Novyco Academy – Insight

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Novyco Academy · Insight Professional

Everything Insight,
explained in black and white.

The brand’s complete technical sheets — Incolor color, blondes, direct pigments, Rebuild, hair care, scalp and styling — with ratios, volumes and processing times, easy to read without opening a single video. The 40 training videos are here too, chapter by chapter, for those who prefer to watch.

7technical sheets
40training videos
31Color Master chapters

Introduction to Insight Professional · 1 min · FR

The brand at a glance

What to know before discussing the products

Read moreFormulas, certifications, old and new packaging

Insight Professional was founded in 2013 in Bologna, Italy, as part of a family business that has been making cosmetics for around fifty years. The brand has its own laboratory and formulates everything in-house. Its principle: sustainability is no longer a choice, but a way of working — hence the slogan “It's not who we are, but who you are”.

In the formulas

  • Ozonated water: the water in all formulas is purified with ozone (added oxygen), reducing bacterial load and pollutants — a factor in allergies and scalp irritation that is often underestimated.
  • Nickel tested: traces of nickel are reduced to a minimum in every product (including activators), because nickel allergy is common and rarely diagnosed.
  • Highly active phyto-extracts, ingredients of natural origin in high percentages (up to 97%, depending on the range), allergen-free fragrances, dermatologically tested products.
  • Free from: sulfates (SLS/SLES), mineral oils and petrolatum, heavy silicones, parabens, synthetic colorants. Only two styling products (Liquid Crystals and Restructuring Complex) contain a lightweight dimethicone for shine.

Certifications

Carbon-neutral company (in collaboration with the University of Bologna), products certified Vegan OK and COSMOS Natural, and a commitment to preventing palm oil overproduction. Certification numbers appear on the packaging and can be verified.

Old and new packaging: don’t confuse them

Former packaging (until 2024)Brown bottles made from 100% recyclable PET, cream label, color band by range. This is the packaging you see in most of the videos on this page, and it is still in circulation in several salons.
New look (2025)Glass bottles (infinitely recyclable), aluminum tubes, Ocean Action labels made from plastic recovered from beaches, and label rolls recycled in a closed loop. Same formulas, same product codes; only the packaging has changed.
Melted CareWaterless shampoos and conditioners, concentrated glycerin-based formulas in small jars: a “zero water” option in the care ranges (not in Scalp Care). Ideal travel size, not considered a liquid.
The range
Incolor Hydra Color Correctors Incolor Aura Direct pigments Anti-Frizz Antioxidant

See the full Insight range →

Technical sheet 1

Incolor Hydra Color · oxidative hair color

Everything taught in the Incolor Tech videos and the Color Master course, condensed into charts: reading the color chart, choosing an activator, ratios, processing times, gray coverage, and formula examples.

View the full product sheetThe product · color chart · activators · gray hair · correctors · the six services · salon protocol

The product

100 mL tubes · 60 mL correctors · 90 fully intermixable shades

Italian hair color with a calibrated, low ammonia content, formulated with 90% naturally derived ingredients: organic argan oil, grape seed butter, and plant-based phytokeratin. Hydra Color Blend technology (naturally derived esters) retains moisture in the hair fiber during processing, leaving hair hydrated and shiny, not dry. Shades are pre-neutralized—warm underlying pigments are already balanced in the formula. The ammonia released during development forms natural salts (ammonium lactate) that are part of the scalp’s hydrolipidic film; that’s why Insight chose ammonia over monoethanolamine, which builds up on the scalp with every color service.

1 + 1½standard ratio: 50 g color + 75 g activator
35–40 minstandard processing time, without heat
1 + 2high-lift shades (30 or 40 vol.) · 45 min
5 activators6 · 10 · 20 · 30 · 40 volume, enriched with rice proteins
Golden rule: mix the creams together first, then add the activator. Only prepare the mixture when you’re ready to apply it—the oxidation reaction starts as soon as the two parts touch.

How to read a shade and the color chart

The number before the decimal point = tone level · after the decimal point = reflect

The level ranges from 1 (black) to 11 (platinum blonde). The reflects: 0 natural · 1 ash · 2 iridescent · 3 gold · 4 copper · 5 mahogany · 6 red · 7 violet. When two digits follow the point, the first is the dominant reflect and the second the secondary reflect (7.34 = dominant gold, hint of copper; 7.43 = dominant copper). The hair samples in the shade chart are the most reliable reference: an Insight 7.0 is not the same as another brand’s 7.0.

The color wheel on page 3 shows where each shade falls: natural .0 shades are at the center (perfectly neutral), intense .00 shades are shifted toward the blue axis (cooler), the most intense colors are nearer the center, and the lightest are toward the outside. Two rules: neighboring colors blend together, while opposite colors neutralize each other (violet against yellow, blue against orange, green against red).

