How long does toner last in brown hair?

Q: Will toner affect brown hair?

Although hair toners cant be used to change the color completely, you can make a dramatic difference. You should use an ash toner for brown hair to improve the shade quality. If you choose the right toner for brown hair, then the hair can turn pastel or neutral without making it blonde.

For a long time, hair toner was a mystery to people outside beauty and its adjacent professions. Is a toner absolutely necessary when you’re getting your hair dyed? Why do you get charged extra when your hair needs toning? How often do you need to get your hair toned? There are a lot of questions, and the answers can be hard to find. In actuality, the answer is fairly simple. Toner is a demi- or semi-permanent hair color that is applied to hair to change the tone of the overall hair color or highlights.

Keep reading to learn more about hair toners.

Michela Buttignol/BYRDIE

How Does Hair Toner Work?

Toner is most often used in conjunction with highlighting and bleaching services in the salon to ensure that the final results are perfect. Hairstylists use lightener (bleach) to lighten hair to a desired hair color level. Level is defined on a scale of 1 to 10: A level 1 hair color is the darkest black color hair can be, and level 10 is the lightest blonde color.

The tone of that level is defined by how much warmth (also known as brassiness) is in any hair color level. Tones can be warm (golden), cool (ashy), or neutral. When a hairstylist lightens hair to a level 8 (for example), they'll probably have to use a toner to balance out the warm, brassy tones that are naturally present in darker hair. The toner is used to tweak the tone a little to a more desirable shade.

How Is Toner Applied?

Usually, toner will be applied at the shampoo bowl after a double process service is completed. It can be applied to specific sections of the hair using foils, but generally it’s an all-over thing. Toner typically takes five to 20 minutes to process, depending on the type and application method utilized. Your hairstylist will determine if a toner is necessary (it isn't always), which type to use, and how it should be applied. Questions? Ask them. Particularly with bleaching services, if you're curious about what is going on with your hair, it's important to ask. You want to get the exact blonde you're looking for—and not to fry your hair.

Hairstylists use the color wheel to determine what tone is necessary for your toner service. They'll choose a toner that is on the opposite side of the color wheel from the tone you’re trying to get rid of. If your hair is too red, a green toner is used; if your hair is too orange, a blue toner is used; and if your hair is too yellow, a purple toner will neutralize the unwanted yellow tone. Usually, the toner will be purple, but it's best to know what you're trying to neutralize.

How Long Does Hair Toner Last?

This is particularly important because toner often lasts only an average of 4 to 8 weeks, depending on how well you take care of your hair color. Some toners do last longer, so if you’re curious, just ask your colorist.

Toner can be reapplied at the salon, if desired. During regular services, toner application usually includes an up-charge. Prices of the application vary depending on the salon and stylist. Some salons include application in their service charges, but others don't. Ask your stylist if toner is included, and what the added charges are any time you have a highlight performed.

Can You Apply Toners at Home?

Unless you understand the color wheel, color theory, or have experience using toners, you probably shouldn't be using toners at home. A small mistake can end up with overtoned hair, possibly even more damaged than you started with. A toning shampoo is different from toner but works much in the same way.

Toning shampoos also help neutralize unwanted tones. Often, bottle blondes will use a purple toning shampoo once or twice a week to keep their hair from becoming brassy. Amika's Bust Your Brass Blonde Purple Shampoo ($20) and Conditioner ($26) are incredibly effective—so are IGK's Mixed Feelings Purple Leave-In Blonde Toning Drops ($29) toning drops, which can be mixed into the products you're already using. People with red hair can utilize a red depositing toning shampoo, like this one from Davines ALCHEMIC Shampoo Red ($30), to keep red hair bright and from fading.

Ultimately, you should just talk to your hairstylist to determine which kind of toning shampoo or conditioner is recommended for your specific hair color. Don't let them necessarily upsell you on the product they stock, because some aren’t as effective as others; do your research online about the most effective thing for you.

Back from your salon hairdo and in love with that amazing hair color you’ve been wanting for ages now? As you should be! Having vibrant and colorful hair means plenty of joy and excitement every time you look in the mirror and get an extra-flattering photo taken!

Naturally, even if it’s semi permanent hair color, you’d want to keep the colors intact intact for as long as possible. Fortunately, hair toner, the secret ingredient to a dye’s longevity, can last for weeks following your dye job. Here’s what you can do to preserve it for as long as possible.

What is Hair Toner?

A toner is a product used by your hairstylist in order to personalize your look or achieve that beautiful platinum gold tone that you have desired for so long.

This type of product is not per se a permanent ‘dye’. Although it may seem colorful, it's a formula that enhances and cancels out stubborn undertones when bleaching. Because virtually all hair has some warm reddish tone, the warm essence is revealed when it's bleached. And as such, the darker the hair is, the harder it is to get out the orange and red undertones in one sitting.

