Hair Toner 101: Stylists Explain What Hair Toning Is and Why It Works

Table Of Content

• Find your hair color on the color wheel
• What are some products that can be used to tone your hair at home?
• Best Hair Toner and Gloss Combo
• Kérastase Chroma Absolu Soin Acide Chroma Gloss Hair Gloss
• How to Find Infallible Foundation Shades That Match Your Skin Tone
• DpHue Cool Brunette Shampoo
• Best At-Home Toner for Highlights

The conditioning formula applies easily and neutralizes brassy tones in one five-minute application, with results lasting up to three weeks. If you’re a blonde caring for bleached hair, opt for the Ice Blonde shade. Hair toners designed to help neutralize brassiness typically contain micro-pigments that deposit onto the hair fiber. These micro-pigments help counteract the appearance of unwanted undertones, resulting in a more neutral, balanced hair color. The main difference between toner and hair color is that the former simply deposits pigments on the surface of the hair, while the latter—at least in the case of permanent hair color—introduces color deep into the hair cuticle. And because they only act on the surface, toners won’t damage your hair.

Find your hair color on the color wheel

Like the commonly-used purple shampoos and conditioners, purple and blue toning products work to eliminate brassiness. Purple toning products are perfect for blondes since the violet reduces yellow tones and eliminates brassiness to keep blonde hair looking fresh. In contrast, blue toning products are perfect for brunettes since the blue cancels out orange tones and increases luster in the hair. Hair toner is a product used on hair after it has been subject to strong chemical bleaching and lightening processes in order to get rid of brassy hair tones. The toner works most noticeably on light hair as it does not lift or permanently alter the color of hair, but rather adds a tone over it. This means that it can help you achieve true platinum blonde hair, silver hair, or any number of different pastel hair colors.

What are some products that can be used to tone your hair at home?

Ruby was the beauty editor at Cosmopolitan, where she covered beauty across print and digital. Her work has appeared on The Zoe Report, Fashionista, and StyleCaster. Valeriya Chupinina is a freelance beauty and wellness writer exploring the multifaceted connection between the aesthetic and internal. In addition to her editorial work, she consults on social media strategies for brands. We may earn commission from links on this page, but we only recommend products we love.

Best Hair Toner and Gloss Combo

“It's the best quick fix,” Olivia Casanova, a colorist at IGK Salon in New York City, explains. Since the dye in toners is demi-permanent, Cunningham says it loses vibrancy each time hair is washed, but will typically last about four to six weeks. As such, it's an easy, low-commitment option for people who want to try out different shades. Thanks to a bevy of user-friendly systems found in your favorite beauty stores, toning your hair at home has become more popular and more manageable. This helps the product move evenly and easily through the hair,” he says.

Speaking of in-shower toners, blondes can’t go wrong with a good ol’ purple shampoo. This one from Redken not only cleanses and hydrates your hair but also blasts it with neutralizing violet pigments. Think of it as a spot treatment for when your hair is looking dull or brassy. How often you tone your hair depends on the type of hair toner you’re using and how often your hair tends to get brassy. Dedicated toning treatments tend to provide the most long-lasting results and may provide results for up to three weeks (or longer, depending on your lifestyle and hair routine). Toning shampoos and conditioners, meanwhile, provide subtler results and typically need to be used more frequently—between one and three times per week.

How to Find Infallible Foundation Shades That Match Your Skin Tone

She adds that a toner can also soften, add shine, and strengthen your hair, and because toners don’t last long in the grand scheme of things, they're perfect for people who prefer low-commitment alterations. Anyone who's had their hair bleached or colored will likely need a toner to maintain it and avoid brassiness or unwanted tones that may be a result of excessive washing, swimming in water with chlorine, hot water exposure, and even sun exposure. There’s also the possibility that a person’s hair simply can't hold onto color well. According to Hillier, the effects of hair toner can last for up to two months with proper care.

