What Is Developer For Hair?
A hair developer is an oxidant cream that contains hydrogen peroxide. It is an essential part of the hair coloring process, as it helps to open the hair cuticle and allow the hair color to penetrate deep into the hair shaft.
The strength of the developer is measured in volume, and it ranges from 10 to 40 volumes. The higher the volume, the more lifting power it has.
For example, a 10-volume developer will lift the hair by one shade, while a 40-volume developer will lift the hair by four shades.
It is important to choose the right developer for your hair type and desired results. If you have fine hair, you will want to use a lower volume developer to avoid damaging your hair. If you have thick hair, you can use a higher volume developer to lift the hair more.
Table of Contents
Types of Hair Developers
There are three main types of hair developers:
- Volume 10 developer: This is the weakest developer and is best for minor hair color changes like brown to black.
- Volume 20 developer: This is a medium-strength developer and is good for covering gray hair or lifting hair by one or two shades.
- Volume 30 developer: This is a strong developer and is best for lifting hair by three or four shades.
- Volume 40 developer: This is the strongest developer and should only be used by professionals. It can be very damaging to hair and should not be used on fine or damaged hair.
How to Choose a Hair Developer?
When choosing a hair developer, there are a few things you should keep in mind:
- Your hair type: If you have fine hair, you will want to use a lower volume developer to avoid damaging your hair. If you have thick hair, you can use a higher volume developer to lift the hair more.
- Your desired results: If you want to make a minor hair color change, you can use a lower volume developer. If you want to lift your hair by several shades, you will need to use a higher volume developer.
- Your experience level: If you are a beginner, it is best to start with a lower volume developer. As you gain experience, you can experiment with higher volume developers.
How to Use a Hair Developer?
To use a hair developer, you will need the following:
- Hair color
- Hair developer
- Mixing bowl
- Brush
- Gloves
- Old towel
Instructions:
- Wash your hair and towel dry.
- Apply a cream or oil to your scalp to protect it from the developer.
- Mix the hair color and developer according to the instructions on the package.
- Apply the mixture to your hair, starting at the roots and working your way down to the ends.
- Let the mixture sit for the recommended amount of time.
- Rinse the mixture out of your hair with cool water.
- Apply a deep conditioner to your hair to help repair any damage that may have occurred.
Tips for Using a Hair Developer
Here are a few tips for using a hair developer:
- Do a strand test before using the developer on your entire head of hair. This will help you to determine how the developer will affect your hair color and texture.
- Protect your scalp with a cream or oil. This will help to prevent the developer from irritating your scalp.
- Use a deep conditioner after coloring your hair. This will help to repair any damage that may have occurred.
What are the Risks of Using a Hair Developer?
There are a few risks associated with using a hair developer. These risks include:
- Hair damage: Hair developers can damage hair if they are not used correctly. This damage can include dryness, brittleness, and breakage.
- Scalp irritation: Hair developers can irritate the scalp if they are not used correctly. This irritation can cause redness, itching, and burning.
- Allergic reaction: Some people may be allergic to hair developers. If you have any concerns about using a hair developer, it is best to consult with a hair stylist or dermatologist.
How to Avoid the Risks of Using a Hair Developer
There are a few things you can do to avoid the risks of using a hair developer:
- Choose the right developer for your hair type and desired results.
- Use a lower volume developer if you have fine hair.
- Use a higher volume developer if you have thick hair.
- Do a strand test before using the developer on your entire head of hair.
- Protect your scalp with a cream or oil.
- Use a deep conditioner after coloring your hair.
- Avoid heat styling your hair as much as possible.
- Use a heat protectant when you do use heat styling tools.
- Get regular trims to remove split ends.
- Use a moisturizing shampoo and conditioner.
- Deep condition your hair regularly.
By following these tips, you can help to minimize the risks of using a hair developer and achieve the desired results without damaging your hair.
FAQs for Hair Developer
What is a hair developer?
A hair developer is a chemical that is used to activate hair dye. It helps the dye to penetrate the hair shaft and produce a more vibrant color. Hair developers come in different strengths, which determine how much the hair will be lifted.
What are the different strengths of hair developers?
Hair developers are available in four strengths: 10 volume, 20 volume, 30 volume, and 40 volume. The higher the volume, the stronger the developer and the more the hair will be lifted.
