Best Ways to Fix Highlights That Are Too Light or Blonde

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A complete guide to toning down your highlights for a more natural look

Co-authored by Janet Miranda and Aimee Payne, MFA

Last Updated: November 25, 2024 Fact Checked

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Using Toner to Fix Too-Light Highlights

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Other Methods to Darken Highlights

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Did you get new highlights only to find they’re a little too light? If so, you don’t have to just live with them until they grow out. This article covers ways to fix them in the comfort of your own home, such as applying a toner and developer, spraying on a colored dry shampoo, using a color-depositing shampoo, and more! Plus, we spoke with Professional Hair Stylist Janet Miranda for expert tips on how to adjust your too-light highlights to get the results you want.

How to Darken Highlights: A Quick Guide

Darken your highlights by applying toner and developer. For a quick fix, try using a colored dry shampoo or color-depositing shampoo to even out the tone. A gloss treatment, semi-permanent, or permanent hair color gives more drastic, longer-lasting results.

Section 1 of 2:

Using Toner to Fix Too-Light Highlights

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1
Figure out what level your highlights are by referring to a color chart. It's best to look at a color chart for the company whose hair dye products you're going to be using to be sure you pick the right color. Hold your highlighted hair up to the picture, seeing which color most closely resembles your hair. ^{[1]
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- Most color charts go from 1-10 or 1-12, with one end of the scale being the darkest black and the opposite end being a light blonde or lightest blonde.
- Type the brand you'll be using and then "hair color chart" into an online search engine to find the correct chart.
- Referring to a color chart for your specific brand of hair products is important because all hair product companies have a slightly different color scale.
- If your highlights are too light, they're most likely in the 10 range.
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Choose the level you'd like your highlights to be. This should be about 2 or 3 shades darker at most. Make a note of what level it is so you don't forget when you go to pick out your hair toner . Most brands mark their products with the level to let you know what hair colors it works on. ^{[2]
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- For example, if your highlights are currently a level 10, you might want them to be a level 7 or 8.
- If you want to cover the lighter hair completely, Miranda recommends choosing a hair color that is the closest to your natural color. Leave it on your hair for 30 minutes, and then wash it out. ^{[3]
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  Janet Miranda
  Professional Hair Stylist & Makeup Artist
  
  Expert Interview. 11 February 2021.}
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3
Visit a beauty supply store to pick out the correct color toner. It's best to do this in person in case you need help from an employee. Choose a toner at the level you'd like your hair to look, making sure to purchase the same brand as the color chart you referred to. ^{[4]
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- Demi-permanent toners are popular as they only deposit color on top of the hair instead of seeping into the hair follicle.
- The toner will help neutralize the intense color of your hair, so it isn't so light.
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Purchase a 10-volume developer to mix with your toner. A 10-volume developer combines with the toner to deposit color on your hair. You'll be able to purchase developer at the beauty store along with your toner. ^{[5]
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- Try to stick with the same brand for your developer as well.
Lorri Goddard-Clark, Hair Colorist

If your highlights turned out way lighter than you wanted, don't freak out. You can tone them down at home by using a semi-permanent color that's one or two shades darker than how you want the highlights to end up. Carefully apply it just to the highlights to avoid making the rest of your hair dark. It's like adding a pinch of salt to a dish to balance the flavors — a small change can create the ideal blend and bring that depth back to your hair.
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Mix 2 parts developer with 1 part toner in a small bowl. While the ratio is usually 2:1, refer to the instructions that come with your hair toner to confirm how much developer to use. Use a hair dye application brush to mix the developer and toner together in a small- or medium-sized bowl. ^{[6]
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- The toner and developer mix to create a relatively thick consistency that's gel-like.
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Brush the mixture onto sections of your hair using the brush. Apply the toner mixture to only the highlighted sections if you have a steady hand. If you have enough toner and developer, put it on all of your hair. Use the application brush to spread the toner over strands evenly, starting at the roots and working your way down to the ends. ^{[7]
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- Section off your hair using a clip to separate hair you've already dyed to help you spread the toner more evenly.
- Don't worry if you get toner on darker sections of your hair, as it won't really affect it.
7
Use a comb to distribute the mixture through your hair. Combing the toner mixture is an easy way to spread it more evenly through your hair. Make sure you comb through each section of hair, starting at the roots and going down to the ends, to spread the toner down each strand. ^{[8]
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- Rinse the comb after you're finished to make sure there's no toner or developer left on it.
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Leave the mixture on for 20-30 minutes, depending on your toner. Check the instructions that come with your toner for specific recommendations for how long to wait before rinsing out your hair. It usually falls between 20-30 minutes, but watch your hair as it develops. Once you notice it's reached the correct level, wait 2-5 more minutes before calling it done. ^{[9]
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- Set a timer so you don't forget how long the toner has been in your hair.
- Avoid leaving the toner in your hair for more than 30 minutes.
9
Rinse your hair out using cold water. Step into the shower and thoroughly rinse out your hair, massaging your scalp to get rid of the toner and developer. Once it's all rinsed out, you're ready to enjoy your new hair. ^{[10]
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- Be aware that shampooing your hair right after you rinse out the developer and toner may lighten the effects.

