American Board Certified Haircolorist Practice Test 2025 – The All-in-One Guide to Master Your Certification!

The characteristic of hair color referred to when it has been toned to avoid gold or red undertones is drab. Drab tones are achieved by using color formulations that neutralize warm undertones, resulting in a more muted and less vibrant appearance. This process is commonly used to create a cooler hair color by eliminating the unwanted warmth.

In hair coloring, warm tones include golds and reds, which can make a color look bright and lively. However, if the desired effect is a more subdued or neutral shade, toning with drab colors is effective. Drab can often be associated with colors that have base ingredients highlighting blue or green, which neutralize golds and reds. Therefore, when hair is described as drab, it indicates that the color has been intentionally altered to minimize warmth, yielding a more balanced and cooler shade.