The invention relates to the dyeing of keratinous fibres using azomethine direct dyes of formula (I) or reduced precursors of azomethine direct dyes of formula (II) obtained from 2- chloro-3-amino-6-methylphenol. A subject-matter of the invention is a dyeing composition comprising at least one chlorinated azomethine direct dye or one reduced precursor of a chlorinated azomethine direct dye, a method for dyeing keratinous fibres which employs the said composition and their uses in the dyeing of keratinous fibres. This composition makes it possible to obtain a particularly stable and consistent colouring.