What are toners? The solution for a yellow hue.
A toner is a mild colour product used to correct the nuance of an existing (dyed or bleached) hair colour. This usually applies to blonde colours. With a normal hair dye you can go lighter or darker; with a toner you remove unwanted hues (such as yellow and orange) from your hair. It also adds character to the colour.
Is your dyed blonde hair colour no longer fresh or somewhat yellowish? And is it not yet time for a complete hair dye? A toning product can correct your blonde shade without dyeing it. It maintains your colour and makes it cooler, for example. So you change the shade of your blonde hair. A toner is often used in the salon immediately after dyeing or bleaching to achieve the desired blonde shade.
What is a toner and what do they do?
So a toner is not a hair dye, but it does contain colour pigment. Therefore, you usually do not need to mix several ingredients, the product is ready to use. You use a toner to correct your hair colour.
Toners bond to the outside of your hair and do not penetrate the hair or only superficially. Because the toner does not colour the hair, it does not cover grey. You wash it out of your hair over time. Usually after ten washes you don't see so much of it anymore. There are different ways to 'tone' your hair.
What toning products can you choose from?
There is not just one way or product to 'tone' your hair, you can do it in different ways and with different products. What toners have in common is that they are products that contain colour pigments. Usually without mixing ingredients.
Silver shampoo
A good example that you can apply at home is silver shampoo. This blue or violet-coloured shampoo neutralises orange or yellow.
No-yellow mousse
At WECOLOUR, we have No-yellow Mousse for light blonde and white-grey hair. This is a toning, violet-coloured leave-in formula that corrects a yellow hue in your hair that moisturises and conditions your hair at the same time. Unlike many silver shampoos, the mousse does not harm your hair.
Ketchup
One way to make greenish hair a bit 'warmer' in colour, and to add some red pigment to the hair, is to use.... ketchup! Ketchup's red pigment makes your hair look less grey. In other words, ketchup is also a kind of toner!
Colour masks
There are also colour masks, for example, that refresh your colour and give it more intensity. These also contain colour pigment. Be careful with colour masks, because sometimes the pigment stays in your hair longer than desired.
Gloss toners
Gloss toners do not change your colour shade but add shine to your hair.
The difference between a toner and a colour rinse
Another way of temporarily colouring your hair is a colour rinse. Both a rinse and a toner can be washed out of your hair again. However, there is a difference between a rinse and a toner. Rinses come in all kinds of colours and are usually a bit darker than your own hair colour. With the rinse you give the hair some extra colour and this fades over time. Rinses tend to not disappear completely out of your hair.
A toner temporarily gives your hair another colour tone. The product, like colour rinses, also contains pigments that lay a layer on your hair. So they do not penetrate the hair like permanent hair colours do. The difference is that a rinse makes your hair darker and a toner makes your current colour more vivid, without making it darker. It's really about a different tone. So for example cooler, warmer, brighter. A toner is often used when your hair is already dyed.
Gentle on your hair
Because the pigments lie on top of your hair or do only penetrate your hair superficially, a toner is less damaging to your hair than products that penetrate your hair, such as hair dye. More aggressive ingredients are needed to open the cuticle and transfer colour pigment into the hair shaft. The disadvantage, of course, is that these superficial toner pigments don't last long and that your greys aren't covered or only camouflaged.
Enjoy your toner longer: wash less
Do not wash your hair too often and use a mild shampoo without sulphates and parabens like WECOLOUR shampoo for coloured hair. You can also use a dry shampoo to delay washing. Most drugstore shampoos contain sls. But even some shampoo brands that appear to be professional or mild sometimes contain sls. This is almost the same as washing your hair with washing-up liquid. This is so aggressive and cleans so well that even your toner disappears quickly. Just to be sure, check the ingredients list to see if it contains sodium lauryl sulphate (SLS). Because if it does, you can be sure that your beautiful blonde tone won't last. Don't confuse sodium lauryl sulphate with sodium laureth sulphate. This one is milder and can be used.
Enjoy your toner longer: no sun or sea for your locks
Salt water can also ruin your toner! It makes your toner fade really fast. Where there's salt water, there's often beach and sun. And unfortunately, a lot of UV rays will also quickly fade your beautiful colour... Going on holiday to the sun? Consider postponing the toning until after your holiday. And be kind to your hair in the sun, sea or at the pool. Use a nice hat or product like Argan Silk to protect your hair from the UV rays. Read more about how to take good care of your hair during your sun holiday here.
Enjoy your toner longer: Take good care of your hair!
The healthier your hair is, the longer your toner will last. So it's important to nourish your hair properly with professional hair care products designed for your hair type.
Take a look at WECOLOUR hair care products.
WECOLOUR hair dye as a toner against yellow
At WECOLOUR we do not sell specific products to tone your hair. Except the No-yellow Mousse. However, you can very easily make your own toner from our hair dye for your blonde hair. Do you have light blonde highlights in your hair or has your hair been lightened to light blonde by bleaching or dyeing? It could be that the colour looks a bit yellowish. This is because your hair has been lightened but still contains a lot of warm pigment.
In that case you can use the colour very light natural blonde (10.01), and an activator with a percentage of 3% instead of the 6% that is usual with our hair dye. This will remove the unwanted yellow hue from your hair. Hair dye as a toning product does bond all the way to the inside of your hair, but because the hydrogen peroxide level is 3%, it is gentler on your hair than if you were to use dye with 6%. In our salon we have often used WECOLOUR 10.01 and have achieved great results with it. Would you like to use WECOLOUR hair dye as a toner and thus receive a 3% activator? Then please contact us. You apply a toner to dry hair, in the same way that you apply hair dye.
Making your own toner from hair dye
Just like in the salon, you can make your own toner at home for your blonde hair that has turned yellow. All you need is WECOLOUR very light natural blonde (10.01). For a toner you need hydrogen peroxide with a peroxide content of 3%. WECOLOUR hair dye contains 6% as standard. Would you like to receive 3% with your order? Then contact our customer service immediately after placing your order.
Mix the colour cream with the 3% activator; stick to a mixing ratio of 1:1. Apply the toner to dry hair. Then leave the toner in your hair for ten minutes. After these ten minutes, check if the colour is as you want it. Is it still a bit too yellow for you? Then you can leave it in for another five minutes.
If you have a lot of warmth in your hair, you can also use our extra ash light blonde (10.11) as a toner. Please note that if your hair is very blonde and you don't have any warmth in your hair it can turn greenish. The extra ash light blonde (10.11) is especially suitable for refreshing your outgrowth that has become too warm or has been lightened by the sun.
Toner 11.1 for yellowed blonde
Of course you can also use the very light ash blonde (11.1) as a toner with a 3% activator. To receive the 3% activator, please contact our customer service, as this product cannot be ordered through our webshop. Use a 1:1 mix of colour cream and activator, not 1:2 like you normally do when you dye with the 11.1. This also replaces the yellow hue with a nice cool ash blonde nuance.
If you still have questions about what toners are or if you can't get rid of your yellow hue, our colour experts will be happy to help you!