Page Series Key points
1 · Natural and cool shades .0 natural (1.0 to 10.0) · .00 intense natural (4.00 to 9.00) · .05 warm chocolate and .07 cool chocolate (levels 3 to 6) · .1 ash · .11 intense ash (7 to 11) · .2 iridescent (8.2, 10.2) · .21 ash iridescent (6 to 11) .0 and .00 are used on their own or as coverage bases, added to any series. .00 is suitable for thick, resistant or very white hair. .11, with a double dose of ash pigment (toward green), neutralizes red tones. Cool series can also be used to tone bleached hair.
2 · Warm shades and super lighteners .3 gold (5 to 9) · .34 copper gold (6.34, 7.34, 8.34) · .31 beige (6 to 8) · .4 copper (5.4, 6.4) · .44 intense copper (7.44, 8.44) · .43 copper gold (7.43, 9.43) · .5 mahogany (4.5, 5.5, 6.5) · .66 intense red (5.66, 6.66, 7.66) · super lighteners 90.0, 90.3, 91.2 Beige .31 is the ideal balance between warm and cool. .66 is cooler than mahogany .5 (it leans toward violet). Super lighteners: on a natural base of level 8 or higher, 1 + 2 with 30 or 40 vol., 45 min.
3 · Colorist tools 0.0 lightening booster · 6 correctors (ash, green, red, violet, blue, copper) · toners without a level (anti-yellow, gold; also caramel and pink in Canada) Add 0.0 up to 10% of the mixture with 40 vol. to gain up to one extra level on dark, thick hair. Correctors: see the table below. Toners: on their own, mixed together or with light shades, using 6 vol. (deposit) or 10 vol. (more shine).

Choosing the developer

It’s the developer, not the shade, that determines the lightening power

Hydrogen peroxide oxidizes melanin (lifts the hair) and develops the pigments. “20 volume” means that one liter releases 20 liters of oxygen (≈ 6%). Insight developers are “nourishing” (rice proteins), allergen-free, and nickel-tested; never use an oxidizer from another brand with Incolor. Keep tightly closed in a cool place, never in a metal container. Color does not lift color: to lift hair that has already been colored, it must be bleached.

Developer Function Lift Gray hair Example (natural base 6.0)
6 vol. Pure deposit: tone-on-tone, darkening, customizing, toning bleached hair. A deeper result, with no visible regrowth. 1 + 2 ratio for toning. None No — not enough intensity 5.77 + 6 vol., 20 to 35 min
10 vol. Deposit with slight lift: a brighter, more translucent effect than 6 vol. Toners, Men Gloss, repigmentation. Gentle No —
20 vol. Permanent, covers gray hair Up to 1 level Yes 6.4 or 7.3 + 20 vol.
30 vol. Permanent, covers gray hair 1½ to 2 levels Yes 8.2 + 30 vol.
40 vol. Permanent, covers gray hair; the only developer for super-lighteners and 0.0 2½ to 3 levels (up to 4 with 0.0) Yes 9.43 + 40 vol. · or 45 g 9.43 + 5 g 0.0 + 75 g 40 vol.
The more levels you lift, the more essential it is to leave the color on for the full processing time: if the melanin is not lifted enough, the requested cool reflect shifts, and the gray hair seems poorly covered, when it is actually the darker hair that has remained too dark. Fine or porous hair lifts much faster than thick, resistant hair: note the hair structure on the assessment form before formulating.

Covering gray hair

20, 30, or 40 vol. developer whenever there is gray hair, even a small amount
% gray hair Natural base to add Example · base 7.0, target 9.43
0 – 25 % None: the shade alone is enough 50 g 9.43 + 75 g 30 vol.
25 – 50 % ⅓ natural .0 (fine, porous hair) or .00 (thick, resistant hair) 35 g 9.43 + 15 g 9.0 + 75 g 30 vol.
50 – 100 % ½ natural .0 or .00 25 g 9.43 + 25 g 9.0 + 75 g 30 vol.

The higher the proportion of natural hair, the softer the reflect: this is the trade-off to explain to the client.

Two actions in one: 70% gray hair, base 6, target 9.1
Formula: 9.1 + 8.0 + 40 vol. The .0 ensures coverage; the 40 vol. lifts the 30% of natural level 6 hair by three levels to level 9. Without this lift, the 9.1 would appear not to cover.
Roots + faded lengths
Base 7.0 with 70% gray hair, faded 7.44 lengths, target 7.66.
  • Roots: 25 g 7.66 + 25 g 7.0 + 75 g 20 vol.
  • After 20 min, lengths: 30 g 7.66 + 40 g 10 vol.
  • Another 15–20 min for a total of 35–40 min.
Two different bases require two formulas and two timings to achieve the same result.
Color Master Demo (chapter 29)
Base 6 with 50% gray, 8.3 at the back and 9.3 at the front, each shade tested with three developers. Verdict: 40 vol. covers perfectly and lightens; 20 vol. covers but lightens very little; 6 vol. neither covers nor lightens. In areas with a high proportion of gray, add 9.0 or 9.00.

Correctors and toners

Always included in the mixture, never added on top
Use Amount Example
Intensify a tone Up to 50% of the mixture Make a 7.43 more coppery: add copper corrector.
Neutralize a tone 2 to 5% of the mixture (the darker the hair, the more you need) Client with brassy hair who wants a natural look: add a touch of blue corrector.
Fashion effects on their own Pure, with the developer suited to the base On very light or bleached hair, e.g. 29 g anti-yellow toner + 1 g red corrector + 60 g 10 vol. for a pastel peach.
Anti-yellow / gold toners On their own, mixed together, or with a light shade 6 vol. for pure deposit, 10 vol. for more shine (very slightly lightens natural hair).

