What happens if you put too much developer in hair dye? Too much developer dilutes the dye, resulting in a lighter, less vibrant color and uneven application. It can also weaken the dye's effectiveness.
Developer alone won't make your hair darker or lighter. Its main purpose is to activate the color molecules in the hair dye and help them penetrate the hair shaft for a more permanent result. So if you want a lighter or darker shade, it's all about the hair dye you choose.
What happens if you put too much developer in hair dye? Too much developer added to a hair color formula will dilute the artificial dye molecules, and add too much oxygen to the formula. This will typically display a sheer end result that does not have the depth you may have anticipated.
It's a good chance that less developer will not allow the color to attach correctly and the color will simply slide off after a wash or three. But if you use too much developer it can water the color down and leave holes in your cuticle which is essentially super damaging.
For lifting the color by 1-2 levels, opt for a 20 Volume (6%) developer. A 30 Volume (9%) developer is suitable for more noticeable lifts of 2-3 levels, while a 40 Volume (12%) developer is used for significant lightening up to 8 levels.
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.
30 volume developer can lift the hair by about 2–3 levels, making it a good choice for significant but not drastic lightening.
Because 30 volume developer cannot bring effectively to lighten your hair by only itself. It just makes your hair a little lighter than your natural color hair. Hence, in order to get the full effect, 30 volume developer should be combined with bleach powder or dye powder to lighten your hair fastest.
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.
Can you use 20 volume developer alone? No, 20 volume developer should be mixed with a hair color or lightening product. On its own, developer doesn't have any coloring power.
Some may require 1:1.5 or even 1:2 ratios, which means more developer is needed than dye. Also, keep in mind that using more of a developer in hair other than dye can dilute the color and affect the desired result. So, it's essential to follow the recommended ratio for best results.
A Volume 40 developer is only used for lightening and can lift up to 8 levels. It is recommended for use with a lightening cream or powder for those who want to achieve blonde results.
10 Volume Developers
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.
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.
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.
20 volume developer lifts hair color 2 levels and 30 lifts 3. so figure out how much lighter your desired shade is and go from there. be careful with roots since they are closer to your scalp that is a heat source and they will get lighter faster.
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.
Blue shampoos contain blue or violet pigments; when you wash your hair with blue shampoo, these pigments are deposited onto your hair strands, and help to counteract brassy tones. Use our Blue Crush Shampoo and Blue Crush Conditioner to get rid of those orangey, reddy hues, and reveal cooler-toned brown hair.
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).
If your client's hair is dark blonde/light brown (level 5-6), aim at around 30 minutes using 30 Vol developer. If your client's hair is brown/dark brown (level 4-5), aim at around around 30-40 minutes using 30 Vol developer with fresh mix added in during processing time.
Natural bleaching agents like apple cider vinegar, lemon juice, chamomile tea, or cinnamon and honey can lighten hair gently and naturally with minimal damage.
Use a permanent hair dye
You could also try using a high-lift hair dye, like the L'Oréal Paris Superior Preference Fade-Defying Shine Permanent Hair Color in Hi-Lift Gold Brown, which is useful for those looking to dye dark hair light brown without the pre-bleaching step.
The developer found in box color ranges between 20 and 40 volume because that is what is needed to cover gray or to change a very dark shade. Frequently coating the hair shaft with a high volume developer will cause damage, particularly if the starting condition is weakened or fragile.
If you're using a permanent hair color, you'll need a developer with a higher volume. This is usually between 20 and 30 Vol. And if you're looking to really lighten your hair, you'll need a developer with an even higher volume, between 30 and 40 Vol.
The easiest way to lighten hair is to use a clarifying shampoo or a mixture of baking soda and lemon juice. These methods are gentle and can gradually lighten the hair over a few washes. For more immediate results, a professional toner or hair lightener can be used.