What Volume Developer Should You Use with Toner?

Toners can help add character to bleached or color-treated hair. Removes unwanted undertones while adding shine to your hair.

Hair toner alone won’t give you the best results. Therefore, to be effective, it must work with developers.

The developer acts as the medium that delivers the toner into the hair shaft, and the amount of toner determines the level of lift or deposition that occurs.

The developer contains hydrogen peroxide, which opens the hair cuticle and allows the toner to set the color on the hair. Without a developer, the toner you use will be washed out of your hair after just a few washes.

That’s why all toners except toning shampoos and conditioners require a developer to get the best results.

Choosing the right volume developer for your toner

Which developer you use with your toner depends on the health of your hair, the results you want, and the manufacturer’s recommendations.

If you want to drastically change the color of your hair, use 30 volume and 40 volume developers. Use a 20 volume developer for a 1-2 level lift of hair color, or a 10 volume developer for a low lift effect.

The developer comes in four levels depending on the percentage of hydrogen peroxide.

• 10 vol contains 3% hydrogen peroxide
• 20 volumes contain 6% hydrogen peroxide
• 30 volumes contains 9% hydrogen peroxide
• 40 volumes contains 12% hydrogen peroxide

The amount of developer indicates its strength, with 10 volts being the weakest and 40 volts being the strongest. A 10 volume developer has less color lift capability compared to a 40 volume developer.

Toners typically use a small amount of developer (such as 10 or 20 volumes) to create subtle changes and fix the color without significant lift.

Some manufacturers produce more than 50 volume developers. However, these developers should never be used at home, as they are likely to damage your hair and cause severe burns to your scalp.

But what kind of developer should you use for your toner? Well, it depends on:

The developer contains hydrogen peroxide. Although this ingredient is responsible for opening the hair cuticle, it can damage the hair structure.

If your hair health is already compromised, a low-strength developer is best used in conjunction with toner. Therefore, to condition bleached hair, it is generally recommended to use a 10 volume developer.

Because it is a deposit-only formula that slightly opens the hair cuticle, the 10-volume developer causes the least amount of damage to your hair.

In addition to the degree of damage to your hair, you also need to consider whether your hair is thin or thick. Fine hair is fragile and is more likely to be seriously damaged when using a 30 or 40 volume developer.

Depending on the desired result, you can use a developer with toner to color your hair and lift it by one shade or more.

Volume-10 Developer is perfect for when you want to change the tone of your darker hair. It has the least lifting effect, so it won’t significantly change your hair color. It is the perfect choice for removing blonde tones from blonde hair.

If you want to cover up stubborn gray hair or boost your hair color a notch or two, a 20 roll developer is the way to go.. It is also ideal if there is less damage to your hair.

If you want to drastically change the color of your hair, 30 and 40 volume developers are the best choice. Using a 30 or 40 volume developer, you can transform your hair from medium brown to blonde.

Due to the strength of the developer and its potential to damage your hair and burn your scalp, it is best to have a professional use 30 and 40 volume developer.

If you need help deciding what strength of developer to use, use vol-20, which is the medium of choice when conditioning hair. Not too strong, not too weak. For lasting results, use a 20 volume developer containing permanent dye.

Each toner comes with specific instructions on how much developer to use. These steps should be prioritized when choosing a developer to use. If you’re not sure what to do, consult a hair colorist.

You will also find that most toner manufacturers develop specific developers for their product lines. Therefore, if you use what the manufacturer recommends, you are more likely to get the results you want.

Some toners and developers are intended for commercial use only. Please do not purchase for home use.

In addition to knowing which developer to use for toner, you need to know how to use toner correctly to achieve the desired results. You can condition your hair at home, but you need to follow the proper process and technique.

Here are the important steps to follow when using toner with a developer:

Some of the tools and products you need to condition your hair include:

• mixing bowl
• applicator brush
• toner
• Developer
• protective gloves
• Hairdresser’s cape to protect clothes

Toner can stain clothing, surfaces, and hands. Developers can also irritate hands and skin. Therefore, you should protect yourself with latex gloves and an old T-shirt or hairdresser’s cape to protect your clothes.

Mix 2 parts developer and 1 part toner in a bowl. Stir thoroughly with the applicator brush to create a smooth gel-like consistency.

Most developers and toners are mixed in a 2:1 ratio. However, we recommend reading the instructions on your toner and developer packaging to determine the correct ratio.

Divide your hair into four parts to simplify the application process. For best results, toner should be applied to wet hair. If you have just bleached your hair, rinse it well to remove all the bleach.

Shampoo your hair and towel dry until damp. You can also shampoo your hair if it has been a few days or weeks since you bleached it.

Apply the toner to each part of your hair at once, making sure it is fully absorbed throughout your hair. Use an applicator brush to apply the toner and developer mixture from roots to ends, covering all of your hair.

Depending on the toner you are using, let it sit for 20-45 minutes for the toner to process.

Semi-permanent toners should be left on for approximately 20 minutes and permanent toners should be processed for up to 45 minutes.

After processing your hair, rinse thoroughly to remove the toner and developer mixture, then shampoo and condition your hair. Make sure you’re using color-safe products to avoid losing your newly acquired hair color.

The developer damages the hair because it forces the hair cuticle to open. Maintenance is required to keep your hair and your new color healthy and to maintain your color for as long as possible.

Here are some ways to care for your hair after using toner with developer:

• Wash your hair with color-safe products for at least 24 to 48 hours after toning. Avoid sulfate-based shampoos and conditioners to preserve your color.
• Avoid washing your hair daily to minimize fading and protect your hair from dryness.
• A deep condition that helps close the cuticle and lock in toner. Remember to moisturize your hair to prevent dryness and brittleness.
• Do not use boiling water on colored hair. Use cold or lukewarm water when washing your hair to prevent fading and drying.
• Protect your hair by wearing a hat when in the sun.
• If your hair is too damaged from the lightening or toning process, use a hair treatment like Olaplex to nourish your hair.
• Minimize heat styling to prevent hair from becoming dry, brittle, and faded.
• Incorporate a purple or blue shampoo into your weekly hair care routine to combat unwanted orange, brassy, ​​or yellow tones.

The last word

When choosing a developer to use with your toner, consider your desired results, your hair health, and the manufacturer’s recommendations.

10 and 20 volume developers are often used to condition hair as they are highly effective and cause minimal damage to the hair and scalp. For more dramatic color changes, use 30 and 40 volume developer and toner.

If you want to learn more about which developer to use with your toner, check out the questions and answers below.

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