The six services possible with Incolor

And two limitations: color cannot lighten color; if there is a large difference in levels, bleach first
Service Shade Developer · ratio · processing time Example
1 · Tone-on-tone on natural hair with no gray Same level as or darker than the base 6 vol. · 1 + 1½ · 20 to 35 min Base 6, target 5.77: 50 g 5.77 + 75 g 6 vol.
2 · Lightening natural hair with no gray Lighter than the base 20/30/40 vol., depending on the difference · 1 + 1½ · 35–40 min. Two mixtures: apply the strongest developer to the lengths (which are more resistant), then one level lower to the roots (3–4 cm). Base 6, target 8.31: lengths 50 g 8.31 + 75 g 40 vol.; roots 50 g 8.31 + 75 g 30 vol.
3 · Covering gray hair Shade + .0 / .00 base, depending on the percentage 20/30/40 vol. · 1 + 1½ · 35–40 min See table above
4 · Regrowth + lengths Two separate formulas Roots first, lengths after 20 min; if the lengths are darker than the target, bleach first A 7.44 won’t become a 7.1 without bleaching, even at the same level
5 · Toner (toning) on bleached hair Cool series or toners, depending on the resulting lift 6 vol. (1 + 2) or 10 vol. Target 10.31: achievable only on a 10.03 base, not on a 8.33 or a 9.3
6 · Repigmentation (darkening bleached hair by at least 3 levels) Direct pigments first, then a shade from the .0, .00, .05, or .07 series 6 or 10 vol. (deposit only) See the Direct Pigments guide

The salon protocol, step by step

What experienced colorists skip far too often
  1. Consultation in a dedicated space or at the workstation: open-ended questions followed by closed questions, photo references on a tablet (what the client wants and doesn’t want). Check the condition of the scalp: if there is marked redness or inflammation, reschedule.
  2. Written consultation form: scalp and hair condition, natural level, % gray, colors present on the lengths, target color. It determines the shades, developers, technique and timing.
  3. Preparation: brush the hair; if styling product has built up, wash gently with Intech pre-treatment shampoo (lengths only), then dry completely. Apply Intech skin protector (organic hemp oil) around the hairline; add 3–4 drops to the bowl for a sensitive scalp.
  4. Decide the order of services: pre-cut, bleaching (highlights, balayage, removing color that is too dark), repigmentation, then coloring.
  5. Weigh in a bowl on an electronic scale; use one bowl per mixture, labeled with the tube sticker.
  6. Apply according to the technical sheet, observing the processing times without a heat source.
  7. Emulsify without water: massage the scalp with gloved hands to lift color from the skin, especially around the hairline (staining from dark shades on porous skin), then gradually add water and rinse.
  8. Neutralize: use neutralizing shampoo (Post Chemistry) once or twice, towel-dry, apply neutralizing mask for 5 to 10 min, rinse. The acidic pH closes the cuticle, seals in pigments and prolongs shine.
  9. Maintenance: Colored Hair range at home and in the salon over the following weeks.
Incolor Tech: hair coloring step by stepFR14 min · Catherine Bitaud, educator. Hydra Color, Men, blondes, direct pigments and Rebuild.
Incolor Tech (English)EN11 min · Darya. Same content, in English.

For the complete theory (oxidation chemistry, colorimetry, series-by-series shade chart, demos), see the 31-chapter Color Master course below.

Technical sheet 2

Blondes, bleaching and toning

View the full product sheetLightening powders and fluid · super lighteners 90/91 · toning bleached hair · Incolor Aura

Lightening products

Three powders and one fluid · all powders: up to 7 levels, 1 + 2 ratio
Product Base Texture · use Ratio · time · developer
White powder Argan oil Creamy · foil techniques, full bleaching 1 + 2 · up to 7 levels · 10 to 40 vol. depending on the base
Blue powder Amaranth oil Creamy, anti-yellowing action · foils, full bleaching 1 + 2 · up to 7 levels
Multi-technique powder Amaranth oil Paste · freehand balayage and any technique without foils 1 + 2 · up to 7 levels
Lightening fluid Rice extract Gel · natural-looking highlights, tone-on-tone color, removing excess oxidative color, removing blue/violet shampoo buildup 1 + 1 · 5 to 20 min · 6 or 10 vol. only
Cold-toned reflect additive (Eco Key / Cool Shades booster) — Measure in grams and add to white powder, multi-technique or Hydra Color mixture to counter warm tones. Not for gray hair or above level 9. Quantities according to the table in the Incolor manual (see Shade Charts & Manuals)

High-lift shades (90/91 series)

90.0 natural, 90.3 gold, 91.2 pearl. Higher ammonia content than the standard series to lighten natural hair directly at level 8 and above. Mix 1 + 2 with 30 or 40 vol. activator (e.g., 50 g of 90.0 + 100 g of 40 vol.), process for 45 min. You can add 0.0 (≤ 10%) with 40 vol. for one extra level.

Toning bleached hair

The result of toning depends first on the lightening base achieved, once dry: residual melanin or pigments always affect the color applied over them. For a 10.31, you need a 10.03 base — an 8.33 or 9.3 base will give a different result. Choose the cool series (.1, .11, .2, .21) or the toner based on the base and reference photo; apply with 6 vol. (1 + 2) for pure deposit or 10 vol. for more shine. After any bleaching: use a neutralizing shampoo and mask, and Rebuild if the hair fiber is weakened (before the toner).

Incolor Aura · ammonia-free liquid demi-permanent color

27 liquid shades (including Gold Tones and Ruby Tones) + Fusion Clear for dilution, with Aura developer and 20 vol. activator. To tone, gloss, enhance a reflection or refresh lengths without a regrowth effect. Ratios and processing times are detailed in the Aura technical manual.

Technical sheet 3

Direct pigments and Incolor Men

View the full product sheetDirect pigments · Incolor Men

Direct pigments

Ready-to-use color, no activator needed
20 minon clean, dry hair
Rinse without shampoo
4–6washes for natural shades
6–10washes for vibrant shades

Direct pigments color the cuticle without penetrating the cortex: vibrant or natural results, with no oxidation. Use them alone, mixed together or diluted in the Incolor direct pigment mask for pastel effects. In the salon to refresh the ends, or at home for maintenance between visits. How long the color lasts depends on the shade and porosity.

