Wella Color Charm Activating Lotion is an important part of achieving beautiful, long-lasting hair color results when using Wella Color Charm permanent hair color. This activating lotion preps and conditions the hair to help the color take evenly and deeply into the hair shaft. But what exactly is in this color activating lotion that makes it so effective? Let’s take a closer look at the key ingredients.
Key Ingredients in Wella Color Charm Activating Lotion
Wella Color Charm Activating Lotion contains the following key ingredients:
- Ammonia – Opens the hair cuticle to allow color to penetrate
- Ethyl Alcohol – Swells the hair shaft to allow color to diffuse inside
- Mineral Oil – Conditions and protects the hair and scalp
- Cetearyl Alcohol – An emulsifier and thickening agent
- Propylene Glycol – Helps evenly distribute color on hair
- Resorcinol – Helps swell the hair to intake color
- Phenoxyethanol – A preservative
- Fragrance – Provides pleasant scent
Let’s go through each of these key ingredients in more detail to understand their purpose and function in Wella’s activating lotion formula.
Ammonia
Ammonia is one of the most important ingredients in hair color activating lotions. Ammonia works to open up the cuticle, or outer layer, of the hair shaft. Opening the cuticle allows the hair color to penetrate deeper into the cortex where it can deposit and adhere within the hair strand.
Specifically, ammonia raises the pH of the hair, making it basic. This causes the hair cuticle scales to lift and become “rough” so the color can easily slip inside. Ammonia also acts as a swelling agent, causing the hair shaft to expand so color can diffuse throughout the strand.
The amount of ammonia in Color Charm Activating Lotion is carefully balanced – too much can damage the hair, while too little will prevent adequate color penetration. Wella uses just the right amount for maximum color uptake while minimizing stress to the hair.
Ethyl Alcohol
Also known as ethanol alcohol, ethyl alcohol is another crucial ingredient in activating lotion. Ethyl alcohol acts as a swelling agent to help expand the hair shaft and allow color to diffuse evenly throughout the cortex.
It works synergistically with ammonia to produce enough swelling for optimal color uptake. At the same time, ethyl alcohol helps control the swelling so the cuticle does not lift too much and over-expose the cortex.
Ethyl alcohol also helps the lotion and color mix penetrate quickly and evenly into every strand. This leads to consistent, uniform color results.
Mineral Oil
Mineral oil in Color Charm lotion serves a few important functions:
- Conditions and protects the hair and scalp
- Adds gloss and shine to the hair
- Acts as a carrying agent for the color and helps it spread evenly
- Retains moisture to prevent hair drying out during processing
Mineral oil coats each hair strand, protecting it from damage during the color treatment. This allows the hair to retain moisture and avoid becoming dry and porous.
In addition, mineral oil helps the activating lotion glide smoothly over the hair for ease of application. This ensures every strand is saturated evenly with color.
Cetearyl Alcohol
Cetearyl alcohol is known as a “fatty alcohol” and serves as an emulsifying agent and thickener in Color Charm lotion. Cetearyl alcohol helps keep the lotion uniform so the product does not separate, allowing key ingredients like ammonia and ethyl alcohol to spread evenly on the hair.
As a thickening agent, cetearyl alcohol gives the lotion a viscosity that allows it to cling to the hair without dripping off. This maximizes the time the color is in contact with the hair for better penetration.
Propylene Glycol
Propylene glycol is a moisture-binding humectant in Color Charm lotion that helps the product evenly distribute across the hair. It has hygroscopic properties, meaning it attracts and retains moisture.
This helps the activating lotion spread smoothly and prevents it from drying out on the hair. Propylene glycol ensures the lotion stays moist so the color ingredients can saturate the hair from roots to ends.
Resorcinol
Resorcinol is an agent that swells the hair shaft to aid in color uptake. It works together with ammonia and ethyl alcohol to produce enough swelling for the color pigments to easily slide inside the cuticle and saturate the cortex.