What is the difference between a hair developer and a bleach?
A hair developer is used to activate hair dye, while bleach is used to lighten hair. Bleach is a stronger chemical than a hair developer and can cause more damage to the hair.
What is the best hair developer for me?
The best hair developer for you will depend on your hair color and the results you want to achieve. If you have dark hair and want to lighten it, you will need to use a higher volume developer. If you have light hair and want to darken it, you can use a lower volume developer.
How do I use a hair developer?
To use a hair developer, you will need to mix it with hair dye according to the instructions on the package. Once the dye and developer are mixed, apply it to your hair and let it sit for the amount of time specified on the package. After the time has elapsed, rinse the dye out of your hair and style as usual.
What are the risks of using a hair developer?
There are a few risks associated with using a hair developer, including:
- Hair damage: Hair developers can cause hair to become dry, brittle, and prone to breakage.
- Allergic reactions: Some people may be allergic to hair developers. If you experience any itching, redness, or swelling after using a hair developer, stop using it immediately and consult with a doctor.
- Chemical burns: Hair developers can cause chemical burns if they come into contact with the skin. If you get hair developer on your skin, wash it off immediately with soap and water.
How can I protect my hair from damage when using a hair developer?
There are a few things you can do to protect your hair from damage when using a hair developer:
- Use a good quality hair dye and developer.
- Do not use a higher volume developer than you need.
- Apply the dye and developer evenly to your hair.
- Do not leave the dye and developer on your hair for longer than the amount of time specified on the package.
- Use a deep conditioner after coloring your hair.
By following these tips, you can help to reduce the risk of damage to your hair when using a hair developer.
Conclusion
Hair developers are an essential part of the hair coloring process. By choosing the right developer and using it correctly, you can achieve the desired results without damaging your hair. However, it is important to be aware of the risks associated with using hair developers and to take steps to minimize those risks.
FAQs
How do I know what developer I need for my hair? ›
- Use 20 Vol if you are aiming for a 1-2 level lift.
- Use 30 Vol is you are aiming for a 2-3 level lift.
- Use 40 Vol if you are aiming for a 3 level lift and if the hair is particularly difficult to color.
- Note that the mix should always be respected.
20 volume is the highest level of developer that should be used on the scalp with bleach as the scalp produces more heat and increases the power of the developer. 30vol developer is ideal for lifting 3 levels using permanent hair color depending on the texture and natural depth of the hair.
How much developer do I need for my hair? ›The general rule is to use one part of hair dye and two parts of developer (or 1:2) while mixing hair color. That means, if you have 2 oz of hair color, you should use 4 oz of a developer.
What are the hair developer numbers? ›The standard levels of developer are 10, 20, 30, and 40 volume. Some companies have made other levels to go along with their specific color lines, such as 5, 6,13 , and 15 volume developers. The general rule of thumb is that the lower the volume, the more conditioners are mixed into the develop.
What happens if you just put 30 developer in your hair? ›But we don't recommend that you apply just developer to the hair. You will get an uncontrolled lift, without any re-coloration and you will end up damaging the hair. Always use developer combined with bleach or color or toner.
What developer to use for black hair? ›Depending on how many levels of lift you want to achieve, you can use 40 volume developer on dark hair.
Does 30 volume developer lighten or darken hair? ›30 volume developer (9% peroxide)
Lightens up to 3 levels. Used for dyeing and also for lightening hair. Suitable for coloring grey hair. The most often it is mixed with permanent color and lightening cream or powder.
Most developer-to-dye ratios are 1 part hair color to 2 parts developer. Check the ratio on the hair dye package to be sure you are using the recommended amount. If you need clarification on the ratio, don't guess, as your hair color may not come out as desired.
What happens if you put 20 developer on hair? ›Twenty volume will give 1-2 levels of lift when used with permanent hair color. On finer fabrics it may even give up to 3 levels of lift. It is the standard developer for grey coverage, however, a stronger developer may be needed for more resistant hair types.
What happens if you add too much developer? ›What Happens If I Put Too Much Developer In The Dye? Your mix will be more wet, & more runny. If it is way too runny, you may end up lightening the hair, but not depositing enough color. It will end up thinner, flatter and last less long.
