What happens if I use too much developer?

Author: Justine Murazik  |  Last update: Tuesday, July 1, 2025

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.

Can too much developer ruin your hair?

Over-processing: Too much developer can cause the hair dye to over-process, which means it stays on the hair for too long. This can result in damage to the hair, making it dry, brittle, and prone to breakage (1). Over-processed hair may also lose its natural shine and become dull.

What happens if you accidentally use too much developer?

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.

Is it better to have 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?

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.

What happens if you add too much developer to your hair dye?

What would happen if I put 20 volume developer on my hair?

20 volume hair developer

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. 20 volume developer is also a good option if you're looking to cover up some gray hair.

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.

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.

What happens if you add too much developer to lightener?

However, if you use too much developer, it can dilute the bleach powder and reduce its effectiveness in lightening the hair. If you use more developer than bleach in your mixture, it can lead to: Uneven results: The bleaching process may not occur evenly, leaving some areas of your hair lighter than others.

Will 20 volume developer lighten hair without bleach?

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 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 happens if you mix semi-permanent hair color with developer?

By adding developer to your semi-permanent hair color, you can expect the following benefits: Enhanced Vibrancy: As mentioned before, the addition of developer helps the color molecules penetrate deeper into the hair shaft, resulting in a more vibrant and intense color.

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

Actually, all you'll get is limp, weighed down hair, scalp buildup and a higher budget for replacements. Your hair can only hold so much, and any product that isn't absorbed into the shaft will lie on top. This isn't usually a problem, until it begins to weigh your hair down and cause it to look greasy or crunchy.

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.

Will toner with 20% developer lighten hair?

20 Vol Developer will lighten your hair slightly and will give permanent results. Use this with Wella Colour Charm Permanent Toners, along with Shimmer Lights Toners and Lightener. Keep in mind, as 20 Vol Developer lightens your hair slightly, it can cause brassiness at your roots (if they're darker than your lengths).

How do I know if I used too much developer?

What happens If I put too much developer in the dye? Your mix will be more wet, & more runny. If it is way too runny, you may end up lightening the hair, but not depositing enough color.

What happens to your hair if you use too much developer?

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.

How to bleach hair without damage?

Bleaching your own hair without damage
  1. Don't wash your hair two days in advance. ...
  2. Before bleaching, use a daily hydrating mask. ...
  3. Make sure you use a professional home bleach or go to a good hairdresser.
  4. Add Colour Mask to the bleach to protect and restore your hair during bleaching.

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 many shades does 30 vol lift?

30 Volume (9%) Developer

It works similarly to a Volume 20 developer, except it lifts a hair starting color by 2-3 levels and is best used when the desired color is no more than 2 levels lighter than the current hair shade.

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.

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).

How to make brassy brown hair ashy?

Blue shampoos contain blue or violet pigments; when you wash your hair with blue shampoo, these pigments are deposited onto your hair strands, and help to counteract brassy tones. Use our Blue Crush Shampoo and Blue Crush Conditioner to get rid of those orangey, reddy hues, and reveal cooler-toned brown hair.

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.

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