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.
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.
A: The 500 series is for gray coverage, basically because gray hair is hard to cover. 20 volume is the recommended usage because it opens the cuticle farther for penetration of color molecules. 10 volume is for deposit only and will not penetrate as well, nor cover as well.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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. ...
The typical ratio is 1 part hair color to 1.5 or 2 parts developer for effective gray coverage.
The outer cuticle layer of greys can be more tightly packed and layered, making them resistant to colour absorption. As a result, it can be more difficult to colour resistant grey hair and to cover visible regrowth.
A 10 volume developer can lift hair color. Its guaranteed to lift darker colors by 1 level at least. Also the heat from the scalp will also cause it to develop faster, so its about a 99% chance that the developer caused the roots to lift.
Use the Grey Coverage mixing ratio
Mix the colour at a 1:1 ratio or 50g colour + 50g developer. It's really important to use kitchen scales when mixing as too much or not enough developer will affect the coverage.
Typically, Kenra Color recommends 20 Volume Developer for gray coverage. We do not recommend 10 Volume Developer for covering grays as 20vol has a higher concentration of H2O2 (hydrogen peroxide) to open the cuticle more for lift and deposit.
Neutral shades like soft blonde, mushroom brown, light copper, and caramel blonde balayage are the easiest to blend gray into (and maintain over time without wanting to shave your hair off). Plus, Cosgrove points out that it's easy to overwhelm your face with color.
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.
Always Use a 20 Volume Developer
Since there is no pigment, there is no need to lift. You just need to open the cuticle enough to deposit the color. If you feel you can get full coverage using a 10 or 15 volume then by all means use a lower volume.
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. 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 unicorn threw up on your head.
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.
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.
One of the most popular uses of 20 volume developer is to cover gray hair. Since gray hair is more resistant to color, 20 volume provides the necessary lift and penetration to ensure full coverage.
Light Blonde
Ultra Light Cool Blonde or Ultra Light Natural Blonde will do the trick.
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.
Use 10 Volume if you are applying permanent, no-lift hair color. If the desired result is keeping color at the same color level by simply adding a tone or a tint, this is exactly what you should mix with. It won't significantly lift your base color and is the least damaging to the hair.
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.