Professional Care

Safety precautions when using a hair color developer – What must you know?

By Upasana KakatiAug 5, 2024 7 mins read

What are hair color developers?

Hair Color Developer Safety Precautions – Things to Consider

FAQs

References

If you have colored your hair or frequently love coloring, hair developer is mostly a known colloquial. Permanent colors and hair developers combine to give your tresses lasting luminescent and radiant hues. When a developer is mixed with hair dye, it opens up cuticles to allow effective absorption of the color molecule. As a result, it changes the existing pigments, leaving tresses gorgeously changed and vibrantly transformed.

But wait, are hair developers safe? Will it damage the hair? Are there any safety precautions for hair color developers to follow? With a lot said and heard, we tapped into some expert hair colorists to learn about developers and how to use them safely. This guide details everything you need about color developers and the right safety measures to follow.

What are hair color developers?

Permanent hair dyes and their ability to lock in the color pigments into strands might take you back diving into basic chemistry lessons. A hair color developer is an oxidant product with hydrogen peroxide as the main ingredient. Hair dyes or colors contain ammonia, which activates the molecules upon contacting the developer.

According to research, hydrogen peroxide in developers is acidic, whereas ammonia in a hair dye is alkaline. The ammonia in the dye swells open the cuticles, helping with color molecule penetration into the hair shaft. The hydrogen peroxide in the developer oxidizes the color, turning it into colored molecules. This explains the science behind the white texture from the tube changing color when mixed with the developer.

The volume of hydrogen peroxide in a developer tells us about its lifting action. A lower volume of hydrogen peroxide will lift less as compared to higher volume. Depending on your desired result and hair type, you can explore hair color developers at Moehair.

Here are some of the benefits of using hair developers:

Color Activation – Hair developer is crucial for activating the color molecules in the permanent hair color range. The hydrogen peroxide in the developer acts as an oxidizing agent as it is acidic and activates the alkaline ammonia in hair color.
Color Retention – The hair developer opens the cuticles and helps with the penetration of the color pigments into the shaft. This helps in lasting retention for permanent color.
Uniform texture – Mixing the tube color with the developer helps with uniform and non-drippy consistency. This helps with an even and convenient application.
Removal of color – Hair developers activate the color, and help remove the existing or natural pigments. This helps in the convenient lightening or darkening of strands.

Also Read : Understanding Hair Developer Volumes

Hair Color Developer Safety Precautions – Things to Consider

It's rightly said – "Prevention is better than cure," making it crucial to consider a few precautionary measures while using a hair color developer. Here are some hair developer safety tips to follow to avoid unwanted or adverse reactions:

Safety_Precautions_after_using_Hair_Color_Developer

Seek professional guidance

Trying that DIY hair color might be tempting, but seeking advice from coloring professionals is always recommended. The ratio of developer to color or using the right developer volume is crucial for a lasting color. Using the wrong developer or mixing ratio might make your DIY hair coloring stunt a nightmare. It's safe to say that getting the hair colored under the supervision of a skilled hairstylist is highly recommended.

Choosing the right developer

Hair color developers are available in varying volumes with differences in the percentage of hydrogen peroxide. It is crucial to use the right developer, depending on how many lifts you want. Also, the developer's strength must be chosen based on the existing color. For example, a 20-volume hair color developer is ideal for 2 – 3 levels of lift, whereas a 30-volume Hair Color developer offers 3 levels of lift. However, a 40-volume developer provides 3 – 4 levels of lift and helps lighten hair.

Get a patch test before use

The ingredients might be allergic to a few skin types, making it an essential precaution to take a patch test. According to Nava Greenfield, MD, dermatologist with Schweiger Dermatology Group, NYC – "A patch test is when you apply a product or ingredient to a small area of skin and observe the skin's reaction." Rub a little bit of the developer inside your elbow or behind the ear. It should preferably be kept for 48 hours to check sensitivity towards the product. Do not use the developer if your skin develops an allergic reaction, rash, or irritation.

Mixing correct ratio

Another hair developer safety measure is using the correct color-to-developer ratio to attain the desired color. Hair developer is mixed with color to aid in opening the cuticles and help color absorb into strands. Choosing the right amount of hair developer to color is crucial in deciding the intensity of the hair color. Read the instructions properly before mixing the color with the developer for a lasting color experience.

Here's what might happen if you use more color than the developer in the mixing ratio:

Excess hair darkening – If the ratio of color is in excess compared to the hair developer, it will create an imbalanced dye-to-peroxide ratio. Too much hair color can lead to darkening strands and undesired color outcomes.
Damage and dryness — Using a high volume of hair color might damage strands, leaving hair brittle, dry, and prone to breakage.
Patchy colored strands — Using excess color compared to the color might lead to uneven or patchy strand coloring. There won't be enough developers to activate the color and lift the pigments.
Scalp irritation — Using more color in the color-to-developer ratio can trigger a chemical reaction and cause scalp irritation. This might lead to redness, itchiness, and a rash.

Wear gloves before use

Hair developer and dye might trigger allergic reactions, especially if the skin is sensitive to the chemicals used in the formulation. As a precaution, it is recommended to wear gloves when applying hair developer to prevent finger staining and ingredients coming in direct contact with the skin. Gloves also reduce irritation, sensitivity, and skin allergy.

Rinse well after using the developer

This is a generic hair color developer precaution measure, but it must often be noticed. After using a developer with either color or bleach, it is crucial to thoroughly rinse hair to wash off every trace of the product. On using the developer with the bleach and after keeping it on appropriately, wash off with a gentle shampoo to thoroughly clean hair. When using a developer with color, rinse thoroughly with water, ensuring hair is free of the product.

Note: On accidentally swallowing the developer or if it comes in contact with your eyes, immediately wash it off to avoid an unfortunate incident.

Strictly follow processing time

Whether using a developer with hair dye or bleach, track the processing time. Strictly adhere to the instructions and keep the applied product on for the required time. Do not over-process strands by keeping the mixture of the dye and developer for longer, as it might damage and dry out the strands.

Adhere to basic safety rules, like keeping the developer out of reach of children. Ensure it is appropriately stored and away from any edible items. By simply following these basic color developer safety measures, you can elevate your hair color experience and prevent skin or scalp sensitivity. So, next time you decide to transform your tresses by getting a hair color, you should contact a professional to make the most of it.

Also Read : Hair Color Developer vs Hair Bleach? Understanding the Differences

FAQs

Q1. What happens if you directly apply hair developer to hair?

The developer does not lighten or darken hair as it works only by activating the color molecule in the dye, opening the cuticles, and helping with the absorption of pigments into strands. Hence, using only the developer, it will open cuticles and might compromise the natural melanin level of the hair.

Q2. Which is the most commonly used hair color developer?

Moehair 20 Volume Hair Developer is the most commonly used hair color developer, offering a lift of 2 – 3 levels. It can darken and lift hair up to 3 levels with excellent gray coverage.

Q3. Can a developer damage your hair?

Using excess of developer and over-processing hair have damaging effects on your hair. However, following the above hair color precautions helps minimize damage, reduce sensitivity, and give optimum coloring results.

Q4. What happens if I use 10 Volume Developer with permanent hair color?

10 Volume Developer has a lower percentage of hydrogen peroxide, making it a no-lift developer. Mixing the developer with permanent hair color will not give lasting results. This is because the hydrogen peroxide in the developer is insufficient to the cuticle and hence only deposits pigments on the strand surface.

Q5. What is the main ingredient in hair color development?

Hydrogen peroxide is the main ingredient in color development, which helps with swelling and opening the cuticle. This aids in better absorption of pigments when the developer is mixed with color, helping in lasting results.