Emerald.

Usually not — Emerald (level 4) can be reached on most bases without lift. Very dark or previously colored hair may still need a clarifying or color-removal step, so confirm with a strand test.

Emerald leans cool and neutral and sharpens cool undertones — pink, rosy, or porcelain skin, especially if silver jewelry flatters you; is forgiving on neutral undertones — skin that sits between warm and cool. Still unsure? The two-minute shade quiz reads your undertone from vein, jewelry, and sun-response checks and ranks this shade against all 51.

High upkeep. Expect toning or gloss refreshes every 2–4 weeks, cold-water washes, color-safe products, and heat protectant every time — rewarding, but not casual. Green fades to teal then sea-foam over 4 weeks. Cold-water washes and color-safe shampoo stretch every shade further.

Full gray coverage — formulated pigment fills resistant white strands completely.

Green fades to teal then sea-foam over 4 weeks. Keep a color-depositing mask or gloss on standby — high-maintenance shades reward the stocked top shelf.

They share the fantasy family, but Teal Pool sits at level 5 versus Emerald's level 4 — lighter and brighter; Teal Pool needs pre-lightening while Emerald usually doesn't. The fastest way to choose is to preview both on your own photo and see which one lights up your skin.

Any route to level 4 involves lift, and lift always costs some integrity — there is no damage-free shortcut. Minimize it with a strand test first, a bond-builder during lightening, and spaced sessions rather than one marathon appointment on dark hair. Preview the shade virtually first so the lift is only ever spent on a color you've already seen on yourself.