Q&A for How to Use Hair Toner

Go in with a clarifying shampoo! A couple of washings with a clarifying shampoo will help pull the toner out.

Use a blue shampoo, which is designed to remove orange tones. Joico Color Balance Blue Shampoo is one example of a quality blue shampoo that you can look for.

The toner is mixed 1:1 with the blonde brilliance developer, applied to wet or dry hair, and left to process for 5-15 minutes, until the desired deposit is achieved.

You can, but I would recommend that you don't. Applying toner to dry strands is more likely to take unevenly or to deposit too much pigment, resulting in a dull too-dark color. If you don't want to wet your whole head, mist it with a spray bottle of water and comb through.

Anywhere from 5-30 minutes depending on your hair's porosity, the desired level of deposit, and the recommendations of the manufacturer.

A toner is a mild translucent color used to add shine and pigment to pre-lightened hair.

Not at all; you can apply toner to dry hair. You will get much better results if you apply it to damp (not wet) hair. This is because the dampness in your hair will help make it less porous and allow the toner to go on more evenly.

Yes! In fact, many people choose to apply toner to bleached hair to make it less-brassy and to minimize any yellow or orance tones.

It depends on your current hair color. If it's dark, it'll likely turn into a more reddish-orange color, but simply using toner might help with lightening it. If it doesn't, you might want to talk to a professional stylist.

Certainly! The main purpose of toner is to neutralize brassy tones, so if your dark-brown hair turned out too red, you can tone it down with toner. The results will be more subtle on black-colored hair, however, because of how dark it is.

You can apply toner to either damp or dry hair, but you will get better, more even results on damp hair. You shouldn't be applying toner to dripping-wet hair.

If you just recently bleached your hair, use a purple shampoo right after bleaching and do so each time you wash your hair to maintain that white blonde and prevent it from getting brassy.

Yes, it will take the brassiness out of sun-bleached hair. I have used it for exactly this purpose.

Yes! It will only show up if your hair is light already, though. For instance if you have blonde hair naturally and want a different shade, a toner will help. It will not show up on dark hair.

Yes, you can use a purple or blue toner to neutralize the yellow tones. Just be sure your hair is in good condition, as toning can sometimes dry it out if overused.

Bleach first to lift the hair enough for the highlights to show. Once lightened, you can use 12/89 or 9/8 Koleston Perfect for highlighting. After applying the highlights, use a toner to neutralize any unwanted brassiness and achieve the desired cool-toned result.

You can use toner anytime, but it's most effective right after dyeing or bleaching to adjust brassiness and unwanted tones. For ongoing maintenance, you can tone your hair every few weeks.

Yes, but it’s best to wait 24 to 48 hours before toning to make sure your hair has recovered from the dyeing process, or you can try blue/purple shampoo or conditioner to remove the brassy tones.

Typically, you should use a 10 volume developer with toner to deposit color and avoid further lightening. A 1:1 ratio of toner to developer is standard unless the instructions specify otherwise.

Use a 10 volume developer with a warm blonde toner that matches your strawberry blonde base. A light beige or gold toner would work well for your natural tone.

Yes, if your hair is light enough, typically pale yellow or platinum.

It's not recommended to apply toner immediately after coloring. You should wait a day or two to be sure your color has fully set and your hair is in good condition to accept the toner. If applied too soon, the toner might not work as effectively.

Yes. To eliminate the yellow, use a purple toner like Wella T18 to neutralize the warm tones. Apply it carefully to the yellow areas and leave it on for the recommended time to avoid over-toning. You can also try purple or blue shampoos; purple neutralizes yellow and blue neutralizes orange, both helping to remove brassiness.

A blue shampoo can help reduce the orange tones, but for a more precise result, you can use a blue toner. Apply it directly to your hair without a developer, leave it for a few minutes, and rinse. Be careful not to leave it on too long, or it may turn your hair bluish.

It's not recommended to mix bleach powder into a highlight kit. Bleach can lighten your hair much more drastically, and mixing it with regular dye may lead to unpredictable results. If you want your highlights to pop, it's better to use a stronger developer or consult a professional stylist to ensure even results without damaging your hair.

There should be no problem. After toning, you can dye your hair pink. Just ensure the toner has fully set and that your hair is in good condition. Pink will show best on light, neutral blonde hair, so toning first can help create a clean base.

After bleaching, shampoo your hair to remove any bleach residue, but don’t condition before toning. Conditioner can create a barrier, preventing the toner from working properly.

If the balayage is too dark, you can use a toner to adjust the tone of the bleached strands. A blue or purple toner will help neutralize any brassiness. If it’s too light, consider adding a semi-permanent color to adjust the depth.

You can use permanent hair color to tone bleached hair, but it’s not ideal. Permanent dye alters your hair's structure and may cause damage. Toning with a demi-permanent or semi-permanent toner is a gentler, safer option. Diluting with conditioner can reduce the intensity of permanent color, but it might not be as effective.

Yes. If there are unwanted warm or yellow tones, use a purple toner to cool them down. Be sure your hair is light enough to avoid a greenish tint.