Many of us love to experiment with our hair color at home, but that doesn’t mean we always have a great experience and nail the desired nuance or look. You might end up in a situation where you used the wrong toner or didn’t do the bleaching correctly.
Or maybe you found a colorist that didn’t quite match your expectations? Either way, if you end up with a color that doesn’t suit you because of the toner, don’t panic.
We have a few aces up our sleeve that we’ll share to help you get toner out of your hair.
Below are the methods that work, plus a quick refresher on what a toner is and when it’s used.
Key Highlights
- Toners are meant to fade. Many wear off in 4 to 8 weeks.
- Start with the gentlest option first. Overwashing can dry out hair.
- Do a strand test and a patch test before trying any new method.
- If your hair feels gummy, stretchy, or breaks fast, stop and see a professional.
What Is a Toner?
Hair toners aim to help you personalize your hair color or correct orange or yellow nuances. They are usually applied after you bleach your hair and administer hair dye. Think of it as an enhancement for your color.
When we’re talking about blonde nuances, the toners are used to make the hair look creamy and shiny or to add a subtle silver, ashy or pale-colored hue.
However, if you are not a blonde, that doesn’t mean you can’t benefit from a toner.
As a brunette, you can apply it after dyeing to get those metallic blue reflexes, for example. When considering using a toner, you can opt for this amazing hair coating in a salon or at home.
The market offers you plenty of products like silver or purple shampoos. These will also provide a beautiful tint, but they last less than a professional toner.
Moreover, you might discover that even colorists recommend them because they are a good aid in preserving hair salon dye.
But, what do you do when you end up with a nuance that doesn’t suit you or you just simply don’t like it? You can wait for the toner to wear off (it lasts about 4 to 8 weeks) or search for methods that remove toner from hair.
So, if you find yourself in this uncomfortable situation, continue reading to discover the best ways to wash off this product.
Things to Know About Getting Rid of Your Toner
Firstly, when buying and applying a toner at home, check the label to find out how long the products last. You might discover that some products last just one or two washes. There are some more things for you to consider.
- Toners naturally fade; they are not meant to last forever. That can be a blessing, especially for those who are disappointed with the final result. So, if you’re not fond of your new nuance, don’t jump directly to bleaching or permanent dyes to cover the toner. Choose one of the methods below or just let it fade off;
- Your mistake is only temporary and can be reversed. If you’re taking the matter into your hands and pursuing your goal of changing your hair color and toning it at home, make sure you know how colors work when combined. Otherwise, you might end up with a very bad experience.
- It is very important to consider timing. If you’re not content with the result, you should take action as soon as possible. You must act quickly if you are sure you want to remove the toner. Or it might be harder to take it off if the product deeply penetrates the threads.
How to Get Toner Out Of Hair
Here is what actually gets toner out of hair, and what to leave on the kitchen shelf.
Senior stylist Emma Baxendale works up this ladder gently, one rung at a time:
If the tone has dropped ever so slightly darker than expected, a few clarifying shampoos will fade that quickly; the hair may have just sucked it up more than expected.
If washing won't do enough, a gentle bleach cleanse will shift that top layer, and then the hair can be reassessed and re-toned if needed. A gentle bleach wash simply needs bleach powder, shampoo, and water, or a 5-volume peroxide in place of water for a slightly stronger shift.
Safety Note
- These methods can make your hair feel rough and less soft because they strip some natural oils. Do a strand test first.
- Stop right away if you feel burning, stinging, or see redness.
- If you have eczema, psoriasis, or a sensitive scalp, consider professional help first.
- For allergy signs and what to do, read this guide from the NHS: Hair dye reactions.
#1. Using Clarifying Shampoo
As mentioned before, unlike permanent hair dye, most toners gradually fade with time and washing.
Clarifying shampoo can be your best friend because it is specially formulated to remove dirt, any impurities, or buildup by making your hair look and feel squeaky clean.
It is generally ideal for those who want to remove all residues and show off their natural hair look.
We recommend you use clarifying shampoo no more than once or twice a week because it proves to be quite effective for toner removal.
In this case, if you don’t already have one at home, you can buy one online or from the nearest drugstore.
Because this shampoo is formulated for a deep clean, it is the best choice for those who want to remove toners. It contains strong cleansing agents and will help you strip off color and impurities.
What to Do:
- To remove the toner, squeeze some product into your hands;
- Rub it to activate the shampoo and apply it to your hair.
- Make sure the product is equally distributed to all toned areas and strands.
- Use this method once, then wait at least 48 hours before repeating. Do not use clarifying shampoo more than 1–2 times per week because it can severely dry out your hair.
Tips and Tricks
When choosing your clarifying shampoo, ensure you don’t select a product that helps with color retaining because it will have no visible effect.
After using clarifying shampoo, you might discover that your strands are not as silky as they used to be. A deep conditioner is a great product to have around when using clarifying shampoo.
It is a great moisturizer with amazing nourishing properties and will restore that smooth look of your mane.
#2. What a Colorist Does Instead
A dedicated color remover: when the toner was a demi-permanent or semi-permanent formula, a remover made for deposited color breaks the pigment down without lifting your natural base. Follow the label, and do a strand test first.
A bleach wash, in the chair: for a stubborn ash or violet cast, a colorist mixes a short, heavily diluted bleach wash with a low-volume developer and watches it for a few minutes. It is still lightener, so it stays a salon job.
A corrective gloss: when the toner went too dark, muddy, or ashy, a gloss one level lighter or warmer shifts the shade back toward the blonde you wanted, often in one visit.
Bond builder and conditioning: any of these steps stress porous hair, so the appointment ends with a bond-building treatment and a conditioning mask.
Hair toners are a fabulous way to transform your hair into a statement, to obtain unique nuances, and boost your self-esteem. But what can you do when things don’t go according to plan, and you need to remove the toner ASAP?
Good luck with the process, and let us know which method worked for you in the comments.
