How many oz of developer would I need?

[lifeis2evil]

I want to lighten my hair, it is currently a medium brown/red color. I am going to henna/manic panic it red a few days after the bleaching. I got the L'oreal quick blue bleach tub and oreor creme 40 developer. My hair is up to my nipple (Not sure how many inches). How many ounces of developer and how many ounces of powdered bleach would I need?

[kwaniesiam]

I want to lighten my hair, it is currently a medium brown/red color. I am going to henna/manic panic it red a few days after the bleaching. I got the L'oreal quick blue bleach tub and oreor creme 40 developer. My hair is up to my nipple (Not sure how many inches). How many ounces of developer and how many ounces of powdered bleach would I need?

WHOAH. STOP RIGHT THERE. NO.

Okay. Do NOT use 40 vol. bleach. Return that immediately and get 20 vol. 40 vol. will burn your scalp and turn your hair to mush. I can personally recommend Clairol Pure White 20 vol. developer.

As far as ratio goes with the quick blue I've always used one scoop to about 35-40 ml. of developer. It should be like a thick frosting as far as consistency goes. Add a little more or less to get it right. You need as much bleach as you need. Keep mixing as you need it. Start with one or two scoops and when you run out, mix more until your hair is covered.

[Fractalsofhair]

What color red are you looking for? You might be able to get the color you want without bleaching first.

[lundmir]

I would advice you to first do a test on shed hairs from your brush/shower. My black hair goes white after 20 minutes with 30 vol. developer and coconut oil, and although I'm aware everyone's hair is different, 40 vol. seems too harsh to me.

Also, you should check this thread, it helped me maintain my hair healthy despite the bleach:
http://forums.longhaircommunity.com/showthread.php?t=10495

[lifeis2evil]

My hair doesn't lighten easily so 40 was recommended and I bought online so returning would cost me more :(. Wanting a bright red like so: http://hair-craft.co.uk/files/red-hair_0.jpg ,, http://www.amazon.com/Oreal-Oreor-Creme-Developer-oz/dp/B000A3V2Q8

[lifeis2evil]

Thankies for the link :) it's not working at the moment though but hopefully it loads later... I don't think I'll need to leave on the bleach or that long though right? Cuz since I'm going for red not blond so it'd be okay if I just let it get Orange? After bleaching I am planning on doing deep conditioning and only CO. I have O Jon deep hydrating conditioner, the deep repair oil, and herbal essence hydralisous reconditioning conditoner. I have tired dying it red in June and then July but it didn't work much at all, natural color is dark brown. Oh and does it have to be coconut oil or can it be vegetable oil also?


And I def. don't blow dry/use heat on my hair :)

[UltraBella]

Dear Lord, no !!!! No !!! No !!!!
I own two salons. I mean this with complete respect, but you obviously do not have experience bleaching hair if you are asking how many ounces you will need to mix together. 40 vol developer is meant for trained professionals. And it can still have tragic results for hair and skin. You should not be using it. At all.

[Kathie]

With the coconut oil vs. vegetable oil question- it needs to be coconut oil.

I've never worked with bleach or developer, I always went to a salon for chemical colors. There’s just way too much that can go wrong.
While I’m not advocating you use such a strong developer, my thoughts are- instead of doing all your hair why don’t you put in some bright red streaks? You’ll only need to lighten a portion of your hair i.e., only a portion will be damaged.

[kwaniesiam]

Dear Lord, no !!!! No !!! No !!!!
I own two salons. I mean this with complete respect, but you obviously do not have experience bleaching hair if you are asking how many ounces you will need to mix together. 40 vol developer is meant for trained professionals. And it can still have tragic results for hair and skin. You should not be using it. At all.

Yes. This. Cut your losses and save your hair. Head to Sally's and pick up some 20 vol. if you feel you must do it yourself.

[Angeletti]

I would suggest going to a professional, but if your set on doing it yourself definitely do a small strand test first to see what your results are. Better to find out if your hair can't take it on a small piece rather than on all of your hair.

[little_cherry]

WHOAH. STOP RIGHT THERE. NO.

Okay. Do NOT use 40 vol. bleach. Return that immediately and get 20 vol. 40 vol. will burn your scalp and turn your hair to mush. I can personally recommend Clairol Pure White 20 vol. developer.

As far as ratio goes with the quick blue I've always used one scoop to about 35-40 ml. of developer. It should be like a thick frosting as far as consistency goes. Add a little more or less to get it right. You need as much bleach as you need. Keep mixing as you need it. Start with one or two scoops and when you run out, mix more until your hair is covered.


