This week, L’Oréal Professionnel debuted Inoa, named for Innovation No Ammonia, an ammonia-free professional hair colorant.
Described by the brand as “revolutionary,” Inoa is not only ammonia-free (and therefore free from the ammonia-induced effects like a burning, itchy scalp) but also, lifts color up to three shades, covers gray, and has true-to-tone results. By replacing ammonia with monoethanolamine, which typically has failed to cover gray or lighten hair as much as traditional ammonia-laden products, and by adding an oil-based gel and a cream developer, Inoa’s creators have finally, after years of research, developed a formula they claim delivers optimum results sans ammonia.
Expect Inoa to gradually replace L’Oréal Professionnel’s existing salon color lines with an initial launch of 50 shades first debuting in Europe at the end of September and in the U.S. and Canada in January, according to http://www.wwd.com/beauty-industry-news/loral-takes-rich-new-spin-on-hair-color-2165616?src=nl/mornReport/20090612″ target=”_blank” rel=”nofollow”>WWD.
While Inoa will cost 10 percent more than traditional salon treatments, if it works as well as L’Oréal claims, it will be well worth the extra charge.
Is this an “Organic” hair color system??
They “say” it’s organic. But the chemicals they replace ammonia with are just as bad.
Inoa contains a product known as MEA. It is much gentler than Ammonia and leaves the hair in amazing condition. trust me I’ve tested the product.
Just been to a launch of the product and it failed to give 100% coverage of grey on the model they demonstrated it on. It turned out very embarrassing… (they said it was the first time its ever happened..)
INOA does contain MEA but the levels are so low they are the same as you would find in any demi permanent.
never said it was organic just amazing! I was able to work with and all I can say is watch out other brands!!!!!!
Did a study with this product in May, when models came back in 4 weeks, there was NO FADAGE at all and models only looked like they needed a retouch. Did another class last week and it is so amazing the coverage this product with TOTAL respect for the hair fiber. Feels like virgin hair after the application!
It sounds fantastic..hopefully I can find a salon near me in Yorkshire that uses it
The MEA level is low and the oil conditions and drives the color into the hair. When you rinse the hair you don’t see any color coming out. It is unbelievable and the hair feels awesome
In true L’oreal Professional fashion, they will take this “technology” and share it with its retail brands and compromise the integrity of professional hairdressing.Look for this product in your local CVS in 2011. It is better to look into alternate professional brands that are ISO Certified such as KEMON Color from Italy.
I got a chance to work with INOA and it is truly amazing!! Keep looking in CVS, the product will not be there…..GUARANTEE! If you want to keep using over the counter products I will be seeing you soon to fix what you did.
I’ve got a fairly coarse beard that looks like Santa Clause with steel wool. I wonder how it will work on that texture of hair. I can’t use the ammonia based on the beard/mustache do to the smell while its setting in so close to the nose.
i just had my hair done .great product covered my very resistant gray no itch or burning, shine and softness after product was shampooed out. love it
I am wearing INOA and my hair feels great. Beautique Salon in Houston,Tx now
is using this color.
Where can you find the INOA product in Fort Worth Texas?
What Beauty Supply store carries this product?
I have a friend who is a licensed hairdresser and she aske me to find out for her. Thank you
The Inoa color just can’t compare to Wella Koleston Perfect color. Wella is simply the best and I get reliable results EVERYTIME!
My clients and I have been most impressed with INOA, the shine is incredible and lasts, the coverage is awesome and not having to smell chemicals is the biggest plus! To schedule your appointment in Dallas, Texas visit http://www.tinaharrisoncolor.com
Is this hair color PPD free?
IS INOA PPD free?
Thanks
MY FRIENDS AND I WOULD LOVE TO TRY INOA.ANY SALONS IN HAMPTON, VIRGINIA?
Great News!! I can’t believe more companies to not find better, healthier products free of PPD and other irritants. I will be glad to pay the higher cost!
I really love the feel of the hair after using INOA, but I am having a really hard time with gray coverage. Any tips would be greatly appreciated.
