How long do I leave 40% developer on with bleach?

Author: Arlo Windler  |  Last update: Monday, June 30, 2025

40-volume developer should not be left on your hair for more than 30 minutes. Generally, a processing time of 10–20 minutes is enough to achieve a lift without causing excessive damage. Check the hair frequently to monitor the color lift, and rinse thoroughly when the desired shade is achieved.

How long to bleach knots with 40% developer?

Bleaching your knots for 30-60 minutes is what gave me the best results!

Can you use 40 volume developer with bleach?

Using a 40 volume developer with bleach on your scalp is generally not recommended, especially for inexperienced users. Here are some important considerations: Strength: A 40 volume developer is very strong and can cause significant damage to your hair and scalp.

Will a 40 volume developer lighten hair by itself?

Developer alone won't lighten your hair significantly. Developer (which is usually hydrogen peroxide) works by opening the hair cuticle to allow lightening agents to work. By itself, it won't remove pigment from your hair.

Is a 40 volume developer too strong?

Strength of Developer: A 40-volume developer contains 12% peroxide, which is very strong and can lift hair color significantly. However, using such a strong developer can also cause damage to the hair.

How long should I leave 40 volume developer on my hair to lighten it?

How long do I leave 40% developer in my hair?

40-volume developer should not be left on your hair for more than 30 minutes. Generally, a processing time of 10–20 minutes is enough to achieve a lift without causing excessive damage. Check the hair frequently to monitor the color lift, and rinse thoroughly when the desired shade is achieved.

How many levels does 40 volume developer lift?

40 Volume (12%) Developer

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.

What does 40 developer do to dark hair?

Highlighting and Balayage: For creating highlights or balayage on dark hair, 40 volume developer is often used to achieve the lighter tones necessary for these techniques. It allows the color to lift to the desired level, especially when working with dark or resistant hair.

How long to leave developer on hair to lighten?

Using a 20-volume developer is relatively easy. Mix the developer with the hair color. Apply the mixture to the hair, making sure to cover all areas evenly. Leave the developer mix on for 30-45 minutes, depending on the desired results and the hair type.

Can I mix developer with conditioner?

Both permanent and developer-based dyes should not be mixed with conditioner. "There are particular reactions and interactions between the chemicals within them that make these dyes work on the hair," Oxley says.

What happens if I use 40 developer instead of 30?

Developer choice going lighter with regular color

Use 20 Vol if you are aiming for a 1-2 level lift (and if you have grey hair that needs covering). Use 30 Vol if 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.

How long to leave bleach on hair?

Bleach should be washed out as soon as your desired level of lift is achieved, and should never be left in for longer than 45 minutes at the most to prevent damage to the hair, and should be checked frequently throughout the bleaching process.

How to make 40 volume developer into 20?

Mixed equal parts distilled water with 40 volume to make 20 volume. 1 oz distilled water and 1 oz 40 volume developer will give you 2 oz of 20 volume developer.

How long do you let bleach and developer sit?

How long should I leave the bleach on the hair? If your client's hair is blonde (level 7 and higher) aim at between 15-20 minutes using 20 Vol developer. If your client's hair is dark blonde/light brown (level 5-6), aim at around 30 minutes using 30 Vol developer.

Should I pluck before bleaching knots?

Do you pluck or bleach knots first? Bleach the knots first and then pluck. It's best to bleach the knots first, because some of the knots will be more resistant to the bleaching process than others. After the bleaching process, you may want to pluck those bleach-resistant knots.

Do I shampoo after bleaching?

Once you've rinsed the bleach out with lukewarm water, apply shampoo and wash it the hair thoroughly, but gently. After which a deep conditioner is highly recommended to keep hair from drying out further which may lead to unnecessary breakage.

Is 40 vol bleach strong?

40 volume developer is the strongest level of developer, and we do not recommend it for at home use. Even with dark hair, it is easier and safer to do several rounds of lightning with a lower volume developer rather than try to lift your hair an extreme amount in one go with a higher volume developer.

What happens if you leave developer in too long?

Too long: You risk over-processing, which can damage your hair and scalp.

How to lighten brown hair without turning orange?

A blue shampoo will neutralize orange tones. For hair that has been bleached blonde, use a specifically purple shampoo, and for hair that has been bleached to a lighter brown, use a blue-tinted purple shampoo. Purple shampoos work by balancing out yellow tones, since purple and yellow are opposite on the color wheel.

What level developer is in Box dye?

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.

How long does a 40 volume developer last?

Peroxides or Developers don't 'spoil' or go bad but they can deteriorate meaning the Hydrogen Peroxide breaks down to free oxygen and water causing the product to weaken (go from 10 Vol. to 9 Vol. or less) or it can dehydrate or lose water and get more 'concentrated' (go from 20 Vol. to 22 vol. or more) However, all ...

How long do you leave 40% developer in your hair with bleach?

How long should you leave 40 volume bleach in your hair? 40 volume bleach is very potent and isn't supposed to be left in your hair for more than 10-20 minutes. If you have coarse or very dark hair, you can leave it a few minutes longer.

What bleach is best for dark hair?

What is the best bleach for dark hair?
  • Best high lifting bleach - Schwarzkopf BLONDME Bond Enforcing Premium Lightener 9+
  • Best salon value bleach - Lotus Low Dust (Blue) Bleach.
  • Best anti-yellow bleach - Wella Blondor Multi Blonde Powder.
  • Best bleach with colouring system - Goldwell Oxycur Platin Dust Free Blue Bleach.

How many sessions to go from dark brown to blonde?

From a strand test, you should also get a better sense of how many sessions you'll need to make the full transition. For example, going from dark brown to light blonde hair may require three to four sessions.

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