Should I use 20 or 30 developer with permanent color?

Author: Dr. Beaulah Streich DVM  |  Last update: Thursday, October 23, 2025

Should I Use 20 or 30 Volume Developer Hair Color? The choice between a 20 and 30 Volume developer hinges on your desired lift. A 20 Volume developer provides a lift of 1-2 levels, which is great for subtle changes and gray coverage. For a more significant lift of 2-3 levels, opt for a 30 Volume developer.

Is 20 or 30 developer better for permanent hair color?

20 volume is the cutoff point for permanent hair color. So permanent color is 20 volume or higher. 20 volume lifts a MAX of two levels. 30 volume lifts a MAX of 3 levels and 40 volume lifts a maximum of 4 levels. All these developers can be used with permanent hair color.

What happens if you use 30 developer instead of 20 on dark hair?

Using 30 volume for a dye meant for 20 volume can sometimes leave the hair too brassy bc it doesn't contain enough pigment for 3 levels of lift.

Can I use 20 volume developer with permanent color?

20 volume is the cutoff point for permanent hair color. So permanent color is 20 volume or higher. 20 volume lifts a MAX of two levels. 30 volume lifts a MAX of 3 levels and 40 volume lifts a maximum of 4 levels. All these developers can be used with permanent hair color.

Will 30% developer lift dyed hair?

Using 30 volume developer alone to lighten previously dyed hair is not recommended. While 30 vol developer can lift hair color, it typically requires a lightening agent, such as bleach or a high-lift color, to effectively lighten dyed hair. Here are some key points to consider:

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

Is it okay to use 30 volume developer with permanent color?

Yes, you can use a 30 Volume developer with permanent color.

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.

How much developer do you use for permanent hair color?

How much 20 volume developer should you mix with 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.

Which developer is best for dark hair?

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.

How long does ion permanent hair color with 20 volume developer take to process?

Process for 25-45 minutes depending on the level of color intensity desired, rinse and evaluate for accurate results.

Is 30 volume developer too strong?

30 Volume (9%) Developer

Although a Volume 30 developer is strong enough to cause scalp irritation in most people, it allows you to achieve a 3-4 level lift with bleach.

Should I use 20 or 30 developer for red hair?

“Using different developers is key, and a HUGE pro tip to keep the red from going too dark, and old highlights from absorbing too much pigment,” explains Jill, who uses 20 volume on virgin hair, and 25 – 30 volume on previously highlighted hair. The why: Shifting developers depending on porosity is key.

How long do you let 30% developer in your hair?

One of the most common questions is: How long to leave 30 volume developer on hair? In general, it's recommended to leave it on for 15–30 minutes, depending on how much lift you're looking for. However, going over this time can cause significant damage.

When should I use a 20 developer?

If you're wondering how to lighten hair with 20 volume developer safely, remember that this developer strength is best for lightening natural hair colors by one or two shades. For instance, if you're a dark blonde and want to become a light blonde, 20 volume can help you achieve this gentle lift without needing bleach.

Should I use 20 or 30 developer reddit?

Vol 20 in multiple rounds: If they're worried about damage, this is the safer option, though it'll take longer to lift. Vol 30 in one go: Faster lift, but riskier for hair health. Monitor closely if used.

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.

What developer to use with Ion permanent hair color?

Using a non-metallic bowl, mix 2 oz of ion™ Color Brilliance™ permanent brights with 2 oz ion™ Sensitive Scalp® Crème Developer 10 volume. Mixing ratio is 1:1. Application: For the most vibrant result, apply to pre-lightened hair.

Is 20 or 30 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.

Will 20 developer darken hair?

If you're looking to maintain your natural hair color or darken it slightly, 20 volume developer is a good option. It won't lighten your hair much, but it will help the hair dye to better penetrate the hair shaft and result in longer-lasting, more vibrant color.

How to make permanent hair dye at home for grey hair?

Process:
  1. Allow the henna hair dye powder to soak in a cup of water for 8 hours or overnight.
  2. Boil the black tea leaves with water in the morning and steep for a few minutes. ...
  3. Pour the cooled tea into the henna paste that has been left to soak.

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.

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).

What does developer do to brown hair?

Hair developer uses various percentages of hydrogen peroxide to lift the hair's cuticle layer and deposit color—the higher the peroxide percentage is, the more it lifts and strips the hair. Volume 10 is the weakest developer level, containing only 3% hydrogen peroxide.

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