
- Cool boosters (Blue, Violet, Green): add extra neutralisation.
Dose by depth: levels 10–8, 1–6ml; levels 7–5, up to 15ml; levels 4–1, up to 30ml.
Booster Contrast service: for vibrant red, copper or magenta reflects on naturally dark bases (level 5 and below), using partial techniques only. Only the Orange, Red and Magenta boosters can be used. Mix 20ml booster + 40ml Majirel Contrast base + 90ml OTT Cream Oxydant and develop for 35 minutes (on previously coloured hair, choose 20 or 30 vol).
One important note — Majirel is built to be used as its own system. Don't cross-mix it with other L'Oreal lines such as INOA or the Dia range; they use different chemistry and won't behave predictably together.
Majirel Cool Cover and High Lift
Two specialist sub-ranges sit alongside the core palette. Majirel Cool Cover is built for high neutralisation and extreme coverage — ultra-cool reflects for clients with warm natural bases who want to stay cool — and should only be intermixed within its own family. See our dedicated Majirel Cool Cover guide. Majirel High Lift shades are designed for lighter, cooler blonde results in one step on suitable bases.
Majirel vs Koleston Perfect vs Igora Royal
| Majirel | Koleston Perfect | Igora Royal | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Brand | L'Oreal | Wella | Schwarzkopf |
| Type | Permanent crème | Permanent crème | Permanent crème |
| Grey coverage | Up to 100% | Up to 100% | Up to 100% |
| Mixing ratio | 1:1.5 | 1:1 (Special Blonde 1:2) | 1:1 (Highlifts 1:1 or 1:2) |
| Developer | OTT Cream Oxydant | Welloxon Perfect | Igora Royal Oil Developer |
Quick reference
- Type: permanent oxidation crème colour
- Coverage: up to 100% white hair
- Tube size: 60ml
- Mixing ratio: 1:1.5 (60ml colour : 90ml OTT Cream Oxydant)
- Developers: OTT Cream Oxydant 12.5 / 20 / 30 vol
- Development time: 35 minutes
- Now: vegan, up to 3x softer hair, up to 2x less ammonia odour (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'Oreal Professionnel OTT Cream Oxydant.
What developer do you use with Majirel?
L'Oreal Professionnel OTT Cream Oxydant only: 12.5 vol (3.75%) for refreshing lengths and ends and up to 1½ levels, 20 vol (6%) for white coverage, darkening and on-level work (up to 2 levels), and 30 vol (9%) for up to 3 levels of lift.
How long does Majirel take to process?
35 minutes. Give resistant white hair the full development time for complete coverage.
How do you cover a high percentage of white with Majirel?
For 50–100% white, mix ½ (30ml) target shade with ½ (30ml) of a same-level basic shade plus 90ml of 20 vol OTT Cream Oxydant — a fundamental basic for cool reflects, a golden basic for warm reflects.
Can you mix Majirel with INOA or Dia?
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 with no animal-derived ingredients or by-products, 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, .8 mocha.
What is L'Oreal Majirel?
Majirel is L'Oreal Professionnel's permanent crème hair colour, giving rich, even, long-lasting results with up to 100% white coverage across around 97 shades. It's an ammonia-based oxidation colour used for natural and fashion results alike.
Is Majirel ammonia-free?
No — Majirel is an ammonia-based permanent colour. If you need an ammonia-free permanent option, L'Oreal INOA uses an oil-based Oil Delivery System instead and is gentler on the scalp.
What is the difference between Majirel and INOA?
Both are permanent L'Oreal Professionnel colours with up to 100% white coverage and up to 3 levels of lift. Majirel is ammonia-based and mixes 1:1.5; INOA is ammonia-free (oil-based), more comfortable on sensitive scalps, and mixes 1:1. See our Majirel vs INOA comparison.
What is Majirel High Lift?
Majirel High Lift is a sub-range designed to achieve lighter, cooler blonde results in a single step on suitable natural bases, with more lift than the core Majirel shades.
How many shades are in the Majirel range?
Around 97 shades across the natural, ash, iridescent, gold, copper, red, mahogany and mocha families, plus the High Lift and Cool Cover sub-ranges.
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 OTT Cream Oxydant in our colour section — trade pricing and fast delivery as standard. For the full shade list see our Majirel shade chart, and for mixing ratios across the brands our how to mix hair colour guide.
Professional use only. Always follow the manufacturer's instructions and complete the recommended allergy alert test before every application.
Written by Charlotte Read, Content Writer at Hairco & Beauty. Charlotte has over six years' experience in professional hair and beauty, and our guides are informed by colleagues with 100+ years of combined salon experience and by insight from the trade customers we supply. More about our content.
