Many people ask the question “does hair developer expire?” They want to know how long it lasts. This is a good question because there are many different types of hair developers, and they come in various sizes so you need to know which one will work for your needs.
So, does hair developer expire?
The answer is yes! It can last up to three years if you store it properly, however, if you’re in a hurry then the expiration date can be as little as one year. If it’s past that due date then there are no active ingredients that will cause your hair to turn out differently than planned.
Here is how you can use a hair developer-
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Expiry of a Hair Developer
The expiration date of the hair developer is determined by the size and type. The developer that comes in a large bottle will have a longer shelf life than one that comes in small bottles or tubes. The larger containers are more difficult to contaminate because they come with caps, whereas it’s easier for smaller bottles to be contaminated as they don’t have an airtight seal.
The developer that has a creamy texture may last up to three years, but a developer with a watery or liquid consistency will only last for one year. This is because creams have an emulsion and it’s made of preservatives while liquids do not have any form of chemical preservation in them so they expire quicker. The developer also must be stored in a cool, dry location to make it last longer.
The key ingredient in a developer is peroxide, which helps with lifting and penetration into your roots for better results when applying a colour or highlighting process on your locks. It’s important to store it properly so that its ingredients are not spoiled because this will lead to more issues when using a product that has expired.
If you want your developer to have an expiration date that is more than one year then you should purchase the cream type because they are less likely to expire faster than liquids and watery types. If you’re using long-term storage containers like shampoo bottles or milk jugs then you can use liquid developer without any issues.
- If the developer has been opened then this indicates that air and bacteria may have found their way into it so you must use it in a timely manner or else it will expire faster than usual.
- Keep your developer out of direct sunlight or heat to make sure that they don’t spoil quicker since both can cause them to expire.
- If you’re storing the developer in a shampoo bottle or milk jug then you can use liquid developer without any issues because these are typically made for long term storage purposes.
Ways in which a hair developer can be used-
-You can use a developer to lighten or darken your hair colour.
-Developer is also crucial for people who enjoy highlighting their locks so that they have a more natural look.
-It helps in the deep penetration of the hair dye into the roots of the hair so that they can stay vibrant and healthy.
-It also helps in lifting the cuticle layer of the hair so that the dye can reach to the cortex of the hair.
-Lastly, it helps to keep the hair’s natural oils intact by conditioning them so that your scalp doesn’t get dry or irritated.
Ways in which the expiration date affects you
-If it’s past the expiration date then this means that there are no active ingredients in it, which will cause your hair to turn out a different colour than you had intended.
-You can also use the expired developers for mixed colours if the other ingredients are still good because they have longer expiration dates.
-If the container has been opened then this indicates that air and bacteria may have found their way into the bottle so it needs to be used in a timely manner.
-You also need to keep the developer out of direct sunlight or heat because they will cause it to expire faster and not have as strong of an effect on your hair.
Oxidising potentials of hair developers
The oxidising potential of a developer is when it starts to break down the chemical bonds in your hair so that they can be lightened or darkened. This process starts as soon as you mix them together according to the instructions on the back of the bottle and doesn’t require anything more than giving them time to react before applying them to your hair.
The oxidising potential of a developer is determined by the strength or formula that you use and can range from 0% up to 40%. One with an oxidizing potential of 100% will break down all of the bonds in your hair so it’s completely broken down, whereas one with an oxidization rate of 40% will only break down the bonds in your hair just enough to lighten it. This is why some people might use a developer with an oxidizing potential of 100% when they are trying to go from dark brown to blonde so that all of their natural hair colours can be removed at once, whereas someone who wants lighter highlights would use one with an oxidizing potential of 40%.
The longer that the developer is mixed together, the more potent it will be and this also means that if you leave it in on your hair for too long then it will break down all of your bonds so even when they’re removed from your hair they won’t go back to their original colour. The different chemicals in a developer are what determine how it will work on your hair and the strength or formula that you use.
For example, a higher percentage of hydrogen peroxide would be needed to lighten dark brown hair than someone who has blonde locks because the darker shade requires more oxidizing potential before it can change colour.
10 volume developer- It is the standard oxidising potential that’s usually included in kits and is perfect for someone who wants a natural look.
20 volume developer- This has the same formula as the standard one but it’s twice as powerful which means that you can use this to lighten your hair with less time or effort than if you were using something weaker.
40 volume developer- It is very potent and powerful which means that you can lighten your hair in a much shorter amount of time.
100 volume developer- This is the strongest oxidising potential that’s available for people who want to go from dark brown or black to blonde, but it will need more maintenance because if left on too long then all of their original colours will be gone.
Final words
If you’re not sure whether or not your developer has expired then the best thing to do is check the date on the bottle and if it’s past its expiration date then this means that there are no active ingredients in it, which will cause your hair to turn out a different colour than you had intended. You can also use the oxidizing potential of the developer as a way to test whether or not it’s still good, because if you use one that has an oxidizing potential of 100% then all of your hair will be lightened at once so it might need more maintenance.
