Keeping your hair looking fresh and vibrant between salon visits can be challenging, but a professional hair toner application can make all the difference.
Whether you’re a blonde, brunette, or have highlights, toner helps maintain a balanced, polished look, neutralizing unwanted brassy or yellow undertones.
A well-applied toner not only enhances your hair color but also adds shine and depth, making your style look salon-fresh every day. Let’s explore how hair toners work, their benefits, and how you can use them effectively.
What Is Hair Toner and Why Use It?
A hair toner is a semi-permanent color product that deposits temporary pigments into your hair shaft without using harsh ammonia. It’s applied after bleaching, highlights, gray coverage, or root touch-ups to correct or enhance your hair color.
At Hāste Urban Hair Spa, we use toners to:
- Neutralize brassy tones in blonde or highlighted hair
- Correct undertones in brown, red, or gray hair
- Add gloss and shine, giving hair a healthy, vibrant look
- Even out the color for a natural, seamless finish
Toner is a versatile tool that works on all hair types: curly, straight, wavy, or coarse. It addresses color concerns rather than texture, making it ideal for anyone who wants consistent, long-lasting color.
💡 Tip: Learn about the difference between a hair gloss and glaze to see how toners complement other treatments.
How Hair Toners Work
Hair contains two primary pigments:
- Eumelanin – black or brown tones
- Pheomelanin – red, orange, or yellow tones
Bleaching removes some eumelanin, leaving lighter hair with yellow or orange undertones. Hair toners work by depositing pigments on the opposite side of the color wheel to neutralize unwanted tones.
For example:
- Purple toner → neutralizes yellow on blonde hair
- Blue toner → reduces orange in light brown hair
- Green toner → neutralizes red tones
- Red toner → enhances red shades
We use a color wheel to determine the correct toner for your hair. Learn more about toning techniques and color theory here.
Hāste Urban Hair Spa typically uses a hair toner in conjunction with a bleaching or highlighting service to achieve outstanding final results. If you’re new to salon terms, check out our Hair Salon Glossary to familiarize yourself with key concepts before your visit.
Step-by-Step Hair Toner Application
1️⃣ Consultation & Color Assessment
Before applying toner, our stylists evaluate your hair color, type, and the underlying pigments. This step ensures you get the perfect tone for your hair.
2️⃣ Sectioning Hair
Your hair is carefully sectioned for even application. This ensures that every strand is covered without overlapping previous colors.
3️⃣ Toner Selection & Mixing
Based on your desired results, we select the appropriate toner:
- Pureology Color Fanatic Top Coat + Tone – enhances warm tones
- Amika Mixtape Teal Brunette Toning Drops – neutralizes red tones
- Davines Alchemic Shampoo Red – amplifies warm red shades
- L’Oréal EverPure Purple Shampoo – prevents brassiness in blonde hair
💡 Tip: At Hāste, we sometimes create a custom blend of toners for an individualized finish. Learn more about custom color blending.
4️⃣ Application Techniques
Depending on your needs, toner can be applied:
- At the roots for a shadow or seamless highlight blend
- On all hair for an overall gloss and tone adjustment
Processing usually takes 15–20 minutes, but the time may vary depending on hair type, color, and desired results.
5️⃣ Rinse & Aftercare
After toner processing, we rinse thoroughly and style your hair. For long-lasting results:
- Use sulfate-free shampoos like Kerastase
- Avoid chlorine and excessive heat
- Consider a toner refresh between full coloring sessions
💡 Tip: Learn how to apply hair products correctly to protect and enhance your hair color.
Benefits of a hair toner application
Using a hair toner offers a wide range of advantages beyond just neutralizing unwanted tones. Here’s why you should consider adding it to your hair care routine:
Neutralizes Unwanted Tones
Hair toner helps remove brassiness, yellow, or orange undertones from blonde, brown, or highlighted hair. By depositing subtle pigments, it ensures your color looks fresh, vibrant, and natural. For instance, a purple toner neutralizes yellow tones, while a blue toner combats orange hues. Learn more about purple vs. blue shampoo.
Enhances Shine and Gloss
Toners not only correct color but also add a reflective, glossy finish. This helps hair look healthier and more vibrant between full-color appointments. Many professional toners, like the Pureology Color Fanatic Top Coat + Tone or Davines ALCHEMIC Shampoo Red, provide a protective sheen while enhancing your chosen shade.
Extends the Life of Your Hair Color
By balancing undertones and refreshing your shade, toner applications prolong the vibrancy of your hair color. This means fewer full-color sessions are required, reducing exposure to harsh chemicals and maintaining hair health over time.
Customizable to Your Hair Type & Color
Toners are versatile and work on all hair types—curly, straight, wavy, or coarse. Whether you have brown hair with highlights, blonde balayage, or gray coverage, a tailored toner ensures a personalized and flawless finish. Learn about color correction here.
Prevents Color Fading & Improves Texture
Regular toner applications help maintain consistent color by sealing pigments and protecting the hair cuticle. This not only keeps your color balanced but also improves overall texture, leaving hair softer, more manageable, and silky to the touch.
Quick and Safe Salon or At-Home Option
Professional salon toner services offer expert results and precise application. For at-home maintenance, toning shampoos or glosses can be used safely between salon visits, ensuring that your color always looks polished.
Products like L’Oréal EverPure Purple Shampoo or Amika Mixtape Teal Brunette Toning Drops can help maintain your tone at home.
💡 Tip: Pair a professional toner with your root touch-up or balayage appointments for seamless color transitions.
How Often Should You Tone Hair?
For most clients, every 4–6 weeks is ideal, depending on hair growth and fading.
- Blondes: Purple toning once or twice weekly at home helps prevent brassiness.
- Brunettes with highlights: Blue or green toners maintain balanced tones.
Professional vs At-Home Toner
Professional Salon Toner
- Precise color placement
- Customized formulation
- Longer-lasting results
At-Home Toner/Shampoo
- Convenient and budget-friendly
- Good for minor corrections
- Risk of over-toning if not used carefully
We recommend consulting with a stylist before attempting at-home toning for the best results.
Ready for Vibrant, Balanced Hair?
A professional hair toner application can transform your color, eliminate unwanted undertones, and leave your hair looking vibrant and glossy. For the best results, trust the expertise of our stylists at Hāste Urban Hair Spa.
📅 Book your appointment today and give your hair the perfect salon-quality finish it deserves!
FAQ
What does purple shampoo do to brown hair with highlights?
Purple shampoo helps neutralize yellow or brassy tones in brown hair with highlights, keeping the lighter sections fresh and vibrant.
How do you tone highlights on brown hair?
Use a purple or blue toner/shampoo depending on your target undertones for a balanced, polished look.
What does hair toner do to highlights?
Hair toner neutralizes unwanted undertones in highlights, such as brassiness or yellow hues, and refines the color for a more natural and polished look. It can also add luster and improve the overall vibrancy of the highlights.
How often should you use hair toner?
Use hair toner every 4 to 6 weeks or whenever your color looks dull or brassy. For maintenance, use a toning shampoo once a week.
Does hair toner lighten hair?
No, hair toner does not lighten hair. It only alters the tone by neutralizing or enhancing certain shades; you need a bleach or lightening agent for lightening.
What’s the difference between hair dye and hair toner?
Hair dye changes the overall color of your hair, while toner adjusts the undertones to refine or correct the hue, enhancing the vibrancy or eliminating brassiness.
What does a hair toning service cost?
A professional hair toner application costs between $40 and $200. Prices vary by location, but you can check out our hair toner service here.
