Is it better to have too much or too little developer?

Author: Roxane Paucek  |  Last update: Tuesday, August 19, 2025

If you use too much developer, it can damage your hair. Another common mistake is not using enough developer. If you don't use enough, the hair dye won't work properly and your color will not be the right shade. Developer is an important part of the hair coloring process, so it's important to get it right.

What happens if you use too much or too little developer?

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.

How do I know if I put too much developer?

Uneven color: Excessive developer can cause the hair dye to process too quickly, leading to uneven color distribution (1). This means that some parts of your hair may appear darker or lighter than others, resulting in an inconsistent and patchy color.

Does more developer make color stronger?

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.

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.

HOW TO DYE YOUR HAIR WITH DEVELOPER ONLY!!!

Will 20% developer lighten hair?

20 Volume Developer: Ideal for one to two levels of lightening and effective for gray coverage. Great for both depositing color and subtle lightening. 30 Volume Developer: Used for lifting color by up to three shades. This is a stronger developer and generally used for more dramatic color changes.

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.

Does less developer make color lighter?

Using a 20-volume developer instead of a 10-volume developer will result in a greater lift and a lighter color outcome. The higher hydrogen peroxide content helps open the hair cuticle more, allowing the color to penetrate deeper and lighten your natural shade.

What happens if you put too much toner in your hair?

So, why has your hair become stained with hues of blue or purple? Well, you may have either over toned your hair, the toner is too strong, you've applied too much or your hair is very porous. Uh oh! Luckily, there are ways to reverse this!

How to make hair dye stronger?

How to make your hair color last longer
  1. Wait at least 72 hours before showering post-treatment. ...
  2. Use color-toning shampoos + conditioners. ...
  3. Stick to color-safe products. ...
  4. Space out your shampoos. ...
  5. Skip the hot water. ...
  6. Max out the moisture. ...
  7. Boost shine and protection with a hair oil. ...
  8. Protect against chemicals and minerals.

How damaging is 10 developer?

It won't significantly lift your base color and is the least damaging to the hair. 10 Volume is only used to open the cuticle layer so the color molecules deposit in the cortex for long-term results.

How long to let hair dye sit?

Timing is 30 minutes for standard color application; 45 minutes for maximum gray coverage and for high-lift shades. Typically, with permanent color, the first 15 minutes provide time for the peroxide and ammonia to open the cuticle and penetrate into the cortex to lighten natural pigment.

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.

How do I know if I used too much developer?

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.

Should I use 20 or 30 developer with permanent 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.

Does higher developer damage hair more?

It's crucial to choose the appropriate developer volume based on your client's desired hair colour outcome and the condition of their hair. Higher volume developers can be more damaging to the hair, so it's important to follow the instructions provided with the hair dye or bleach product.

What color cancels out ash?

Q: For folks who don't want ashy hair color, is it hard to fix? A: It's super easy to fix. When formulating your shade, your colorist will likely use a copper or golden tone to counteract the ash.

Why has my blonde hair gone grey?

These gray tones can appear because of too much toner or an ashy dye. Whatever mishap got you to this place, don't stress. Fortunately, an ash attack is not hard to fix, even on your own.

What color cancels out purple hair?

Yes, you can absolutely use the yellow to counteract purple hair dye. It will depend on the depth of the purple, how much of it you are able to cancel out.

Should I use more or less developer?

If you're using semi-permanent or demi-permanent hair color, you'll need a developer with a lower volume, between 3 and 20 Vol. 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.

What happens if I add too much developer?

What happens if you put too much developer in hair dye? Oh boy, that's a recipe for disaster! Using too much developer can lead to over-processing, which means that the hair cuticles can get damaged, leaving the hair looking dull, dry, and brittle.

Will 20 developer lighten?

By using a 20-volume developer, you can lighten your hair by 1-2 levels, making it a versatile choice for both coloring and lightening.

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.

Should you go blonde when going grey?

Going blonde is a great way to blend or cover grey hair, especially with shades like ash blonde that naturally complement silver tones. If there's one thing that's changed a lot in recent years, it's the way we view ageing.

Why do my roots show after 1 week?

It could be that your hair is resistant to tint, especially when the hair texture has changed as a result of going white. But also it could be that by going lighter, either all over, or by introducing (subtle) highlights you would not see the regrowth strip quite as quickly as if it were lighter.

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