I've seen so many people's hair ruined by using bleach or those famous developers that I feel the need to reiterate the importance of using them responsiblyDevelopers, either 20, 30 or 40 volumes.
As a professional, my advice is not to play with your hair.
Although the phrase that always seems to be in vogue seems to be "it will grow", I can assure you that I have seen women who were close to tears and also had a panic attack after bleaching without to consult a professional.
Your hair will grow after the effects of a bad bleach, but in the meantime, you have to live with damaged hair every minute of your life.
Dry hair, hair loss, burning scalp, split ends, in short, these are just some of the terrible consequencesBleaching gone wrong.
But even though I know that despite the fact that I say this, for many my advice goes in one ear and out the other, like when moms talk for hours about how to do things but end up doing what their kids do you want to.
Today I want to explain how you can lighten your hair with 30 or 20 volumes of peroxide with the least possible risk to your hair.
Is a 30 volume developer the same as a 20 volume developer?
Definitely not.
The application is the same, but the choice depends on how many shades lighter you want to lighten your hair.
Something to keep in mind is that the more peroxide you use to lighten your hair, the more damage you will cause to the hair fiber.
Why, despite all the warnings, do we women insist and still insist on bleaching our hair?
Maybe to break the monotony of always looking at ourselves in the mirror.
Or for pure competition.
Haven't you ever heard the saying that women really do dress to look better than other women?
Even Freud couldn't really figure out how the female mind works.
Everything according to the rules of fashion.
I've learned that every time the new Hollywood star comes out with a new hair color, beauty salons are filled with women wanting to imitate the same color.
Ultimately, everyone does what they want.
But the point is for everyone to do what they want with their hair in the healthiest way possible, without going bald in the process.
Before lightening your hair with any developer, please prepare your hair first, no matter the amount used.
Table of contents
- Before you put the developer in your hair, I recommend you do this
- Which developer should you choose? 20 volumes or 30?
- How to lighten your hair in 5 steps
- The process is the same whether you are using 20 or 30 volume developer.
Before you put the developer in your hair, I recommend you do this
Both 20 volume and 30 volume developers work because they penetrate deeper into the hair shaft and oxidize your hair's natural pigment.
So once you've bleached your hair, it takes a whilereturn to your natural color. You should keep trimming your hair as it grows and your naturally colored roots are starting to come through.
This oxidation is harmful to your hair, so it's important to prepare it so that it suffers as little damage as possible.
If you already have colored hair, wait at least three months before bleaching it. In the meantime, wear headscarves or hats. There is no other option if you want your hair to be as healthy as possible.
Try to stay away from hair dryers and irons. This will also prevent your hair from losing its natural moisture.
I also recommend that you useSulfatfreie Shampoos.
For two weeks prior, do an intensive diet regimen at least twice a week, using either homemade products or commercial masks.
And it's very, I mean very important, thatnight before bleachingthat you use coconut oil.
Check the price of coconut oil on Amazon
I've talked about the benefits of coconut oil for hair care elsewhere, but this time I'm going to put a special focus on it.
Coconut oil forms a protective barrier between the hair fiber and the developer without hindering the bleaching process.
Buy organic coconut oil. Since it's quite solid, you can melt the amount you need in a water bath and then spread it on your hair. Wrap your hair in a shower cap and go to bed.
The next day, without rinsing off the coconut oil, you are ready to bleach your hair.
Which developer should you choose? 20 volumes or 30?
Check the developer price of 20 volumes on Amazon
Before I go into the process of bleaching our hair, I would like to explain the topic of hair tones.
There are ten hair shades from number 1 to number 10, where 1 is black and 10 is the lightest blonde. Depending on the color you want to achieve, you need to determine the developer.
- The 10 volume developer is for a subtle fade on light hair and the difference is barely noticeable. Obviously it doesn't work if you want to go from dark hair to lighter shades like blonde.
- The 20 volume developer works well on light brown hair if you don't want to lighten the color too much, just two or three shades.
- The 30 volume developer will help you lighten your color by three or four tones, [/su_highlight] but you have to be careful with the application time as you risk irritating your scalp.
- 40 volume developer may lighten the snow queen's hair, but it's too harsh for your hair. I advise you not to venture into these waters because you risk drowning in a sea of your own tears.
Very good.
Now that you know which developer to use based on the look you want, let's get to the process.
30 and 20 volume developers need help from bleach powder.
Always wear gloves to protect your hands and nails.
How to lighten your hair in 5 steps
Check the developer price of 30 volumes on Amazon
1-Mix the bleach powder and developer in a bowl with 2 parts bleach powder and 1 part developer. Maintain this ratio depending on how much you need to bleach your entire head.
2- Divide your hair into two large sections.. We'll start with the bottom.
3-Always use a brush to apply the bleaching mixture to the ends and length of hair first, as your roots will take less time to lighten.
