What happens if hair is over toned?

Author: Maymie Schmeler  |  Last update: Tuesday, September 23, 2025

Over toning occurs when the hair is exposed to an excessive amount of toner, resulting in an undesirable and unnatural color. It can leave the hair looking dull, flat, and lacking vibrancy. Correcting over-toned hair requires specific techniques and products to restore a more balanced and harmonious tone.

How do you fix over toned hair?

Make sure you get washed immediately after you notice you have over-toned those locks! 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.

What happens if you put too much toner in your hair?

  • Chemical Composition: Most toners contain ammonia or other chemicals that can be drying or damaging if used excessively.
  • Frequency of Use: Using toner too frequently can lead to dryness and damage, especially if your hair is already compromised from coloring or heat styling.

How long does it take for toned hair to fade?

Toners last anywhere from 2 to 6 weeks before they start to fade or wash out completely. However, it's essential to note that each person's hair is different and may react differently to toners, so the longevity of the toner's effects may vary from person to person.

How to fix hair that was toned too light?

If your hair ended up over-toned after using toner on it, you have three options to fix it: clarifying shampoo, hydrating masks used in conjunction with heat and bleach. If your hair ended up over-toned after using a toning shampoo, don't worry be...

HOW TO FIX OVER TONED HAIR AT HOME IN 3 MINUTES (under $20)

What to do if hair toner is too dark?

The easiest way to lighten hair is to use a clarifying shampoo or a mixture of baking soda and lemon juice. These methods are gentle and can gradually lighten the hair over a few washes.

How long does toner take to wash out?

Please keep In mind toner is only temporary and can last 4-8 weeks depending on how you take care of your hair. I always recommend clients come in for maintenance toning appointments in between big Blonding appointments.

How can I even out my toned hair?

Choose a toner with the opposite color on the color wheel to cancel out the undertone. For example, if you have yellow tones, use a purple toner. Apply the toner according to the instructions provided and let it sit for the recommended amount of time. Rinse thoroughly and enjoy the improved color balance.

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.

How to get toner out of hair fast?

3.6 Hydrogen peroxide

A mixture of hydrogen peroxide and anti-dandruff shampoo can be very effective in removing toner from your hair.

How do you get rid of too much toner?

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.

Will my hair go back to normal after a toner?

If you want to re-tone your hair, wait at least 2 weeks. The more you shampoo, the sooner the toner will fade. If you don't wash your hair frequently, you can go back after 8 to do some tress maintenance, and you'll be right back to being your perfect shade of blonde.

How to fix over highlighted hair?

How to Get Rid of Highlights: An Expert Guide
  1. 01 of 05. Add Lowlights. Want to tone down the intensity of your highlights, while still keeping some dimension? ...
  2. 02 of 05. Shadow Root or Color Melt. ...
  3. 03 of 05. Use a Darker Gloss or Toner. ...
  4. 04 of 05. Cut Off the Highlights. ...
  5. 05 of 05. Use Permanent Color.

What happens if you tone your hair too much?

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.

How do you fix too cool toned hair?

Clarifying shampoos are also called detoxifying shampoos and they do exactly what they sound like. They strip off the toner in your hair and reduce the ashy tones. With regular use of a clarifying shampoo, you will see a difference. Your hair will be much warmer and you will feel the ashy tones melt away.

Will toner even out hair?

Toner can indeed help even out the color of bleached hair by neutralizing unwanted tones and creating a more uniform base. However, significant color corrections may require additional treatments.

How do you fix over toned blonde hair?

➕ BLEACH WASH: this is the ideal option for an all over blonde that got a bit overtoned. Mixed lightener powder, developer and shampoo and apply to damp hair. Watch it and rinse after about 5-15 mins.

What happens if I leave purple shampoo in my hair for 30 minutes?

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.

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.

Does toned hair wash out?

For example, glosses (which are not dyes) do not contain ammonia and wash out easily, only lasting around a week, whereas other toning products such as glazes (which are dyes) may contain a little ammonia and last around four to six weeks.

How to fix splotchy hair dye?

Some possible fixes include re-dying the hair (either the same colour or darker), nourishing your hair to improve the condition, using toner to touch up the patches, or using gloss treatments.

How do I tone down my hair?

The simplest way is to picture the color wheel. Whatever tone you want to cancel out, you'll need the pigment located directly opposite on the color. Using the unwanted tones complimentary color will help neutralize and tone your hair.

How to get toner out of hair faster?

The even better news is that you can speed this process along. Start by washing your hair with a strong clarifying product, such as clarifying shampoo, dandruff shampoo, baking soda, or dish soap. If you need a slightly more powerful solution, try removing the toner overnight with lemon juice.

What to do if you don't like your toner?

Another option: wash out the toner with strong shampoo or even dishwasher detergent like Dawn. Some people do this with several washes to get the unwanted toner or too dark dye out. After you really really need to condition with a deep, leave-in conditioner overnight.

Will my hair lighten up after toner?

Although it might seem like it can lighten, toner has no lifting ability. Toner simply cancels out unwanted tones. For Example: when we lighten hair it can turn yellow or orange. We use toners to shift hair from yellow into a golden, sandy, icy or beige color that will give you your desired result.

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