Dear Sirs,
Thank you for the huge effort you do to make the best for our beauty.Actually last week I used the free ammonia L’oreal hair color but it did not suit me.It made many effects like itchy skin .I always use hair color from different brand even your famouse L’oreal.I know you warned us about allergy from the product but I assure you this is my twentieth times which I applied the color and this is the first time I face like this itching by the way it happened after 20 minutes since I applied.Many thanks for your care.I Love all your products.Asya, Saudi Arabia.
Just had my hair colored using this. Looks great! So far, no scalp itching or scaling (which was typical before with other dyes). Shiny, no smell, wow!
I would be most interested in salons that use the this product —INOA—in the East Bay (Oakland, Berkeley etc)
California. Please let me know.
Thank you,
Ethel
very interesting…anyone know how much inoa costs? (cost for a colorist to purchase eveyrthing?)
I was excited to begin using Inowa on the advice and urging of my stylist in Long Beach, CA. I am 69 years of age with fine, thinning hair. After first use, hair seemed silky but I declined to judge product with one use. After second use, I noticed some breakage at the hairline but discounted this as Inoa related. After 3 application, my hair was fractured at the hairline; temples and forehead. My midlength hair was now broken everywhere. We know when we don’t feel well, the doctor asks if we taken anything different. In reflection, the only change I made to my hair was Inoa. I will NEVER use this product again as it will take me close to one year for the broken hair to grow. I’m really not happy and hope your chemists will do further testing on fine hair to determine impact. Since product is new, it’s very easy to gleen feedback from customers using one or two time and feel you can conclude the value of the product; you can’t! Please continue to research this result. It’s devastating!! Thank you, Lynne Pillsbury
i m fair which colour will suit me the best i like all of them
Like Ms. Pillsbury, I loved my first application of INOA…hair was silky, great shine, covered the few grays I had nicely… 3rd application and I started noticing breakage but did not make an association. I am very healthy, eat well, no abnormal labwork (thyroid, etc.), take no meds, dry my hair naturally, so I use no heat or styling products… 4th application, I look like Jeff Goldblum transforming into ‘The Fly’. Honestly, it has to be something with INOA. It sounds this product should definitely not be used on people with fine hair. While I have plenty of hair, it is very fine, as Ms. Pillsbury also noted hers was. My hair has tolerated other color products with no breakage, so I am thinking it must be the ammonia hydroxide in it, or MEA. I second the motion that further investigation needs to be done with this product on fine hair.
I had a terrible experience with this product and simply cannot recommend it to anyone. First of all, after decades of coloring my hair without a problem, I had a significant allergic reaction, apparently to PPD. The method of application for INOA (basically pressing it into your scalp, since the substance must touch every side of every hair) and the high peroxide level seems to make an allergic reaction more likely than with other colors. Alas, my reaction means I will never be able to color my hair again. The irony is, this was the worst color job I’ve ever had. (Incidentally, the colorist was a certified Loreal INOA trainer.) My 40 percent grey roots are still grey, but the brown roots are “hot” strawberry blond. Meanwhile, the colorist said he was required to comb the color through the rest of the hair. It is now greenish black, not the light brown he promised. And I’m not surprised people are experiencing damage. Loreal stresses the lack of ammonia, but what about the 20 or 30 volume peroxide?
How do I find a salon that uses this product?
Looking for a salon using INOA in the NYC-CT area
is it recomended for asian hair,im here in philippines
I have been searching everywhere to get certified with this line of color I think its absolutely amazing. Im a Hair Stylist in NJ can you please tell me where you offer Inoa color classes
The product is horrible. It is so thick that it is impossible to work with. INOA is so time consuming to mix and prepare which normally takes me 25 minutes alone! After the second application the hair dries out and becomes quite corse. INOA fades off tone which begins about a week after the application and fades more dramatically with grey coverage. I have had my L’Oreal rep and educator in my 24 chair salon 9 times and wasted a ton of time, money, and credibility on this underperforming product.
