The present invention is concerned with a dye
system for application to a substrate, the dye
system comprising: (a) at least one dye precursor; (b) an oxidising agent; and (c) a catalyst, wherein the catalyst is a homogeneous catalyst or a heterogeneous catalyst. Preferably, the catalyst comprises at least one
metal-containing compound. The invention also envisages a method for the coloration of a substrate, the method comprising treating the substrate with the dye
system of the invention. In preferred embodiments of the invention, the substrate comprises human hair, natural or synthetic polymers, or
textile fibres. In further preferred embodiments, the at least one dye precursor is an organic precursor, the at least one
metal derivative for use as a catalyst comprises at least one inorganic
metal compound or at least one metal complex comprising at least one organic ligand, and the oxidising agent is
hydrogen peroxide.