Hair Extension Color Codes Explained: 1B, 2, 4, 613, 99J and More
Hair extension color codes are a shared numbering system that factories, vendors and stylists use to describe shades: the lower the number, the darker the hair. #1 is jet black, 1B is natural off-black, #4 is a medium brown and #613 is the lightest blonde. At Arrow Exim, a raw Indian temple hair factory in Chennai that has operated since 2011 and ships to buyers in more than 30 countries, these codes come up in almost every wholesale and retail order. This guide explains what the most common numbers look like, how mixed codes such as P4/27 and T1B/30 work, and how to order the right shade from a hair vendor without guesswork.
How the hair color numbering system works
Most of the hair industry uses a single scale that runs from the darkest shades at #1 up through browns and into blondes. It loosely mirrors the level system colorists use in salons, but it is a trade convention rather than an official standard, so one vendor's #4 can sit slightly warmer or cooler than another's. These are the codes buyers ask about most:
#1 - jet black: a uniform, slightly blue-black shade. It usually comes from dyeing, because very few donors grow true jet black hair.
1B - natural black / off-black: the most ordered code in the industry and the natural color of most raw Indian hair, a soft black with brown undertones.
#2 - darkest brown: reads black indoors and warm brown in sunlight.
#4 - medium brown: a classic chocolate brown that flatters most skin tones.
#6 and #8 - light and lightest brown: chestnut and light caramel tones.
#27 - honey or strawberry blonde: a warm golden blonde.
#30 - auburn: a brown with strong copper and red reflections.
#613 - bleach blonde: the lightest standard blonde and the usual base for pastel or fashion colors.
99J - burgundy or wine: a deep red-violet created with dye.
Grey and salt-and-pepper: natural silver or mixed grey-and-black hair, usually described by the ratio of grey to dark strands rather than a single number.
Why raw Indian hair is sold in natural color
Raw hair is, by definition, hair that has never been chemically processed, so a genuine raw Indian bundle is always in its natural shade - typically somewhere between 1B and #2, with undertones that vary slightly from donor to donor. That small variation is a sign of authenticity, not a defect: perfectly identical jet-black bundles have usually been dyed. When a factory offers raw hair in #613, #27 or grey-blended shades, the honest description is raw hair that has been professionally lifted, toned or blended after collection. Lifting done slowly by experienced technicians preserves most of the cuticle, which is why factory-lifted 613 made from strong Indian temple hair generally outlasts cheap pre-colored hair of unknown origin.
Mixed, piano and ombre color codes
Two prefixes extend the basic number system. P stands for piano, meaning two shades mixed evenly through the bundle like piano keys - P4/27 is medium brown blended with honey blonde for a highlighted effect. T stands for two-tone or ombre, where the bundle changes color along its length - T1B/30 is natural black at the root melting into auburn ends. Some vendors also use three-part codes such as T1B/4/27 for a root-to-tip color melt. Because these effects are created by sectioned coloring, mixed-code hair is always processed hair; the question to ask your vendor is what base hair they started from.
How to order the right color from a hair vendor
Screens distort color, and natural shades vary batch to batch, so experienced buyers follow a simple routine:
Order against a color ring or physical swatch when possible, especially for salon work where a close match matters.
Ask the vendor for photos or video of the actual batch in natural daylight, not studio lighting, before it ships.
For blonde, confirm whether it is factory-lifted raw hair or pre-colored processed hair, and ask to see the hair wet - healthy lifted hair stays smooth.
For grey and salt-and-pepper, agree on the mix ratio in writing, for example 80/20 or 50/50 grey to black.
Start with a sample bundle in the exact code you plan to stock before committing to a bulk order.
Expect slight batch variation in natural 1B hair and tell your own customers the same - it is the nature of unprocessed hair.
Frequently asked questions
What does 1B hair color mean?
1B is natural off-black: a soft black with subtle brown undertones, which is how most human hair actually grows. It is the default shade of raw Indian hair and blends with the widest range of natural hair, which is why it is the most ordered code in the industry.
What is the difference between #1 and 1B?
#1 is a uniform jet black that almost always comes from dye, while 1B is the hair's own natural black-brown. If you want extensions that look like they grew from your head, 1B is nearly always the better choice; #1 suits deliberately dramatic, inky looks.
What color is 613 hair?
613 is the lightest standard blonde - a pale, bright blonde often called bleach blonde or platinum-adjacent. It is also the preferred base for toning into ash, pastel and fashion colors, because it accepts toner evenly without further lifting.
Can raw Indian hair come in blonde or light colors?
Not in the strict sense: hair that has been lifted to 613 is no longer unprocessed. What a quality factory offers is raw Indian hair that was professionally bleached and toned in controlled conditions. Because the starting hair is strong and cuticle-aligned, the result is far more durable than mass-market colored hair, but it should always be described as processed.
What do P and T mean in hair color codes?
P means piano - two colors mixed evenly through the weft for a highlighted look, as in P4/27. T means two-tone or ombre - one color at the root transitioning to another at the ends, as in T1B/30. Both are created by sectioned professional coloring.
How do I match extensions to my natural hair color?
Match against the mid-lengths and ends of your hair in natural daylight, not the roots, since ends are usually slightly lighter and that is where the extensions blend. When between two codes, choose the darker one - darker extensions can be subtly lifted or disguised, while too-light hair is obvious. A physical swatch or sample bundle beats any screen photo.
Are hair color codes the same with every vendor?
The system is broadly shared, but it is not regulated, so one supplier's #4 or #27 can differ noticeably from another's. Treat codes as a starting point, then confirm with batch photos in daylight or a sample order before buying in volume - and once you find a factory whose shades you trust, staying consistent with that one source keeps your inventory uniform.
Arrow Exim is a raw Indian temple human hair factory in Chennai, India, operating since 2011 and shipping wholesale and retail orders to more than 30 countries. We supply natural 1B raw bundles, closures, frontals and wigs, factory-lifted 613 blonde and natural grey and salt-and-pepper hair, all cuticle-aligned and ethically sourced from South Indian temples. For current shade availability, daylight batch photos or a sample order, message us on WhatsApp at +91 98841 11108 or email sales@arrowexim.com.
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