40-volume developers, like the Keywest Professional Silver Sand Developer, contain 12% hydrogen peroxide. This concentration allows it to open the hair cuticle more aggressively, lifting natural pigments and making it an ideal choice for significant lightening or bleaching.
Damage Risk: The high strength of a 40 volume developer can cause considerable damage to the hair. It can lead to dryness, breakage, and an overall unhealthy appearance, especially if the hair is already compromised or previously colored.
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.
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.
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.
If you're looking to lighten your hair by three or more levels, 40 volume developer is the option for you. It's also a good choice if you have very resistant hair that's difficult to color. People choose 40 volume because it's strong enough to lighten even the darkest hair.
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.
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.
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.
Bleaching your knots for 30-60 minutes is what gave me the best results!
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.
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. A 40 Volume developer offers the most significant lift, up to 8 levels, for dramatic color changes.
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.
With its strength, a 40-volume developer comes with risks that must be managed carefully. Here are some key considerations: Potential for Damage: High peroxide levels can be tough on hair, potentially causing breakage, dryness, and split ends if not used correctly.
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.
Dryness and Damage: As mentioned earlier, higher volumes of developers can cause severe damage and dryness. If you use too much hair colour and developer, the excess peroxide can strip your hair of its natural oils, leaving it brittle and prone to breakage.
However, Halim warns that combining conditioner with permanent or developer-based dyes can disrupt the chemical reaction and oxidation process needed for permanent color, which may lead to uneven or inconsistent color.
Without bleach, the 40 volume developer will only deposit color and may lighten the hair slightly, but not enough to achieve the desired blonde or light color.
It doesn't completely alter your hair colour, but it helps you subtly manipulate the shade of brassy hair. Hair toners neutralise unwanted warm or brassy tones to help you achieve a shinier, healthier, more natural-looking shade.
40 Volume. 40 volume developer can be used with permanent hair color and high lift color to give 3-4 levels of lift depending on the power of the color and the texture of the hair. Open-air processing such as balayage is ideal for 40 volume developer as it allows for maximum lift but the control of less heat.
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.
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.
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!
While bleach opens up the hair cuticle more forcefully for intense lightening, a 30 volume developer on its own can still help to lift color by about two to three levels, depending on your natural hair color. This option is ideal if you want to avoid the harsh effects of bleach but still desire a lighter color.