Of course, hair toners are not only meant for going platinum gold. They can also soften the look of your hair, give it another shade depending on the color you chose, enhance it, add depth and richness, and so on.

Toners have little to no ammonia in them, which means that they will wash away gradually. Ammonia is an alkaline chemical that penetrates the hair strand, allowing hair color to reach its core.

Since toners have a low amount of ammonia, they act more like a top coat protecting the hair strand. And since they are gentler, they’re good for any type of hair, even if it’s damaged.

Nowadays, toning your hair at home is just as viable as getting it done at a salon since toners come in all forms – from shampoos to conditioners and other treatments. That being said, note that salon toners are usually more effective because they are more pigmented, as opposed to the regular pigment you would find in a regular hair-care product.

How Long Does Hair Toner Last?

Depending on many factors, including those that you can’t control, the toner you’re left with from the salon should last about 6 weeks. However, it gradually fading out doesn’t mean that your hair will instantly get those brassy tones. If you wash your hair very often, it can last for less, and on the contrary, if you don’t wash your hair very often, then that will increase the lifespan of your toner.

Other factors influencing the look of your toned hair can include:

Hard water

The water that you use for showering and bathing contains many minerals, some of which might turn out to be very damaging to your skin and hair.

Chlorine

If a natural blonde has to protect their hair from harmful external factors, then those with bleached, platinum blonde hair have to pay even more attention.

The chlorine, typically found in pool water, is a damaging chemical for your hair. It’s attacking the hair color and the hair strands, making them susceptible to all kinds of damage, including stripping away the bleach or friendly products.

While you are at the pool, you might as well protect your hair from the sun, too, as it is well known that the UV rays not only damage your skin but your hair too.

Pollution

Your hair can easily suffer from free radicals that come from air pollution. Free radicals are extremely reactive molecules that cause damage to your cells and, when they come from external sources, they might interfere with your chemically colored hair and react unpredictably.

UV overexposure

Lately, people have become hyperaware of the damage that UV rays do to your skin, and have started to understand the need for products with a high sun protection factor. But, the Sun’s powerful UV rays can affect your hair as well – it does lighten it during the summer, doesn’t it?

How to Preserve Hair Toner

Thankfully, there are many things you can do to preserve the beautiful look your toner gives you:

Purple or Blue toning shampoo

It’s simple color theory, really – on the color wheel, yellow and purple are on opposite sides. These complementary colors neutralize each other, which is why purple toning shampoo is best for yellow tones and blonde hair, while blue toning shampoo is the most adequate for orange streaks. It's the safest way to get rid of the brassiness immediately.

Wash less frequently

Washing often and using products that contain sulfates and parabens is a deadly combination for your bleach and toner. Essentially, you’re not only stripping away the products’ properties by washing the hair every day, but also the hair’s natural oils, helping it stay in place.

To make your toner last longer, try finding a balance in your washing routine. It’s recommended that you wash your hair about twice a week. If your hair starts feeling a bit too oily, freshen it up with WOW’s hair revitalizer spray. Working as a leave-in conditioner will ensure that your hair will be full of shine and vitality throughout the entire day!

Condition your hair

Conditioning means sealing the hair strand to make sure that no water gets out, and the hydrating nutrients stay inside. If you are not one to use conditioner after shampooing, now is the time to finally get familiar with it. Try WOW Coconut & Avocado Natural Hair Conditioner for moisture and hydration. Your toner will last that much longer, thanks to your foresight and diligence.

Cover your hair when needed

The solution for avoiding sun damage is pretty simple – cover your head with a hat or whatever item you feel comfortable with. Of course, it can be bothersome to have to hide your beautiful locks, but if you want them to stay like that when the sun's out, and its UV rays are not here to play, you should consider covering your hair to avoid unnecessary exposure and damage.

Rinse with cold water

Hot water is not exactly good when it comes to preserving hair’s integrity, so try giving your hair a final cold rinse before getting out of the shower. This will close out the pores, flatten the cuticle, lock in the needed moisture and maintain the longevity of your toner.

Explore the WOW website for more natural hair care products.

Will toner affect brown hair?

Although hair toners can't be used to change the color completely, you can make a dramatic difference. You should use an ash toner for brown hair to improve the shade quality. If you choose the right toner for brown hair, then the hair can turn pastel or neutral without making it blonde.

How often should you tone brown hair?

Refresh your color with a toner every 6-8 weeks to keep that natural, healthy-looking blonde.

Does brown toner wash out?

If you are unhappy with the look of your toner, the good news is that toner fades all on its own. The even better news is that you can speed this process along. Start by washing your hair with a strong clarifying product, such as clarifying shampoo, dandruff shampoo, baking soda, or dish soap.

How do I keep my toner from fading?

Rinse with cold water Hot water is not exactly good when it comes to preserving hair's integrity, so try giving your hair a final cold rinse before getting out of the shower. This will close out the pores, flatten the cuticle, lock in the needed moisture and maintain the longevity of your toner.