What to do if hair is still yellow after toning?

Author: Dr. Saige Osinski  |  Last update: Saturday, July 19, 2025

After toning, you can use purple shampoo and mask to get rid of any remaining yellow. Ugly Duckling's Brilliant Blonde Purple Shampoo and Mask are low pH sulfate-free products that will help close the cuticle after coloring.

Why is my hair still yellow after toner?

If your hair is still yellow after toning, then you likely didn't formulate dark enough for the toner to cover. You'll need to reformulate, dropping the toner another level or two to ensure it covers the yellow properly.

How do I get the yellow tone out of my hair?

How to get rid of yellow and orange tones in your hair
  1. Bleach your hair with the help of a professional hairdresser.
  2. Use a toning to counteract the brassy tones.
  3. Try products made for home use, like a silver shampoo, silver conditioner and a silver mask.
  4. Protect your hair from UV radiation.

Why won't my hair lift past yellow?

Bleach Strength and Processing Time: The strength of the bleach and the amount of time it is left on the hair can affect the final color. If the bleach is too weak or not left on long enough, it may not lift the hair to the desired level of blonde, leading to yellow tones.

How do you fix yellow hair toner?

1. Use a Violet Toner The fastest way to do it is to apply a toner. Schwarzkopf Igora Royal 0-11 Anti-Yellow is a pure pigment violet toner. You can find it at beauty supply stores. Schwarzkopf Igora Royal Hair Color in 0-11 Anti-Yellow Concentrate. Mix half a tube with 10 volume peroxide.

TONERS: Fix Yellow Hair | Everything You Need to Know + Braid Tutorial

How long to leave toner on to get rid of yellow?

Leave the toner for at least 40 minutes, and not more, to avoid overtoning. Leave the toner for 15–35 minutes to eliminate brassy tones. Brassy hair is of three types: yellow, orange, and red. Leave the toner for 5–20 minutes.

How do you fix hair after toner?

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.

How do hairdressers fix yellow hair?

During the lifting process, a mixture of ammonia and bleach, along with peroxide, is applied to the hair and allowed to process until the existing color is either diluted or removed. Then tones are added back into the now bleached hair in order to give it the desired color.

Can I bleach my hair again if it didn't lift enough?

Repeated bleaching is not recommended since you're putting yourself at risk of overprocessing and breakage. If you do bleach again, make sure to wait 3 weeks to give your hair cuticle enough time to heal, close and lay flat again.

How to tone yellow hair to ash?

When deciding how to tone yellow hair to ash, try using a violet shampoo first. As purple is the opposite of yellow on the colour spectrum, the shampoo's purple pigment draws out the yellow brassiness from your blonde, neutralises those unwanted tones, and makes your colour look cooler, healthier and more vibrant.

What kills yellow tones in hair?

In the salon, your stylist can apply a low-ammonia toner formula to your hair after it is lightened. For example, if the goal is a pearly blonde shade, your stylist will use a lightener first, then apply a violet toner to cancel out the yellow tones that are exposed when your hair color is lifted.

Can I tone my hair twice?

It all depends on what type of toning products you are using. If you are using high-lift permanent toners, you can use them once or twice on the hair. If you are using regular permanent toners, you can use them every 4-6 weeks.

What Matrix toner cancels orange?

Matrix Brass Off All-In-One Toning Leave-In Spray - Nourishes and Neutralizes Brassy & Orange Tones With Frizz Control, For Color Treated Hair, 6.8 Fl Oz.

What to do when toner doesn't work?

"New toner not working," it may be time to get a new printer.
  1. Check to see if you put in the right toner cartridges in the right color order.
  2. Check to see if a new cartridge was put in.
  3. Check to see if you are using OEM toner cartridges.
  4. Check to see if the toner cartridge is installed correctly.

What color cancels out yellow hair?

Simply put, whichever colours sit opposite one another on this wheel can cancel each other out. For example, blue neutralizes orange, green balances red, and purple tones down yellow hues. That means, in order to target yellow, you need a touch of violet in your formula.

How long to leave purple shampoo on yellow hair?

Let the shampoo sit for two to five minutes depending on how brassy your hair is and how ashy you like your color, then rinse thoroughly. The difference between two minutes and four minutes with purple shampoo is a big one so keep an eye out. It may be helpful to set a timer so you don't go over.

Can I tone my hair again if it's still yellow?

One option is to re-bleach the roots to lift them to a lighter level before toning again. You need to get them to that very pale yellow - think the inside of a banana. This will help to ensure that your favourite toner can effectively neutralize any remaining yellow tones and match the rest of your hair perfectly.

Can I bleach my hair twice if it didn't work?

Unless it's a multiple processing situation (ideally being handled by a professional), you shouldn't bleach over hair that's already been bleached. Instead, you should target new growth. Clark says,“If you bleach your hair roots to ends every time, you risk it breaking and becoming damaged.

How to fix bleached hair that turned yellow?

If your bleached hair looks more yellow than orange, you'll need a purple toning shampoo to neutralise the yellow. If your hair's turned orange, you'll need a blue toning shampoo to tone the brassiness and get rid of the orange.

How to fix highlights that are too yellow?

Use a color-depositing shampoo to correct a brassy tone.

Miranda recommends leaving the shampoo on up to 15 minutes to darken the highlights even more. Purple shampoos work best with yellow brassy tones. Use a blue toning shampoo for orange brassy tones. Correct red brassy tones with a green color toning shampoo.

Why won't my bleached hair hold color?

When you bleach your hair you strip it of its natural pigments, which means it won't react to dye in the same way. Dye can come out darker than you would assume and you may need to use a protein filler. Speak to your stylist and be sure you're choosing the right colour and products for you.

Why is my hair still brassy after toner?

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.

How do you fix over toned hair fast?

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.

What cancels out toner?

If you accidentally toned your hair too much, that's okay! You can use at-home remedies, like a clarifying shampoo or lemon juice, to adjust your toner. Or you can try adding a color remover or bleach wash to completely remove the ash tone from your hair.

Do you put toner on wet or dry hair?

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. Shirin A.

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