Couplers for hair coloring compositions for oxidative dyeing of hair are compounds of the formula (1): wherein X is selected from halogen and R5SO4 where the halogen is preferably Cl, Br or I; R, R1 and R2 are each individually selected from C1 to C22 alkyl and C1 to C22 mono or dihydroxyalkyl, or two of R, R1 and R2 together with the nitrogen atom to which they are attached form a C3 to C6 saturated or unsaturated ring optionally containing in the ring one or more additional hetero atoms selected from O, S and N atoms; R3 and R 4 are each individually selected from C1 to C6 alkyl, C1 to C6 hydroxyalkyl, C1 to C6 alkoxy, C1 to C6 aminoalkyl or R3 and R4 together form a C1 to C5 alkylene group; and R5 is selected from C1 to C22 alkyl and C1 to C22 mono or dihydroxyalkyl.