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How to Tone Your Hair at Home: A Step-by-Step Guide To Tone Hair

Toning Your Hair at Home

Toning the hair eliminates the unwanted brassiness of the hair. It is a complementary product for dyed or bleached hair. Toning is a process of maintaining hair colour that removes hair brassiness after a colour treatment. Toning the hair changes or even out the shade of the hair. The hair usually tends to be brittle, lose colour, or be brassy. Hair problems are caused by air pollution, water, sun exposure, and other chemicals. Toning the hair helps it solve these common hair problems. Toning the hair is used to correct the undertones of the hair. It revitalises the colour of the hair, either making it lighter or darker depending on the undertone of the hair.  It works best with light-toned hair since it adds a visible tone to lift the hair's colour. Hair toners can be in the form of semi-permanent hair colour, tinted shampoo or conditioner, and tinted hair gloss. It is a topcoat hair gel or gloss that lasts three or four weeks. Regardless of hair colour, toning can be applied by everyone, whether blonde or brunette hair type. One should consider the colour of their hair before choosing a hair toner that fits their preference. The frequency of use and duration of the process of applying toner to the hair depends on the hair’s texture. Hair toner can be applied right after a colour treatment or bleaching session. The hair toner completes the hair care process in maintaining the strength and health of the hair strands. 

The first three steps to take when toning the hair are to know the type and hair colour of the toner. This ensures that the hair has been lifted to the desired colour. One can mix toner with a developer in a 1:2 ratio. Knowing the type and colour of the toner used is important to blend the toner naturally into the hair. To ensure the hair has been lifted to the desired colour, one should contact a hair specialist. Mixing toner with a developer in a 1:2 ratio is a good start in preparing a hair toner right for the hair. 

Listed below is the step-by-step guide to toning the hair at home.

  1. Know which type and colour toner to use
  2. Make sure your hair has been lifted to the desired colour
  3. Mix your toner with a developer in a 1:2 ratio
  4. Use an applicator brush to work the mixture into your hair
  5. Focus on the areas with unwanted undertones
  6. Leave the toner in for up to 45 minutes

1. Know which type and colour toner to use

One should know which type and colour toner to use. This step is essential since one has to decide the end result of the desired hair colour. The type and colour of toner to use depend on the hair colour and texture. One should consider the colour of the hair in choosing the hair toner to avoid unwanted pigments or discolouration in the hair. Hair texture is a consideration for toning the hair since some hair toner doesn’t suit all types of hair texture. Some hair toner is damaging for fine and thin hair texture. Some hair toner doesn’t work with thick and full hair. It should be noted that hair texture and colour should be considered in order to avoid damage and maintain the condition of healthy hair. One can use purple or blue shampoos as hair toners at home. 

2. Make Sure Your Hair Has Been Lifted To The Desired Color

One should make sure that the hair has been lifted to the desired colour. This step is important to ensure a defined and improve hair tone. This step ensures that the brassiness and unwanted undertones are eliminated for a fresh and radiant hair result. For grey or silver-toned hair, one can use purple shampoo. This purple shampoo as a hair toner intends to remove brassiness and signs of ageing. It restores the natural hair texture eliminating the brassiness of the hair. Blue shampoo as a hair toner works best for dark blonde hair types. It is a good contrast for the hair making its shade evenly toned and lifted. 

3. Mix your toner with a developer in a 1:2 ratio.

To tone the hair perfectly, one must mix the toner with a developer in a 1:2 ratio. In this step, one must combine the toner with the developer accurately. A miscalculation of the toner and developer gives hair damage. For dark hair colour, one should add a 10-volume developer to neutralise the dark shade of the hair. For platinum hair colour, one must add 20 volume developer to offset the visible undertones of the hair. To achieve a perfect hair tone, use a 1:2 ratio of the mixture of the hair product. This mixture means using one portion of the hair toner to two parts of the developer. Once done, the hair adjusts to a cool and light shade. A proper mixture of hair toner and developer must be done to avoid damaging hair effects of these hair care products. 

4. Use an applicator brush to work the mixture into your hair.

Use an applicator brush to work the mixture into the hair. An applicator brush helps apply the mix of the hair toner and the developer. This brush provides maximum precision in using the products on your hair. One can easily manage to put the hair toner on the hair.  Gently brush and massage the product to the hair strands from its roots to tips. Wearing gloves during this process is helpful to avoid colour transfer into the hands. Sometimes, substantial deposits of colour pigments can transfer to the hands if improper application and preparation are made. 

5. Focus on the areas with unwanted undertones.

One should focus on the areas with unwanted undertones. Removing unwanted undertones is the goal of hair toning. Place the hair toner with a mixture of the developer in the crown of the hair. Focus on the areas where much toning is needed. One can manageably adjust the warmth or depth of the hair colour. This technique can give maximum absorption of the product to the hair. Once the product is applied, the hair toner neutralises these undertones making a cool or warm shade for the hair. Soaking hair toner for a longer time than required causes breakage and split ends. It causes damage to the hair, making it dry and dull. 

6. Leave the toner in for up to 45 minutes.

An advisable time of 45 minutes is required for the toner to set. This way, the toner is soaked and absorbed into the hair strands. It gives the toner time to achieve a perfectly toned hair effectively. Neutralising the hair and taking out the unwanted undertones takes time. Leaving the toner for a maximum of 45 minutes depends on the hair texture. If an individual has fine and delicate hair, 20 minutes is enough to let the product soak into the strands. A full and thick hair type requires a maximum of 45 minutes to activate the hair product fully. Do not leave the hair toner for too long since it will deposit intense colour pigments that can ruin the hair’s condition. 

