Hydrogen peroxide in hair dye

What is hydrogen peroxide in hair dye anyway? How does it work when dyeing your hair? Hydrogen peroxide is a compound of hydrogen with oxygen. At WECOLOUR, we call it activator. You mix hydrogen peroxide with colour cream to make hair dye. The hydrogen peroxide creates an oxidising effect, opens the hair cuticles and makes your hair absorb the new colour. Due to the oxidising effect, you can never mix colour cream and hydrogen peroxide in a metal container. Always use a glass or plastic container.

Hydrogen peroxide percentages

Hydrogen peroxide comes in different percentages (1.5, 3, 6, 9 and 12%). Instead of percentages, hydrogen peroxide is also often referred to by volume. At volume 10 the percentage is 3%, at volume 20 it is 6%, at volume 30 the hydrogen peroxide percentage is 9% and at volume 40 12% hydrogen peroxide is meant. The percentage or volume determines what the colour cream does to your hair. For good grey coverage, we recommend 6% hydrogen peroxide. This is why at WECOLOUR this is the standard percentage that comes with your hair colour, unless you can choose the activator percentage yourself when ordering.

If you do not have grey hair and only want one colour level lighter, you could also use 3%. Also if you want a non-permanent hair colour or want to make a toner use 3%. You can only lighten with hair dye if your hair is undyed. If you want to lighten your undyed hair to two colour levels, you need 6%. If you want very light, as with our colour very light ash blonde (11.1), you generally achieve the best result with 9% hydrogen peroxide.

WECOLOUR standard 6%

At WECOLOUR, you receive hydrogen peroxide at a 6% percentage with every hair dye order as standard, but when ordering blonde colours you have the choice of other percentages. Not sure which percentage to choose? Then choose 6% for a permanent, grey-covering hair dye. This percentage is generally suitable for everyone. It is grey covering and allows you to dye your hair darker or your undyed hair up to two colour levels lighter. Only with the colour very light ash blonde (11.1) is it sometimes better to order a percentage of 9% if you want to lighten your undyed hair up to three colour levels.

Toners: 3%

Want to use the hair dye as a toner or non-permanent colouring? Then choose an activator percentage of 3%. Read more about toners in our blog 'toners'.

Ratio of colour cream and hydrogen peroxide

You mix the colour cream and activator for all colours in the ratio 1:1. So one part colour cream with one part activator. With these two ingredients mixed, dye your hair. Once you have applied the hair dye, leave it on for 35 minutes or 45 minutes (ashnuances), refer to the instructions for use or follow the specific advice we have given. After that, rinse the dye out of your hair until the water runs clear. Then use shampoo and conditioner suitable for dyed hair, such as WECOLOUR's shampoo and conditioner.

If you mix the colour cream with the hydrogen peroxide (activator), it is important that you use the hair dye directly to dye your hair. This is because the effect of the activator is limited when in contact with oxygen.

Super lightening: mixing ratio 1:2

Did you order very light ash blonde (11.1) with 9 or 12% activator? Then use the mixing ratio 1:2. So one part colour cream with two parts activator. The mixing ratio for our bleach and highlight set is also 1:2. That is why you receive two bottles of activator with a tube of cream. If in doubt, consult the instructions for use supplied with your product. Not clear? Please contact us.

Although WECOLOUR products are as mild as possible, hydrogen peroxide is not good for your hair. The higher the percentage and the more you use, the more harmful. Therefore, if you use 9 or 12%, we advise you to always use Colour Mask with your hair colour or bleach and highlight kit. It keeps your hair in good condition and protects your scalp. Mix Colour Mask with your dye/bleach as follows:

1. Mix the quantities of colour cream and activator.

2. Divide the total number of grams of hair dye you then have by six and add that number in grams of Colour Mask to the hair dye.

3. Dye as usual.

Did you know this about hydrogen peroxide?

Besides dyeing your hair, you can use hydrogen peroxide for a lot of other things. You can use the 3% variant (simply available at the pharmacy or drug store) as a disinfectant. For example, you can wash fruit and vegetables with hydrogen peroxide to remove dirt and pesticides. You add 1/4 part hydrogen peroxide to a bowl of water in which you wash fruit and vegetables. Then rinse with clean water.

It also has an inflammatory effect on a mouthwash. For use as a mouthwash, use the 6% in the ratio 1:1 with water. Then you get 3% peroxide. You can also water it down with more water. Mixing some 3% hydrogen peroxide with an equal amount of water will give you 1.5% hydrogen peroxide. Using hydrogen peroxide as mouthwash will kill bacteria and viruses in your mouth. Using hydrogen peroxide as mouthwash is particularly good if you've got canker sores.

Hydrogen peroxide works as a natural stain cleaner as well! Mix with a little baking soda and detergent. Leave this solution on the stain for a while, put it in the washing machine and your stains are gone. If the stains are in your carpet, spray the detergent solution onto an absorbent cloth and dab (don't rub!) it on the spot. As the stain dissolves, blot with a clean section of cloth. Keep applying and blotting until the stain is gone. Then spray another cloth with cold water, and use it to rinse the detergent solution from the carpet, then blot again with a dry cloth.

What is hydrogen peroxide in hair dye?

Hydrogen peroxide thus has many uses. In hair dyes, as explained, it is needed for good coverage and brightening. With WECOLOUR hair dyes, you can choose the desired percentage for blonde colours and if not, 6% is included. Hopefully we were able to answer your question 'what is hydrogen peroxide in hair dye' completely like this and if not, we would love to hear from you!

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