Blacks

Raven

Glossy black carrying a cool blue-gray sheen that lifts in the light instead of reading as a flat block.

Raven

BeforeRaven

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Both renders come from the same edit instruction HairGlam uses for this look, applied to a studio portrait. In the app the shade lands on your own photo instead.

12 free looks in the app
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Try Raven on your photo

Free on iPhone and iPad. 12 free looks: 4 haircuts, 4 hair colors and 4 makeup looks, no paywall in between. Or try it free in your browser.

What separates raven from jet black is reflectance rather than depth: a small amount of cool pigment sits inside it, so light bounces off the surface as a blue-gray halo instead of being swallowed. On camera that shows up as dimension where jet black shows as a silhouette. It needs smooth, healthy hair to work, because the sheen depends on the cuticle lying flat along the shaft.

Undertonecool. The cool sheen picks up blue and pink in the skin, so it suits cool and neutral undertones and can look severe against strongly golden skin.
Starting pointNo lift is needed, since raven deposits over naturally dark hair, though on light or previously bleached hair a filler goes on first or the result turns patchy and gray-green.
UpkeepA clear or blue gloss every six to eight weeks brings the shine back as it dulls, regrowth shows inside a month if your natural shade is lighter, and there is no damage cost since nothing is lifted.

HairGlam Hair Colors: one woman, a fan of the same face in different hair colors

In the HairGlam app

Try Raven on your own photo

Add one selfie. Front on, even light, hair off your face. No account.
Tap Raven in Hair Colors, or any of the other 298 looks.
See it in seconds on your own face, then save it for your stylist.

12 free looks: 4 haircuts, 4 hair colors and 4 makeup looks. No paywall in between, no account.

Try Raven free

Questions about Raven

Which skin undertones suit Raven?

Cool undertones. The cool sheen picks up blue and pink in the skin, so it suits cool and neutral undertones and can look severe against strongly golden skin.

What hair do I need to start with for Raven?

No lift is needed, since raven deposits over naturally dark hair, though on light or previously bleached hair a filler goes on first or the result turns patchy and gray-green.

How much upkeep does Raven need?

A clear or blue gloss every six to eight weeks brings the shine back as it dulls, regrowth shows inside a month if your natural shade is lighter, and there is no damage cost since nothing is lifted.

Can I try Raven on my own photo before I dye my hair?

Yes. HairGlam puts Raven on a photo of your own hair in a few seconds, so you can check it against your skin tone and eye color before you book or buy a box dye. It is free to download on iPhone and iPad with 12 free looks: 4 haircuts, 4 hair colors and 4 makeup looks, and some looks can also be tried free in your browser at hairglam.app/try.