Can I use 10 volume developer with semi-permanent color?

Author: Kameron Hammes  |  Last update: Saturday, July 26, 2025

Tips for Applying Developer with Your Semi Permanent Hair Color. To achieve a more subtle result, use a lower volume developer (10 vol or 20 vol). For a bolder and longer-lasting color, use a higher volume developer (30 vol).

Can you use 10 developer with semi-permanent hair color?

No, you should not mix semi-permanent hair color with a developer. Semi-permanent hair color is designed to deposit color without the need for a developer, as it typically does not contain ammonia or peroxide.

Can I use 10 volume developer with color?

Use 10 volume developer with any permanent hair colour. It acts as a toner. It has the ability to slightly open your cuticle up. Allows toners color molecules to penetrate. Tackles unwanted warm tones. Not designed to lift roots. Contains low 3% hydrogen peroxide. Not recommended for bleaching.

What happens if I use 10 developer instead of 20?

Use 10 Vol for level on level-on-level coloring and going darker. Use 20 Vol for 1-2 levels lift, for toning blonde hair and for grey hair coverage. Use 40 Vol for 3 levels lift and more. The mix for Ugly Duckling cream color is 1 part color to 1 part developer.

Will developer remove semi-permanent hair color?

Developer used by itself won't do anything. It won't burn your hair and it won't remove the color. It's only ``activated'' when combined with other chemical components (I'm surprised if it does anything used with baking soda tbh).

how to mix hair color with developer at home | 2024

What happens if you add developer to semi-permanent color?

By adding developer to your semi-permanent hair color, you can expect the following benefits: Enhanced Vibrancy: As mentioned before, the addition of developer helps the color molecules penetrate deeper into the hair shaft, resulting in a more vibrant and intense color.

What is the best way to get semi-permanent hair dye out?

Simply washing your hair frequently with hot water can help fade the colour over time. This is the least damaging method but requires patience as the results are gradual. Washing your hair more often can significantly speed up the colour-removal process. Use a strong shampoo that does not contain conditioner.

How many levels does 10 volume developer lift?

10 Volume (3%) Developer

It opens the hair cuticle to allow color penetration, adding a tint or tone to the existing hair color. This developer provides a gentle lift of 1-2 levels, making it suitable for subtle changes close to the current hair shade.

What happens if you put grey hair dye on brown hair?

If your hair is brown, you may need to bleach it more than once before you apply the grey dye. It's important you get your hair as light as possible before you attempt to turn it grey – this will help ensure a more even tone and vibrant, all-over colour.

Is 10 or 20 developer better for gray hair?

The standard developer for gray coverage is 20 Volume; however, 30 Volume and 40 Volume can also be used if the percentage of gray is low and additional lift is needed to achieve the desired result.

What is demi vs semi-permanent hair color?

The biggest difference between semi and demi is permanency. Though both are temporary, demi lasts 24 to 28 shampoos, and semi lasts 3 to 6. We'll go through exactly what they are, and why you would use them, with tips from our colorists to help you get the best results.

Can you tone hair with 10 developer?

If you are using toner that mixes with a 10 or less volume developer, it's going to do little to no damage to your hair. That's because the higher the volume of developer, the more damage.

Can I dye my hair black with 10 volume developer?

Volume 10 developer is a good choice to use in conjunction with a toner, as it will balance the toner out. Volume 10 is perfect if you're trying to make a slight hair color change—for instance, if your hair is dark brown, and you want to dye it black.

What to avoid with semi-permanent hair dye?

A common pitfall that many people fall into, and should be avoided is shampooing after applying semi-permanent hair color. Following your initial application of semi-permanent hair color, it is important to not shampoo your hair.

How much developer do I need for semi-permanent hair color?

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.

Will a 10 volume developer lighten hair?

10 Volume (3%): Used for depositing colour without lifting the natural hair colour. This volume is suitable for toning or darkening. 20 Volume (6%): Provides moderate lift and is commonly used for covering grey hair or lightening natural hair colour by one to two shades.

Why does my grey hair go ginger when I dye it brown?

To avoid it going ginger or red then you must check what shade you are using. For example if the colour says golden, chocolate, mahogany, red, warm brown etc, these will all look 'ginger'. To achieve a rich colour, a basic shade must be added to create the depth (how dark it is).

Is it better to go lighter or darker to cover gray hair?

Pick a lighter hair colour

A lighter colour will then look better. Your hair follicles produce less pigment as you're turning older. If there's no more pigment being produced in the hair follicles, your hair turns pigmentless.

What does developer do to brown hair?

A hair developer is a hydrogen peroxide-based cream or lotion that's used to lighten hair. When combined with hair dye, it helps the color molecules penetrate the hair shaft so that your color will be long-lasting and uniform.

Can you use permanent hair color with 10% developer?

Use 10 Volume if you are applying permanent, no-lift hair color. If the desired result is keeping color at the same color level by simply adding a tone or a tint, this is exactly what you should mix with. It won't significantly lift your base color and is the least damaging to the hair.

Can I go from dark brown to light brown in one sitting?

Going from dark to light too quickly can cause your hair to become dry, brittle, and weak. It's not worth risking your hair by using bleach. The fact that there are factors that determine how light you can go in one session is another reason why we recommend bleaching your hair in multiple sessions.

What is 10 volume developer best for?

10 volume developers contain 3% hydrogen peroxide. These developers are also called no lift developers because they only provide moderate lift to your cuticles, i.e., lift by 1 level. This developer is perfect for when you are going to color your hair a darker color than the natural shade.

Can you use Dawn dish soap to remove hair dye?

Dish Soap

Fortunately, if you go through the effort of using this drying soap on your dyed hair, it can help remove unwanted color. You'll need to do many washes to fade it out, but it is a step in the right direction if you want to remove a color.

How do you make semi-permanent hair dye stay on?

Keep it cool. To keep your new hair colour vivid and bright, we recommend washing your hair with cold water (as cold as is bearable). Cold water keeps the hair cuticles closed and therefore stops the colour running out and fading too soon. Warm water is the enemy!

Why won't my semi-permanent hair dye come out?

It would help if you avoided shampoos and conditioners that preserve colour or add pigment to the hair, as this could reverse your progress. Use Warm Water – Using warm water will open the hair follicles and is guaranteed to speed up the fading process.

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