Repigmentation: when bleached hair needs to be darkened by at least three levels, it has lost its melanin and needs a color base before coloring — first apply direct pigments, then an Incolor shade from the .0, .00, .05 or .07 series with 6 or 10 vol. On severely damaged hair, applying Rebuild before the pigments improves color retention.

Incolor Men

Gray hair camouflage for men
6 shadeslow ammonia content
1 + 1mixing ratio
10 minprocessing time
6 or 10 vol.deep or bright camouflage

Quick, natural coverage with no visible regrowth: the color fades gradually. 6 vol. provides deeper coverage, while 10 vol. provides brighter coverage. Finish with neutralizing shampoo and mask.

Insight Man: men's productsFR2 min
Insight Man: fluid beard and hair gelFR1 min
Technical sheet 4

Rebuild · the reconstruction system

Two-step professional treatment, tested with the University of Bologna, that restores the fiber's protein content. Even the most damaged hair — from repeated bleaching, perms, or straightening — regains strength and elasticity.

View the full product sheetBoth steps · the in-salon protocol

Both steps

Plant-based phytokeratin · red and brown algae · organic avocado and pracaxi oils · ginger and magnolia

1 · Plumping serum (Hair Filler Serum · IRB510, 200 mL)

Higher pH than hair: gently opens the cuticle so phytokeratin, algae, and avocado can repair the cortex from within. Plumps, nourishes, and restores internal structure.

2 · Sealing smoothing treatment (Hair Cuticle Sealer · IRB511, 400 mL)

Acidic pH: closes the cuticle, seals in nutrients, detangles, and smooths. Pracaxi for shine.

Protocol

  1. Wash with Intech pre-treatment shampoo (or Rebuild regenerating shampoo) — a gentle, sulfate-free cleanser that opens the cuticle.
  2. Towel-dry, apply the plumping serum to damp lengths and ends. Leave on for 8 to 12 min.
  3. Rinse with water only. Do not comb at this stage.
  4. Blot dry, apply the sealing smoothing treatment. Leave on for 8 to 12 min.
  5. Rinse with water only, dry, and style with the regenerating heat-protective serum (protection up to 230 °C).
Texture · length Serum (g) Sealing treatment (g)
Fine · short 30 25
Medium · shoulder-length 45 35
Thick · long 50 45
Service Who it's for Protocol
Reconstruction Damaged or severely weakened hair Complete protocol, once a week for 5 weeks
Plumping treatment Fine, weakened hair that lacks volume (without frizz) Plumping serum only
Acid smoothing treatment Unruly, dull, or curly hair Sealing smoothing treatment only
When to incorporate it into a technical service
  • After bleaching, before applying toner.
  • After Hydra Color coloring if the hair is porous — first wash with neutralizing or regenerating shampoo to limit color fading.
  • Before direct pigments on severely damaged hair, to prepare the fiber and improve color retention.

At-home care: sulfate-free regenerating shampoo (IRB310), regenerating conditioner (IRB311, 3 to 5 min), leave-in regenerating heat-protective serum (IRB313). Cyclic fatigue and DSC tests: more cycles before breakage and a higher denaturation temperature than untreated hair tresses.

Fact sheet 5

Hair care · which line for which hair type

All lines protect color and can be combined without any adverse results; this table helps you prescribe the right one first. “Dry” doesn’t mean “damaged”: dry hair lacks hydration, while damaged hair has a fiber that needs restructuring.

View the full product sheetTable of product lines, products, and pro tips
Line Who it's for What it does Products Pro tip
Daily Use The whole family, frequent use, all hair types Gentle, nourishing cleansing without weighing hair down Shampoo, conditioner, mask, leave-in detangler, densifying shampoo, Melted The leave-in detangler is the bestselling product: lightweight on fine hair, effective on tangled hair.
Dry Hair Dry hair (environment, heat) Conditioning benefits: strength, elasticity, volume, softness Shampoo, conditioner, mask, Melted First choice when a client says “my hair is dry” and there’s no chemical damage.
Damaged Hair Damaged hair (heat, chemical, mechanical) Restructures the hair fiber, from shampoo to mask Shampoo, conditioner, mask, restructuring strengthening spray, Hair Booster, Melted The restructuring spray protects fragile ends during highlighting: spray it on before applying bleach. Hair Booster (powder): mix 1 sachet into 30 g of mask at the salon; at home, 1 sachet = 3 uses, mixed into any Insight mask.
Colored Hair Colored hair, especially red and vibrant shades Protection, shine, strength; extends color Shampoo, conditioner, mask Prescribe after every Incolor service for the following weeks.
Antioxidant Hard water, chlorine, sea, sun, pollution Shield against free radicals, minerals and metals in water, and UV rays Shampoo, conditioner, mask, protective spray Flagship line in Quebec because of hard water. The protective spray can be used on its own, every day or before going to the beach.
Anti-Frizz Frizz, static, unruly curls Hydrates and smooths without weighing hair down Shampoo, conditioner, mask, Melted For clients with curls who want to keep them without excessive volume; sells on its own in humid climates.
Volumizing Fine, flat hair Body, strength, volume, hold Shampoo, volumizing moisturizing spray (leave-in conditioner), Volume Up root spray, Melted No traditional conditioner: the spray is applied in a measured amount to the lengths. Root spray adds volume when blow-drying, without a brush.
Elasti-Curl Wavy, curly, coily, afro-textured Long-lasting hydration within the hair fiber; definition Pure Mild Shampoo (low-lathering, non-stripping), mask (replaces conditioner), leave-in detangling milk, curl-defining cream, Bouncy Curls Oil (pre-shampoo), illuminating oil serum (leave-in), light-hold hairspray Milk = hydration without hold (wavy hair); cream = defining, holding gel-cream; mix them to adjust the hold. Bouncy Curls Oil is a treatment used before shampooing. Spray the light-hold hairspray on damp hair before diffusing to avoid a crunchy feel.
Blonde Blondes and bleached hair Highly pigmented anti-yellowing Shampoo, mask To neutralize without redoing a toner.
Melted Care Eco-conscious customers, travel Waterless solid shampoo and conditioner In most treatment ranges Not considered a liquid in carry-on luggage.
Insight hair careFR2 min · overview of the ranges (old visuals)
Insight webinar: brand, treatments, styling and scalpEN60 min · recording from April 20, 2026 (Insight North America). Covers the content of this sheet and the next two, verbally.
Product sheet 6

