Hair Toner

Toning Hair Tips and Techniques

Advice on using hair toner effectively to rid the hair of unwanted hues.

Surely you've heard the expression "bleach and tone"? Toning hair is done to neutralize brassy (yellow or yellow/orange) pigments.

After bleaching hair is the most common time for using hair toner.

Because bleach leaves the hair in a raw-pigment state which is less-than-attractive, you need to add back pigments to create a "natural" look. So... whip up a toner!

Eliminating Brassy Tones

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If you've been lightening your hair with permanent hair color, you've probably noticed that it's become more difficult with time to get the brassy-yellow tones out. That's because as we mature, our hair naturally darkens and the underlying pigment deepens to a point where the neutralizing pigments in hair color can't combat the yellow/orange tones as effectively. You may need to kick it up a notch and pre-lighten by bleaching your hair.

What To Use

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Written by an experienced, professional cosmetologist, this book provides more advanced information on the art and science of hair coloring.

The most effective product to use for toning hair is a semi-permanent hair color. They contain a nearly non-existent volume of peroxide (between 5 and 8 percent), so they're considered deposit only hair color products.

If you're mixing hair toner for most blonding processes, look for a light or lightest ash blonde tone. However, because overly porous hair tends to absorb mostly the ash tones from hair color, if you're coloring this type of hair, add in some neutral...even a bit of light golden blonde. If you still get a muddy looking color, forgo the ash entirely.

The Bottom Line

Not all hair toner processes are reserved for going blonde. Anytime you pre-lighten the hair and add another color to tone out the underlying pigments, the process can be considered "toning". It's essentially just a way to say you're using hair color to change an unwanted tone.

Application

Start applying the toner in the area that needs it the most. Avoid getting any of the formula on pieces that don't need toning (coating those sections with a bit of conditioner will help keep them from getting processed if you accidentally get color on them).

Let the toner process for the full time recommended by the manufacturer (usually 30-45 minutes). However, in cases where only slight toning is required, you can rinse it sooner.

Underlying pigments and the chemistry of hair color.

More on bleaching hair safely and effectively.

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