Have you recently dyed your hair blonde, but the color’s not what you expected? If this is the case, then a dose of hair toner is what you need. A hair toner can darken your bleached hair and remove the green or orange hues of your blonde hair.
In this article, you will learn how to choose the right toner for your bleached hair. You will also get an overview of the types of toners that you can use for your hair and how long they will last.
If you’re interested in how to darken bleached hair, keep reading.
The Purpose of A Hair Toner for Bleached Hair
A hair toner corrects or personalizes your blonde hair color. It’s applied to tone down specific colors such as green, yellow, and orange tones you don’t prefer to be seen on your hair.
For example, striking yellow hair can be toned down with purple shampoo and conditioner. Using these hair products can give your hair a softer ash blonde shade or pale yellow. Why does it work this way?
Hair Color Wheel
Think of the color wheel we learned from art class: Purple is the direct opposite of yellow. Applying a purple shade to yellow cancels out the strong yellow tones of your hair.
After that, you can achieve hair colors like peach, silver, lilac, rose gold, and more, depending on your initial hair dye color.
Hair Colors You Can Achieve With Hair Toning
- Grey hair
- Platinum blonde
- Strawberry blonde
- Light ash-blonde
- Dark ash-blonde
Reducing Orange Tones on Blonde Hair
The same principle applies to other green and orange tones on your blonde hair color. If you have naturally dark hair, your hair color becomes orange when bleached.
Orange tones can be treated with a blue shampoo or a blue toner. If you have green hues on your blonde hair color, a red toner can be used to remove that algae green vibe.
- Orange tones = blue toner
- Yellow tones = purple toner
- Green hues = red toner
- Fading grey color = grey toner
Use Hair Toners After Bleaching or Lightening Hair
Also, remember that it’s only toner and not an actual hair dye. A toner will not cancel out your existing hair dye and is needed for bleached hair. It also works best on blonde highlights, golden blonde, and dark blonde.
[You might also like to read: Best Body Hair Bleach]
Types of Hair Toner for Bleached Hair
1. Permanent
Permanent toners cover the previous blonde hair color completely. It’s a new shade that won’t leave any trace of your current or natural hair color.
Permanent toners are used for long-lasting effects, but be careful in choosing a tone or color to avoid damaging your hair. You can enjoy a permanent toner, which lasts up to two to six weeks.
2. Semi-permanent
Semi-permanent toners fade faster. This is only ideal if you want the ash blonde hair color to stay up to 10 to 12 washes. Semi-permanent toners are also safe since they do not contain peroxide and are ammonia, unlike hair dye.
3. Demi-permanent
Just like semi-permanent toners, demi-permanent toners do not contain peroxide and ammonia. These are harsh chemicals that can damage your hair.
Usually, you’ll find these chemicals in hair dye formulas. It is better to check the hair product’s ingredients to keep your hair follicles safe.
Demi-permanent toners also last longer than semi-permanent toners. These toners can last for three to four weeks to maintain your ash blonde hair color.
Toning Products At Home
While toning products are more pigmented in salons, you can still tone your hair using silver and purple shampoos.
Silver shampoos can give a lighter shade to grey hair, while purple shampoos give a lighter shade to bleached or blonde hair color.
If you have darker hair, dyeing your hair blonde might produce orange tones. You can counter this orange tone by using a blue toning shampoo.
How to Use Purple Shampoo for Bleached Hair
Using purple shampoo is a different universe. You might think that you should use it as a normal shampoo, but it should not replace your regular shampoo.
Purple shampoo is made to focus on color. For healthier hair shafts, follicles, and scalps, clean your hair with tried and tested shampoos.
To apply purple shampoo, massage it into your hair but leave it longer on your hair. The purple tone should be absorbed by your hair color. Doing this will help achieve your ideal blonde hair color. Wait for at least three to seven minutes.
Use it occasionally to avoid getting darker hair. Purple shampoo can slightly darken bleached hair and may give you dark hair instead.
Also, purple shampoo still has properties that can alter bleached hair color. Although safer than hair dye, it can still give you dry and damaged hair if overused.
Toning Conditioners for Bleached Hair
Overwashing your ash blonde hair is not a good idea, either. Instead, Use purple conditioners for seasons you cannot wash your hair because it will become dry.
There are also blue, silver, and red conditioners. Use the correct color to tone your hair color.
How to Use a Toner to Darken Bleached Hair
1. Mix the Toner
Mix your toner with a developer. A developer is also more commonly known as an oxidant. You can also see this mixed with hair dye. Use a 1:2 ratio for the hair toner and developer and mix it well.
2. Apply the Toner
Use an applicator brush to work the mixture into your hair. Focus on the areas with unwanted tones. Leave the toner for 45 minutes.
3. Rinse and Wash Your Hair
When rinsing your hair, use a moisturizing shampoo and conditioner. You can also apply a hair mask to keep your hair healthy.
When To Use Hair Toner Again
The next question is, when should you tone your hair again? It will depend on what kind of toner you used. Over-toning can lead to dry and damaged hair, so be careful to not overdo it.
For permanent toners, it’s safe to tone again after 6 weeks. Semi-permanent toners fade faster, and you may have to tone again after 12 washes. Demi-permanent toners are a little in between and can be used after 4 weeks.
Takeaway
Blonde hair color looks good. However, if you have naturally dark hair, you may need to use hair toners to alter your blonde hair into your preferred shade.
Using hair toners can reduce your yellow hair’s green or orange hues. It can also tone down striking shades of yellow on your blonde hair.
Three types of hair toners you can use are permanent, semi-permanent, and demi-permanent. After a bleaching or lightening hair service, you can have the hair toning treatment in professional salons. You can also do it yourself at home by using toning shampoos.
Toning shampoos you can use are purple, silver, and blue shampoo. Choosing the correct color of toning shampoo will depend on the pigment you want to target to slightly darken bleached hair.
After rinsing the toner on your hair, remember to use a hair mask to protect your hair from becoming dry and damaged. Bleaching your hair will look good while you have balanced hair care.
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