Is 10 or 20 developer better for gray hair?

Author: Sandrine Predovic  |  Last update: Thursday, July 24, 2025

If your hair is more that 50 percent grey, 20 Volume can help provide 100 percent coverage when used with permanent hair color. If you are naturally blonde and want to lighten your hair in a gentle fashion, this is also a good choice.

Should I use 10 or 20 developer for gray hair?

Grey needs at least a 10 volume and sometimes a 20 volume developer because grey hair is stubborn at opening up to accept color. It's coarser and the cuticle can be more tightly closed, making a 20vol necessary to open it more.

What happens if I use 10 developer instead of 20?

Hair dye volumes refer to the strength of the developer, which impacts the level of color lift. A 10 Volume developer provides minimal lift, perfect for depositing color. A 20 Volume developer lifts hair by 1-2 levels, while a 30 Volume developer lifts by 2-3 levels.

Which volume is best for gray hair?

20 volume is likely the most used developer in the salon. 20volume will give 1-2 levels of lift when used with permanent hair color. It is the standard developer for grey coverage, however, a stronger developer may be needed for more resistant hair types.

What developer is best for gray hair?

Developer Volume: - 20 Volume Developer: This is the most common choice for covering gray hair. It provides enough lift to cover gray while allowing the color to deposit effectively.

hair color developer explained- 10, 20, 30 & 40 volume | 2024

Should I use 10 or 20 developer to darken hair?

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.

What is the best way to enhance grey hair?

Blending grey hair with highlights and lowlights is also another great technique to achieve a multi-dimensional colour with depth and contrast – this helps to enhance rather than conceal grey hair.

What is the 50 50 50 rule for gray hair?

The mean age of senile graying for Caucasians (whites) is mid-30s; for Asians of the late 30's; and for Africans of mid-40s. There is a practical declaration which states that at the age of 50, 50% of the population has 50% gray hair (rule of thumb) [4] . The gray of age varies according to race and ethnicity. ...

When to 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.

How do you get the perfect grey hair color?

To fully achieve a gorgeous shade of grey, you'll need to first bleach your hair and then dye it. Make sure that you're really committed to your new colour before you start. If you're not quite sure whether you're ready for the long haul, give silver locks a test drive with our Colorista Spray 1-Day Colour in grey.

Will 20 developer lift roots?

Hot roots happen when you apply a colour mixed with a 20 vol developer to your natural root area as this strength developer lifts the hair slightly. This is more common with lighter shades and toners.

What happens if I use a 10% developer with a permanent hair color?

10 volume will slightly open the cuticle and allow for moderate penetration of color molecules. Similar to 5 volume, 10 volume can be used with permanent color lines for depositing color, however, it will not offer much grey coverage or lift.

Does 10 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 won't my gray hair hold color?

Pigment loss occurs naturally in hair as we age. Along with the changes in pigmentation, grey hairs can also undergo structural changes Grey hair is often also coarser. The outer cuticle layer of greys can be more tightly packed and layered, making them resistant to colour absorption.

What is the difference between 10 and 20 volume hair developer?

Select a 10-volume developer to lift your hair by 1 shade. Volume 10 developer is the gentlest option and is best for minor hair color changes like brown to black. Choose a 20-volume developer to lift hair by 2 shades and help cover greys. Go for a 30-volume developer to lift your hair 3-4 shades.

Is it better to go darker or lighter with grey hair?

Is it better to go lighter or darker to cover grey hair? As for your permanent colour kit choice, for the best grey coverage, Josh recommends choosing a shade close to your natural root colour (that's the colour between the greys.) "Make sure to never stray more than two shades away from this,” says Josh.

Should I use 10 or 20 developer for grey hair?

Use 20 Vol developer for most grey hair coverage situations.

What developer to use to cover grey 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.

How damaging is a 20 volume developer?

Using too much 20 volume developer can lead to over-processing, which means that the hair cuticles can get damaged, leaving the hair looking dull, dry, and brittle. Plus, the color won't turn out the way you want it to, and you might even end up with a funky, uneven color that looks like a tie-dye gone wrong.

What percentage developer for grey hair?

Choose the Right Developer

Just make sure you're using the correct volume, opting for 6% (20 volume) to cover grays or reach one level of lift, 9% (30 volume) for two levels of lift, and 12% (40 volume) for three levels of lift.

How do hairdressers blend grey hair?

Made by using a combination of highlights and lowlights, Keading says you get a softer line of demarcation when your roots grow out and it gives you a subtle dimension throughout.

What volume should I use to cover 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. You just need to open the cuticle enough to deposit the color.

How to make grey hair look silver?

How to make gray hair soft, shiny, and silver
  1. Use a hydrating shampoo regularly. ...
  2. Swap in a clarifying shampoo. ...
  3. Use a purple shampoo and conditioner. ...
  4. Use a serum for shine. ...
  5. Use hairspray the right way. ...
  6. See a hair stylist for a keratin treatment. ...
  7. Do weekly deep conditioning masks. ...
  8. Get a gloss treatment.

Can vitamin B12 stop gray hair?

Premature graying may be reversed with vitamin B12 supplementation only if vitamin B12 deficiency is the cause. If you are graying due to other factors, such as genetics, zinc deficiency, and medications, your gray hair cannot be reversed.

What does baking soda do to gray hair?

Regarding using baking soda for gray hair, experts endorse its potential benefits such as controlling pigmentation loss, lightening the strands, and providing texture. It can be used on coarse grey locks to make them smoother too by eliminating product buildup from oils or soaps.

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