Milbon nb Dye

NB stands for neutral brown. In the Milbon Oldive Botte shade naming system, the letter code after the level number indicates the tone direction. NB is the most balanced option in the Oldive range - it introduces minimal warm (golden, red) or cool (ash, violet) cast, producing results that look like a naturally occurring brown. This makes NB the safest choice for first-time users of the Oldive system, for gray coverage where a natural result is the goal, and for anyone who wants predictable, unmixed-looking results across the full level range. The other Oldive tone families (CB for cool brown, SB for sandy or silver brown) pull in more specific undertone directions; NB stays in the center.

Oldive Botte b2-NB is the darkest shade in the NB range. At level 2, it deposits deep, dark brown color with minimal lift from the starting hair. It is one of the most reliable gray coverage options in the Oldive Botte lineup - the high pigment load fully covers white and gray hair. On dark natural hair, b2-NB produces a rich, near-black brown result. It is not appropriate for lightening - it deposits color without lifting. Available as both a Botte Hair Dye tube and the 80g Oldiv Bote jar format.

The mid-range NB levels cover medium dark (b4), medium (b5), and medium light (b6) neutral brown results. Level b4-NB is the most commonly used shade for dark brunettes wanting a slightly lighter natural brown without going too light. Level b5-NB is the standard mid-level choice - versatile on Asian and European hair types and the most natural-looking level for most starting dark hair colors. Level b6-NB moves into lighter brown territory, suitable for hair that's already been lightened once or for natural hair in the medium brown range. All three provide reliable gray coverage with the Crystal Oxidizer at 6%.

Levels b7 and b8 in the NB family produce light to very light brown results. On previously colored hair at level 5-6, b7-NB gives a natural light brown result without heavy lift. On dark virgin or natural hair, reaching b7-b8 may require pre-lightening depending on the hair's starting base - Asian hair at natural level 2-3 typically needs a preliminary bleach step before b7-b8 NB can achieve the target. Both levels are available as standalone Botte Hair Dye tubes in the NB range on skinsli.

Level b9-NB is the lightest shade in the NB range - a light, sandy-neutral brown. On hair that has been pre-lightened to level 8+, b9-NB produces a soft, cool-neutral result without strong warm or ash tones. On dark hair without pre-lightening, the 6% oxidizer won't lift to level 9 in a single session; pre-lightening with the Oldive Where Si High Bleach is the standard preparation. b9-NB is used when the goal is a near-blond neutral brown that avoids both the brassiness of warm blonds and the harsh blue-gray of strong ash tones.

The MILBON 80g c5-NB with Hair Dye Crystal Oxidizer listing is a bundled product - the 80g dye jar plus the Crystal Oxidizer in one package. The "c5" level designation corresponds to level 5 in the Milbon Oldive c-line (closely related to the Botte b-line), in NB tone. Bundle formats like this are convenient for first-time buyers who don't already have the oxidizer - they avoid sourcing the dye and developer separately. The Crystal Oxidizer in the bundle is typically the 6% formulation suited to standard color applications at level 5.

Two packaging formats appear in the NB collection. The "Botte Hair Dye + 1" listings are tube-format dyes - measured, pre-portioned tubes paired with a small developer bottle (the "+1" indicates the developer is included). The "Hair Dye Oldiv Bote 80g" listings are jar-format dyes where the oxidizer is listed separately. The tube + 1 format is the standard consumer presentation, with both color and developer in one box. The jar format is more typical of salon or professional bulk purchasing where developers are already stocked separately. Functionally, the color formulas are the same - the format choice depends on whether you already have a separate developer supply.

Neutral brown NB shades are one of the most reliable choices for gray hair coverage because of their even pigment balance - they don't pull warm enough to look orange against white hair, and they don't pull ashy enough to look flat or unnatural on warm-toned gray hair. For full gray coverage: levels b2 through b5-NB with the Crystal Oxidizer 6% cover consistently. For natural gray blending (leaving some gray visible): b6-b7-NB at lighter levels allows gray hair to integrate as natural-looking highlights rather than starkly uncovered roots. The key factor is the ratio of gray in your hair - above 50% gray, higher-level NB shades (b6+) will appear lighter than expected because the gray hair isn't fully covered and lightens the overall result.