What happens if you use hair dye without developer? ›
What happens is that without a developer, the dye doesn't penetrate the hair shaft and results in splotchy coloring. In addition, it will wash out very quickly and won't generally do anything useful.
Can 30 volume developer damage hair? ›Yes. Developer can damage hair. If you pick a developer that is too strong for the hair texture of your client, it has the possibility of lifting the cuticle so much that it can't be smoothed back down.
Is developer and bleach the same thing? ›Bleach can't do that without its partner, the developer. A developer activates the bleach. It contains hydrogen peroxide, which helps open up your hair cuticle so that the bleach can go into your hair shaft and do its job.
What does developer do to your hair? ›A developer is an oxidant cream product containing hydrogen peroxide. It helps in opening up the hair cuticle, which allows the color to penetrate deep into the hair and last for a long time. It is absolutely essential to use a developer while coloring your hair.
What happens if you leave hair coloring with 20 developer in too long? ›To summarize, you should leave hair dye in your hair for a minimum of 30 minutes and a maximum of 45. Avoid leaving the hair dye in too long because this may cause your hair to become dry and brittle.
How long can I leave 30 developer on my head? ›We hope you now understand how long to leave bleach in hair 30 vol. You must read the instructions mentioned on the bleaching kit before applying it. Wear gloves and protective eyewear while bleaching. Never leave the bleach on your hair for more than 30 minutes.
What can you mix with developer to lighten hair? ›If you're scared of using bleaching agents, or don't have bleach powder but want to lighten your hair, there is a really easy way. It involves mixing together 4 parts baking soda in 3 parts developer, 1 part shampoo, and 1 part conditioner.
What developer to use for grey hair? ›Always Use a 20 Volume Developer
Gray hair tends to be resistant and typically takes longer to grab hold of the hair. Since there is no pigment, there is no need to lift.
Choosing Developer Strength
Depending on how many levels you need to lift, choose a hair dye developer strength accordingly. For 1-2 levels, use 20 Vol developer, 30 Vol for 2-3 levels, and 40 Vol for 3 levels. If you are going more than three shades lighter, you will need to start with bleach.
Known to be the strongest developer that makes the biggest impact, 40 Volume lifts up to four levels and lightens hair quickly. It is often used with Satin Bleach to remove dark color pigment from natural hair or with high-lift color to create highlights or vibrant blondes.
How do you mix 30 volume developer with hair color? ›
Mix. 1 part Hair Colour with 1.5 parts Developer. eg. 1 Tube of Hair Colour with 1 Bottle of Developer.
What does 20 and 30 volume developer make? ›For example, you probably will not have 25 volume sitting around, so naturally, you will mix half of 20 volume and half of 30 volume in order to make 25 volume. And say you need to make 20 volume, but you only have 40 volume lying around.
What color covers orange hair? ›If your hair is orange, you'll need a blue toner. Try a blue shampoo to tone the brassiness and get rid of the orange. This color toner is commonly needed for darker hair.
What are the rules for mixing hair color? ›Colour mixing rules
Keep Colours like minded - Cool and Cool, Warm and Warm. You can mix either Cool or Warm Colours with a Natural Colour, to add a reflect. Always choose the Natural Colour first, to determine how Light or Dark your want your Colour. Do not mix Warm and Cool Colours.
Developer: The liquid that you mix with bleach powder before you apply it to your hair. For people with dark hair color, a 30 volume developer is recommended, whereas, for people with lighter hair, 20 volume is ideal.
Is 20 developer strong enough for dark hair? ›A Volume 20 developer is also a rather standard strength for mixing with bleach as it provides 2-3 levels of lift that is enough to take dark brown hair to a light brown shade. If your existing hair color is light brown, it will take you to a medium blonde hair color.
Can I use 20 developer on my roots? ›Generally speaking, virgin regrowth near the root will process and lift fairly quickly due to the heat of the scalp. 20 Vol developer is what you need for the regrowth area near the scalp. Never use anything stronger there unless you have some color removal you need to do.
What happens if you put conditioner in developer? ›If you mixed the conditioner and developer it will dilute the developer to about 50 percent of its initial value (assuming it was a one to one ratio) so it won't work as effectively and the color from the dye might not deposit as well.