Scalp Care · the scalp

View the full product sheetScalp Care lines by concern · 9-step Head Spa ritual
Line Problem Products · use
Densifying Low density, thinning hair, mild hair loss Shampoo + leave-in treatment (at the salon before blow-drying, at home for daily use)
Clarifying / Purifying Dandruff, impurities, buildup Shampoo + leave-in treatment; can be left on overnight and evaporates without leaving a greasy feel
Rebalancing Sebum imbalance / dryness Shampoo + exfoliating cream (before shampooing): naturally derived exfoliants (chestnut shell, brown algae, pine extract), no irritating sugars. Suitable for everyone — the foundation of every head spa
Sensitive Sensitive scalp, itching after coloring, mature skin Shampoo, conditioner, mask
Lenitive Irritated scalp, redness, scratching Shampoo + leave-in treatment: soothing barrier that lasts all day

Insight Head Spa ritual · 9 steps

  1. Detox / Rebalance treatment on dry hair, with an exfoliating massage.
  2. Rebalance Shampoo for the first wash, with an exfoliating massage.
  3. Clarifying or Densifying for the second wash, with a gentler massage to begin relaxing.
  4. Conditioner, mask or treatment to rehydrate: massage, comb through, let it detangle.
  5. Dermaroller before Clarifying or Densifying treatment.
  6. Leave-in on the scalp: Clarifying, Densifying or Lenitive.
  7. On the lengths: leave-in detangler and Liquid Crystals.
  8. Drying and styling.
  9. Scalp analysis: “after” photos compared with the consultation.
Product sheet 7

Styling · each product, how to use it

View the full product sheetEach styling product: what it is and how to apply it
Product What it is When · how
Liquid Crystals Finishing serum: heat protection, anti-humidity, shine, softness A few drops on damp hair before drying, or on dry hair as a finishing touch. Mix with Oil Non Oil or styling cream to make them lighter.
Restructuring Complex Split-end repairing serum, heat protection A few drops on damp or dry hair; gives the appearance of sealed ends—for the client who refuses to get a trim.
Anti-frizz fluid Anti-humidity smoothing lotion Apply to damp hair before blow-drying; style with a brush.
Oil Non Oil A very light gel, fluid like an oil—but it isn't one Apply to damp hair for a smooth, controlled effect.
Styling cream Blow-dry cream or leave-in cream Use with a blow-dryer for body; leave in the hair for a loose wave, less defined than with Elasti-Curl.
Volumizing hydrating spray Leave-in conditioner from the Volumizing range: body, vitality, hold Apply to the lengths, using sparingly; Volume Up root spray for blow-dry volume.
Texturizing salt spray Beach effect Use on wet or dry hair; on dry hair, apply between sections to break up the finish.
Ecospray medium hold · strong hold Non-aerosol hairsprays Hold comparable to hairsprays, used for outdoor fashion shows and styles that need to last all week.
Strong-hold gel · extra-strong-hold gel Gels Strong: slicked-back styles, or a dab applied with a blow-dryer on very fine hair for hold. Extra strong: “cement” effect.
Modeling wax · fiber wax · modeling paste Three pomades Modeling: glossy, light hold. Fiber: medium hold, moderate shine. Paste: matte. A small amount is enough.
Volumizing Spray and Restructuring ComplexFR1 min · application and results
Liquid Crystals, Anti-Frizz Fluid, and EcosprayFR2 min · how to use and blow-dry styling with a brush
Color Master course · Insight Academy

31 chapters on oxidation color

The Insight Academy specialization course, led by Filippo Manusi, Technical Director at Insight Professional. The videos are in English; each chapter is summarized here in French so you can read first, then watch. The chapters are listed in the order of the course, not in the order of the channel.

View all 31 chaptersBefore you begin · the basics · oxidation · Incolor and its shade chart · activators · salon service · demonstrations

Before you begin

Welcome to Color Master
EN · 2 min
Why a guide to oxidation color: a hundred hairdressers faced with the same client would make a hundred different choices of shades, activators, techniques, and processing times. This course sets out a method, with Incolor Hydra Color as its reference system.
The 10-minute technical summary
EN · 10 min · Darya
The condensed version of the entire course: Hydra Color, Men, direct pigments, lighteners and Rebuild, with all ratios and processing times. Same content as the French Incolor Tech video above.

Chapter 1 · The basics: hair and color

What oxidative hair coloring is used for, how hair is structured, where its natural color comes from, and the two rules of color theory that no colorist can ignore.

