Hair dye compositions and process

A composition for oxidative dyeing of hair comprising, by weight of the total composition:

• 0. 0001-20% of at least one primary intermediate and at least one coupler for the formation of oxidation dyes,
• 0.01-10% of a 2-hydroxyphenyl benzotriazole compound having the formula:
• ##STR19## wherein R.sub.1, R.sub.2, R.sub.3, R.sub.4, and R.sub.5 are each independently H, hydroxyl, carboxyl, halogen, or C.sub.1-40 straight or branched chain alkyl, C.sub.1-40 straight or branched chain alkoxy, C.sub.2-20 alkoxycarbonyl, carboxy, C.sub.1-40 alkyl substituted phenyl, C.sub.5-6 cycloalkyl, SO.sub.3 H, SO.sub.3 Na', or ##STR20## wherein E.sub.1 and E.sub.2 are each independently H, or C.sub.1-4 alkyl, and E.sub.3 is H, halogen, or C.sub.1-4 alkyl,
• 0. 5-20% surfactant, and
• 10-65% water.