Level 10 hair is the lightest shade of blonde, appearing as a very pale, almost white-yellow or platinum blonde, with most natural warm pigments (red, orange, yellow) removed and often toned with cool shades like violet or blue for a clean, icy look, representing the lightest possible depth on the hair color scale.
Color levels go from dark to light, with Level 1 as the darkest black and Level 10 as the lightest blonde, what you may think of as platinum blonde. Knowing your level of hair color is important so that you know what color you can actually achieve based on your current hair level.
For platinum you need a clean level 10. That isn't possible with a level 8 or 9. You would have to lift to a level 10. Then toned depending on her preference & what line you use. Then educate your client on the proper maintenance, products, & styling. She can't go 3 months without a regrowth touch up.
10 volume: This is a mild low-level of developer. This is useful if you only want to slightly change the color of your hair. It's also a good volume to use with a lot of toners. 20 volume: This is stronger than 10 volume and it's commonly used for lightening hair at home as it lifts 1 to 2 levels.
This light blonde shade with cool undertones is best described as a “smoky blonde” with purple and blue undertones. At a level 10, most of the warm pigment in hair has been removed and the rest is toned out with cool tones.
For women over 50, youthful hair colors focus on adding warmth, softness, and dimension, like caramel, honey, or golden blondes, and warm browns (chocolate, auburn) with balayage highlights to blend grays and brighten skin, while avoiding harsh, flat, or overly dark colors that can harden features. Lighter, multi-tonal shades create softness and reflection, making skin look more luminous, notes Southern Living, The Right Hairstyles, and Pure Spa Direct.
Level 10 is the lightest blond, level 9 is light blond, level 8 is medium blond, level 7 is dark blond, level 6 is light brown, level 5 is medium brown, level 4 is dark brown, level 3 is darkest brown, level 2 is black-brown, and level 1 is black.
It won't significantly lift your base color and is the least damaging to the hair. 10 Volume is only used to open the cuticle layer so the color molecules deposit in the cortex for long-term results.
Use 10 Vol for tone down coloring and level-on-level coloring. Use 20 Vol if you are aiming for a 1-2 level lift (and if you have grey hair that needs covering). Use 30 Vol if you are aiming for a 2-3 level lift.
When 10 volume is used with bleach it can give 1-4 levels of lift depending on the bleach, the method of application, and the hair. 20 volume is likely the most used developer in the salon. 20volume will give 1-2 levels of lift when used with permanent hair color.
The "prettiest" blonde hair color is subjective, but popular choices include Golden Blonde (warm, sun-kissed), Platinum Blonde (icy, glamorous), Ash Blonde (cool, gray/silver tones), Honey Blonde (rich, warm), and Champagne Blonde (cool, elegant, pearly), with the best choice depending on your skin tone and desired vibe. Techniques like balayage and highlights add dimension, while "bronde" blends blonde and brunette for a natural look.
The hair needs to be as light as possible with no traces of yellow before a platinum colour can be applied for the colour to look amazing.
The hardest hair colors to remove are typically black and vivid reds, due to their dense pigment load and strong staining power, often requiring multiple bleaching sessions; while vivid blues and purples are also very difficult, especially cool-toned ones, because their small dye molecules deeply bond to porous hair, making them stubborn to lift.
The best hair colors for women over 60 often involve adding warmth and blending grays, with popular choices including warm blondes (honey, butterscotch, ash blonde), rich browns (caramel, hazelnut with copper tones), or embracing natural silver/platinum with modern techniques like silver fox shades or platinum, using highlights/balayage to soften features and create dimension for a fresh, radiant look.
Our IGORA VIBRANCE® Level 10 Toners are the ideal toning solution for light blonde hair. Our new line of true Level 10 shades allows you to create the light and glamorous blonde results you are looking for – no extra diluting needed.
The most common volumes of developer are 10, 20, 30, and 40 volume. The volume relates to the strength of the developer, meaning the higher the number, the stronger the volume.
Higher volumes of developer are used for darker and thicker hair types, while lower volumes are recommended for lighter or more delicate hair. Using a higher volume than recommended for thin or fine hair can lead to severe damage, dryness, and breakage.
Choose a 40 volume developer if you're looking to make a dramatic shift in your hair color, such as lifting dark hair to a lighter blonde or platinum shade. It's also effective for lifting dark roots during a lightening session.
Your stylist's colour-correction methods may vary, but it's likely they'll reapply bleach to lighten your hair to fully remove the orange, then tone your hair with an ash or light beige colour to neutralise brassiness.
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Is it better to go darker or lighter with gray hair? “It depends on skin tone, but in general, going a bit lighter or warmer can soften features and create a more natural blend with grays as they grow in,” Esposito says.
The "prettiest" blonde hair color is subjective, but popular choices include Golden Blonde (warm, sun-kissed), Platinum Blonde (icy, glamorous), Ash Blonde (cool, gray/silver tones), Honey Blonde (rich, warm), and Champagne Blonde (cool, elegant, pearly), with the best choice depending on your skin tone and desired vibe. Techniques like balayage and highlights add dimension, while "bronde" blends blonde and brunette for a natural look.
As a “blonding” specialist: When you shift into more permanent colors, think of developer choice as control of lift vs. deposit: On a pre-lightened base, 10vol will give you even tone saturation without blowing open the cuticle. On virgin or darker regrowth, use 20vol for gray coverage or lifting a level or two.
Level 10-11: Light ash blonde (icy, pearl, platinum variations) Undertones: Gray, blue, violet pigments that neutralize warmth.