1.1 · What we'll cover
EN · 2 min
Three prerequisites: the functions of oxidative hair coloring (when to recommend it), the structure and natural color of the hair, and what happens chemically, physically and chromatically during processing.
1.2 · The six functions of oxidative hair coloring
EN · 3 min
Cover gray hair (from a few strands to 100%), darken, lighten natural hair, change a tone, create a tone-on-tone look, customize bleached hair. Two rules: color does not lighten color; for a major change in tone, lighten first.
1.3 · Hair structure and melanin
EN · 6 min
Medulla (not always present), cortex (80% of the fiber, keratin, home to melanin, elasticity and strength), cuticle (scales that reflect light — a “dull” color is often caused by a damaged cuticle). Eumelanin = brown-black and depth level; pheomelanin = yellow, the blond shades; trichosiderin = red. White hair is a fiber with no pigment. Oxidative hair coloring acts on all three layers: permanent effect.
1.4 · Color theory: the color wheel
EN · 3 min
Primary colors (yellow, red, blue), secondary colors (orange, violet, green), tertiary colors. Rule 1: neighboring colors blend (gold + copper = golden copper). Rule 2: opposites neutralize each other — violet against yellow, blue against orange/copper, green against red.

Chapter 2 · The oxidation process

What's in the tube, what's in the activator, and what happens when you mix them.

2.1 · Chemical or physical process?
EN · 2 min
Wood and meat on a hot plate are permanently transformed (chemical change); gold and lead melt and then return to what they were (physical change). The oxidation of dyes is chemical and permanent; the swelling of the cuticle caused by the alkali is physical and temporary.
2.2 · What is oxidative hair coloring?
EN · 3 min
Direct pigments = ready to use, they color the cuticle. Oxidation = two components (shade + activator) to mix just before use; the cuticle opens, the substances penetrate, the melanin oxidizes and lightens, and the pigments develop and oxidize in the cortex.
2.3 · The coloring component
EN · 5 min
Cream or gel base, color precursors (small, colorless molecules that grow inside the hair), antioxidants, conditioning agents, chelating agents, fragrance, and alkaline substances that swell the hair fiber and catalyze the peroxide. Ammonia: a volatile gas, highly effective for lightening and coverage, does not build up on the scalp. Monoethanolamine (in “ammonia-free” hair colors): odorless but builds up with each coloring.
2.4 · The developer
EN · 3 min
Hydrogen peroxide: active oxygen in aqueous solution. 20-volume developer = 1 liter releases 20 liters of oxygen, or 6% (60 g per 1,000). Never use a metal container or heat; close tightly. The type and amount of developer are two decisive factors in the result.

Chapter 3 · Incolor Hydra Color and its color chart

The formula, shade numbering, and the three pages of the color chart, series by series.

3.1 · Insight and the Incolor formula
EN · 3 min
Eco-conscious “urban nature” brand, ingredients of natural origin, sustainable supply chain. Incolor: low ammonia, Hydra Color Blend technology that retains water in the hair fiber, phytokeratin (volume, shine), organic argan oil (elasticity), grape seed butter (antioxidant, moisture control).
3.2 · General characteristics
EN · 1 min
100 mL tubes (60 mL for correctors). Standard ratio 1 + 1½ (50 g + 75 g). Standard processing time 35–40 min, varying by service.
3.3 · Reading a shade
EN · 2 min
Before the dot: level, 1 (black) to 11 (platinum). After the dot: tone — 0 natural, 1 ash, 2 iridescent, 3 gold, 4 copper, 5 mahogany, 6 red, 7 violet. Two digits after the dot indicate the primary tone followed by the secondary tone.
3.4 · The color chart: how it is structured
EN · 4 min
Page 1: natural and cool shades; page 2: warm shades and high-lift shades; page 3: correctors, toners, 0.0 and the color wheel (intense shades in the center, light shades on the outside). The swatches in the color chart are the reference: each brand has its own scale.
3.5 · Page 1: natural and cool shades
EN · 6 min
.0 neutral natural (1 to 10); .00 intense natural (4 to 9), more pigmented and slightly cool, for resistant or very white hair; .05 warm chocolate and .07 cool chocolate (3 to 6), with good coverage; .1 ash; .11 intense ash (7 to 11, double pigment, anti-red); .2 iridescent (8.2, 10.2); .21 iridescent ash (6 to 11). Cool series tone bleached hair according to the underlying tone achieved and the reference photo.
3.6 · Page 2: warm shades and high-lift shades
EN · 4 min
.3 gold (5 to 9), .34 copper gold (caramels), .31 beige (6 to 8, between warm and cool), .4 copper, .44 intense copper, .43 copper gold, .5 mahogany, .66 intense red (cooler than mahogany). High-lift shades 90.0, 90.3, 91.2: 1 + 2 with 30 or 40 vol., 45 min, on a base of level 8 or higher.
3.7 · Page 3: 0.0, correctors and toners
EN · 5 min
0.0 booster: up to 10% of the mixture with 40 vol. (45 g 10.11 + 5 g 0.0 + 75 g). Ash, green, red, violet, blue, and copper correctors: intensify (≤ 50%), neutralize (≤ 5% — less on light hair), or use alone for fashion effects. Anti-yellow and gold toners: without a level, use alone, together, or with light shades.

Chapter 4 · The activators

The right volume for the right level difference, and what happens when you get it wrong.

