Olia 4.0 Dark Brown is an ammonia-free permanent hair dye powered by a 60% oil blend with natural flower oils. Delivers up to 100% gray coverage and up to 3X more shine vs. uncolored, unwashed hair.
About This Hair Dye Shade
Garnier Olia hair dye shade 4.0, "Dark Brown," is a natural dark brown one shade lighter than 3.0 Darkest Brown. It also provides 100% gray coverage.
Is This Shade Right For Me?
Shade 4.0 hair dye is best for anyone with natural hair between light brown and black. If you prefer a lighter color that still reflects naturally, try shade 5.0 Medium Brown. If you would like to remain in the dark brown range but want to explore other reflects and tones, there are many shades to choose from including 4.11 Dark Platinum Brown.
For those who currently have color treated hair, there are special considerations for the color result you can achieve. Use our Shade Selector Tool to find the shade for you!
About Olia Unlike traditional hair dye, Olia uses a 60% oil blend with no ammonia natural flower oils to achieve brilliant, radiant color results. The oil powered technology propels colorants deep into the hair, giving you vivid, long-lasting color. Olia visibly improves and restores hair as the oils help to reverse roughness and dullness for more brilliant, long-lasting color. Olia-treated hair is hydrated, silky and up to 3X shinier than unwashed, uncolored hair.
Shade Description:
4.0 Dark Brown is a natural, neutral dark brunette tone. This rich shade provides a balanced, deep brown without brassiness, delivering vivid, long-lasting color and exceptional shine.
Benefits
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• Ammonia-free, oil-powered formula: 60% oil blend helps propel color deep into the hair fiber for high-impact, even color without strong odor.
• Up to 100% gray coverage, including resistant grays.
• Neutral dark brunette tone helps minimize brassiness and red/ashy shift.
• Up to 3X more shine vs. uncolored, unwashed hair.
• Post-color softness: after-color conditioner leaves hair feeling smooth and nourished.
Key Features
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In shade mapping, 4.0 = Dark Brown (neutral—not specifically ash- or red-leaning), which is ideal if your current hair is light brown to black and you want a natural-looking dark brunette.
The kit includes everything you need:
• Colorant cream (tube): deposits the 4.0 Dark Brown shade.
• Developer (applicator bottle): activates color for long-lasting results.
• After Color Conditioner: seals in color, adds softness and shine.
• Gloves + no-drip cream texture: easy, even at-home application.
Packaging Details • This product comes as a complete hair coloring kit, packaged in a corrugated board box. • Size: 1 Piece. • Product Dimensions: 6.5 in x 3.5 in x 2.7 in. • Product Form: Hair Coloring Kit.
Instructions of Use
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Before you color: Always do a skin allergy test 48 hours before each use. Wear gloves and protect your clothing.
Preparation: Apply to dry, unwashed hair. Mix colorant into the developer bottle as directed; shake until fully blended.
Application: First-time users should saturate roots through ends. For root touch-up, apply to regrowth first, then pull through lengths.
Timing: Process for 30 minutes, but for resistant grays, extend up to 40 minutes per kit directions.
Rinse & Care: Rinse until water runs clear, then apply the After Color Conditioner and leave on as directed. Maintain color with color-safe shampoo/conditioner and plan root touch-ups every 4–6 weeks.
Garnier Olia shade 4.0 is a natural dark brown that is one shade lighter than 3.0 Darkest Brown. This no ammonia permanent formula delivers brilliant, radiant color results and provides 100% gray coverage.
Is this dark brown shade suitable for my natural hair?
Shade 4.0 is best for anyone with natural hair between light brown and darkest brown. If you prefer a lighter color that still reflects naturally, you might try shade 5.0 Medium Brown instead.
How does the oil-powered formula work?
Unlike traditional permanent hair color, Olia uses a 60% oil blend with natural flower oils and no ammonia. This oil-powered technology propels colorants deep into the hair for vivid, long-lasting color.
What will my hair feel like after coloring?
Olia-treated hair is hydrated, silky, and up to 3X shinier than unwashed, uncolored hair. The oils help to reverse roughness and dullness to visibly improve and restore your hair.
What should I do if I get hair color on my skin?
We recommend using Garnier Micellar Water (Waterproof) to remove hair color stains. The non-drip, velvety cream texture helps provide optimal comfort during application to minimize mess.
Reviews
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Overall Rating
4.3
10386 Reviews
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Average Customer Ratings
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Quality of Product, 3.1 out of 5
3.1
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Value of Product, 3.1 out of 5
3.1
Most Helpful Favorable Review
5 out of 5 stars.