Which hair dye doesn t require developer? ›What is semi-permanent color? A semi-permanent color contains no ammonia and deposits only. It does not require mixing with a developer and lasts anywhere from 4 – 12 shampoos. This type of color is used to blend gray or enhance natural color and it's safe for immediate use after a relaxer or perm service.
Can I use hydrogen peroxide as hair developer? ›Is Hydrogen Peroxide Safe to Use As A Developer? While you can use hydrogen peroxide as a developer, however using it without additives will not produce the desired results. Even if you apply hydrogen peroxide of moderate strength, it will only cause slight lightning without providing noticeable results.
Does all permanent hair dye need developer? ›
If you are using a permanent hair color you have to lift the hair using hydrogen peroxide (developer). This process raises or opens up the cuticle layer of the hair to allow the color molecules to penetrate the cortex depositing the color which could damage the hair if not done properly.
How long do you leave 40 volume developer in your hair? ›Once the Colour has been applied to the Hair, leave in Hair for 35 to 40 minutes to Develop.
How long do you let bleach sit in your hair? ›There's a misconception that bleach will work better the longer you leave it on. The maximum amount of time you should leave bleach on your hair is 30 minutes. Any longer than that and you run the risk of serious damage, including brittle strands.
Does developer damage curly hair? ›Low Developer, Slow Process
Leysa says curls can't lock in moisture, dry much quicker and are more susceptible to damage when over-processed. That's why her go-to tip is low developer, slow process. Never use a developer higher than 20-volume, do not process with heat and always prioritize hair health over lightness.
The exact duration depends on various factors such as your hair type, thickness, color, texture, and the bleach/developer you use. Usually, 15-30 minutes is enough time to bleach most hair types. You might need to reapply bleach to get the desired color sometimes.
Does developer soften hair? ›By pre-softening the hair with hydrogen peroxide (we call it the developer) your hair cuticles open so the pigment can be absorbed well. For this, apply the pure developer (hydrogen peroxide) to the grey strands. Use a comb to comb the developer through the areas that need pre-softening.
Should I use 10 or 20 developer for white hair? ›Always Use a 20 Volume Developer
Gray hair tends to be resistant and typically takes longer to grab hold of the hair. Since there is no pigment, there is no need to lift.
What Happens If I Put Too Much Developer In The Dye? Your mix will be more wet, & more runny. If it is way too runny, you may end up lightening the hair, but not depositing enough color. It will end up thinner, flatter and last less long.
What happens if you use more hair color than developer? ›You can use hair dyes without a developer but what will happen is that the results won't be as permanent as you would want with permanent hair dyes. What happens is that without a developer, the dye doesn't penetrate the hair shaft and results in splotchy coloring.
Who should use 20 volume developer? ›Use 20 Volume when lifting hair color one or two levels (levels refer to the oxidizing potential). If your hair is more that 50 percent grey, 20 Volume can help provide 100 percent coverage when used with permanent hair color.
What can I mix with 20 volume developer to lighten my hair? ›
Use a good quality bleach, and get ready your 20 or 30 Vol developer. Use 20 Vol when you need to lift by 1-2 levels. Use 30 Vol when you need to lift by 3 levels or more. Use 2 parts of developer to 1 part of bleach.
How long do you leave 30 volume developer in your hair? ›We hope you now understand how long to leave bleach in hair 30 vol. You must read the instructions mentioned on the bleaching kit before applying it. Wear gloves and protective eyewear while bleaching. Never leave the bleach on your hair for more than 30 minutes.
Can developer mess up your hair? ›can developer damage your hair? Yes. Developer can damage hair. If you pick a developer that is too strong for the hair texture of your client, it has the possibility of lifting the cuticle so much that it can't be smoothed back down.
Does using more developer lighten hair? ›A higher volume means more power to turn your hair lighter. Developers come in different volumes. 10-volume developer lightens slightly, so there's less risk of damage. 20-volume developer gives 1 to 2 levels of lift and is usually used for the roots.
Does more developer mean lighter hair? ›The higher the number is the stronger the developer is and it therefore more lightens hair.
How can I make my hair dye stronger? ›Heat opens up the cuticle, much in the same way ammonia does chemically. This is why some hair dyes will suggest covering your head or applying heat while the color sets. The extra heat, whether from your own head or an external source like a blow dryer or steamer, optimizes the dye's processing for stronger results.