Choosing between INOA and our standard Hair Color service comes down to how your hair and scalp react to ammonia, and how much grey coverage you need.
What's the actual difference between INOA and standard hair color?
| | Standard Hair Color | INOA |
| Ammonia | Contains ammonia | Ammonia-free |
| Processing time | Faster | Slightly longer |
| Scalp sensitivity | Can sting sensitive scalps | Gentler, low-odor |
| Grey coverage | Good | Excellent, very natural finish |
| Best for | Full color changes, vivid/fashion tones | Grey coverage, sensitive scalps, subtle tone shifts |
| Price (S size) | ₱1,800 | ₱2,200 |
Is INOA better than regular hair color?
Not universally better — it depends on what you need. INOA is the better choice if you have a sensitive scalp, want the most natural-looking grey coverage, or dislike the smell and dryness that ammonia dye can leave behind. Standard hair color is the better choice if you want a faster session or a more dramatic, vivid color change, since ammonia opens the cuticle wider and can hold bolder pigment more readily.
How long does each one take?
Both scale with hair length the same way — S (above shoulder), M (shoulder to mid-back), L (mid-back to waist), SL (waist-length or previously chemically treated). INOA typically runs 5-10 minutes longer per tier than standard color, since the lower-temperature, ammonia-free process needs a bit more time to fully develop.
Our recommendation
For a first-time client or anyone with scalp sensitivity, we usually recommend starting with [INOA](/services/inoa-s). During your consultation we'll check your hair's current condition and grey percentage before confirming which service — and which size tier — fits your hair length. If you're weighing INOA against other color techniques like balayage or highlights rather than standard dye specifically, see our full [hair color techniques comparison](/tips/hair-color-techniques-compared-cebu).