Lien Book
Lien Book is a hair dye collection in a distinctive flat, book-shaped packaging format. The 21+ products on skinsli include Black Hair Book cream dyes in five color variants - Black, Black Brown, Light Brown, Natural Brown, and Natural Brown with Herbal formula - sold as 120 g singles, 60 g + 60 g dual packs (3-month supply), 6-piece bundles, and 8-piece bundles in mixed shades. The Free Secret Book West Xiang Shampoo 550 ml is the color-maintaining shampoo in the Lien lineup. All products ship from Korea.
By Skinsli editorial Updated
Buying guide
Lien Black Hair Book: Guide to Colors, Pack Sizes, and At-Home Dyeing
Lien's Hair Book is an at-home hair dye line presented in a flat, book-shaped package that makes each application dose compact and easy to handle. The 21+ products on skinsli cover five color options across multiple pack sizes - from a single 120 g tube to 8-piece multi-packs - plus a maintaining shampoo. This guide walks through the color choices, the pack formats, the Mobi vs Hair Book distinction, and how to get the best results at home.
What the Book Format Means for Hair Dye
Lien's Hair Book uses a flat, book-shaped container instead of the standard tube. The compact shape fits neatly in a drawer, medicine cabinet, or bag without rolling or getting lost among other products. Each book contains a single application dose of cream dye, pre-measured so there is no need to weigh or guess amounts.
The format is particularly well-suited for regular touch-up users who apply dye every three to four weeks for root coverage. The books stack flat and the portion control eliminates waste from partially used tubes. Multi-pack purchases (6 and 8 pieces) keep a supply on hand without taking up significant storage space.
Black Hair Book vs Black Mobi Book: What Changes
Lien offers two product names in the book format: Black Hair Book and Black Mobi Book. The Hair Book uses a cream dye formula with a developer included; the product is a standard two-component cream dye that you mix and apply. The Mobi Book is a more recent or differently formulated variant - the Mobi positioning suggests a faster or easier mixing process, possibly with a self-mixing compartment or a simplified application method.
Both come in Black and Light Brown colors. If you are familiar with standard cream dye application, either works. The Mobi Book may be more practical for users who want a quicker application process, while the standard Hair Book is the classic baseline formula.
Five Color Options: Choosing the Right Shade
Lien Book is available in five colors. Black is the deepest and most opaque - it fully covers gray and lightens hair that has been previously colored a lighter shade, though lightening requires checking your current hair color against the target. Black Brown gives a dark brown with warm undertones, covering gray while leaving more dimension than pure black. Light Brown is the lightest option in the Mobi Book range - appropriate for hair that is naturally medium brown or for someone who wants a noticeable but not dramatic darkening.
Natural Brown is the most versatile neutral: it blends with a range of natural hair colors and gives a result that reads as close to natural hair color for most dark-to-medium-brown ranges. The Herbal Natural Brown formula adds plant-derived ingredients - typically botanical extracts - that are gentler on the scalp during processing. Choose Natural Brown for the most natural-looking result; choose Black or Black Brown for full, opaque gray coverage.
Pack Sizes: Single, Dual, 6-Piece, and 8-Piece
Lien Book comes in four formats. The 120 g single is one full application - appropriate for shoulder-length to mid-back hair. The 60 g + 60 g dual pack provides two applications in separate books, positioned as a 3-month supply at a roughly six-week reapplication interval. The 6-piece bundle covers approximately six months of root touch-ups on the standard schedule. The 8-piece bundle adds additional colors - the Black Brown and Gold combination in the 8-piece gives variety across the same supply period.
For users who dye their hair at home regularly, the multi-piece packs significantly reduce cost per application compared to buying single units. The 3-month dual pack is the minimum useful quantity for anyone committed to a dyeing schedule; the 6-piece and 8-piece bundles are for those who want to stock up for six months or more.
Herbal Cream Dye: the Gentler Formula Option
The Black Hair Book Herbal Cream Dye Natural Brown uses plant-based additives to reduce scalp irritation during the dyeing process. Standard hair dye formulas use alkaline chemicals to open the hair cuticle and deposit pigment; these can cause scalp sensitivity, redness, or itching in some users. Herbal additives help buffer this effect and add a conditioning dimension to the post-dye hair feel.
If you have experienced scalp irritation or burning with standard box dyes, the Herbal version is the better choice for the Natural Brown color. It does not change the dyeing mechanism - the color result is the same as the standard formula - but the application experience is gentler and the hair typically feels softer after rinsing.
Free Secret Book West Xiang Shampoo 550ml: Color-Maintaining Step
The Free Secret Book West Xiang Shampoo at 550 ml is the color-maintenance companion in the Lien Book lineup. After dyeing, the most important factor in how long the color holds is the shampoo - color-safe shampoos use lower pH formulas and gentler surfactants that do not strip pigment from the hair shaft as aggressively as standard shampoos. Washing dyed hair with a harsh standard shampoo fades color in two to three weeks; a color-maintaining shampoo extends that to four to six weeks.
The West Xiang scent profile adds a fragrance dimension to the shampoo, giving post-dye hair both color maintenance and a lasting scent. It pairs with any of the Lien Book dye colors. Use it starting from the first wash after dyeing.