8 1/2.03 is a great hair color!
Karen313
11 years ago
I love Olia. It is a great, ammonia free hair color that is more healthy than any other hair color on the market in my opinion. I have used the light blonde 9.0 also, and the 9.03-light pearl blonde, which was too light for my hair because I have a lot of gray, I guess. I have never used a medium blonde before, because I thought it would be too dark for me, but the 8 1/2 .03 medium pearl blonde is just right. Not too dark and not too light. I really like the color, it looks neutral, and my color matched the color on the box exactly. Please don't discontinue this color or product. It is seriously the best out there. The smell is fantastic, and I never have any sensitivity with it. Love, love, love it. Keep up the good work!
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75 people found this helpful
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Most Helpful Critical Review
3 out of 5 stars.
Not true to color
Author
11 years ago
I purchased 90.3, because it appeared to be the color that I wanted. After using the color, I found it to be too ashy, when I wanted golden highlights. It has been 3 weeks since I colored, and the ash has mellowed to a color close to what I am used to using, which is a neutral light or lightest blonde. I will not use this color again, as I am looking to add golden highlights, not ash. Beware that the "pearl" shades mean ash.
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36 people found this helpful
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BralynM
Received an incentive
Review 1
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5 out of 5 stars.
Great product
Received an incentive
16 days ago
The smell is great, it was an easy application, rinsing and overall processing was not too bad. The processing time was fairly quick would recommend.
please do not ever every discontinue this shade. This is the perfect expresso, cool brown. The shine is incredible, if there is a olia mask shade that comes out, please do. this line is amazing and accessible for those who cannot afford the salon. thank you garnier.
It literally did not dye my hair. It tinted my roots and tips orange, the majority of my hair is still brown and I used the whole bottle and waited the appropriate amount of time. Do not waist your money!
Can’t say I wasn’t a bit skeptical. Intense Red. How red can it be? I normally use Splat which also means I have to bleach before putting the color on as it’s a temporary color. Great brand unless you’re messy with the color because it does not wash off of anything. My hair grows fast and I have to dye every 3 weeks to keep up. Bleaching is so harsh so I’ve been searching for a color close to those that my normal brand offers. Intense Red was about the only one I was able to find. I typically use a color with a violet base because an orange base fades to orange and looks looks washed out while the violet turns to a lighter red or pink and if it’s really washed out it turns to peach.. I grabbed this box and as I headed for the check out I turned back around and went back to grab my usual brand. Again headed to pay, but thought one more time about the damage bleaching can cause and went back to swap them again. I was scared to say the least. Afraid that it wouldn’t be what I wanted, the color wouldn’t match the box, I’d end up looking like bozo and be forced to wear a wig the rest of the summer. To my surprise Garnier Olia DID NOT DISAPOINT!!! The color is gorgeous! My hair feels and looks amazing. I’ve gotten so many compliments on the shade of red and the greys?!! 100% GONE! It washes from your skin easily and even if you splatter some color across the room onto the wall it is possible to wash it off. I will definitely be slinging and splatting Garnier Olia in my bathroom from here on out!
We bleached my daughter’s hair the day before using Garnier Olia Bonding Care Bleach Kit, which we were satisfied with. The issue is the color dye. It looks great the first day or two, then starts to fade at an alarming rate. We used hair dye Garnier Olia Oil-Powered Permanent Color. When showering, she uses Garnier Color Shield Anti-Fade Shampoo and Conditioner and she’s managing the water temperature so only cold water touches her hair. I’ve never seen hair color fade this fast. My daughter and I are very disappointed and would not recommend. We are looking at other brands.
I was so nervous to try and color my light brown hair that was color treated. It had been 6 months since my last color, but I used a professional custom home service and it was never quite right. My hair pulls red easily and I have to tone a lot. I have a lot of chemical sensitivities so the semi permanent colors had more of an effect on my skin than the permanent because they washed out and I was exposed every wash. I just can't do ammonia or bleach anymore because of asthma and dry scalp. I can't afford the salons and have been cutting my hair and doing my own color since the pandemic in 2020. I watched a lot of color theory videos and many try on simulations for every company. I was prepared to suffer through an ammonia process until I saw this and saw that it had no silicones and parabens, which I have to strictly avoid in all products now. I can't find it anywhere on the box, but I am sure I read somewhere that Olia doesn't pull brass and that's why I chose it. The try on tool was also very useful in choosing the color. I did go with the lighter color as suggested. My light brown/dark blonde was very dull from medical issues. I wasn't expecting more than a shine and really expecting a reddish dark blonde as that's usual for my hair. I can't believe I got the box color results. I chose the lightest ash blonde hoping it would be enough coolness to give me a golden natural blonde with no brass. I got the darkest results color on the box and I'm so happy. I did use one purple tone rinse before I dried it the first time, but I didn't need it. It was a temporary one and actually dulled the final result a little. The second wash I held off the purple and used a good shampoo to clarify and it's so much shinier and brighter. I followed the directions exactly with very dirty hair and timing, though my hair is so short I really do an all over application quickly and then let it set for the full time. I am so happy with this result. Now I wonder if I use the same color or go to the 9 so it doesn't go blonder. I guess my roots will still need this color. My hair feels nice and my scalp is not drier than before. Since I can avoid toners it's a win and I can work on my scalp in between colors. My hair is short because of thin patches after menopause and medication. I don't have gray yet, so this gentle color gives me time to grow my hair back. I really recommend trying it if you need a gentle color and want to avoid brass. I'm allergic to nearly everything in beauty. I did do a patch test and strand test, though my strand test was darker than my beautiful final result, probably because my mixture was off.
