A cosmetic agent (A) is applied to the fibers and allowed to act for a time period from 30 seconds to 30 minutes. Then a cosmetic agent (B) is applied to the keratinic fibers still being acted upon by agent (A), and both agents (A) and (B) are allowed to act for a time period from 5 to 45 minutes, whereupon agents (A) and (B) are rinsed out. Agent (A) (a1) contains one or more oxidation dye precursors of the developer type, (a2) contains one or more oxidation dye precursors of the coupler type, (a3) has a pH from 8.0 to 12.0, and agent (B) (b1) contains one or more oxidation dye precursors, (b2) contains one or more oxidizing agents, and (b3) has a pH from 8.0 to 12.0.