If you want to bleach your own hair at home, there are a number of things you should know. One of the most important is how to mix developer and bleach. Without the proper ratio or mixing technique, you won’t achieve the results you’re looking for, and you may even end up damaging your hair. If you’re ready to learn how to mix developer and bleach powder for at-home hair bleaching success, keep reading.
Table of Contents
- How to Mix Developer and Bleach
- Bleach Powder vs Developer
- How To Mix Hair Bleach And Developer
- Bleach To Developer Ratio
- Finding the Right Consistency
- How Much Bleach
- How Should I Mix My Bleach and Developer?
- FAQs
- Should I bleach my hair at home?
- Mixing Bleach and Developer: Final Thoughts
How to Mix Developer and Bleach
If you want to bleach your own hair at home, there are a number of things you should know. One of the most important is how to mix developer and bleach. Without the proper ratio or mixing technique, you won’t achieve the results you’re looking for, and you may even end up damaging your hair. If you’re ready to learn how to mix developer and bleach powder for at-home hair bleaching success, keep reading.
Bleach Powder vs Developer
How much powder lightener and developer do I mix? We know you want to find the answer to this question, but let’s take just a moment to look at the difference between bleach and developer.
Bleach and developer work hand-in-hand when it comes to bleaching your hair. You need both of them in order to be successful. So, what exactly does each component do?
Bleach works to lighten the color of your hair by removing pigment from your cuticle. Most bleaches are powdered with a blue or purple hue. These hues help prevent your hair from turning out really brassy.
Developers, on the other hand, are made using hydrogen peroxide. The hydrogen peroxide is necessary to activate the bleaching powder.
Some people get confused by all the different developer numbers: 10, 20, 30, 40, and so on. However, it really is quite basic. The higher the developer number, the greater the number of shades it will lift your hair.
For example, a 10 volume developer will lift hair by one shade and a 30 volume developer will lift hair by three shades.
If you plan on bleaching your hair at home, you should stick to only 10, 20, or 30 volume developers. Anything higher than this is too strong to be safely used at home. Improper use of a 40 volume or higher developer could leave burns on your scalp or cause the strands of your hair to melt.
How To Mix Hair Bleach And Developer
Ready to learn how to mix powder bleach and developer?
First, let’s take a look at the tools you’ll need. These include:
- Bleach powder
- Developer
- Plastic mixing bowl
- Rubber gloves
- Brush for mixing
- Crocodile clips
- Sectioning Comb
- Foil strips
Bleach To Developer Ratio
When bleaching your own hair, learning how much bleach and developer to mix together is essential. Fortunately, there is an easy ratio to follow for nearly all lighteners (unless otherwise stated by the manufacturer).
How to mix bleach and developer ratio? Well, for each part of bleach, you should add two parts of developer. In other words, you will need twice as much developer as bleach when lightening your hair.
This ratio shouldn’t vary even with different volume developers. However, to clear up any possible confusion, let’s take a look at an example with a 20, 30, and 40 volume developer.
Finding the Right Consistency
The ideal consistency of a bleach and developer mixture should be close to that of a creamy conditioner, not too thick, but also not too runny. When you achieve this consistency, you can feel more confident that you applied the bleach and developer in the right ratio. This creamier consistency will apply nicely to your hair to ensure an even bleaching job.
For those looking for how to mix bleach and developer for highlights, the rules are pretty much the same. However, if you plan on free-painting highlights, you’ll probably do best with a mixture that has a bit of a thicker consistency.
Do not begin applying the mixture to your hair until you have checked and double-checked it. Ensure that everything looks well-blended and all the same color. Make sure the mixture is smooth and that there aren’t any lumps.
How Much Bleach
How Much Bleach Do You Mix With 20 Volume Developer?
How to mix hair bleach with bleach powder and 20 volume developer is a really common question. The answer is simple. Stick with the 1:2 ratio of bleach to developer, and you should be fine. So, if you have 2 ounces of bleach powder, you will need 4 ounces of 20 volume developer.
How Much Bleach Do You Mix With 30 Developer?
How to mix creme bleach and 30 developer? The same rule applies. Add two parts developer to one part bleach. If you are starting with 3 ounces of bleach and want to know how to mix bleach and 30 developer, you’ll need twice as much developer. This would mean you need 6 ounces of developer.
How Do You Mix 40 Volume Developer With Bleach?
Some wonder how to mix “40” max lift developer and professional powder bleach. If you are using a 40 volume developer, follow the ratio of one part bleach to two parts developer. However, remember that 40 volume developer is very strong and is best used by a professional.
When mixing bleach and developer, use measuring cups or spoons or a scale to ensure you use the correct amount. Using a bit too much develop could cause damage to your hair, while using too much bleach without a sufficient amount of develop could prevent you from achieving your desired hair color.
How Should I Mix My Bleach and Developer?
Use a plastic bowl to mix your bleach and developer. Add the bleach to the bowl first, then add a little of the developer and mix the two together. You want the solution to be as smooth as possible.
Then, you can continue gradually adding more developer to the bowl, thoroughly mixing after each addition. If the solution isn’t evenly mixed, it could result in an uneven bleaching job, with some of your strands being darker than the other.
What Happens if You Put Too Much Developer in Bleach?
What happens if I add too much developer to bleach? Adding too much developer to the bleach powder can result in a very runny mixture. When the mixture is too liquidy, you’re going to have a difficult time applying it to your hair. It won’t end up applying evenly, which can leave you with an uneven bleach job.
Additionally, too much developer can damage your hair or scalp. It is always important to make sure you stick with the 1:2 ratio for bleach to developer, unless otherwise specified by the manufacturer.
FAQs
What goes first bleach or developer?
When mixing bleach and developer, you should start with the bleaching powder in the plastic bowl. Then, you should very gradually mix in the developer. Be sure to stir well; you don’t want the mixture to be lumpy.
Can you mix bleach with any developer?
When mixing bleach and developer, it is best to use products from the same company. However, in most cases, mixing brands won’t be a problem if you follow the ratio of one part bleach to two parts developer.
What does adding more developer do to bleach?
If you add too much developer to bleach, it can make the mixture too liquidy. If this happens, it will be more difficult to spread the mixture of your hair and saturate it properly. Obviously, this could have a negative impact on your results.
How much developer and bleach do you mix to bleach your hair?
To bleach your hair, you need to use one part bleach to two parts developer. For example, with three ounces of bleach, you will need six ounces of developer.
Should I bleach my hair at home?
The decision regarding whether to bleach your hair at home is really up to you. However, before attempting to bleach your own hair, it is important to make sure that you know what you are doing.
Using bleach incorrectly can damage your hair. Bleaching hair works because the hydrogen peroxide opens the cuticles. Once the cuticles are open, the hair color can be lightened.
However, this can also cause hair to become brittle and more likely to bleach. Repairing bleached damaged hair isn’t either, either. Incorrect application of bleach can also cause more serious concerns, such as a burnt scalp.
In many cases, working with a professional is the safest option when bleaching your hair. You’re less likely to end up with damaged hair and more likely to be happy with your results.
However, that being said, if you’re still set on bleaching your own hair and feel that you have the necessary skills, the choice is ultimately up to you. You may want to enlist a friend to help you through the process, though.
Mixing Bleach and Developer: Final Thoughts
When bleaching your hair at home, it is essential to take proper precautions to avoid damaging your hair. Sticking with the proper ratio of one part bleach to two parts developer will help set you up for success. What do you think? Are you going to use what you learned today to mix developer and bleach to bleach your hair at home? Be sure to come back and share your results with us!
Check out these related posts on our blog:
