Oxidative hair dye composition containing as "para component" compounds of the formula: ##SPC1## Or their acid addition salts, in which: R.sub.1 is alkyl or hydroxyalkyl; R.sub.2 is hydrogen or hydroxyalkyl; R.sub.3 is hydrogen, alkyl, alkoxy or halogen; and R.sub.4 occupies any one of the remaining positions on the benzene radical and is hydrogen, alkyl, alkoxy or halogen; providing that R.sub.2 is hydrogen when R.sub.3 is alkyl, alkoxy or halogen and providing that at least two of R.sub.1, R.sub.2, R.sub.3 or R.sub.4 are other than hydrogen.