tint developer and mixing ratios explained
A brow tint developer is a low-strength peroxide that activates the color. BB&L Lash & Brow Tint is mixed with the 3% / 10 volume Professional Cream Developer, at about 1 cm of tint to 3 drops of developer. Hybrid stains use their own hybrid developers: 3 drops of stain to 2 drops of developer for the Hybrid CREAM Brow Stain, and 2 drops of stain to 1 drop for the Hybrid Liquid Brow Stain.
what a developer actually does
Tint on its own does not color the hair. The developer starts the reaction that lets the color form inside the hair, so the tint and developer only work once they are mixed. Mix right before you apply, because the reaction begins as soon as the two meet.
Each BB&L color line has a developer made for it. Keep each product with its own developer.
3% / 10 volume, the strength for brows and lashes
The BB&L Professional Cream Developer is a 3% / 10 volume peroxide developer made for lash and brow tint, in a 100 ml bottle. Higher volumes used in hair color are made for the scalp and do not belong near the eye. BB&L Lash & Brow Tint is made to be mixed with 3% / 10 volume cream developer, sold separately.
the mixing ratios, product by product
| Color | Developer | Ratio |
|---|---|---|
| Lash & Brow Tint | Professional Cream Developer, 3% / 10 volume | About 1 cm of tint to 3 drops of developer |
| Hybrid CREAM Brow Stain | Hybrid Stain CREAM Developer | 3 drops of stain to 2 drops of developer |
| Hybrid Liquid Brow Stain | Hybrid Stain CREAM Developer | 2 drops of stain to 1 drop of developer |
| Hybrid stain, airbrush | Hybrid Stain Liquid Developer | 2 parts stain to 1 part developer |
Follow the instructions on each product, and write the ratio on the client card next to the shade. How the shade itself is chosen is covered in choosing the right brow tint color.
Professional Cream Developer
Lash and brow 3% / 10 volume peroxide developer in a 100 ml bottle, made to activate BB&L Lash & Brow Tint in all 5 shades.
See The Cream Developerhybrid stain developers
Hybrid Stain CREAM Developer
Infused with coconut oil and panthenol. Used with the Hybrid CREAM Brow Stain and the Hybrid Liquid Brow Stain, each at its own ratio. 100 ml.
Hybrid Stain Liquid Developer
Gives the stain a thinner, water-like consistency for a softer stain, and lets you apply it with a handheld airbrush. Mixed 2:1 with the stain. 100 ml, vegan and cruelty-free.
Pair a hybrid stain with a hybrid developer only. The classic Cream Developer is made for Lash & Brow Tint. The difference between the two services is explained in what is a hybrid brow tint, and the two stains are compared in hybrid liquid vs hybrid cream stain.
mixing tools and cross-contamination
- Mix in glass or on a mixing palette. The BB&L Tint Mixing Cup has a smooth interior and a heavy, weighted base that helps avoid spills.
- Use a clean tool for each product. Never dip a used brush back into a bottle.
- Mix one client at a time, only the amount you need, and discard what is left.
- Close each bottle right after use and store it as the label says.
Brushes and cups are covered in more detail in tinting brushes and tools.
common mixing mistakes
- Guessing the ratio. Too much developer thins the color, too little leaves it weak or patchy. Count the drops.
- Swapping developers between lines. Each color line is made to work with its own developer.
- Mixing too early. Mix after the consultation, cleansing and mapping, right before application.
- Saving leftover mix. Once tint and developer are combined, the mix is for one client only.
Hybrid color keeps developing
After a hybrid stain is removed, the color can look lighter than expected. It takes 3 to 5 hours to fully develop, so judge the result before adding more product.
Test the exact mix you will use
Run a patch test with the same tint or stain and the same developer, 24 to 48 hours before the first service, and follow the product instructions and your state board's rules. Burning, swelling or spreading redness means no service and a referral to a physician. Swelling around the eyes or difficulty breathing is an emergency: call 911.
keep reading
developer questions from the chair
What developer do you use for eyebrow tint?
How do you mix eyebrow tint and developer?
What is the ratio for the Hybrid CREAM Brow Stain?
What is the ratio for the Hybrid Liquid Brow Stain?
Can I use the classic cream developer with a hybrid stain?
tint for lashes and brows
Lash & Brow Tint in 5 shades, made to be mixed with the 3% / 10 volume Professional Cream Developer.
Shop Lash & Brow Tint