And because they only act on the surface, toners won't damage your hair. In fact, they usually help make it look a bit healthier. If you're experimenting with a lighter blonde, silver, or platinum hair color, you'll likely want to use a purple toner.
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.
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.
Less Damage: Toners are generally less damaging than demi-permanent dyes because they typically contain fewer harsh chemicals and can be less oxidative.
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.
Unlike permanent hair colour, toners gradually wash away much quicker due to having less staying power. It's like a 'top coat' for your hair because it does not penetrate as deeply into the hair strand.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
In fact, a toner is a way to make your hair colour your own. Toners can be used all over the hair or in certain places to create different effects within the hair for an even more personalised result. Warmer tones include buttermilk, peachy, or vanilla hues. Cooler tones include silver, champagne and marshmallow.
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.
In-salon toners will last on average 3-4 weeks while at-home toners will need to be refreshed once a week, but the answer really depends on the amount of pigments in your chosen toner and how often you wash your hair. Factors that affect how long your toner lasts include: Sun exposure.
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.
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.
While silver toner shampoo contains colour pigments, it does not permanently dye the hair. Silver hair toner is a popular option when it comes to showcasing your grey. Instead, a blue pigment is used to neutralise yellow undertones.
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.
Certain harsh chemicals in popular box dyes have given many stylists pause. Common concerns include: Ammonia - This mixing agent lifts cuticles to deposit colour but is quite drying over time. Peroxide - High volumes like 30+ developer cause more damage to delicate hair.
If you leave purple shampoo in your hair for 30 minutes, the risk of over-toning increases significantly. While purple shampoo is designed to neutralize brassy or yellow tones, leaving it on for an extended period can lead to overly cool or even purple-tinted hair, especially for those with light or porous hair.
Once you leave the salon try not to wash your hair for 24-48 hours. This will help prolong the tone of your hair.