How To Mix Hair Color With Developer

How To Mix Hair Color With Developer

Looking your best starts with feeling good. Getting the perfect hair color is one way to feel great. While an amateur might be inclined to experiment, it’s advisable to first understand how color works with the developer and which one will work for you before getting started. Mixing hair color with the developer isn’t difficult when you have a plan in mind. Read on to know more about mixing hair color with the developer.

How To Mix Hair Color With Developer?

Mixing Developer with Colorant

The most common way to mix hair dye is to simply blend the colorant from one product with the developer from another. This is easy to do at home and gives you a lot of control over the exact shade you’re aiming for. Here are a few tips for mixing hair dye with colorant: – Choose a dye with a developer: Some brands only come with colorant, so if you want to get the added lift you’ll need to find one of these products. – Calculate your desired ratio: Most of the time, you’ll want to mix about 10 parts developer for every 1 part colorant. However, this ratio can vary depending on the desired shade and your hair type. – Make sure your hair is clean: Dirty hair can be more porous, which means that the dye will take longer to fully set. To avoid this, you can either wash your hair or use dry shampoo to remove excess oils. – Protect your skin: Always wear gloves when mixing dye, even if you’re mixing small amounts. Dyes can be harmful if they come into contact with your skin, so it’s important to protect yourself.

The Lowdown on Mixing Hair Dye

Mixing hair dye is different than mixing paint or other pigmented materials. When mixing hair dye, you’ll need to account for the fact that both dyes and developer are clear in their un-activated state. That means that even when you’re mixing together two different brands of hair dye, it’s important to account for the clear un-activated state of all the ingredients. This means that you’ll want to start with a ratio of 10 parts developer for every 1 part colorant since the colorant will already account for 10 parts combined with the developer. Then, once you activate the developer and add it to the rest of the dye, you’ll want to account for the activated state of the dye and developer.

Adding Lightener to Developer

This is one of the easiest ways to mix hair dye, but it’s important to follow a few rules. First, make sure you have a developer-based lightener, not bleach. Then, you’ll want to mix your lightener with the developer before adding in the rest of the dye. This is important because the activated state of the lightener is much stronger than that of the developer, so mixing the two together before adding your colorant will over-develop your dye. To mix developer with lightener, you’ll want to start with a ratio of 10 parts developer for every 1 part lightener. Then, once you add the rest of the dye and activate the developer, you’ll want to add your colorant and mix for about 2 minutes. This will ensure that your dye is activated with the lightener but not over-developed from the activated state of the lightener.

Mixing Darker Hair Dye with Developer

There are a few ways you can mix hair dye to create a darker shade. If you’re mixing a darker color with an existing brand of dye that doesn’t come with a developer, you can simply mix the colorant with the developer. This will create a darker shade but one that will fade more quickly than a dye that’s meant to be dark. If you want a longer-lasting dark shade, you can create a custom developer by mixing a dark dye with an alkaline developer like ammonia or thioglycolate. When you use an alkaline developer, it will lift nearby dye molecules, creating a larger deposit than a normal developer. This will create a dark and even deposit that will fade more slowly than a normal dark dye.

Why Mixing Hair Color With The Developer Is A Good Idea? 

Better and longer-lasting color

If you are mixing hair color with the developer, you will notice that your hair color will be deeper and last longer than just applying the hair dye alone. This is because the developer contains peroxide, which is responsible for lifting the color pigments. Therefore, if you want to go for a pastel shade, it is best to mix it with the developer so as to get a brighter color. If you want to go for a bold color, you can mix it with conditioner instead of the developer. This helps to decrease the intensity of the color and make it more subtle.

Helps repair your hair

Hair color can be rough on your hair, especially if you use strong colors. If you are dyeing your hair with the help of a hair dye alone, there is a chance that your hair might become damaged and break off very easily. If you mix your hair dye with the developer, it helps to reduce the damage caused by the dye and helps you maintain healthy and strong hair. Mixing the color with the developer helps to nourish and protect your hair from the harsh chemicals that are present in the dye.

Helps even out your hair color

Most women like to even out their hair color which is a bit uneven. It could be because of several reasons, like your roots growing out or you might have missed a few spots while dyeing your hair. If you are wanting to even out your hair color while using the dye alone, you will have to completely dye your hair again. This is because when you are just applying the dye without the developer, it will not lift the color pigments. If you are wanting to even out your hair color, you can mix one part dye with one part developer. This helps the developer to lift the color pigments that are already present in your hair.

Can help you maintain healthy hair

Like we said above, mixing the dye with the developer helps to repair your hair from the damage caused by the hair dye. If your hair is really damaged and dry, you can mix one part conditioner with two parts developer. This helps the conditioner to moisturize your hair and make it strong. It is important to use a mild and gentle conditioner so as not to make your hair greasy. Your hair will be smooth, silky, and easy to comb after rinsing off the conditioner.

Which Developer Should You Use?

The developer you use for mixing hair color will determine how long the color will last. 

Certain developers work better for certain types of hair. 

You can check the label on the box to see what type of hair the developer is recommended for. 

Another way to figure out which developer to use is to look at the desired color. 

If the color is red, you will need to use a developer that is suited to red tones. 

If the color is auburn, you will need to use a developer that is good for shades of auburn.

Tips When Mixing Colour With Developer?

  • Always read the instructions on the box.
  •  Each brand of hair color will have slightly different instructions. 
  • This will help ensure your color goes as planned.
  •  Depending on the brand, you may need to use heat to activate the color.
  •  If this is the case, add the color to your hair and wrap your strands in aluminum foil. 
  • Ideally, you should wait 20 minutes before shampooing out the color. Because you are mixing color with the developer, you will be applying more volume than usual.
  •  Be sure to wrap your head in a plastic cap to prevent your hair from getting stained. Because you are applying more volume than usual, you will have to wash your hair more often than normal.

How Many Developers Do You Need For Coloring?

The amount of developer you use to mix color will depend on the length and thickness of your hair. The number of applications will also depend on the length and thickness of the hair. 

  1.  If you are coloring a single application, use a 2-oz developer. 
  2.  If you are coloring two applications (roots, ends, and color between), use a 4-oz developer. 
  3. If you are coloring three applications (roots, ends, and color between), use a 6-oz developer. 
  4. If you are coloring four applications (roots, ends, color between, and color on the crown), use an 8-oz developer.

Conclusion

Mixing hair color with a developer can produce the shade you want. You can use this technique to create an intensity that is different from the single-process color. While it is important to use the right developer for the right hair type, it is also important not to overuse the developer while coloring. Too much development will cause your color to be darker and more intense. In some cases, this is exactly what you want. In others, it can lead to damage that is difficult to repair.