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.

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, 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 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.

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.

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.

No, you should not mix toner with color or bleach. Toner is used after bleaching to adjust the color tone, like removing brassiness. Apply it after you've lightened your hair and washed out the bleach.

When you are at the point of wanting to tone your hair, your hair should already be bleached and lightened to where you need to be. There is no need to mix your toner with more lightener. T18 is a level 10 blonde toner, so using it on level 8 hair will do nothing. Toner doesn't lighten hair, it gets your already lightened hair to the right to tone of the level you have lightened it to.

It's best to use it every 6-8 weeks, which is usually when it fades. If the toner isn't making your hair the color you desire, don't apply more of the same kind, instead look into a different brand or tone.

You can apply toner to dark brown hair by dampening it and applying it by the directions on the package. This would make it ashy and take out any red or golden tones, but would not lighten your hair.

if you're trying to cover up white and grey hair, you don't need toner, only dye. And with that, get a dye and use 20 volume developer to dye it. If you're trying to achieve white or grey hair, bleach it to a light yellow and use T18 or T14, respectively.

It won’t work well. You can buy a color additive for red/god corrector to add to color which will give the color a more purple/blue base, which will help reduce brassiness. And the color depends on the color you choose. It is a good idea to speak with a sales person at a beauty supply store.

Shampooing directly after bleaching, colouring or toning is generally not a good idea. However, using a deep conditioning mask should be okay, it all depends on how processed your hair is.

Use it straight away. Mix toner with a 5 or 6 Vol developer 1 part toner to 2 parts developer and apply starting at the nape and working upward. Leave on until the desired colour is reached. If you over tone though, it is not the end of the world. Toner only sits on the outside of the hair and will slowly wash out over time.