Best toners for blonde hair

Brassiness on brunette hair, meanwhile, typically reads more orange than yellow. As such, toners for brown hair are usually blue in color, since blue lies across from orange on the color wheel. Hair gloss is another great option for enhancing your color between salon visits, and like hair toner, is pretty easy to use. L’Oréal Paris Le Color Gloss One Step In-Shower Toning Gloss, for example, enhances hair color and deeply conditions in one step for glossy, brilliant color. We love that this gloss comes in 15 shades because it allows for an ultra-custom approach to color. There are options for blondes, brunettes, and redheads—plus one clear gloss that’ll add shine without any added pigment.

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Anyone who regularly bleaches or colors their locks a fantastic array of different shades will be familiar with what toning hair means. As the secret ingredient to any successful lightening treatment, this wonder product keeps the dreaded yellow and orange brassy tones at bay and instead paves the way for beautiful, shiny and smooth-looking color. If you’re trying to tone and hydrate your hair simultaneously, you’re in luck. This multitasking treatment from Verb helps cancel out brassy and yellow tones in blonde hair while also addressing dryness and damage with a handful of moisturizing ingredients (like acai extract and vitamin B5). After shampooing, comb the mask through your damp hair and let it sit for 20 minutes max before rinsing it out.

“That’s when people opt for purple shampoo that doesn’t really color the hair but leaves enough ‘stain’ on the outside to reduce some yellow tones,” he says. Dorram adds that toners can bring life back into the hair that looks brassy or dull and make the existing color more vibrant. "If you want to make blonde hair cool again, you need to use a toner with violet pigments in it," explains Smith. You can typically use violet or purple shampoo about once a week to keep brassiness at bay, but we'd recommend checking with your colorist for a more personalized plan.

Hair toner is a semi-permanent color correction hair care product that utilizes opposites on the color wheel to cancel out unwanted tones. While typically recommended for blondes wanting to cancel out brassy tones, hair toner can be used on every hair texture and shade. The application process can be done in between full coloring visits at home or in the salon. If you opt for professional hair toning, expect the treatment to cost anywhere from $40 to $200. While hair toner is generally safe, pigments or dyes can potentially cause skin sensitization and contact dermatitis. Overuse of toners can cause hair to become dry or damaged, so speak with a hairstylist before choosing products or attempting an at-home tone.

Mastering how to dye your own hair can be tricky too and can result in a patchy finish, whereas toners leave a far wider margin for error. Since the dye in toner is temporary and loses vibrancy with each wash, there isn't a huge risk factor with using it. However, with every color appointment, it's wise to bring your stylist a photo of the final look you're envisioning. And from there, "your colorist can work out how to make that look come to life," says Cunningham.

Now that you're basically a hair toner expert, let's get to the real reason you're here. According to Valdes, a person might also want to use a toner to change the texture of their hair. “There's people that have super silky fine hair that goes limp naturally, so they could love their natural hair and want the texture that comes from the toning,” says Valdes. For a rundown on everything you need to know about hair toners, read ahead. Toner can be reapplied at the salon in between full coloring sessions if desired. "Some of my highlight clients visit every six months for their new balayage, but in between around 10 weeks, they will visit for just a toner refresh. This way, we ensure there are no lines of demarcation and a fluid blend from root to tip," Hillier says.

Hair toner is a hair product that deposits temporary pigment onto the hair shaft. "It is considered a hair dye product but it contains little or no ammonia and is categorized in the group of semi-permanent dyes," Garshick says. It’s worth noting that pollution, minerals in our water, and heat-styling with even the best hair straighteners one can afford can distort or fade your shade, so using color-protective products might help your hue from retain its integrity to begin with. Dorram advises adding a little shampoo to the toner to emulsify it throughout the hair, and notes that toner is safe to use at home if you follow the instructions. Just conduct a little patch test with a small hidden chunk of hair at the nape of your neck.

"Purple shampoos are great for creating a clean, pale blonde, but if you want a more golden finish, stick to products designed for warmer tones," recommends celebrity stylist Michael Douglas. Moroccanoil Color Depositing Mask in Champagne blends the benefits of a deep conditioning treatment with a pop of color to enhance the vibrancy of your blonde. The payoff isn’t huge, so it’s a nice starting point if you’re new to toners.