7. Wash with a moisturising shampoo and deep condition.

Wash the hair with a moisturising shampoo and condition it once the product is fully absorbed into the hair strands. Washing is vital to eliminate unwanted pigments from the product. It avoids more prolonged hair exposure to chemicals that comes with the product. Don’t wash the hair immediately with shampoo and conditioner. Once rinsed with water, wait 48 hours until the toner is set in the strands. After 48 hours, moisturising shampoo and conditioner are advisable to be used. Using a moisturising shampoo and conditioner helps to nourish and revitalise the hair. Avoid washing the hair with shampoo and conditioner too early since it will strip and ruin the strands.

What to know more about before applying toner to hair?

The hair toner is effective for up to 4-8 weeks in the hair. This time allowance is dependent on the condition and type of hair. The state of the hair reflects how an individual takes care of the hair. If one avoids frequent exposure to the sun, air pollution, and hair-damaging chemicals, it will retain the effectiveness of the hair toner. One should moisturise and nourish the hair to maintain its tone. The hair type is an important factor to consider to ensure lasting toned hair. For full and thick hair, avoid daily washing of hair since it strips or fades the product. This can cause brassy visible undertones if not used properly.

Which Kind of Hair Toner Should I Use?

The kind of hair toner one should use depends on the colour, type, and texture of the hair. It considers the colour of the hair since the hair toner should blend perfectly with its shade. The product formulation differs from the type of hair an individual has. Formulation of hair toner may work best for blonde or brunette hair. The hair texture should be considered since there are hair toners that are damaging for fine and delicate hair types. 

Listed below are the kind of toners for different types of hair. 

  • For natural brunette hair. This type of hair needs blue shampoo hair toner to remove the orange and red undertones in the hair. Blue shampoo cancels out the brassiness of the hair, making it toned and shiny. 
  • For natural blonde hair. Purple shampoo works best in toning blonde hair. Purple shampoo neutralises the hair's yellow undertones, making it even-toned and vibrant.  
  • For highlighted or colour-treated hair. This type of hair uses the colours opposite of the colour wheel. If the hair colour is red, the green hair toner works best. For orange hair, blue hair toner must be applied. One should note that toning the hair is essential after the highlighting session of the hair.

What are the best hair toner products?

Hair toners are performs well as a  The best hair toners include Bleach London White Toner Kit, Jerome Russell Blonde Maximum Blonde Toner Atomic Blonde, Aveda Colour Enhance Blue Malva Conditioner, Scott Cornwall Colour Restore Iced Platinum Hair Toner and IGK Hair Mixed Feelings Leave-In Brunette Toning Drops. 

  • Bleach London White Toner Kit. This product deposits blue pigments to neutralise the undertones and brassy colour of the hair. This cruelty-free and vegan formulated product brightens and enriches the hair's colour. The best hair toner of 2023 costs around £11 GBP.
  • Jerome Russell Blonde Maximum Blonde Toner Atomic Blonde. This hair toner refreshes and improves the shade and condition of blonde hair. The product has no ammonia or peroxide that protects and conditions the hair. The hair product costs around £5 GBP.
  • Aveda Colour Enhance Blue Malva Conditioner. This product adds vibrancy and balance to the colour of the hair. It is formulated with blue Malva and coneflower that maintains the hair’s moisture. This hair product costs around £23 GBP. 
  • Scott Cornwall Colour Restore Iced Platinum Hair Toner. It restores the hair’s colour, maintaining and controlling its undertones. This toner has no harsh chemicals such as ammonia and peroxide. The hair product costs around £12 GBP.
  • IGK Hair Mixed Feelings Leave-In Brunette Toning Drops. The hair product is formulated with a high concentration of blue pigment drops. It works instantly in removing the brassiness of the hair. The hair toner costs around £23 GBP.

What is the best hair toner for blonde hair?

L’Oreal Elvive Colour Protect Purple Shampoo is the best hair toner for blonde hair. This hair product costs around £12 GBP. This product has colour correcting formulation to keep the blonde hair perfectly toned and conditioned. It nourishes the hair keeping it vibrant and smooth. This hair toner takes out the unwanted brassiness in the hair. It eliminates the orange and yellow undertones of the hair, leaving a calm blonde hair tone. The best toners for blonde hair of 2023 are IGK Leave-In Blonde Toning Drops, Garnier Nutrisse Anti-Brass Treatment, John Frieda Sheer Blonde Purple Shampoo, and Amika Bust Your Brass Cool Blonde Shampoo.

Can toner be used on coloured hair?

Yes, toner can be used on coloured hair. A hair toner can change and improve hair colour. It can even out the salon's brassiness or bad hair colour. A hair toner can work best with newly colour-treated or bleached hair. It can work with hair colours that are fading over time. The hair toner can work with different hair colours, types, and textures. For silver or grey hair, one can use purple shampoo to provide better hair colour and contrast to even out the shade of the hair. One can utilise a blue toner to enhance hair colour for brassy hair with orange undertones. One should contact or go to the salon for better quality hair results.

Can you get hair toner in different colours?

Yes, hair toner comes in different colours that one can choose from to suit their hair colour. Hair toner can blend with blonde or brunette hair. It can integrate well with colour-treated or bleached hair such as red, green, grey, or blue hair shade. Hair toners can neutralise the pigments of brassy hair. It makes the hair evenly toned, taking out the unwanted undertones of the hair. One can decide the result of their hair's end colour. An individual can consult a hair practitioner to achieve the desired shade for the hair. One should choose the colour of the hair toner correctly to avoid an unwanted result of a hair shade.