Ion Color Brilliance is a popular salon-quality permanent hair color line. It comes in a rich palette of gorgeous shades from natural browns and blondes to vivid brights.
But to get the best results from these permanent hair dyes, it’s important to leave the color on your hair for the right amount of processing time. Under-processing can lead to uneven results or faded color, while over-processing risks damage.
In this comprehensive guide, we’ll explain everything you need to know about how long to leave Ion Color Brilliance permanent crème hair color on your hair.
How Ion Color Brilliance Permanent Hair Color Works
To understand proper processing times, it helps to first look at how permanent hair color works.
Ion Color Brilliance contains oxidation dye molecules. When you mix the crème color with developer, these molecules open up and become active.
The developer acts as a catalyst to allow the color molecules to penetrate into the hair shaft. Once inside the cuticle and cortex, the molecules reform into long dye molecules that can’t be washed out.
This is what makes permanent hair color last 4-6 weeks until the dye grows out with your natural hair. Semi-permanent and demi-permanent dyes work differently since they only coat the outside of the hair.
So to get that lasting color payoff, the dye needs adequate time to complete the processing and oxidation steps. But leaving it on too long can over-process the hair.
Standard Processing Times for Ion Color Brilliance
Ion provides some general guidelines for how long to process its permanent crème hair colors. However, keep in mind these are just a starting point since timing can vary based on your hair.
Virgin Hair:
- 15-35 minutes
Chemically Treated or Color-Treated Hair:
- 20-45 minutes
Pre-Lightened or High-Lifted Bleached Hair:
- 25-45 minutes
So for untreated, natural hair, plan to leave the color on for 15-35 minutes. Go for 20-45 minutes if you’ve previously dyed or chemically treated your hair. And pre-lightened hair may need 25-45 minutes to fully saturate.
Ion notes that normal or average hair texture is assumed for these estimates. More specifics in a moment on how to customize timing for your hair type.
How to Determine Processing Time
While the above windows provide an initial guideline, you’ll get better results customizing the time based on factors like:
Hair Texture
Fine or thin hair absorbs permanent color faster. Coarse, thick hair may require longer processing times for the color to penetrate.
Fine Hair: Reduce time by 5-15 minutes
Coarse Hair: Increase time by 5-15 minutes
Hair Density
Those with higher density or more strands per square inch may also benefit from longer processing. Sparser hair can likely use a shorter timeframe.
Low Density: Reduce time by 5-10 minutes
High Density: Add 5-10 minutes
Hair Condition
Hair that’s damaged or compromised from chemical services needs a bit more processing time. Healthy hair can likely use the lower end of standard times.
Damaged Hair: Add 5-10 minutes
Healthy Hair: Reduce by 5-10 minutes
Desired Color Depth
If you want a richer, more saturated color result, extend the processing time. For softer coverage, reduce the time.
Maximum Color: Add 5-15 minutes
Subtle Color: Reduce by 5-15 minutes
Percentage of Grey Coverage
The more grey or white hair you have, the longer the processing time needed to properly saturate every strand.
10-30% Grey: Standard time
30-50% Grey: Add 5-10 minutes
50%+ Grey: Add 10-15 minutes
How Long to Leave Ion Color Brilliance On Roots vs. Ends
Another factor to consider is whether you’re applying permanent hair color just to your regrowth or all over your head.
Hair that hasn’t been pre-colored requires more time for the dye to bond within the cuticle. Pre-colored ends will process faster since the cuticle is more open.
Here are some tips:
- Focus most processing time on the roots or new growth area
- Process roots for the full recommended time
- Mid-lengths and ends may only need half the time
- Check ends around halfway through and rinse earlier if fully saturated
This prevents over-processing of previously treated lengths. thoroughly saturate roots for uniform results.
Performing a Strand Test
Doing a simple stand test on a small section of hair is wise before applying permanent color all over. This gives you a chance to see the results of the recommended processing time.
To perform a strand test:
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Mix a bit of the color as directed on the box with developer. Apply to a 1 inch section of hair near your face.
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Set a timer for the minimum recommended processing time based on your hair traits. For example, try 20 minutes for color-treated medium-textured hair.
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After the time is up, rinse the color and dry that section of hair. Evaluate the results.
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If more color depth or saturation is desired, repeat the test and add 5-10 minutes of processing time.
Use the longest processing time that gives your desired results while avoiding any signs of damage like dryness. Now you can apply the color all over for the customized time that your hair needs.
Tips for Leaving Ion Color Brilliance On
Follow these tips to ensure you leave the permanent hair color on for an optimal duration:
- Note start time so you know when to rinse
- Set a timer or alarm as a reminder
- Periodically check your roots since they may process faster
- Don’t exceed 50 minutes max even if hair seems under-processed
- Rinse thoroughly until water runs clear after processing is complete
- Style as usual and avoid washing for 1-2 days after coloring
Proper processing leads to vibrant, long-lasting hair color results. Always do a patch and strand test when using new permanent dyes to determine the ideal timing.
What Happens If You Leave Ion Color On Too Long?
Over-processing permanent hair color can cause damage like dryness, breakage, and irritation. Here’s what to watch for:
- Dry, brittle texture
- Increased tangles and matting
- Frizziness
- Damaged or fried ends
- Cuticles may appear raised or rough when wet
- Loss of shine
- Overall color looks dull or brassy
You may also notice uneven results like bands of different shades or darker roots with highlights at ends instead of a uniform overall color.
If you went quite a bit over the maximum time, more severe damage can occur like chemical burns to the scalp and hot roots effect where hair at the regrowth is a different tone.
What If Ion Color Is Rinsed Off Too Soon?
On the other end, not leaving permanent dye on for long enough leads to unsatisfying results. Signs your hair color is under-processed include:
- Uneven patchy coverage
- Obvious demarcation line at the roots and regrowth
- Color lacks richness, depth, and saturation
- Base color or tones may still show through
- Grey coverage is spotty
- Quick fading and color loss
Thankfully, permanent hair dye can safely be reapplied soon after rinsing if you see the color did not develop fully.
Just be sure to condition hair first and carefully monitor the timing on the second processing. Go for a shorter 10-15 minutes.
This is preferable than leaving the initial application on for overly extended periods trying to get color to develop further.
How Long To Wait Before Washing Out Ion Permanent Color
After rinsing thoroughly following the processing time, you’ll want to wait 1-3 days before shampooing your hair after coloring with Ion Brilliance.
Washing immediately washes away dye molecules still trying to oxidize and settle into the hair shaft. Waiting preserves your color.
You can still wet and style hair during this waiting period. Just avoid direct water contact on the scalp and shampooing. Use a shower cap if needed when showering.
When you do shampoo, opt for a color-safe, sulfate-free formula to protect your new hue. Limit washing to every 2-3 days as well. Frequent shampooing fades color faster.
How Soon Can You Dye Over Ion Permanent Color?
Permanent hair dye causes the cuticle to swell and open. For any new color to deposit properly, you need to wait for these pathways into the hair shaft to close back up.
As a general rule, wait at least 2 weeks after applying permanent color before coloring hair again. This allows the color to fully oxidize.
Quickly layering permanent dyes without giving hair adequate processing time and rest in between can be damaging.
How long can you leave hair dye in?
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