If you have colored your hair and you need a toner, you can use a permanent hair color as a toner.
Permanent color can calm brass on bleached hair because it drops pigment fast. But it is not a true toner. Most permanent dyes use ammonia.
Using high-ammonia permanent dye as a toner on bleached hair significantly increases the risk of chemical breakage and dryness.
For a safer, damage-free result, we highly recommend using a demi-permanent color or an acidic bonding gloss (such as Redken Shades EQ or its generic version, GVP), which deposits tone without lifting the cuticle.
If you still choose to use your permanent color as a toner, we got you covered.
Key Highlights
- Best as a last resort, when you cannot get a demi-permanent toner
- For toning, use 5-volume developer.
- Keep it off natural roots to avoid warm lift and hot roots
- Do not follow the mixing ratio on your dye tube or box
Can I Use Permanent Color As A Toner?
Permanent hair color can be used as a toner. But it is not the first choice. Permanent color is stronger than most toners, and the ammonia in permanent dye can damage your bleached hair.
If you still want to use the permanent dye as a toner, wait up to 2 weeks if your hair feels very dry or porous. Use a 5-volume developer with the dye, and rinse in 5 to 10 minutes.
Safety Notes
- If you can, pick a demi-permanent toner instead.
- For toning, use 5-volume developer or 10-volume at max. Skip 20, 30, and 40 volume developers for this job, especially on lightened hair.
- Permanent color can lift natural roots and make them look warmer. Keep the mix off your natural roots. Apply only to the hair that needs toning.
- Do not dilute the developer with tap water. It can make the mix runny and less stable. Instead, use a clear shampoo to dilute the strength (see option 1 in mixing ratio)
- Strand test first. Test a small hidden strand. Check the tone every few minutes. Rinse when it looks right.
Using Permanent Dye As a Toner
Toning is about refining tone. It is not about lifting color. If you use permanent dye for this, choose a gentle, deposit-focused approach.
Pick a shade that only cancels warmth, not one that makes your hair darker.
Violet tones down yellow brass, while blue or blue ash tones down orange brass. If you are worried the result could look too ashy, add a neutral tone to soften it so it does not turn gray or slightly green.
You need to mix your hair dye with a low-volume developer for toning.
Do not follow the box instructions for developer strength. The box likely recommends a 20-volume developer for dyeing your hair.
For toning your hair, mix the dye with a 5-vol or max 10-vol developer. If you use 20 volume on bleached hair, you risk severe breakage and ‘hot roots’ (orange roots).
Mixing Ratio for Toning
Option 1: If you are using a 10-volume developer, follow this mixing ratio
1 part Dye + 1 part 10 Volume developer + 1 part Shampoo.
The shampoo acts as a buffer, lowering the ammonia strength and making the color easier to spread quickly.
Option 2: If you are using a 5-volume developer, follow this mixing ratio
1 part Dye + 2 parts 5 Volume Developer.
Doubling the amount of liquid makes the pigment more sheer, preventing the color from being too dark or muddy.
On bleached hair, color can grab very fast. We recommend Option 1 for at-home toning so the deposit stays soft and spreads evenly.
Pro Tip
Use a porosity equalizer before toning to get a even result.
We recommend the following brands:
- Kenra Porosity Equalizer (Accessible option)
- Oligo Porosity Equalizer
- Tressa PEQ (Pro options)
Once your mix is ready, immediately apply the mix to damp hair so it spreads more evenly. Focus only on the brassy part, not the whole head.
Try to keep the mixture off the most fragile ends if they are already cool-toned, because those areas can over-tone and darken quickly. Also, avoid applying it to virgin roots unless you actually want your natural root color to change.
Start checking early and rinse with cool water or lukewarm water as soon as the brass looks neutralized, which is often in just 5 to 10 minutes. Do not leave it on longer, hoping it will get “perfect,” because that is how it turns dull, too dark, or patchy.
Expect hair to feel a bit drier than after a typical toning. Use a rich conditioner or a bond repair treatment to help the hair feel smoother and stronger. Then avoid heat styling for a day or two so the cuticle can calm down and your hair has a chance to recover.
Happy hair days!
FAQs
Use it only when you cannot get a demi-permanent toner or visit a stylist. Treat it as a short-term fix, not your go-to method.
Some people do, but it is easy to get the tone wrong. If you want a custom formula, a professional colorist is the safest choice.
Toner can shift the tone of natural hair in a subtle way. Most toners are made to refine tone, not replace full hair dye.
Toners often show best on hair that has been lightened or colored because the tone is more visible there.
Hair dye changes your hair color. Toner helps refine the tone after coloring, or helps soften unwanted warmth.
Pick a shade that cancels the tone you do not want. Then follow the dye instructions for mixing and timing.
General toning tips:
● Ash shades can help soften yellow or orange in blonde hair.
● Purple or blue tones can help neutralize yellow or orange in light hair.
● Green tones can help soften red in brown hair.
Always strand test first so you can stop at the right moment.
It can be safe when used correctly, but it is easy to overdo. If you are unsure, book a professional appointment so you do not risk an uneven result or dry, rough hair.
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