At-Home Application: Step-by-Step for Lien Book Cream Dye
Standard application for Lien Book cream dye runs as follows. Apply petroleum jelly or a thick moisturizer along the hairline, ears, and the back of the neck to prevent skin staining. Mix the dye components if using the standard Hair Book (follow pack instructions for ratio and mixing). Apply to dry, unwashed hair - natural oils help protect the scalp during processing. Work from roots to ends in small sections, cover fully, and set a timer for the development time indicated on the packaging (typically 20 to 30 minutes).
Rinse with warm water until the water runs clear, then apply the conditioning sachet included in the pack to close the cuticle and prevent brassiness. Do not shampoo for 24 to 48 hours after dyeing - this gives the pigment time to fully set. Switch to the Free Secret Book shampoo for all subsequent washes to protect color longevity.
Gray Coverage: Which Lien Book Color to Use
For complete gray coverage, Black and Black Brown are the most opaque options. Pure Black covers all gray but may look too stark against lighter skin tones or for people whose natural color was never true black - Black Brown is a softer alternative that covers fully while leaving warmth. Natural Brown covers gray adequately but blends partially, which can give a highlighted or dimensional look in areas of concentrated gray rather than a completely even result. The Herbal Natural Brown is the right choice if you want gray coverage with minimal scalp irritation and a softer result.
For partial coverage or blending - where not all gray needs to be covered and a salt-and-pepper result is acceptable - Natural Brown or Light Brown are more forgiving of partial application and uneven timing.
FAQ
Frequently asked questions
FAQ
Frequently asked questions
What is the difference between the Lien Black Mobi Book and the Black Hair Book?
Both are flat, book-format cream hair dyes from Lien in the same color range. The Mobi Book version uses a formulation or application method that is faster or more streamlined - likely a self-mixing design or a simplified single-component format compared to the two-component mix in the standard Hair Book. If you want the simplest application process, the Mobi Book is the more convenient pick. If you want the standard cream dye process with more control over mix ratio, the Hair Book is the baseline option. Both deliver the same color result in the same shades.
Is 120g of Lien Hair Book dye enough for one full application?
120 g covers one full application for shoulder-length to mid-back hair. For short hair, you will have product left over. For long hair below the shoulder blades, one 120 g book may not be enough - use two books for the same application or use the 60 g + 60 g dual pack to have backup. For root-only touch-ups on any length, a single 120 g book is more than sufficient; divide the application and store the remainder sealed for up to four weeks.
Should I choose Lien Book Black or Black Brown for gray coverage on dark hair?
If your natural hair was close to true black, use Black for the most accurate match - it produces a deep, opaque result with full gray coverage. If your natural hair was dark brown rather than true black, Black Brown is the better choice - it covers gray fully while leaving a warm, dark-brown tone that looks more natural on brown hair. Black on naturally dark brown hair can look slightly unnatural or flat, particularly in bright light. Black Brown is the more universally flattering dark option for most gray coverage needs.
Is the Lien Herbal Cream Dye Natural Brown formula gentler on a sensitive scalp?
Yes. The Herbal formula adds plant-based buffering ingredients that reduce the alkaline stress on the scalp during processing - the main cause of dyeing-related irritation, redness, or burning. If you have experienced itching or sensitivity with standard box dyes, the Herbal Natural Brown is the appropriate choice. It provides the same gray-covering and color result as the standard Natural Brown, but with a gentler scalp experience during the 20 to 30 minute development time and a softer post-dye hair feel.
Can I buy the Lien 6-piece bundle in a single color, or does it come in mixed shades?
The 6-piece Mobi Book Light Brown bundle is a single-color set - all six books are the same Light Brown shade. The 8-piece bundle (Black Brown Gold, 8 pieces) is a multi-color set that includes a mix of shades. Choose the 6-piece if you want to stock up on a single color you have confirmed works for you. Choose the 8-piece if you want to experiment across shades or if your hair coverage needs vary - darker roots covered with Black Brown and lighter lengths touched up with a different shade, for example.
Can I use the Lien Free Secret Book Shampoo 550ml with other brands' hair dye, or only Lien Book?
The Free Secret Book Shampoo works with any hair dye, not exclusively Lien Book. It is a color-maintaining shampoo - lower pH, gentler surfactants - that reduces pigment fading from dyed hair regardless of which brand or formula was used to dye it. Use it starting from the first post-dye wash for any color-treated hair. The 550 ml size provides approximately three to four months of regular daily or every-other-day use at a standard shampoo amount.
The Lien 60g+60g Black Hair Book says '3 month' - how often am I supposed to dye my hair?
The 3-month label assumes a six-week dyeing interval, which is a standard schedule for root touch-up maintenance - roots typically become noticeably visible at four to six weeks. At that pace, two applications equals roughly three months of continuous coverage. If you dye less frequently (every eight to ten weeks), the same two books cover four to five months. Use the 3-month label as a practical guideline based on typical dyeing frequency rather than a strict prescription.
I have never dyed my hair at home before - is the Lien Hair Book a good starting point?
Yes. The book format pre-measures one application, which removes one of the main beginner mistakes (using too much or too little product). The cream formula is easier to apply and blend than a gel or liquid dye. Start with the Natural Brown or Black Brown rather than Black - darker colors are more forgiving if application is slightly uneven, whereas Black shows any patchy areas more clearly. Follow the included instructions carefully, use the included conditioner after rinsing, and do a strand test on a small section behind the ear before full application if you have not dyed that hair before.