At the right concentration, resorcinol also helps make color last longer in the hair. It interacts with the amino acids inside the hair protein to form bonds with the color molecules.
Phenoxyethanol
Phenoxyethanol is an effective preservative used in Color Charm lotion. Since the lotion contains water and proteins, it risks developing bacterial growth over time. Phenoxyethanol prevents the formulation from becoming contaminated.
This allows the product to remain stable and safe to use over its shelf life. Phenoxyethanol also has some antimicrobial properties to protect the skin and hair during use.
Fragrance
Fragrance gives Color Charm Activating Lotion a pleasant scent. Wella uses a balanced fragrance that smells fresh but not overpowering.
Having a nice scent improves the salon experience for the stylist and client. It also provides an aesthetic benefit for the client’s finished look.
Other Minor Ingredients
In addition to the key ingredients outlined above, Wella Color Charm lotion contains some secondary components such as:
- Amodimethicone – Silicone-based conditioning agent
- Cetrimonium chloride – Antistatic agent
- EDTA – Chelating agent to stabilize formula
- Hexadimethrine chloride – Helps lotion adhere to hair
- Hydrolyzed keratin – Strengthens and conditions hair
- Panthenol – B vitamin that moisturizes hair
- Stearamidopropyl dimethylamine – Emulsifier and thickener
- Tetrasodium EDTA – Water softener to enhance cleansing
These components each play a small role in the overall activating lotion to optimize its performance and benefits for hair coloring.
The Difference Quality Ingredients Make
Wella invests in selecting high-quality ingredients for its Color Charm Activating Lotion. This brings several advantages for both professional hair stylists and clients, including:
- Consistent results – Salons can count on reliably vibrant, long-lasting color.
- Minimized damage – Key ingredients protect and condition hair throughout coloring.
- Easy application – Thick lotion formula makes application quick and mess-free.
- Enhanced comfort – Pleasant fragrance improves the client’s experience.
Lower quality generic activating lotions may seem cheaper but often lead to disappointing results. They may be overly dilute or contain harsh chemicals that damage the hair or irritate the scalp. Opting for a quality professional brand like Wella ensures you get activating lotions formulated to bring out the best in your permanent hair color.
How to Apply Wella Color Charm Activating Lotion
Using Wella Color Charm Activating Lotion properly is key to achieving optimal color results. Here are some tips for application:
- Shake bottle gently before use.
- Apply lotion evenly from roots to ends, making sure hair is thoroughly saturated.
- For short hair, use 20 volume (1:1 ratio with color). For medium to long hair, use 30 or 40 volume for maximum color development.
- Allow lotion to process for the full development time.
- Rinse thoroughly until water runs clear.
- Follow with Color Charm Post-Color Conditioner.
Always follow the specific usage instructions provided with your individual Wella color formula. The general rule is to apply lotion first before adding the color mixture. Consult a professional stylist if you need guidance on application techniques.
Safety Tips for Using Activating Lotion
When working with chemical hair coloring products like Wella Activating Lotion, it’s important to take safety precautions. Here are some tips for safe use:
- Wear gloves to protect your hands.
- Work in a well-ventilated area.
- Keep lotion away from eyes and avoid inhaling fumes.
- Rinse thoroughly after the development time.
- Perform a strand test to check for skin sensitivities before each use.
- Read and follow all directions carefully.
Store activating lotion properly in a cool, dry location inaccessible to children. Discontinue use if you experience any adverse reactions. Professional use only.
The Takeaway on Wella Color Charm Activating Lotion
Wella Color Charm Activating Lotion contains ammonia, ethyl alcohol, and other key ingredients carefully balanced to allow permanent hair color to penetrate for brilliant, lasting results. Quality components like mineral oil protect the hair, while propylene glycol ensures even saturation from roots to ends.
With proper use on pre-shampooed hair, Color Charm Activating Lotion preps the hair optimally to accept the maximum amount of color pigment. This leads to consistent vibrant color that resists fading. Activating lotion is a key part of achieving salon-quality results from Wella’s Color Charm permanent cream hair color.