I recommend leaving the roots on for the last ten minutes so that the lightened color of the tips matches the color of the roots.
Once you've covered the bottom, do the same for the top.
4-Cover your head with a shower cap and wait fifteen minutes.
CAUTION: Check how the bleach is affecting your hair every three minutes and never leave the bleach mixture on for more than thirty minutes.
5-After the time is up, wash your hair well and use a sulfate-free shampoo if possible.
Let your hair dry without using a heat source.
If you can see some absolutely horrible chicken yellow streaks in your hair, you can always use purple shampoo to neutralize that color.
The process is the same whether you are using 20 or 30 volume developer.
And the aftercare is the same as I recommended.
If you can avoid fading, avoid it.
If you can't avoid it, now you know how to prepare your hair so that bleaching is less damaging to it.
Now everything depends on you.
You and the power of your hair.
Have you ever bleached your hair?
How was your experience?
FAQs
Which developer is best for lightening hair? ›
30 volume developer (9% peroxide)
Lightens up to 3 levels. Used for dyeing and also for lightening hair.
20 volume developer is intended to lift the hair 1-2 levels. 30 volume developer lifts the hair three levels, and 40 volume developer lifts four levels.
Will a 30 developer lighten hair? ›Will a 30 Vol Developer Used by Itself Lighten My Hair? The release of oxygen will indeed allow the hair to lighten. And 30 Vol will definitely do this to a greater extent than 20 Vol. But we don't recommend that you apply just developer to the hair.
Can you lighten hair with 20 volume developer? ›30 volume developer is more forgiving and will still allow you to lighten your hair by two to three levels. 20 volume developer can lighten your hair one to two levels, without causing significant damage.
Should I use a 20 or 30 developer? ›20 volume is the highest level of developer that should be used on the scalp with bleach as the scalp produces more heat and increases the power of the developer. 30vol developer is ideal for lifting 3 levels using permanent hair color depending on the texture and natural depth of the hair.
What do hairdressers use to lighten hair? ›At a salon
A trained hairstylist and colorist can use hydrogen peroxide in a salon to lighten your hair. They'll make sure to match the final color to your skin tone and can add highlights if necessary.
Thirty volume should never be used for basic deposit only color as it will blast the cuticle for no reason. When used with bleach and foils 30 volume works fast and may incur the risk of over-processing. This developer is more ideal for open-air processing which incubates less heat.
How do I know which developer to use? ›- Use 20 Vol if you are aiming for a 1-2 level lift.
- Use 30 Vol is 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.
- Note that the mix should always be respected.
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. It will end up thinner, flatter and last less long.
What developer is best for dark hair? ›You should use a 10 or 20-volume developer to darken hair depending on the current color of your natural hair. If your hair is already dark, you can get away with using a 10-volume developer. But if your hair is light, you'll need to use a 20-volume developer to get to those deep, dark shades.
How much developer do I use to lighten my hair? ›
Use 2 parts of developer to 1 part of bleach. Mix in a non-metallic bowl until you get a smooth, nice paste. Apply on dry, unwashed hair.
Can I mix 20 and 30 developer together? ›Yes you can but when lightening you really want to use a 40 volume developer. 20 and 30 are generally used for deposit colors.
How long does it take 30 developer to lighten hair? ›You should leave 30 volume bleach in your hair for no longer than 15 to 30 minutes. The exact amount of time depends on your natural hair color and your desired result. For instance, if you have brown hair and want to lighten it a bit, fifteen minutes will more than likely be enough.
What does 20 developer do to blonde hair? ›A Volume 20 developer is also a rather standard strength for mixing with bleach as it provides 2-3 levels of lift that is enough to take dark brown hair to a light brown shade. If your existing hair color is light brown, it will take you to a medium blonde hair color.
What happens if you put 20 developer on hair by itself? ›Hair developer is designed to be used with a hair toner, bleach, or hair color. When you use it by itself, the following can happen: Your hair may not lift enough, necessitating additional lightening sessions and more chemicals. Your hair could end up an odd shade that you didn't expect.
What developer to use for highlights? ›For level-on-level coloring, for toning blonde highlights without lifting, and for tone-down coloring, use 10 Vol developer. For 1-2 levels lift, use 20 Vol developer. For 2-3 levels lift, use 30 Vol developer. For any lift higher than 3 levels, it is better to use bleach first, then color.
What developer to use with bleach for dark hair? ›A good quality bleach used with a 30 vol or even 20 vol developer can be equally effective at lifting dark hair with less damage.
How long do you leave 20 developer in your hair? ›You shouldn't leave 20 volume developer bleach in your hair for more than 30 minutes. However, 30 minutes is a long time. Ideally, you can remove the bleach before reaching the 30-minute maximum, but the actual timeframe will depend on your natural hair color, preferred shade, and hair type.
