Will 10 developer lighten hair?

Author: Mrs. Jana Koch  |  Last update: Saturday, October 11, 2025

When your current hair color is close to your desired hair color, a Volume 10 developer is used to mix with bleach. Depending on your hair texture and history, it provides a gentle lightening of 1-2 levels.

What does 10 developer do to hair?

10 volume developer is usually for depositing tones in the hair. It isn't recommended for any type of lightening, except if bleach is used. So if your hair is medium in color or darker, 10 volume can help to deposit a plum tone to your hair. Just don't expect anything too vibrant.

Should I use 10 or 20 developer to lighten hair?

- Offers more lift than a 10 volume developer (2). In summary, if you're looking for a subtle change or minimal lift, a 10 volume developer is a good choice. However, if you want to lighten your hair by one or two levels or need better coverage for gray hair, a 20 volume developer would be more suitable.

What happens if I use a 10% developer with a permanent hair color?

Even if you're using it with a 10 volume, it's still permanent color with a high high amount of ammonia. If you're using this as a filler you're doing unnecessary damage to your hair, and possibly creating more porosity issues.

How many shades does 10 vol lift?

10 Volume (3%): Used for depositing colour without lifting the natural hair colour. This volume is suitable for toning or darkening. 20 Volume (6%): Provides moderate lift and is commonly used for covering grey hair or lightening natural hair colour by one to two shades.

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

Is 10 or 20 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 10 volume developer lighten hair with toner?

10 Vol Developer can be used with Wella Colour Charm Permanent Toners, along with Shimmer Lights Toners. 10 Vol Developers won't have a noticable lightening effect on your hair, so are great if you're looking to stay at the same level, or go a bit darker.

How much does 10 developer lighten?

10 Volume (3%) Developer

When your current hair color is close to your desired hair color, a Volume 10 developer is used to mix with bleach. Depending on your hair texture and history, it provides a gentle lightening of 1-2 levels.

Is 10 volume deposit only?

10 Volume is only used to open the cuticle layer so the color molecules deposit in the cortex for long-term results. Use 20 Volume when lifting hair color one or two levels (levels refer to the oxidizing potential).

What is the difference between a 10 and 20 developer?

40% developer is a very strong lift or intensity for the color , 30% developer is a medium lift for 5 shades and is strong , 20% developer is standard lift and what most people use to dye their hair . 10% developer is lowest strength developer , you use that to tone or just add a slight color difference .

Should I use 10 or 20 volume developer to go darker?

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.

What developer to use to lighten dark hair without bleach?

Use 30 Vol if you want to achieve lift without bleach.

Will 10 volume developer lighten brown hair?

Things You Should Know. Select a 10-volume developer to lift your hair by 1 shade. Volume 10 developer is the gentlest option and is best for minor hair color changes like brown to black. Choose a 20-volume developer to lift hair by 2 shades and help cover greys.

Is it okay to just use 10 developer instead of 20?

Use 10 Vol for tone down coloring and level-on-level coloring. 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.

How much 10 developer do I mix with hair dye?

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.

How to lighten hair without bleaching?

  1. Lemon Juice: Mix fresh lemon juice with water and spray it onto your hair. Sit in the sun for a natural lightening effect. ...
  2. Chamomile Tea: Brew strong chamomile tea and let it cool. Apply the cooled tea to your hair and let it sit. ...
  3. Honey and Cinnamon: Mix honey and cinnamon to form a paste.

What happens if I use 10 volume developer with permanent color?

The 10 Volume (3%) developer is ideal for depositing color without significant lightening. It opens the hair cuticle to allow color penetration, adding a tint or tone to the existing hair color.

Can I use 10 volume developer to cover grey hair?

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.

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 many levels does 10 volume developer lift?

10 volume: This is a mild low-level of developer. This is useful if you only want to slightly change the color of your hair. It's also a good volume to use with a lot of toners. 20 volume: This is stronger than 10 volume and it's commonly used for lightening hair at home as it lifts 1 to 2 levels.

How many sessions to go from dark brown to blonde?

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.

Can you tone hair with 10 volume?

A: Yes. This is what I use with wella toner. I use 1 part toner and 2 parts of this 10 volume developer. I shake them up in a bottle with a skinny long nozzle and use it to apply as needed (I'm normally doing my roots), then use a brush or gloved fingers to distribute on my hair.

How long to leave on toner with 10% developer?

A 3%/10V developer is better for intense results on a full-head coloring while adding a tint on the same lightness level as your color. To apply, mix the toner and developer with a 1:2 ratio and leave on for 45 minutes.

Will developer lighten hair without bleach?

Box or professional color can lighten your hair 1-2 levels without the need for bleach. This is because you often use a developer along with these colors, which can lighten your hair even without the interaction with bleach.

Will 10 volume lift my roots?

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.

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