The process of coloring your hair involves a range of products, tools, time, and patience, especially when done at home.
While there are many pre-made kits for hair dye available for at-home use, having a full understanding of what each product does in the color treatment process will help you feel more prepared and skilled to apply your color treatment like a pro.
Hair developer is a product often mentioned in conjunction with hair dye, as it is a crucial step in allowing the dye or bleach to penetrate the hair shaft completely.
In most instances of dyeing your hair, whether at home or in a salon, a developer will be used. This will allow the dye to achieve the desired color results, as well as create a long-lasting effect that can withstand multiple hair washes.
Can you mix developers when coloring your hair?
Generally, yes, you can mix developers, although you should do so cautiously. There may be circumstances that require a developer in a volume that falls between two levels, so mixing the developers together in the correct ratio will help achieve your hair color goals.
Below, we’ll discuss what hair dye developers are, if it is safe to mix them together, and how to do so properly.
What Is a Developer?
Hair developer is a product that is mixed with hair bleach or dye to activate the color before it is applied to the hair. The developer is also often referred to as activator or peroxide, as it is formulated with hydrogen peroxide to stimulate the hair shaft and facilitate dye application.
The developer is mixed with the hair dye or bleach to deliver the color treatment to the hair, allowing the product to fully absorb into each strand.
Developer is used to help lighten or color the hair and contain varying levels of hydrogen peroxide, which determines the volume, or level, of each developer.
Although there are instances of hair dye being used without developer to achieve permanent and long-lasting results, a developer is required for the color treatment process.
Often, hair dyes that do not require developers are semi-permanent, while hair dyes with developers permanently alter the hair shaft to change its color.
The results from hair dye with developer will last longer than those of semi-permanent results and will require less frequent touch-ups to maintain the color.
If you’re not sure which ones to choose, take a look at this video explaining developers from Brittnee Alexus on YouTube.
How Are Developers Categorized?
Developers are categorized by different volumes, which relate to the level at which they will lighten the existing hair color. The volumes most commonly used range from 10 to 40, increasing in ten-unit increments.
Although some developers are older than 40, it is best to reserve them for professional use, as they can be challenging to work with.
A hair developer enables hair color or bleach to penetrate the hair’s layers, permanently changing the existing color to the desired one.
The change occurs when the developer opens the cuticle layer of the hair shaft, allowing the hair bleach or dye to penetrate deeply and take effect. Lower-level developers, such as those at levels 10 and 20, do not open the cuticle as much as higher-level developers, like those at levels 30 or 40.
If you are looking to lighten your hair with bleach, higher-volume developers will be needed to achieve the desired results. If you are looking to add color to the hair, without lifting the existing shade too much, lower levels can be used for the best outcome.
The more hydrogen peroxide that is included in the developer, the more the hair cuticle will be opened, and the lighter the hair will appear after being lifted.
Can You Mix Different Developers?
Overall, yes, you can mix hair developers together; however, it must be a careful process when doing so. If the developer is over-mixed, it can lead to more damage to the hair than normal.
Over-mixed developers can dry out the hair, making it look and feel more brittle.
However, there will be instances where intermediate volumes are needed to achieve the desired hair results. In that case, you can mix the required developers together in an equal ratio to achieve the in-between volume.
What Are The Different Types of Developers?
As mentioned, there are many different volumes of developers that achieve varying results on the hair. Level 10 is the lowest level developer, with each volume increasing slightly in strength.
The level of developers is determined by the amount of hydrogen peroxide they are formulated with, which in turn determines how much they will lighten or change the existing hair color.
Vol 10
A Level 10 developer is best suited for color treatments that do not require lifting and that maintain a close match to the existing hair tones. It is also the volume recommended for use with toners to add a tint of color to the hair.
Vol 20
Level 20 is the most commonly used developer for coloring hair. It lifts the existing tones of the hair one to two levels and is best used when subtly lightening the hair.
It is also recommended for developers to use it, as it helps create an even tone in the hair.
Vol 30
Level 30 is a commonly used volume for lightening the hair, as it will lift the existing color up to three levels. This is an ideal developer for light to medium brown hair shades that want to start the process of lightening their hair.
Vol 40
Level 40 developer is meant to lighten the hair for bleaching. It can lift hair color up to four shades and can be used to lighten any brunette shade to a lighter blonde. It works well for adding lighter highlights to the hair as well.
Higher-level developers should be used by a salon professional, as they can be damaging to the hair if not applied properly.
While there is a Level 50 developer that can cause significant damage to the hair and is only recommended, if at all, for use by a professional.
Best Ways To Mix Developers
After understanding what developers are used for and what volume works best to achieve specific results, knowing the best way to mix different volumes is a crucial step in coloring your hair.
Most often, you should not need to combine the different volumes; however, there may be times when achieving a different volume is necessary for optimal results.
The best way to mix different volume developers together is to split the ratio evenly between the two. It is also important to know the volume level you are trying to achieve when mixing the two developers together, especially if you are looking for an in-between volume.
When mixing the two developers together, you want to take half of each volume to combine in the correct ratio.
If you are looking to achieve an intermediate volume, such as a 25-level developer, then mixing half the volume of a Level 20 and half the volume of a Level 30 will yield the desired result.
You may need to create this in-between level if you are looking to lighten the hair more than what a Level 20 can offer, however, you do not need the intensity of a Level 30 developer.
You can also mix developers from different brands if needed; however, ensure they are labeled as developers only.
If they are developers mixed with another product or hair color, you do not want to mix them with anything else. Mixing two developers who are only activators together will avoid any potential negative reaction that can occur when combining two products that achieve different results.
There may also be instances where you need to dilute a higher-level developer to reduce its strength and not lighten the hair as much. For example, if there is only a Level 40 volume developer available, but you do not want your hair to be lifted to four levels, diluting the intensity will help achieve the correct results.
To dilute a higher-level developer, such as a Level 40, mix a small amount of the developer with a cream conditioner or water to reduce its intensity.
Conclusion
Coloring your hair, especially at home, can be a tricky process to ensure you achieve the desired results.
However, understanding how hair dye is absorbed into the hair and which products will achieve the desired look can help make the process easier to carry out.
Developers are a key product to capturing the correct results for your hair color and creating long-lasting results.
The different volumes of hair developer will react in various ways with your hair, so it is crucial that you are aware of what each volume can achieve, how to apply the product, and how to mix the developers together if need be for your ultimate hair color results.
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