Toning Your Hair at Home: How to Pick, Mix & Apply a Hair Color Toner

A hair color toner is a semi-permanent or demi-permanent hair color treatment used to tone, soften, or neutralize unwanted brassiness in lightened or highlighted hair. Toners can help blond hair look more platinum, ashier, or silvery by depositing subtle coats of pigment on the hair shaft. They are especially useful for maintaining hair that has been lightened several levels through chemical processing like highlighting or bleaching.

Let's say you lightened your hair to a level 8 and it is cat pee yellow, it's golden, the answer is not to put more bleach on it, put a toner, a separate hair color process, it's the final touch of hair coloring. A toner can take that cat pee yellow to an icy cool blonde. We're looking at changing tones, yellows, oranges, greens, and reds, we're not looking at changing levels which is the lightness or darkness of the hair. T18 is a really popular toner that not only changes the tone of the hair, but also changes the level. If you have low lights or any kind of dimension, it's really going to mess your hair up. So not recommended unless you are a total complete blonde from root to end. The toners Honesthairfactory is talking about today are not going to change the level of hair, they're only going to change the tone, taking caty yellow out, taking orange out, taking green out. When you lighten your hair with bleach, it's never going to look perfect after you shampoo it out, it's always going to be an orange or a yellow tint or tone. How to get rid of the unwanted tone, the cat pee yellow, is not using more bleach or lightener, it is with a toner, a separate application. Any hair color can be a toner, there's a lot of confusion around toners that the box has to say it's a toner, but that's not true. You can use any of the colors to create a toner. 

How to Choose the Right Toner for Your Hair?

To find the correct toner, find your hair color level (1-10), take a look at your hair on a scale of 1 to 10 which one matches your hair the best. Then find your unwanted tone (yellow, orange, green or red). You will be looking for a hair color that is the same level but the opposite color of the tone (if you have hair that is a level 9 yellow, you are looking for a 9V hair color to use as a toner). For example, if you have yellow-toned hair, a blue, purple or violet toner will help neutralize them. If you're dealing with darker hair that has a green tint, a red can counteract those cool hues (I would personally suggest using a color with pink in it, it makes a really nice natural color. Pink hair colors are often labeled "blush" or "rose").

How to Mix & Apply Hair Toner - Toning Hair at Home

Before you start your toning process, it's crucial to prepare your hair properly. Begin by washing your hair with a clarifying shampoo to remove any product buildup or residue that could interfere with the toner's absorption. Next, thoroughly dry your hair to ensure even application and consistent results.

Once you've chosen the right toner and prepared your hair, it's time to mix and apply the product. Most toners come in liquid or cream form and need to be mixed with a developer according to the manufacturer's instructions. When mixing the toner and developer, be sure to follow the recommended ratios precisely. Over or under-developing can lead to undesirable results, such as uneven color or unwanted tones. The developer strength will determine how long the toner will last and how much it will lift your hair color.

Here are some general mixing guidelines:

- For a subtle tone: Use a 10-volume developer.

- For a more intense tone: Use a 20-volume developer.

- For a dramatic color change: Use a 30-volume developer.

So how to tone your hair at home?

1. Thoroughly shake the toner bottle then apply the recommended amount of formula to your clean, dry hair. For extra pigment deposit, you can mix the toner with 10 volume developer cream rather than just applying it alone. 

2. Section your hair and evenly saturate the toner mixture throughout, focusing on the areas with unwanted undertones. Leave it on for the recommended processing time, usually 20-45 minutes. Do not leave the hair toner for too long since it will deposit intense color pigments that can ruin the hair's condition.

3. Rinse thoroughly with cool water until the rinse water runs clear. For best results, do not shampoo and conditioner until after 24 hours to allow the color molecules to fully develop. Avoid washing the hair with shampoo and conditioner too early since it will strip and ruin the strands.

Tips to Use Hair Toner at Home 

1. Choose the right toner for your hair tone
Use the color wheel to neutralize brassiness:

• Purple toner → cancels yellow

• Blue toner → cancels orange

• Green toner → cancels red

2. Apply toner to damp hair
Wash your hair first, towel-dry it, and apply toner on slightly damp hair for more even results.

3. Mix toner correctly
Most toners require 1 part toner + 2 parts developer (10 or 20 volume). Always check the product instructions.

4. Focus on brassy areas first
Apply toner to the most yellow or orange sections before the rest of your hair.

5. Watch the processing time carefully
Toner usually processes in 5–20 minutes. Check your hair frequently to avoid over-toning.

6. Don’t skip conditioning
After rinsing, use a deep conditioner or hair mask to restore moisture.

7. Maintain your color
Use purple or blue shampoo once or twice a week to keep brassiness away.

Tips for Maintaining Your Hair Toner

After toning your hair, it's essential to take proper care of your new vibrant hue. 

- Use a sulfate-free, color-safe shampoo and conditioner to preserve the toner's vibrancy and prevent premature fading.

- It's also a good idea to limit heat styling and exposure to direct sunlight, as these can cause the toner to fade more quickly. Consider using a UV-protecting spray or serum when spending time outdoors to help maintain your perfect toned shade.

- For long-lasting toning effects, reapply the toner every few weeks, depending on your hair's porosity and the specific toner used.

- Wash your hair less often will help to prevent the toner from fading quickly. 

- Use a color-safe leave-in conditioner will help to keep your hair hydrated and prevent the toner from fading.

Toning your hair at home may seem daunting at first, but with the right knowledge, tools, and techniques, it can be a rewarding and cost-effective way to achieve your desired hair color. By mastering the art of hair toning, you'll unlock a world of vibrant hues, dimensional shades, and personalized hair color tailored to your unique style and preferences.

1. Identify the Unwanted Tone

Choose a toner based on the color you want to cancel, not the final color you want.

These colors neutralize each other because they sit opposite on the color wheel.

2. Consider Your Hair Level

Your current hair lightness affects which toner works best.

• Very light blonde (level 9–10) → violet or silver toner

• Medium blonde (level 7–8) → ash or beige toner

• Light brown (level 5–6) → strong blue-based toner

3. Decide the Result You Want

• Cool / ash blonde → ash, silver, or violet toner

• Natural blonde → beige toner

• Warm golden look → gold or honey toner

Best At Home Hair Toner

1. Wella Color Charm Permanent Liquid Toner T14 Pale Ash Blonde

• One of the most popular salon-style toners for home use

• Removes yellow and orange tones from blonde hair

• Needs developer (usually 10–20 volume)

2. Fanola No Yellow Purple Shampoo

• Easy beginner option

• Works like a toner shampoo to neutralize yellow/brassy tones

• Use 1–2 times per week

3. Schwarzkopf BLONDME Pastel Toning Creme

• Professional-quality toner

• Creates cool ash, silver, or pastel blonde tones

4. L'Oréal Paris Preference Le Blonding Toner

• Drugstore option

• Good for maintaining blonde color at home

5. BLEACH LONDON Lavender Grey Toner Kit

• Great if you want a cool lavender or silver tone

• Comes as a complete kit