If you keep toner on your hair for too much time, it can dry out your locks, making them brittle and more likely to break. Hair toners often contain chemicals that can be harsh on your hair if overused.
Some toners contain harsh chemicals or high levels of ammonia or peroxide, which can strip the hair of its natural oils and cause damage if used incorrectly or excessively.
Using toner incorrectly or choosing a toner that is too harsh for your skin type can potentially harm your face. Overuse of toner can strip the skin of its natural oils, leading to dryness, irritation, and even inflammation.
Research [4] shows that when used properly, hair toner itself will not cause significant damage to your hair. That is because it does not penetrate the hair fibre deep enough in order to cause any harm. The only type of toner that may cause some dryness or frizziness in your tresses are the permanent ones.
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.
Leaving toner on your hair for too long can cause damage to your hair. If you keep toner on your hair for too much time, it can dry out your locks, making them brittle and more likely to break. Hair toners often contain chemicals that can be harsh on your hair if overused.
There's two reasons why your hair is still brassy after toning or colouring. Either the undertone of the toner/colour is wrong, or the product is too light for you.
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.
That being said, toners have less hydrogen peroxide than dye and are less harmful to your hair. When to choose toners: You want to neutralise brassy tones in your previously coloured hair.
Another factor that will determine how long the pigment delivered in a toner will last on your hair depends on how frequently you wash your hair. Every time you do, you'll be washing the toner away, reducing the time it will last.
One effective remedy is the use of clarifying shampoos or treatments to help remove excess toner and buildup from the hair. These products work by gently stripping away unwanted color deposits and restoring the hair's vibrancy.
Using toners incorrectly may result in side effects such as dryness, irritation and acne flare-ups. Avoid irritating side effects by selecting a toner suitable for your individual skin type, with ingredients that work in harmony with your skin.
Toning, when done correctly and not too frequently, is relatively gentle. However, over-toning can lead to dryness and damage. Always use a quality toner and follow up with proper hair care.
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.
How often should I use at-home toners? We recommended using a toning shampoo or conditioner once a week, with twice being the maximum limit as over-washing can lead to staining, dryness and irritation. Between toning, use a clarifying shampoo to remove product build-up and keep your hair and scalp clean.
However, excessive use of any facial products, including toners, can sometimes irritate the skin, potentially leading to issues like dryness, redness, or breakouts. It's important to listen to your skin and adjust the frequency based on how it reacts. If you notice any adverse effects, it might be best to reduce usage.
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.
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.
If you have any orange left in your hair, T14 is probably the best for your hair over T18. T18 is only effective if your hair is a level 10 or higher (purely yellow). Putting the wrong toner in your hair won't necessarily harm it, but it likely won't affect the color at all.
20 Vol Developer will lighten your hair slightly and will give permanent results. Use this with Wella Colour Charm Permanent Toners, along with Shimmer Lights Toners and Lightener. Keep in mind, as 20 Vol Developer lightens your hair slightly, it can cause brassiness at your roots (if they're darker than your lengths).
The reason toner has the ability to damage your hair is due to some harsh chemicals, which, left in too long, will leave your hair dry and brittle. There's also the chance that the toner can lead to unwanted tones, especially if it's left in for more time than it should be.
Clarifying Shampoo
Most toners are not permanent, therefore eventually, after several washes, the 'cool' tones will fade. If you want that toner gone quicker, 2-3 washes with a clarifying shampoo will start to remove the blue, grey or purple stains.
Depending on you hair type and hair condition, toner can last between 2-to-6 weeks. Hair that has been coloured previously can sometimes hold toners for less time than hair that has only been coloured once, so may need more regular toning.