What's the best way to lighten dyed hair? ›First, you can use a clarifying shampoo in place of your regular shampoo to help lift the darker color from your hair. You'll notice your color will gradually fade and lighten quicker than if you were to use a color-protective shampoo.
What lightener should I use? ›The best professional hair bleach overall is Wella Blondor Powder Lightener, a colorist-recommended formula that offers gentle lifting while minimizing yellowish tones. If you're doing an all-over blonde effect, the Redken Flash Lift Bonder Inside is another excellent choice with our expert's stamp of approval.
What does 20 volume developer do? ›
The 20 volume developer opens the hair cuticle but unlike 10 volume, it provides lifting of the hair by one to two levels. For instance, if you have more than 50% gray hair, 20 volume developer is the only developer to use for 100% gray coverage and a long-lasting color.
Can you put 30 vol on scalp? ›Never use any developer over 30 volume when you are lightening your hair as the strength of the chemical can be too strong and cause burns if it touches your scalp. Thirty volume developers are typically used on dark hair, while lower volumes of developer, such as 10 and 20, are used for naturally lighter hair.
Is higher or lower volume developer better? ›Using a higher volume of developer will create more intensity in tone. This is why when working with permanent colors, it's important to use a lower volume on the root area to avoid so-called “hot roots”. However, when you want more intensity of tone, upping the volume will help you achieve that.
What is the difference in 20 30 and 40 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 .
Does 30 developer damage hair? ›Yes. Developer can damage hair. If you pick a developer that is too strong for the hair texture of your client, it has the possibility of lifting the cuticle so much that it can't be smoothed back down.
What volume developer is least damaging? ›Use 10 Volume if you are applying permanent, no-lift hair color. If the desired result is keeping color at the same color level by simply adding a tone or a tint, this is exactly what you should mix with. It won't significantly lift your base color and is the least damaging to the hair.
How can I lighten my hair at home if I dyed it too dark? ›The safest option for lightening dark hair is to use a special shampoo. A lightening or clarifying shampoo can lift the color and help you get the desired result. You can request that your stylist use a shampoo that is designed to lighten your hair.
What developer is best for permanent hair color? ›30 Volume Developer / 9% Peroxide
It is more suitable for permanent dyeing or lightening. Make sure that you have some experience with hair coloring before using a higher strength developer.
What is it? Salon Care 30 Volume Creme Developer provides a thick, easy handling gel consistency and strong lightening action with less color deposit.
What happens if you use too much developer when bleaching hair? ›If there's too much developer in your bleach mixture, it will be too runny. A runny product can drip and get everywhere, including your face and arms. Aside from the mess, this can also cause skin irritation.
Will 20 developer lift roots? ›
The problem: Applying 20 Vol Developer on Natural 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.
2% (7 vol) perfect for toning hair that's already been lightened and for gentle bleaching. 6% (20 vol) the strength for conventional bleaching or for toning on naturally light (level 8 or above) blonde hair. 9% (30 vol) ideal for maximum bleaching, white hair blending or lifting naturally light blonde hair.
Should I use 10 or 20 volume developer for toner? ›How do you know which developer to use with the toner? 10 volume will allow the toner to deposit more color, 20 volume will deposit less. Once you decide which toner shade and developer you will use, measure using a hair color measuring cup and mix 1 oz. toner to 1 oz.
What developer should I use to bleach my hair blonde? ›10-volume developer lightens slightly, so there's less risk of damage. 20-volume developer gives 1 to 2 levels of lift and is usually used for the roots. 30-volume developer lifts up to 3 levels, so it's ideal for going blonde. 40-volume developer has the highest strength and is only recommended for professionals.
Is 30 volume developer too strong? ›Thirty volume should never be used for basic deposit only color as it will blast the cuticle for no reason. When used with bleach and foils 30 volume works fast and may incur the risk of over-processing. This developer is more ideal for open-air processing which incubates less heat.
Will 20 volume developer damage hair? ›Yes. Developer can damage hair. If you pick a developer that is too strong for the hair texture of your client, it has the possibility of lifting the cuticle so much that it can't be smoothed back down.
Which volume developer should I use? ›Developer Choice Going Lighter With Regular Color
Use 20 Vol if you are aiming for a 1-2 level lift. Use 30 Vol is 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. Note that the mix should always be respected.
Use 20 Vol Developer with your toner if you are looking to go lighter with your toner, if you've just bleached your hair and your hair is uneven, or if you're seeing a lot of brassy yellow tones. 20 Vol Developer gives the most permanent results.
What developer do I use for platinum blonde? ›Add toner/dye if desired.
For a natural platinum look, dye it with a natural blonde mixture with 20 developer, since the hair is already bleached. Leave it on for 25 minutes. For pale silver platinum, use a platinum dye with 20 developer, and leave on for 25 minutes.