Abstract: A non-carbon black pigment blend is mixed with a coating layer of an optical fiber to provide a black appearing colored optical fiber. The pigment blend does not absorb UV light and is formed by blending three primary colors including red, blue and yellow. The combination of these three primary colors creates a black appearing colored secondary coating. The proportions of the primary colors are controlled to provide the desired shade of black with, in general, no one coloration of pigment exceeding 45% by weight of the total pigment added to the secondary coating. The pigment blend may further include white pigment to provide a slate tone black appearing color. The proportion of white pigment, in general, not exceeding 10 percent by weight of the total pigment added to the secondary coating. The pigment is mixed as a concentrate which is added to a secondary coating layer for application to the optical fiber.