What Does Toner Do to Hair? The Ultimate Guide to Toning and Maintenance

Achieving the perfect hair colour is more than just a single-step process. From lightening to highlighting, every stage requires precision, but there’s one often-overlooked tool that brings it all together: toner. In this blog, Laura Elliott, Head of Education at Neäl & Wølf explores what toner does, how it works, and why it’s an essential part of modern haircare.

1. First, what is hair toner?

Hair toner is designed to refine and adjust undertones to create the perfect shade. They work to enhance, neutralise or balance colour tones in the hair. Toners are often more than just a colour-correcting tool, as they can be used to boost shine and improve the overall texture of hair. This makes it a game changer for salons, as well as a brilliant tool for maintenance at home.

2. What does toner do to your hair?

Toner is one of the most effective tools in the haircare world for refining and perfecting colour. It can add shine, depth and seamlessness to hair colour to ensure a vibrant finish. Below, we’ve listed some of the key effects of the product.

Neutralises unwanted tones

Hair toners can counteract brassy, yellow, or orange tones that can appear after lightening treatments. For example, a purple toner usually neutralises yellow, while a blue or green toner targets orange tones.

Enhances shine

Many toners contain ingredients that add a reflective layer to the hair, such as squalane, which creates a glossy, healthy-looking finish. Squalane hydrates hair by locking in moisture, leaving locks smooth and vibrant. Read more: What is Squalane? Benefits, Origin and Function

Customises colour

Toners can help to create bespoke shades that perfectly align with your vision. This can mean making colour cooler in tone, or ensuring an even colour throughout locks, from root to tip.

Softens harsh lines

Toner can be used to get the best results when two alternative colours are needed to create your desired look. For example with balayage or highlighting, toner can help blend the colours seamlessly for a smooth transition.

3. How long does toner last on bleached hair

On bleached hair, toner typically lasts between 2 to 6 weeks. However, longevity of toner depends on hair porosity, the formula used (permanent vs demi permanent), and the aftercare routine. Regular touch-ups and using colour-safe products can help to prolong the vibrancy of your toned hair, keeping it looking fresh and salon-worthy for longer.

4. What does hair toner do to highlights?

Hair toner can neutralise any brassy or overly warm tones that might show up when lightening. It can also blend the highlights with the base colour to create a more natural appearance. Using toner can also give a glossy finish to bring more of a focus onto highlights.

5. Can you put toner on grey hair?

Yes! Toner can keep grey hair looking its best by neutralising any yellowing tones that might develop over time. It can also be used to create a soft silver or platinum sheen to help grey hair appear healthier and sophisticated. For more grey hair care products, browse our solutions: Grey Hair Products

6. Does toner work on natural hair?

Yes, toner does work on natural hair, but it may have a subtler effect compared to coloured hair. While it won’t appear as transformative, it can still make natural locks look much more enhanced. For example, toner can cool down brunette shades or make natural blondes appear brighter.

7. What does hair toner do to brown hair?

Toner can neutralise unwanted orange or red undertones in brown hair, to create a cool, ashier finish. It can also add depth to the shade for a rich, sophisticated finish. Beyond the colour correction, toner can add a glossy sheen that brings out the different dimensions of brown hair to create a more complex shade.

8. Do you put toner on wet or dry hair?

Toner is typically applied to damp, towel-dried hair. Hair should be clean and free of product build up, so that the toner can be evenly distributed and absorbed. This helps the toner to spread more easily, reducing patchiness for an even result. 

9. Does toner damage hair?

Toner is generally safe and non-damaging to hair. Most toner formulations are gentle, designed to strengthen hair and lock in moisture. We would recommend using a hair mask after treatment, like our HYDRATE Moisture Hair Mask, which can stop hair from becoming dry and dehydrated.

10. What is the best toner to use?

Choosing the best toner depends on your hair type, colour, and desired results. Below, we’ve listed three of our recommended solutions.

Permanent Toner

If you’re looking for long-lasting results, a permanent toner could be for you. These toners work by penetrating deeper into the hair shaft, hanging onto locks for longer. Our brand new .81 colour range comes in a variety of blue-green shades, used to neutralise red and orange tones in brunette hair. These colours make a much cooler end result, to create shades such as ashy brown. View our full colour chart: Hair Colour Shade Chart & Numbering System

Demi Toner

Demi-permanent toners require less commitment than permanent toner, ideal for colour refinement. As well as neutralising unwanted tones, our GLAZE range is gentle on hair, leaving locks hydrated and moisturised. Our product also leaves hair with a high-shine that enhances healthy-looking locks. Browse our solution: GLAZE Demi Toner

Semi-permanent

Semi-permanent toners are generally the quickest to fade and are, therefore, the lowest-commitment colour you can get. This makes them ideal for people who want to test a colour before committing to it long-term or for those who like to experiment and change their look often. Semi-permanent colour neutralises unwanted tones but can also provide a bright and vivid wash of colour. Our COLOUR REBOOST range is Ammonia and PPD free, making it ultra-gentle on the hair while being enriched with a blend of Aloe Vera, Limnanthes Alba, and Argan Oil. Browse our solution: COLOUR REBOOST Semi-permanent

Purple shampoo

Purple shampoo is a toning product that can be used at home to maintain your hair colour. Violet pigment is used to neutralise yellow tones between salon visits, especially useful on blonde, grey and even red hair. Our BLONDE Purple Brightening Shampoo and Conditioner can be used to protect and enhance locks. For an added touch, our MIRACLE Rapid Blow-Dry Mist also includes violet pigment, keeping brassy tones at bay as it speeds up drying.
Hair toner is the colour product that we couldn’t do without! It enhances, refines, and perfects hair colour. Check into your local salon today to try out our new products: Find your Neäl & Wølf salon