4.1 · Why five activators
EN · 3 min
Choosing the shade isn't enough: the activator provides the lightening power suited to the difference between the natural base and the target. On previously colored hair, bleaching is what lightens it. The five nourishing Incolor activators (rice proteins, allergen-free, nickel-tested): 6, 10, 20, 30, 40 vol. Always use Insight's.
4.2 · Each activator in detail
EN · 7 min
6 vol.: deposit, gloss (1 + 2), no white coverage. 10 vol.: same, with more shine and translucency. 20/30/40 vol.: permanent color, covers white hair, lifts 1 / 1½–2 / 2½–3 levels; not for tone-on-tone color. Examples on a 6.0 base: 6.4 or 7.3 with 20 vol.; 8.2 with 30 vol.; 9.43 with 40 vol.; 45 g 9.43 + 5 g 0.0 + 75 g 40 vol. on thick hair. Hair structure (fine and porous vs. thick) changes everything: hence the assessment form.
4.3 · Lighten melanin properly
EN · 3 min
The greater the difference in levels, the more important the full processing time, especially for a cool target shade. Whites that “seem” poorly covered are often dark hair that hasn't been lightened enough. Example: 70% white hair, level 6 base, level 9.1 target → 9.1 + 8.0 + 40 vol. covers the whites and lifts three levels at the same time.

Chapter 5 · The salon service

From consultation to neutralization, then each possible service with its formula.

5.1 · Introduction
EN · 1 min
After the theory, the practical steps for a successful oxidative color service, before the chapter 6 demonstrations.
5.2 · Consultation and diagnosis
EN · 3 min
Check the scalp and hair fiber; know when to postpone or decline rather than promise the impossible in one session. Ask open-ended questions, then closed-ended ones. Fill out the assessment form — even if you're an expert, especially when you're in a hurry.
5.3 · Prepare the client
EN · 2 min
No styling residue: brush, or wash gently with Intech pre-treatment shampoo without massaging the scalp, then dry completely. Work neatly: the client is watching. Apply Intech skin protector around the hairline before any technical service.
5.4 · From information to action
EN · 4 min
Choose the necessary preparatory services (pre-cut, bleaching, repigmentation if going 3 levels or more darker) and their order; roots and lengths together or separately. Weigh on a scale, using a separate labeled bowl for each mixture. Observe processing times. Emulsify without water, then rinse; shampoo and Post Chemistry mask (acidic pH); Colored Hair afterward.
5.5 · Tone-on-tone and lifting on natural hair
EN · 4 min
Tone-on-tone with no gray hair: same level or darker shade, 1 + 1½ with 6 vol., 20–35 min (level 6 base → 5.77). Lift with no gray hair: 20/30/40 vol. depending on the level difference, two mixtures — lengths first with the stronger activator, roots (3–4 cm) with one level lower, 35–40 min total (level 6 base → 8.31: 40 vol. on lengths, 30 vol. on roots).
5.6 · Covering gray hair
EN · 4 min
Always 20, 30 or 40 vol. Few gray hairs: shade alone (10%: 50 g 9.43 + 75 g 30 vol.). Medium amount of gray: add .0 (fine, porous hair) or .00 (thick, resistant hair) — 30%: 35 g 9.43 + 15 g 9.0 + 75 g. A lot of gray: half and half — 80%: 25 g + 25 g + 75 g. More natural shade = less intense tone.
5.7 · Regrowth and previously colored lengths
EN · 4 min
Two base areas, two formulas: level 7.0 regrowth with 70% gray hair and faded 7.44 lengths to be taken to a 7.66 — roots: 25 g 7.66 + 25 g 7.0 + 75 g 20 vol. After 20 min, lengths: 30 g 7.66 + 40 g 10 vol. If the lengths are darker than the target or have a tone that cannot be neutralized (7.44 → 7.1), lighten first to recreate the correct base.
5.8 · Toning and repigmentation
EN · 4 min
Toning: it all depends on the underlying level — for a 10.31, you need a 10.03 base, not an 8.33 or a 9.3. Repigmentation: to darken bleached hair by at least three levels, apply direct pigments first, then a .0/.00/.05/.07 shade with 6 or 10 vol.
5.9 · Conclusion: selling the service
EN · 2 min
Two selling points for the client: skin compatibility (Hydra Color Blend, respects the scalp's pH) and calibrated ammonia, whose salts (ammonium lactate) join the natural hydrolipid film. Technical manual and certificate provided after a short test.

Chapter 6 · Demonstrations on models

6.1 · Same shade, three activators
EN · 23 min
Level 6 base, lengths level 7 to 9, 50% gray hair, warm blonde target. 8.3 at the back (6, 40 and 20 vol.), 9.3 at the front (20, 30 and 40 vol.), roots only, 40 min without heat. Result: 40 vol. is perfect (coverage and lift), 20 vol. covers but provides little lift, 6 vol. is insufficient on both counts. Very white area: add 9.0 or 9.00. Rinse, then Post Chemistry shampoo + mask for 5–10 min.
6.2 · Pastel peach fashion effect
EN
Level 6 base, lengths level 7 to 10, 0% gray hair, three horizontal sections separated with foil. Top: 29 g anti-yellow toner + 1 g red corrector + 60 g 10 vol. Middle: 20 g 91.2 + 40 g 40 vol. Bottom: 27 g 10.21 + 3 g red corrector + 45 g 20 vol. Process for 45 min without heat, from the nape upward, roots then lengths; Post Chemistry afterward.
Color charts & manuals

The technical library

View the libraryPage-turning catalogs, color charts, and technical manuals
CatalogCore CatalogPage-turning · FR MethodThe Insight MethodPage-turning · FR BrandReason WhyPage-turning · FR Technical manualIncolor Aura · manualPage-turning · FR BrochureIncolor AuraPage-turning · FR CollectionInsight complete range 2026Page-turning · FR Color chartIncolor Hydra Color collectionPDF · EN Color chartIncolor Pigments color chartPDF Color chartAura color chartPDF Training2026 education brochurePDF · EN OffersInsight color introPDF · FR

Catalogs open in page-turning format. Color charts and technical manuals are reserved for logged-in salon accounts.