Dear Lord, no !!!! No !!! No !!!!
I own two salons. I mean this with complete respect, but you obviously do not have experience bleaching hair if you are asking how many ounces you will need to mix together. 40 vol developer is meant for trained professionals. And it can still have tragic results for hair and skin. You should not be using it. At all.

I agree 110% with these two posts. They are both professionals and LHC friendly.

I've had an experience with 40% developer in a salon. Lets just say my hair didn't like it; my scalp hated it worse.. I pre-oiled with coconut oil. My hair was white, but incredibly unhappy. -_-

Not worth it. Find the 20..your hair will thank you, especially if you coconut oil prior.

[lundmir]

I agree, it must be coconut oil, as it naturally produces peroxide. And do try the shed hair test, saturate it with coconut oil for at least an hour (the longer the better) and see if you like the results.

40 vol. might destroy your hair, please be careful!

I have a brighter red than you desire, and mine is naturally black. It can be done with milder bleach.

[eezepeeze]

I have nothing to add, but just now figured out that oz meant ounces.

I've been reading it as "Oz" like Wizard of..., and absolutely could not figure out what you were asking. I finally clicked on the thread....Doh! :P

[aenflex]

Little late and not the best when it comes to this, but I kept a streak of my hair bleach blonde for about a year or so, and 20 vol developer didn't touch my hair, I had to go with 30. And I still needed to leave it on for a while to get the lift I wanted.
ITA with Angeletti though - maybe best left up to a pro, at least the 1st time. That's why I did too, went to my salon and had her do it the 1st and 2nd time, this is how I found out that the 20 was too weak. After a few times with the colourist I was able to DIY...

[lifeis2evil]

I used 30 developer early August I left it on 45mins and it did nothing :( I'm asking how many ounces I would need for my length of hair. As I'm not used to dying with long hair lol I've always dyed with short so I'm always either lacking product or have too much >_< are you sure you guys didn't leave it on too long and that's why it messed up your hair? Cuz that happened to me with relaxer once lol

I never do strand test but how do you keep it out of the way after it's bleached?

As for Coconut oil does anyone know where to get that? I have no idea where any health food centers are and I haven't seen it at Publix. There is one at CVS but it has perfume -_-

[lifeis2evil]

And def. don't wanna go to the Salon I've only have had horrible experiences at many different places -_- so I gave up

[lundmir]

I don't do strand tests because I'm kinda messy, so I use shed hair either from a brush or from the shower.

I'm at your length, but I have very fine hair and lots of it, so what I used might not work for you. Last time I bleached I think I used a whole 50g powder bag, and since it has a proportion of 1 part powder to 2 parts developer, used a measuring cup accordingly.
Also, do read the instructions on your products, they might be different.

[Kome]

Um... 40 volume is a bit high, but I do understand why you got it. However, I would recommend using 30 volume as it'll probably get your hair light enough to henna and it won't fry it nearly as much as 40 volume will. 20... well 20 is meant to DEPOSIT hair color, not lift, so 20 volume won't do much. I don't know why people are suggesting that. *shrug*

You should mix even parts of developer with your bleach... however, that is not always the case, but most bleaches I've used are half and half. Honestly... even if you put too much or two little, it will still work. If you have gone to the store and bought these things though, then I would think you would know enough to be doing this at home. I would do a test strip first before you do anything, and if you do use the 40 then PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE don't get it on your scalp or leave it on for long. It WILL burn and blister your scalp. Been there, done that. It sucks.

[Dolly]

Um... 40 volume is a bit high, but I do understand why you got it. However, I would recommend using 30 volume as it'll probably get your hair light enough to henna and it won't fry it nearly as much as 40 volume will. 20... well 20 is meant to DEPOSIT hair color, not lift, so 20 volume won't do much. I don't know why people are suggesting that. *shrug*



With all due respect.....20 vol DOES lift. I used it REGULARLY to take my hair from dark brown up approx 2 levels to an intense red. And, not just taking my word for it....a couple of these ladies are trained professionals, so they should know whether 20 vol will lift or not.....

[Kome]

I used 30 developer early August I left it on 45mins and it did nothing :( I'm asking how many ounces I would need for my length of hair. As I'm not used to dying with long hair lol I've always dyed with short so I'm always either lacking product or have too much >_< are you sure you guys didn't leave it on too long and that's why it messed up your hair? Cuz that happened to me with relaxer once lol

I never do strand test but how do you keep it out of the way after it's bleached?

As for Coconut oil does anyone know where to get that? I have no idea where any health food centers are and I haven't seen it at Publix. There is one at CVS but it has perfume -_-

Okay... did you shampoo your hair before you bleached it? Because the bleach can't pull out color if there is oil in your hair that it has to pull out first, at least not as much color as it would if it were clean.

