What is a Toner?
At our Abingdon hairdressers, hair colour is our bread and butter. However for hair colour to take effect, toners play a vital role in the hair colouring process when bleach is used. Below we have detailed a number of important pointers in helping both client and Stylist decide when and where toners are most appropriate.
The biggest misconception about bleach is that it is a hair colour. Simply put, bleach lightens hair, it does not colour it. Bleaching has a simple but important function in the hair colouring process. Bleach removes the pigment out of the hair and thus stripping the hair of its previous colour.
Most vitally bleach, and bleach alone is not sufficient to achieve your desired colour.
What is a Toner?
Have a specific colour in mind? If your answer is ‘yes’, you will require a toner. After all, without colour you’d be left with a yellow/orange colour from the bleach!
Your final colour comes from the toning process. For that reason alone, toners are the most important aspect of the colour process. Without them, you can’t go anywhere with your colour. Different clients require different types; for example on blondes, cooler toner makes the colour more silvery and warmer toner makes it more coppery.
To many, the belief is that toners are required to achieve blonde colours only. This isn’t the case, irrespective of hair colour, brunettes, reds, blonde or more… Toners are widely used to achieve colour.
Different shampoos can enhance toners or preserve colour. Depending on your colour and desired look, we recommend ‘purple’ shampoo (also known as JOICO Color Endure) or Blonde Life shampoo both by JOICO achieving blonde shades, but are also a must for redheads and brunettes.
Will my colour fade when using a toner?
Toners require maintenance. Simply put, if you look after your hair you’ll be okay. Your hair care routine will play a vital role. Many shampoos and conditioners will strip your hair of its colour. Whilst it may temporarily feel shiny, this is artificial and it will eventually damage and strip your hair of that lovely colour.
Stylists will regularly ask their clients; “if you are spending money on your colour, why aren’t you spending money on your aftercare?”. Aftercare is just as, if not more important than the type of colour used.
Toners may fade quicker largely depending on your hairs condition. Hair porosity will play a significant role in this. As a general rule of thumb, previous coloured hair will hold colour for less time than say, ‘virgin’ hair.
