Just realized my color formulas were fading too fast because of a simple timing mistake

Had a client last month whose red highlights washed out after just two weeks. I was using a good brand, but I was mixing the color and developer and then letting it sit for 5 minutes while I prepped her hair. My mentor in Chicago finally pointed out that the oxidation clock starts the second you mix it. I started mixing right before application, and the same formula now holds for a solid 6 weeks. Anyone else catch themselves losing valuable processing time on small delays?

3 comments

3 Comments

olivia_barnes971mo ago

Tell me why I learned this exact lesson the hard way last summer.

josephf1024d ago

Did you catch that article from Fine Homebuilding a few years back about mixing speed and chemical reactions? They tested this exact thing and found the same 10% rule your boss mentioned, plus something about how the heat from mixing speeds up the cure time even more. I remember reading that once the concrete starts falling off the trowel instead of sticking, you've already lost that window. Have you found any tricks that help buy you a few extra minutes on hot days?

adams821mo ago

My old boss in Cincinnati drilled that into us. You lose about 10% of your processing power for every minute it sits in the bowl. Now I mix the second I'm ready to apply it.