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.

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.

Shampoo before applying toner to remove any product buildup, allowing the toner to work more effectively. Be sure your hair is damp, but avoid conditioning right before toning, as it can create a barrier.

A purple or blue toner is your best option for neutralizing orange tones quickly. It cancels out brassiness and provides cooler, more neutral blonde highlights. If it's too orange, use Wella T14, a blue-based toner. For yellow and orange tones, use Wella T81, a blue and purple-based toner. If you have yellow hair, use Wella T18, a purple-based toner.

To correct ginger tones, use a purple or blue toner, such as Wella T18 or T14, or Wella T81 if it's yellow and orange, to neutralize the warm shades. You can also try a color remover designed for semi-permanent colors to avoid damage from bleaching.

Yes, toner can adjust the tone to a cooler, ashier blonde, but it won't darken your hair. If it's too light, consider using a slightly darker toner or dye to achieve your preferred shade.

To remove the yellow, use a purple toner or shampoo, as purple neutralizes yellow tones. A pink toner won't remove yellow; it will add more pink instead. Focus on a purple toner for yellow correction.

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.

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.

Use a sulfate-free shampoo to preserve your toner and color. Sulfates can strip the toner and cause fading, so choose something gentle to maintain the results.

Clarifying shampoo can strip color, so it might not be the best option. To lighten the color, it's safer to use a color remover or toner to adjust the shade. Toner can help neutralize dark tones and brassiness without stripping your hair or bringing back greys.