Section 2 of 2:

Other Methods to Darken Highlights

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1
Spray a colored dry shampoo over your hair for a quick fix. If your highlights are too light against your regular hair color, look for a colored dry shampoo that helps deposit color to even out the overall tone. Spray the dry shampoo all over your hair, using your fingers to rub it onto your roots. Brush through your hair after you've sprayed to make sure it's evenly distributed. ^{[11]
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- Dry shampoo that's colored comes in shades for blondes and brunettes .
- Look for tinted dry shampoos at your local beauty or big box store, as well as online.
- Shake the dry shampoo thoroughly before spraying it on your hair.
2
Try a colored gloss treatment to subtly deepen highlights. This works especially well if you have light highlights. A hair gloss is basically a demi-permanent hair dye, which is somewhere between permanent and semi-permanent. A colored gloss treatment tones the hair by coating it with color instead of lifting or lightening the natural color, so it’s less damaging. It’s also a subtle change that’s easy to do at home with a hair glossing kit, so you don’t have to head to the salon. ^{[12]
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- Gloss treatments are also great for adding shine to get healthier-looking hair.
- Try a gloss for freshening up fading hair color, too!
3
Use a color-depositing shampoo to correct a brassy tone. Purple shampoos are great for dealing with brassy highlights, whether they're light red, orange, or yellow. When you use the purple shampoo, your hair will absorb some of the purple color, which helps counteract the brassy tones, says Miranda. ^{[13]
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Janet Miranda
Professional Hair Stylist & Makeup Artist

Expert Interview. 11 February 2021.} Use purple shampoo once a week, leaving it in for five minutes before rinsing it out. ^{[14]
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- Miranda recommends leaving the shampoo on up to 15 minutes to darken the highlights even more. ^{[15]
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  Expert Source
  
  Janet Miranda
  Professional Hair Stylist & Makeup Artist
  
  Expert Interview. 11 February 2021.}
- Purple shampoos work best with yellow brassy tones. Use a blue toning shampoo for orange brassy tones. Correct red brassy tones with a green color toning shampoo . ^{[16]
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- Color-depositing shampoo can dry your hair out if you use it too often. However, there are also color-depositing conditioners that help restore moisture while still toning your hair.
4
Visit a salon if you're still not happy with your highlights. If you've tried a bunch of different methods and you still think your highlights look too light, it's time to book an appointment with your hairdresser. They'll be able to give you an expert opinion and hopefully fix your hair so that it's exactly how you'd like it to look, says Miranda. ^{[17]
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Expert Source

Janet Miranda
Professional Hair Stylist & Makeup Artist

Expert Interview. 11 February 2021.}
- Book your appointment with someone who has experience with color correcting or fixing highlights that are too light.
- Ask about services like root smudging, shadow roots, or color melting, which are different methods for adding a darker color to help tone down too-bright highlights to get natural-looking results. ^{[18]
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Take precautions to avoid too-light highlights in the future. This includes preventative action like asking for balayage instead of highlights, meaning your hair is colored by hand. If you do choose to highlight, try doing it in smaller strips. Always try to bleach your hair for a shorter time than you think is necessary—you can always make it lighter, but you can't un-bleach it.
- If your highlights are too light due to your salon experience, let your hairdresser know so that the same thing doesn't happen again.
- For example, if you highlighted your hair in 0.5 cm (0.20 in) strips, try doing 0.25 cm (0.098 in) strips instead.

Expert Q&A

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Is there anything else I can do?

Janet Miranda
Professional Hair Stylist & Makeup Artist
Janet Miranda is a Professional Hair Stylist, Makeup Artist, and the Founder of Be.NYLA. With over 15 years of experience, Janet specializes in makeup and hair for advertising, commercial, editorial, runway, special events, television, and videos. She was trained at Vidal Sassoon Academy and with top hair and makeup artists including MAC Cosmetics and Redken. Janet has worked five seasons of New York Fashion Week and one season on Project Runway. She continues to add brands to her growing client list including Armani Exchange, Neutrogena, and Pantene. Janet’s work has been featured on CBS, Brides Magazine, 100 Layer Cake, Style Me Pretty, Green Wedding Shoes, Ireland Image Brides Magazine, and Elle Japan.

Janet Miranda

Professional Hair Stylist & Makeup Artist

Expert Answer

There are actually shampoo toners that can fix highlights that are too light. Basically, you buy the color you're looking for, then wash your hair with the shampoo toner. The results typically last 6-8 weeks.

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Have your salon add lowlights to take attention away from your highlights.

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If you just got your highlights, wait a couple of days to see if the color fades or your opinion of them changes before taking action.

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Best Ways to Fix Highlights That Are Too Light or Blonde

How to Darken Highlights: A Quick Guide

Steps

Using Toner to Fix Too-Light Highlights

Other Methods to Darken Highlights

Expert Q&A

Video

Tips

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