- If your hair is very light blonde 9, extra light platinum blonde 10, and almost white blonde, you can use Wella T18 with a 10-volume developer.
- If your hair is light brown 5, dark blonde 6, blonde 7, and light blonde 8, you should use Wella T18 with a 20-volume developer. Dark hair needs a stronger chemical reaction for the toner pigments to deposit.
YOU MAY ALSO BE INTERESTED IN: How long to leave Wella T18 toner on?
The toner is applied with a 20-volume developer.
However, when you have to tone very light blondes, you may use a 10-volume developer.
Why do most toner manufacturers, including Wella, recommend applying the product with a 20-volume developer?
Because the 20-volume developer has the necessary strength to open the hair cuticles for the toner pigments to deposit, neutralizing unwanted colors..
Now, the professionals who work at Wella designing products aren’t in every user’s home.
So when they write instructions for use, they think of the general public.
And for that general public, the toner is always applied with a 20-volume developer.
YOU MAY ALSO BE INTERESTED IN: Can toner make your hair fall out?
Honestly, toner is a professional tool. If you want me to be honest, it should only be used by hairdressers in the salon.
Do you know why?
Let me give you an example.
Maria has a light blonde 8, and Ana has an extra light platinum blonde 10.
They both fight the yellowish tones that appear in their hair after frequent washing and sun exposure.
What do they use to make those unwanted yellow tones disappear?
Wella T18.
Both Maria and Ana are very responsible.
They follow the manufacturer’s instructions and apply it with a 20-volume developer.
However, Ana’s hair started to show signs of severe damage after using Wella’s T18 with a 20-volume developer.
Maria’s hair, on the other hand, maintained its usual moisture and shine.
They both strictly followed the instructions and applied the toner with a 20-volume developer.
So, why did their hair react so differently?
They know their hair is different, but they skipped the reason due to their lack of coloring knowledge.
Can you imagine what it is?
Well, that’s right! The difference lies in the base color on which the T18 toner is applied.
This information is essential to know what volume of a developer to use with the T18. To make it clear, let’s go deeper into the function of the developer.
Tabla de Contenidos
Why do developer volumes matter when using Wella T18?
Everything in this life has a reason, and Wella T18 toner isn’t the exception.
The toner neutralizes unwanted colors, such as orange or yellow, that may arise after bleaching or coloring.
It’s “almost always” applied with a 20-volume developer.
Why?
- Because the developer opens the hair cuticles for the toner pigments to penetrate the core and be completely absorbed. The aim is to neutralize unwanted colors.
Depending on your goals and hair color, you should opt for the right amount of developer volumes.
- Both 10-volume and 20-volume developer open the cuticles. The difference is the strength of the chemical reaction.
- For this reason, the 10 volume developer is used on very blond hair. A very strong chemical reaction isn’t necessary.
In these cases, the 10-volume developer will open the cuticles, and the Wella T18 will neutralize unwanted colors.
- On the other hand, darker hair, such as light brown, needs a stronger chemical reaction. That’s why you should use Wella T18 with a 20-volume developer.
Otherwise, a 10-volume developer won’t have the strength to open the cuticles. So, the toner pigments will never penetrate.
Let’s review the most important information.
What developer should you use according to your hair color?
Wella T18 with a 20-volume developer
The strength of this developer will open the cuticles smoothly for the toner to penetrate. As brown and medium hair contain more pigmentation, the cuticles are more sealed to retain the color.
In this case, you need to use Wella’s T18 with a 20-volume developer to generate a chemical reaction strong enough to open the cuticles.
Which hair colors need to use a 20-volume developer with Wella’s T18?
Wella T18 with a 10-volume developer
Natural or bleached very light hair has more flexible cuticles due to lack of pigmentation.
They are usually fine, weightless, and volatile. For this reason, if you use a 20-volume developer with Wella T18, you’ll damage your hair. You don’t need to generate such a strong reaction.
If your hair is:
You should always use a 10-volume developer with Wella’s T18. That way, you’ll neutralize unwanted colors without damaging your hair.
Conclusions
All toners, including Wella T18, are applied with a 20-volume developer, but there are exceptions to the rule.
So, if your hair is light or very light, a 10-volume developer will be more than enough to neutralize unwanted colors.