Can you use different brands of color and developer? Or is it better to only use one?

Can you use different brands of dye and developer? 

 

The short answer is, yes, you can.

 But unless you have a lot of experience working with hair dyes, I don’t recommend mixing brands. I’ll explain why in this article. 

But first, I have a quick question: have you ever tried to cook a cheesecake?

 

Cheesecake is a dessert that doesn’t require very many ingredients, so it seems easy to cook.

But even though it appears easy, most people don’t make a very good cheesecake on their first try.

Most of the time they end up dessert with a strange flavor, and a texture that’s just gross.

Why, do you think, does that happen?

 

Although mixing just a few ingredients appears easy, it’s quite difficult.

The ingredients need to be combined correctly, which requires experience and skill.

Well, mixing hair dye does too.

 

While dying your hair doesn’t require complex equipment, it does require experience and practice to create a good result.

 If you’re not an experienced hairstylist, mixing different brands of hair dye is like playing with fire. Or playing with the fate of your hair. 

Here’s another question.

 

Have you ever started to dye your hair, only to discover that you were out of developer?

 

Well, I have.

It happened a long time ago when I was just beginning to experiment with hair dye. At that time I lived next to my friend Carolina, and we shared all our beauty tricks and tips.

Including some hair dye secrets.

 

So, when I realized that I was out of developer, I ran down the stairs to her apartment, rang the doorbell and explained my sad situation.

Carolina is a person that’s full of surprises… and thankfully one of those surprises was developer.

We both jumped for joy, and I ran back up to my apartment.

 

I started to get all my thing together.

Gloves, plastic bags, an old t-shirt, a plastic container to mix the product in, a brush, developer, and dye.

 

Once I had everything ready, I started mixing the dye. I love mixing dye and developer. Mixing it enthusiastically is like a therapy for me, and helps me relax.

Once it was well mixed, I started to apply it to my hair. And, after letting it sit for half an hour, I rinsed out all the dye and…

Almost started crying. It was a complete catastrophe! Stop the world, I want to get off!

 

 Part of my hair had patches that were at least two shades lighter. 

What happened?

 

I double-checked the box of dye. I had used the correct color.

Then I checked the expiration date, only to discover that it wouldn’t expire for over a year.

At that point, my gaze landed on the developer. It had to be the culprit!

 

Of course, it wasn’t the same brand as the dye.

I decided to do a bit more research on Google.

 

And finally figured why the color didn’t turn out the same has it had before.

Curious what I found out?

 

If you are, keep reading, because I’m going to answer:

 

 

Why isn’t it a good idea to mix brands of dye and developer? If you do, what can happen to your hair?

Developers come in different volumes, from ten to forty.

And different developers have different effects on your hair, so each brand of hair dye includes the correct type of developer for each color.

To achieve the best result, it’s very important to use the same brand of dye and developer.

 

 Mixing different brands of dye and developer isn’t recommended, because it may create a thinner mixture or incorrect dilution, and therefore unpredictable results. 

 

That’s why it’s very important to follow the manufacturer’s instructions when mixing dye and developer, and use the recommended ratios.

Not only that, but the developer contains stabilizers, surfactants, thickening agents, water and solvents, and the exact ratios of all these ingredients may differ from brand to brand.

Remember what happened when I mixed brands of dye and developer? I ended up with patches with a different color.

 

This happened because I was using a semi-permanent dye, which normally comes with a gentler developer.

Because I used a stronger developer than what was recommended, the color came out uneven.

 

So I learned from experience how important it is to use the same brand of dye and developer.

If you mixed brands, you run the risk of some unpleasant surprises.

 

More important information about developer

Now that we know it’s always best to use the same brand of dye and developer, let’s learn a few more secrets about this essential hair product.

Have you ever hear of the terms 10 volume and 20 volume, or 6% and 9%?

 

 Developer comes in various levels, with 10 volume, 20 volume, 30 volume and 40 volume being the most common. 

What developer should you use to mix with the dye?

 

 

Box dye -the stuff you buy at a supermarket or cosmetics store- comes with 20 volume developer. This type of developer can have a lightening effect on hair, and make it one or two shades lighter or darker.

 

 

It can lighten dark brown hair to a very light blond, but is also harsher on hair.

Personally, I don’t recommend 40 volume hair developer, as it can cause adverse effects and damage your hair.

 

Conclusion

Now you know two important points about developer:

 

Now it’s your turn to share: have you ever mixed brands of dye and developer? How did it turn out?