2026 introductory offers

Start Insight at your salon

Buy retail sizes or hair color and get salon sizes, neutralizers, and displays free. Salon prices in CAD before tax (US prices available), subject to availability.

View the six offers Full Concept, Best Sellers, Popular, Scalp Treatment, Hydra Color discovery, Aura collection
Complete range−42 %
Full Concept Collection
11 387,50 $ 16 185,50 $
The entire care range (16 lines) and 12 styling products, 5 to 6 units per retail size. Free ($4,798): 900/400 mL salon sizes from each range, Rebuild service and 1 of each styling product; salon trolley, 5 metal trays, Wooden Expo, visuals, 210 samples.
Code BL-FC-01
Top sellers−38 %
Best Sellers · large collection
3 369,00 $ 4 648,00 $
6 × Dry, Colored, Daily Use, Blonde, Volumizing (retail) + 6 × 6 styling products. Free: salon sizes of all 5 ranges, 2 metal trays, styling product display, 120 samples, 50 bags, 48 brochures. Small collection: $1,127 (value $1,663.50, −36%, BL-BS-02).
Code BL-BS-01
Popular−38 %
Popular · large collection
3 120,00 $ 4 218,00 $
6 × Anti-Frizz, Antioxidant, Damaged (retail) + 6 × 6 styling products. Free: salon sizes including spray and booster, 2 trays, Damage visual, styling product display. Small collection: $1,231.50 (value $1,670.50, −36%, BL-PS-01).
Code BL-PL-01
Specialized care−34 %
Scalp Treatment · scalp
1 925,00 $ 2 572,50 $
5 to 6 × Clarifying, Densifying, Rebalancing, Lenitive, Sensitive + 5 dermal rollers. Free: 900 mL + treatment from each range, metal tray, 30 Sensitive samples. Also: Elasti-Curl $1,050 (−27%), Rebuild $600 (−30%), Hydro-Grown body $555 (−30%), Melted Care $840 (−43%).
Code BL-ST-01
Color−37 %
Hydra Color · discovery
594,00 $ 813,00 $
21 Hydra Color shades + anti-yellow toner + 6 correctors, 3 bleaching powders, 5 activators (6 to 40 vol.), lightening fluid. Free: neutralizing shampoo and mask, Intech skin protector, modular color chart, Eco Key, The Insight Method, bowl, brush, capes. Complete collection: $1,969 (−46%, BL-INC-74, with salon trolley).
Code BL-INC-73
Color−29 %
Aura tone-on-tone · collection
816,00 $ 1 049,00 $
27 Aura shades (including Gold and Ruby Tones) + Fusion Clear + developer + 20 vol. activator. Free: neutralizers, skin protector, Aura shade chart and crowner, capes. Discovery: 9 shades + developer + activator for $270 ($340 value, −26%, BL-INC-71). Intensifying pigments: $257 (−31%, BL-INC-75). Intech discovery: $275.50 (−36%, BL-INT-71).
Code BL-INC-72

Sources: Insight 2026 catalogs (CAD) and Business Central codes. Custom offer for multi-chair salons through your Novyco representative.

In-salon training and events

When reading isn't enough

Everything above is available to all client salons online. To practice on a model with an educator, there are three formats and two upcoming dates.

Look + Learn · 3 hours at your salonDemonstration on a model at your salon: Inside Incolor, HydraColor Discovery, Intech smoothing, Scalp Care ritual, Trend Haircut + Styling, Incolor + Cut.
Hands-on · 6-hour workshopEach participant gets hands-on practice: Blonde Alchemy, Scalp Expert + Experience, Texture Design (Intech perm and smoothing, Elasti Curl), Creative Cut + Color Trends.
Insight Academy · BolognaHalf-day (3.5 h) or full-day (7 h) programs at Interno Academy: Scalp Expert, Color S.O.S., Blonde Alchemy, Curl Culture, Salon Experience, Rebuild Mastery, Total Look Aura. Also: Fashion Week (editorial photo shoot), 360° Insight Pro (ambassadors), Culture Retreats. 90-minute Teams sessions with the Bologna education team (EN) available upon request.
October 24 – 29, 2026 · Bologna, Italy

Insight in Bologna

Training trip with two days at the Insight Academy (October 26 and 27), at the heart of the head office.

See the program →
November 22 – 24, 2026 · Spa Eastman, Eastern Townships

Insight in the Eastern Townships

A complimentary training retreat for new Insight salons: hair and scalp health, and rituals.

Reserve my spot →
Insight Café Talks · live from Bologna One free online appointment per month, 30 min + Q&A, EN / IT / ES

2026 program: January Philosophy and Values · February Incolor Hydra-Color · March The World of Haircare · April Incolor Aura · May Blonde & Deco · June Intech Perm · July Insight Color Bar (consultation and analysis) · August Melted Care · September Scalp Care · October Hydro Grown Beauty · November Intech Smoothing · December Insight 2027. Recordings of past sessions are available upon request from your representative.

Your Insight Educators

Training at your salon

3-hour Look + Learn, 6-hour hands-on workshop, or discovery session for your whole team: tell us what you need.

Carol'anne CarbonneauInsight Educator
Darya ZahraeeInsight Educator

Request training

See other brands

You can also contact your Novyco representative.