I got my coconut oil at Walmart for $2.28. It was in the African American hair section in a plastic jar and kind of hidden towards the bottom. Way more than I'll ever use, but a great price! :D

[Kome]

With all due respect.....20 vol DOES lift. I used it REGULARLY to take my hair from dark brown up approx 2 levels to an intense red. And, not just taking my word for it....a couple of these ladies are trained professionals, so they should know whether 20 vol will lift or not.....

Yes... but not generally from say brown to bleach blonde. It also depends on your hair type. There are MANY factors. I worked in a salon environment for awhile and had more than one professional cosmetologist tell me this. I just personally think that 30 will work better for her hair as red hair is harder to lift color from. And if she used 30 before and it didn't work, either she did something wrong or she has dye on her head already or her hair is head to lift. *shrug* Like I said, many different reasons. :)

[Demetrue]

20 vol. peroxide mixed with powdered bleach and left on for 60 minutes WILL lift color. 40 vol. peroxide should not be used for on-scalp bleaching. If 30 vol. mixed properly with bleach did nothing, then something was not being done right. You need to cover the hair with plastic once you've applied the bleach - don't let the bleach dry out. You can also try applying heat. And you can leave the bleach on for up to 60 minutes at a time (obviously do a strand test first to make sure your hair doesn't melt).

[lifeis2evil]

No I always hear its horrible to wash your hair before bleach since it can damage your hair more :/

Was it called blue magic? http://www.cvs.com/CVSApp/catalog/shop_product_detail.jsp?skuId=163780&productId=163780&WT.mc_id=Shopping_Feed_Products_Google_Free_Listin g if so thats the one I've seen at cvs :p is it okay to use even thou it has "fragrance"

[lifeis2evil]

I don't do strand tests because I'm kinda messy, so I use shed hair either from a brush or from the shower.

I'm at your length, but I have very fine hair and lots of it, so what I used might not work for you. Last time I bleached I think I used a whole 50g powder bag, and since it has a proportion of 1 part powder to 2 parts developer, used a measuring cup accordingly.
Also, do read the instructions on your products, they might be different.



Just saw your profile, hair looks pretty :) hmm I usually get the packs of bleach but this time I got the 1lb tub and all it says is "mix with 1.5 to 2fl oz. of 20, 30, or 40 volume developer, so I guess 2 scoops bleach 4oz developer sounds about right

[UltraBella]

Yes, 20 vol does lift. With heat it will lift more.

30 vol left on for 45 min did NOTHING ??? What did you mix it with ???!! Something obviously went wrong.

40 vol is extreme and should be used as a last resort and it should not be used on your scalp.
This really is not a good idea.

[kwaniesiam]

I used 30 developer early August I left it on 45mins and it did nothing :( I'm asking how many ounces I would need for my length of hair. As I'm not used to dying with long hair lol I've always dyed with short so I'm always either lacking product or have too much >_< are you sure you guys didn't leave it on too long and that's why it messed up your hair? Cuz that happened to me with relaxer once lol

I never do strand test but how do you keep it out of the way after it's bleached?

As for Coconut oil does anyone know where to get that? I have no idea where any health food centers are and I haven't seen it at Publix. There is one at CVS but it has perfume -_-

Were you using 30 vol. with bleach or color? Color will not lift color. That is an entirely different beast. If your hair did nothing after 30 vol. bleach on for that long then something was seriously off in your mix. That would lift even jet black hair to at least an orange stage. I would advise NOT doing this yourself. There is a reason you need to be trained and licensed to work with strong chemicals on hair in a salon. Trust the pros, one bad experience doesn't we all don't know what we're talking about.

[Kathie]

Okay... did you shampoo your hair before you bleached it? Because the bleach can't pull out color if there is oil in your hair that it has to pull out first, at least not as much color as it would if it were clean.




I've never heard this :shrug: and I've had bleach foils put in my hair many times. If this was the case I think that every colorist would be washing client’s hair before they bleach.

Based on what I've read here and in research articles I'd also recommend slathering your hair with coconut oil before bleaching your hair, with whatever vol. you eventually use.

[spidermom]

The "coconut oil" in the African-American section of the store here contains more petrolatum and/or mineral oil than coconut oil (read the label). You don't want that; you want pure coconut oil. It will be in the cooking oils section or the "nutrition/organic section".

[Dolly]

Okay... did you shampoo your hair before you bleached it? Because the bleach can't pull out color if there is oil in your hair that it has to pull out first, at least not as much color as it would if it were clean.



Just saw my stylist for a trim, and she said this is totally wrong. She said that the natural oils in your hair can actually help minimize damage.....same rationale behind soaking in coconut oil before using peroxide.