By Emma Line
If, like Goldilocks, you’ve been struggling to get your hair colour just right, or brassy tones are ruining your dream shade, then it’s time to pick up the toner. Whilst normally a trip to see your colourist is a good idea to keep your hair looking its most fabulous, it’s still possible to get results from home during lockdown. Options range from treatments applied once every few weeks, to shampoos that help combat unwanted tones with regular use.
Whether you’re aiming to replicate the on-trend icy blonde, or fancy jumping on the pastel craze, then toner is a must. Toner essentially colour corrects your hair, creating subtle shifts in tone which alter its overall shade. It won’t necessarily create dramatic changes, but it will help you get the most out of your colour. Toners are available for darker hair as well as blonde but results may be more subtle.
How does it work?
Toners neutralise unwanted undertones, which can give blonde hair a brassy or yellow appearance, helping you keep your shade looking exactly how you want it. There are lots of different toners for different hair colours and choosing the right one depends on the results you want to achieve.
Enter the colour wheel… You essentially want to pick a toner containing pigments opposite the colour you’re trying to banish. For example, if it’s yellow tones you want gone, a product containing purple pigment will counter these, giving hair the illusion of a cooler shade. For darker hair with unwanted orange or red undertones, a blue or green toner will work in a similar way. If you’re going pastel, you’ll want to ensure hair is as pale as possible to start, providing a blank canvas for your colour to layer over the top. Then, you can apply a colour toner to achieve your desired subtle pastel hue.
Toner is semi-permanent, so will wash out. Results should last for a few weeks, depending on your hair, and the product can be reapplied when needed.
How to use a toner at home
It’s up to you how you incorporate toner into your haircare routine. Some products can be used as a one-off treatment to correct hair tone, lasting for a few weeks at a time. This may be the best option if going for pastels, or if it’s been a while since your hair was coloured and unwanted undertones are already showing . Alternatively, other products, like purple or silver shampoos, can be used regularly to maintain the shade that you want.
Here are our pick of toners to try at home:
Enter the colour wheel… You essentially want to pick a toner containing pigments opposite the colour you’re trying to banish. For example, if it’s yellow tones you want gone, a product containing purple pigment will counter these, giving hair the illusion of a cooler shade. For darker hair with unwanted orange or red undertones, a blue or green toner will work in a similar way. If you’re going pastel, you’ll want to ensure hair is as pale as possible to start, providing a blank canvas for your colour to layer over the top. Then, you can apply a colour toner to achieve your desired subtle pastel hue.
Toner is semi-permanent, so will wash out. Results should last for a few weeks, depending on your hair, and the product can be reapplied when needed.
