The present invention relates to an aqueous direct dye formulation, comprising (a) 5 to 25 % by weight of a dye composition comprising (a1) 50-99 % by weight of one or more dyes obtainable by reduction or thermal treatment of Direct Yellow 11, and (a2) 1 -50 % by weight of a blue, black and/or red direct dye, (all based on the dye composition); (b) up to 0.9 % by weight of a saturated, cyclic or acyclic water-soluble amine comprising a primary, secondary or tertiary amino group and at least one further functional group selected from primary, secondary and tertiary amino groups, OH groups and ether groups; and (c) up to 0.9 % by weight of urea; and (d) water, wherein the percentages for (a), (b), and (c) relate to the total weight of the aqueous direct dye formulation. The invention moreover relates to a process for their preparation and the use thereof for the dyeing, in particular of paper, as well as paper which has been dyed with this aqueous direct dye formulation.