This is a question we get asked a lot. What is a toner and what will it do to my hair if I have one? Here's the answers;
Lightening and colouring can cause hair colour to turn brassy overtime, meaning it can be left with undesired warm undertones making it look unnatural. A hair toner is used to eliminate these unwanted undertones and help to maintain your desired colour.
A toner essentially is a product that helps you correct or personalise your colour. It is used to add natural or more visible tones after a professional colour treatment. As a result, it enhances the tonality of your hair. How? By creating a professional finished look.
What colour results can you expect from toner?
There is no one shade-suits-all toner. 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. Pastel hair, with shades of pink, lilac, and rose gold can also be achieved. Toners can be used directly after a pre lightening service or as a top up to keep your colour looking fresh and polished between lightening services.
What are the types of hair toner?
1/ In-Salon Hair Toners
A salon toning service allows the hairdresser to personalise your colour. How? By making it warmer or cooler in tone, and correcting unwanted shades. It is also possible to add a bright pop of fashion colour, without actually lifting the shade. In addition, it enables the hairstylist to make sure you get an even hair colour result from root to tip.
2/ At Home Toning Products
Secondly, you can find toner in some haircare products like a purple shampoo, that will help you maintain your colour between treatments at the salon. A salon toner is more pigmented and the results will last longer than an at-home toning product like a purple shampoo.
How long does a toner last after your salon visit?
This depends on how often you wash 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 your 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.
How to make your hair toner last longer?
There are many factors that can change blonde, grey, balayage or highlights to a brassy or yellow colour. These include:
● Air pollution
● Hard water
● Sun exposure
● Chlorine and other pool chemicals
● The normal process of colour-treatment fading
In order for toners to work, hair has to be pre-lightening or coloured first. It is most commonly used for shades of blonde hair, but it can be beneficial for brunettes and redheads too.