10.0 very light blonde is the BEST hair dye, ever!
3 months ago
Hands down the best hair dye I’ve ever used. The color match is perfect and it blends seamlessly with the white streak at the top left of my hairline. I also love how gentle it is—no harshness, and my hair and scalp feel healthy and soft after each use.
A: Hello, Thanks for reaching out! Usually, the time between touching up your roots is about four to six weeks. The faster your hair grows, the more often you need your roots touched up, so in this case you can touch up in 3 weeks. We thank you for your interest in Garnier!
GarnierConsumerCare3 months ago
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Q: Does your hair dye stain skin?Do I need to use Vaseline on my hairline and ears before using dye
A: Hi there, Yes, applying a barrier like Vaseline (petroleum jelly) around your hairline, ears, and neck is highly recommended. It creates a protective wall that prevents the dye from seeping into and staining your skin. Thanks for your interest in Garnier!
GarnierConsumerCare3 months ago
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Q: The medium brown 5.0 was a little too dark. Which shade do you recommend that would be just a tiny bit lighter?
A: Hello, Thanks for reaching out! We suggest using a clarifying shampoo to fade your hair color. Fading is a gradual process and may require multiple sessions to achieve the desired shade. Once the color has faded we suggest trying Olia 6.0 Light Brown in a touch up application. We thank you for your interest in Garnier!
GarnierConsumerCare4 months ago
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Q: 1. How long do i have to wait until i can wash my hair?
2. how long do i have to wait until i can redye my ends with the same color?
A: Hi random90210, Thanks for reaching out! Wait a minimum of 24 hours after your color process for best results.
When applying hair color its best to wait until the last 5-10 minutes of processing time to touch up the ends. This prevents over processing. Thanks for your interest in Garnier!
A: Hi Ruees, Thanks for reaching out! Yes, you can mix two different shades of retail (box) blonde hair color, but it is highly recommended to use the same brand and type. Thank you for your interest in Garnier!
GarnierConsumerCare5 months ago
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Q: Does this contain ppd?
Gloria8086 months ago
1 AnswerAnswer this Question
A: Hi Gloria808, Yes, Garnier Olia does contain PPD (para-phenylenediamine), despite being ammonia-free. We thank you for reaching out!
GarnierConsumerCare6 months ago
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Q: Are the Olia hair dyes safe to use during pregnancy?
A: Hi mk2000, While every ingredient we use in our products is evaluated for safety, we do not specifically test our products on women who are pregnant or nursing.
Garnier ensures there is substantial information supporting the safety of our products when used as directed by consumers. However, as there could be certain ingredients that physicians may not recommend for use during pregnancy and nursing, we always recommend that you discuss this with your physician and follow their advice.
Thanks for your interest in Garnier! Best Wishes!
GarnierConsumerCare6 months ago
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Q: Which brown is the most ashen? I don’t like browns that give red highlights
A: Hi AnneBeth, Thank you for reaching out! Olia 3.0 Darkest Brown does not offer a ash tone, however this shade is dark with neutrals tones, so it may not reveal brassiness. We suggest doing a strand test to preview your results. We thank you for your interest in Garnier!
GarnierConsumerCare7 months ago
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Q: How light will this color get on medium brown hair also will it have any red tones in it?
A: Hi Steph70, Using Olia 10.0 Very Light Blonde on Medium Brown hair will likely result in brassy, orange, or reddish-brown tones rather than a true blonde. We suggest trying Olia B+++ - Bleach Blonde Extreme Hair Dye Lightening kit with 7 levels of lift for brilliant, long-lasting blonde results. We hope this information helps!