Can hair toner damage your hair?

Author: Mr. Gerson Reilly DDS  |  Last update: Sunday, April 6, 2025

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.

How damaging is toner for hair?

In short, toners are pretty safe to use on your hair without risking damage. While developer is used and that can rough up the cuticle (outer layer) a little, it will not damage the hair any more than it already may be.

How often can you tone your hair without damaging it?

You can typically tone your hair again as soon as you feel it's necessary, but it's advisable to wait at least 2 to 4 weeks between toning sessions. This waiting period allows your hair to recover from any potential damage and helps maintain its health.

Will my hair go back to normal after a toner?

Offcourse. Toner washes out after 5--6 washes (and 10--12 washes for darker toner). The whole point of toner is to change the blonde bleached colour. Once it completely fades away you will be back to being a dark blonde. I've toned my hair to various shades and it always goes back to the original blonde.

Is hair dye more damaging than toner?

Less Damage: Toners are generally less damaging than demi-permanent dyes because they typically contain fewer harsh chemicals and can be less oxidative.

Does toner damage your hair?

Why do hairdressers use toner instead of dye?

Less hydrogen peroxide means that it's a healthier alternative to dye. For this reason, many stylists will opt for toner. Unfortunately this formulation also means that the results are semipermanent, rather than permanent. Every 3-4 weeks, hair toner will need to be refreshed to maintain the same shine and color.

Can toner cover grey hair?

Tresch also suggests using a gloss or toner like John Frieda Colour Refreshing Gloss or dpHUE Color Boosting GLOSS+ Deep Conditioning Treatment to easily camouflage sparse gray hairs.

Does purple shampoo remove toner?

This is because it can strip the toner out of the hair! Instead, wait until your toner has faded completely before fixing any brassy tones with a purple shampoo.

What happens if you leave toner in your hair for too long?

Overlapping the toner application or leaving it on for too long can lead to overprocessing, which may result in dryness, breakage, or a change in texture. To avoid overprocessing, it's crucial to follow the manufacturer's instructions carefully and monitor the toner's development time.

How damaging is Wella toner?

So, Does Toner Damage Hair? Not always. In fact, the Wella Professionals – No. 1 Salon Color Brand in the World ¹ – offers a range of zero damage and damage-reducing color products, which allow you to create your client's dream shade while respecting the integrity of hair strands.

Is box toner bad for your hair?

Be careful with ammonia-based toners

Always try to get your hands on ammonia-free toners to avoid any possible hair damage. A toner made with ammonia is harsh on hair because it opens the cuticle, goes deep into the hair shaft, and changes the structure of the hair.

What toners do hairdressers use?

Professional Hair Toner & Colour Correctors
  • Clearance. ...
  • Matrix SOCOLOR Cult Color Eraser 22g. ...
  • Matrix Total Results Brass Off Blonde Threesome Smoothing Cream 150ml. ...
  • Crazy Color High Speed Rapid Toner 100ml. ...
  • Pulp Riot Blank Canvas Colour Remover 1.5oz Discontinued. ...
  • Schwarzkopf Blond Me Creative Pastel Toner 60ml.

Is wella hair color damaging?

Here's everything you need to know as we answer their top questions – including 'is semi-permanent hair color damaging? ' (Spoiler alert: with Wella Professionals, it's not.)

Does hair toner really make a difference?

Toners enhance the depth and dimension of coloured hair by creating a professionally-finished, flattering look. Hair has to be pre-lightened or coloured for toners to have an effect, and they're mainly used on blondes – but toners can be beneficial for brunettes and redheads as well.

What does hair toner do to brown hair?

Toning products work by depositing hair colour pigment onto each individual hair strand. Anyone can use hair toners regardless of whether your hair is dyed or not, but they're especially great at topping up faded colour, getting rid of those unwanted warm orange or brass tones, and adding intense shine.

How long will toner last in your hair?

The less frequently you wash your locks, the longer your colour stays in, but you can increase the longevity of your colour by using professional hair care. Depending on you hair type and hair condition, toner can last between 2-to-6 weeks.

Are toners bad for your hair?

Can toners damage my hair? Toning shampoos and conditioners won't cause any damage as long as you only use them once a week. Overusing toner can cause pigments to stain your hair and lead to it becoming dry and brittle.

Do you apply toner to wet or dry hair?

You want the hair cuticle to be open for toning. Towel-dry hair to about 65 - 75% dry then start toning. Usually color & bleach is on dry hair, even toners and colors that do not require developer; however toner that uses developer is recommended on towel dried hair.

How to fix over toned hair at home?

Baking Soda

Simply grab 1-2 tablespoons (depending on the amount of hair you have) and start massaging into your hair. Leave this in for a minute or two and rinse. As baking soda has brightening qualities, this will help to strip the toner and gradually bring back golden tones.

What is the downside of purple shampoo?

One downside of purple shampoo is that overuse can lead to a purple or violet tint, especially if left on for too long. It's important to follow usage instructions to avoid this issue and to ensure the best results for your hair.

What does brassy hair look like?

Brass usually shows up as yellow or orange tones in blonde hair and orange or red tones in brunette hair. Brassy hair is caused by an overabundance of warm pigments in your hair, usually caused by bleaching and the hair coloring process.

What is the least damaging way to color gray hair?

If you are looking for a low-impact, natural effect then lowlights are a safer way to color grey hair. Your stylist uses foils to apply the color so it doesn't lie directly on your scalp. That means less exposure to chemicals and fewer potential allergic reactions.

What is the best toner for gray hair?

Best Toner for Natural Grey Hair

The best toners for blending your lengths in with your natural grey hair are the Wella Colour Charm T18 Lightest Ash Blonde and Wella Colour Charm T14 Pale Ash Blonde. A combination of both (half of each) will give the most natural shimmery silver grey results.

What is level 7 hair?

The level system is made up of 10 numbers which help determine the depth level of your natural hair. 1 is black, 5 is light brown, 6 is dark blonde, 7 is blonde and 10 is the lightest blonde.

Previous article
Can I get pink eye from makeup?
Next article
Can laser hair removal be covered by insurance?