Q&A for How to Choose Developer for Hair Color

This depends on the type of color and the brand. For most permanent colors, you mix color and developer in a ratio of 1:1.

You should use the same brand as the bleach for the best consistency. It's also a good idea to use a low-volume developer, such as 10 or 20, for the least brassy shade and to minimize damage.

If you are mixing it with permanent color, you'll need to use 30 (for 1 level of lift) or 40 (for 2-3 levels of lift). If you are mixing it with bleach, any volume will lighten your hair.

If you have mixed it with permanent color, the processing time is usually 30 minutes. If you are lightening the hair or covering gray, it may take 45 minutes or more.

Not really. The process should be slow and you have to understand that some people simply can't achieve a platinum blonde. Talk to a professional and ask they to guide you through the process and through what is achievable for your specific hair.

Technically, you can, but I don't recommend it. If you have dark hair and want to keep it healthy, you should bleach it with a professional gradually, over the course of a few days or weeks.

Before you choose your developer, think about what color you are and what color you want to be. For instance, a volume 10 developer has minimal lift and is perfect for depositing a color close to your own. Volume 20 is good for covering gray hairs. Volume 30 can change you from a sandy blonde to a bright blonde, but not from dark brunette to platinum blonde. Each increment of 10 will change the level of your hair one level.

Henna is an herbal hair dye, and it cannot always be determined what the end result of dyeing your hair will be. Please, keep in mind that trying to highlight henna with chemicals may leave your hair greenish or may not even work at all. Pure henna should be put on bare hair - no oils, conditioner, no mixing with developer, etc. It would be better if you tried bleaching your hair first and dyeing your hair a certain color two weeks after the first process. It would minimize the risk of ending up with slightly green hair, and for sure the color's gonna be more vivid.

It depends on the type of hair dye. Manic Panic, Arctic Fox, and Ion, along with other demi/semi-permanent dyes can stay on quite awhile. However, leaving it on for extended periods typically has little to no effect. If the dye has bleach, do not leave it on for longer than recommended or it can damage your hair and scalp.

If your hair is darker, you might want to use 30 or 40 volume developer. The hot pink will not take very well to your hair if it hasn't been bleached much lighter beforehand. Be cautious, the stronger the developer, the more likely it is that your hair will have some damage.

A volume 20 hair developer is the best option for covering and blending greys. Using a developer over volume 20 will lift the color from all the surrounding hairs, exposing and emphasizing the gray rather than covering it.

The general rule is to use one part hair dye to two parts developer (1:2). So for 1 oz of hair color, you should use 2 oz of developer.

The Davines brand, known for its professional-grade hair color products, offers options for grey coverage, including the "GE" tone, which often refers to a natural or golden-enhanced shade. The peroxide level and its ability to lift color depend on the developer used. Generally, 6 Volume (1.8%) deposits color without lifting, while 10 Volume (3%) is ideal for grey coverage with minimal lift.

Using a 30 or 40 volume developer should be sufficient for changing your hair color.

First wash your hair and split it into sections. Then apply a good-quality and affordable highlight product, carefully placing it on your hair. When you're done, wrap the highlighted sections with foil.

Blonde shampoo neutralizes orange tones to give a more natural blonde effect, while blue shampoo enhances orange tones.

If your roots are darker than the rest of your hair, you can bleach them for 15 to 25 minutes using a 30 volume developer. Keep checking your roots as they process, since the heat from your head makes them easier to dye. After bleaching, use a toner to achieve your desired color.

To achieve blonde highlights in red hair, start with a color remover to reduce warm tones. Then use bleach with a 20-30 volume developer for the desired lightness.

Consider using only hair dye or expressing your natural hair color. Adding more products can damage your hair, causing it to become frizzy and dry, and may lead to hair loss.

For 80% white hair, use a 10-volume developer with metallic silver or silver gray dye to deposit color evenly without unnecessary lift.

Switch to a darker shade, like level 4N, with 10 volume, or use 20 volume with your 5N for better gray coverage. Allow full processing time of 45 minutes, and check if pre-pigmentation is needed for resistant grays.

If you want black hair with blue undertones, consider using a box dye labeled "blue black."

Check your box dye for specific instructions on the proper dye-to-developer ratio. Typically, most developer-to-dye ratios are 1 part hair color to 2 parts developer. Still, you should always refer to your box dye's instructions to ensure your hair turns out how you want it to.

Hair developer is designed to be used with other hair products such as toner, dye, and bleach. Using a developer alone could lead to a patchy, uneven finish in a color you weren't expecting.

Trick to bleaching a whole head of hair: Start at the back of your head and your your way to the front as it isn't as warm as the rest and therefore needs more time to develop. Also, do your roots last, with about 15 minutes to go as the heat of your head will bleach those portions the fastest. To get the most even results don´t be shy with the bleach and try to thoroughly saturate each strand. To achieve a white hair color you can´t only use bleach. Bleach your hair until it becomes a bright/pale yellow and use a toner of your choice. Highly recommend the Wella toners.

To lighten brownish-black hair to a light golden color, you will need to use a hair color product with bleach or peroxide. This will typically involve using a hair color product with a developer that has a higher volume (e.g. 40 volume). Before using the product, perform a patch test and follow the instructions carefully. To minimize the risk of damage, use a product formulated for color-treated hair and follow up with a deep conditioning treatment. It is also recommended to speak with a professional for personalized recommendations.

After chemotherapy, it is important to wait until your hair has fully grown back before coloring it, as the hair may be weaker and more prone to breakage. Once your hair has grown back, it is generally safe to color your hair. However, you may want to consider using a hair color product that is specifically formulated for use on chemically treated hair, as these products are often more gentle and less likely to cause irritation or damage.

Yes, there are developers that are specifically formulated for use on sensitive scalps. These developers are typically labeled as "sensitive scalp" or "gentle formula" and are formulated with lower levels of peroxide to minimize the risk of irritation. If you have a sensitive scalp or are concerned about the potential for irritation, it is important to choose a developer that is specifically designed for use on sensitive scalps. You should also follow the instructions for use carefully and do a patch test before applying the developer to your entire head to make sure that you do not have an adverse reaction.

It is generally not recommended to mix creme developer and lotion developer together as they are designed to be used with different types of hair color products. Creme developer is typically used with permanent hair color, while lotion developer is used with semi-permanent hair color. Mixing the two types of developer can result in an uneven or unpredictable color result. It is best to use the developer that is specifically formulated to be used with the type of hair color you are using.

20.Vol is always a good start as it isn't too high to completely fry your hair.