The shampoos contain high concentrations of “Ammonia Hydroxide” which is really “ammonia water”. The color contains extremely high levels of PPD’s which are very dangerous. IT IS EXTREMELY IMPORTANT TO CONDUCT A PROPER PATCH TEST, WHICH IS LEGALLY REQUIRED, ON EVERY CLIENT THAT YOU PLAN ON SUBJECTING TO INOA — which I learned the hard way. Also, INOA is simply a repackaged product L’Oreal took off the drugstore shelf that used to be called Natural Match. They simply gave it a new name and charge us 4x more for it.
The packing is ridiculously inefficient as two tubes won’t even do a full head of hair. You end up wasting more product than you are using. These costs add up over the long run.
The price of the product is completely unacceptable. I figured I am averaging close to $25 per application after I add in all the product I am wasting. It is simply too high and probably double of OCS.
Although I wish I never heard of this line, because it is literally ruining my salon, if you are interested in it you will be far better off buying if for pennies on the dollar at Walgreens or on Amazon.com.
Here is a comparison of Wella and L’Oreal INOA which I found remarkably accurate after months of using a lot of INOA. My rep claims I am one of the biggest single salons using the color. I can’t wait until my stock has run out so I can start using OCS. If anyone wants to buy my stock for half price, I still have a few thousand dollars worth. Please email me!
http://www.haircolorist.com/news/inoa-headtohead.php
Inoa is probably the most juvenile, amateur, ineffective color line I have ever worked with. L’Orel simply took a “color in a box” product off the shelfs and now sell it to salons. It’s sad what compnies try to market these days.
Kimber, when you say “OCS” are you referring to Organic Color Systems? I just brought this color line into my salons and the product is simply fabulous in every sense of the word. Outstanding grey coverage, no fading, wonderfully addicting sense, very easy and fast application, extremely consistent and reliable results, without a doubt the best color line I have ever worked with in my 25 years. I don’t know how I have never heard of it before. I too used INOA and had to switch. It just wasn’t working for us. You may want to see if you can sell your leftover stock on EBay. We were able to get about 30% of what we paid for it there. There are always people selling INOA on EBay now though so it might be a bit more difficult.
want to know availability of the product + price of the product + shades card
I am first time user.After keeping for 20 minutes.the color of my hair is still grey.Suggest or refund the money
I am first time user.After keeping for 20 minutes.the color of my hair is still grey.Suggest or refund the money.
Kimber – we too switched from INOA to Organic Color Systems and have never been happier. The product cost is about 1/3. The product works so much better and they have so many intermixable colors and other tools in their lines. INOA is a bad product that doesn’t work and wants the colorist to “Paint By Numbers”. Organic Color Systems unleashes the colorist innovation and creativity and empowers them to build truly remarkable works of art.
I saw someone else use the word “juvenile” and “amateur” in describing L’Oreal INOA Hair Color which is right on point! If you are a salon hiring inexperienced colorists right out of beauty school, try INOA. If your colorist have any kind of skill or creativity, and especially a following, you must use OCS!
is l’oreal root rescue also ammonia fee? my salon uses inoa but my hair grows very fast. my hair stylist said NOT to use Clarol 10 minute root touch-up. Is your root rescue better? Also, is l’oreal nature’s therapy nurturing cream sulfate and ammonia free?
thank you
I have had a terrible reaction to this color. Even after washing my hair, my scalp is still burning and somewhat numb. I feel poisoned. I’m so finished with this color product.
3 hair makeup in Los Angeles use Inoa Loreal hair color http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9ZRtihGeC_E
Iam looking for a hair color that does not have ammonia or peroxide. Allergic to both. Deadly. jj
Can you let me know if this product is also proxide
free. jj Can I buy it over the counter???? jj
i need to buy Loreal Ammonia Free Hair Color – black product, how can i buy this, i am in Sri Lanka./
Where can I have my hair coloured in a salon that uses PPD free products I live in Glasgow Scotland
I just had this product applied this afternoon. Within 5 mins of them applying it I had a real reaction and the hairdresser washed it off. I have never had anything like this before and have been coloring my hair for years. I came home and googled the product and want to register the fact this happened to me.