Can I tone my hair twice? While you can absolutely tone your hair twice, you shouldn’t tone it twice in the same day. For some background, hair toner is most often used to correct the yellowness or brassiness that follows the use of hair bleach.
On another hand, a toner can be used for color personalization and adding some tonality (varying levels of ashy, neutral, or warm) to the hair. In the instance of discoloration, the result could be immediately after the bleaching process or after a handful of washes.
Although the most common reason discoloration crops up is naturally occurring orange-red color deposits in dark hair, other factors could be mineral or chemical build-up, or exposure to oxidizing elements.
This article will review toners in their totality, so feel free to sit back, relax, and refresh your knowledge about hair toners with the information below. Who knows, maybe we will be able to answer some of your most burning questions about toning!
What Is Hair Toner And What Does It Do?
Hair toner is an ammonia-free product used during the hair dyeing process. According to ELLE Beauty, a toner can be most “demi-permanent colors, glosses, and tinted shampoos and conditioners” since they all adjust the overall tonality of your hair.
Despite the fact that toner cannot change your hair color by itself, the product does offer an array of color variation by enhancing, neutralizing, or correcting undertones.
On that note, everyone has natural undertones in their hair, and bleaching can lead to the exposure of these undertones; if you have warmer undertones, this is where the appearance of brassy oranges, reds, and yellows come in. Toners can easily correct these.
Note that most natural blondes will not turn brassy when bleached. Comparatively, toner may enhance certain undertones, or neutralize any outstanding discoloration caused by salt water, chlorine, or UV-rays.
That’s right: the sea, pool, and sun can all mess with the tone of your hair! All three inadvertently cause oxidation—whether through direct chemical interaction or light exposure—which will in turn lighten your hair and give it a more dull appearance.
When combating the effects of oxidation, toners will deposit pigments and add glossiness to the hair. Not only will this improve the overall look of your hair, it’ll balance the undertones.
Below is a quick review of the three different types of toners available to you:
Permanent Hair Toner
Here’s a secret: there is no such thing as a permanent toner. Alas, nothing lasts forever. What is advertised as a permanent hair toner is simply specially formulated to be fade resistant, while still successfully covering the hair and depositing color.
They are primarily used when a significant shift needs to happen with the hair, as is required to achieve an extreme blonde. Additionally, these types of toners tend to require a certain level of developer, usually at around 20 vol, and they contain ammonia.
Some popular permanent toners are Wella Color Charm Permanent Toner (in both liquid and cream), Ugly Duckling Permanent Toner, and AGEbeautiful Topcoat Toner (which works particularly well on graying hair).
Demi-Permanent Hair Toner
Most hair toners are considered demi-permanent in nature. They coat the hair, tinting the pigment in just such a way to get desirable results.
Furthermore, these achieve a glossy effect—oh, and did we mention that these take only 15-20 minutes to develop the tone you’re looking for?
Although demi-permanent hair toners do not last as long as permanent ones, they will surely outlast semi-permanent alternatives.
Semi-Permanent Hair Toner
Semi-permanent is the next most popular type of hair toner available on the market next to professional demi-permanent options. These are easy.
Most semi-permanent toners are toning masks, shampoos, or conditioners. They will adjust the undertones of the hair without ultimately changing the color of it, creating a more personalized look with minimal upkeep.
Can You Tone Your Hair Twice In One Day?
It is not recommended to tone your hair twice in one day. Even though most toners are ammonia-free and do not require the use of a developer, they still rely on base ingredients that could be damaging to the hair if repeatedly exposed.
Most of the time, potential damage is primarily a concern for toners that have a higher pH, since they are more alkaline (and therefore more aggressive) in their toning process.
Alkaline leaning hair toners also have the ability to somewhat lift natural hair colors and should be avoided for only partial lightening processes like highlights and balayage.
On another hand, acidic toners are significantly less aggressive. Their pH is lower, and will gently guide the hair back to a natural, slightly acidic state.
Fun fact: hair is a bit acidic, with a pH level between 4.5 – 5.5. If you are faced with balancing richly pigmented or unevenly colored hair, acidic toner likely won’t do much for you—opt for alkaline toners instead.
Generally, you would want to choose a hair toner with the right pH to fit your desired results. Unfortunately, there is no such thing as a toner that can do it all (though that would be nice, huh).
Can I Tone My Hair Twice In A Week?
No, you should not tone your hair twice a week. As a rule of thumb, avoid toning your hair prior to 4-8 weeks after the first toning. Above all else, your hair needs time to adjust and recover from being bleached.
As you can probably imagine, bleaching leaves the hair shaft in a vulnerable place; so, repeated toning in a close time frame can cause some serious damage to your lovely locks.
Usually, you don’t want to re-tone your hair unless you absolutely need to. This means you should probably hold off on breaking out the toner until your newly light blonde hair begins to turn brassy, instead of doing so beforehand.
Now you may be wondering: what about toning shampoos? Well, they’re great for a quick color refresh. In the case of using a violet or blue toner shampoo, the use should be limited to once or twice a week and it definitely should not replace your go-to shampoo and conditioner combo.
Likewise, color depositing conditioners can neutralize warm undertones and brassiness in a similar fashion. Neither are necessarily as damaging as an entire stand alone toner, but they should be used only as directed as excessive use can cause build-up that leads to brittle strands and a dull appearance.
How Long Should I Wait To Tone My Hair Again?
It is preferable to wait 4-8 weeks between toning sessions. This time frame is ideal for using permanent and demi-permanent toner types, while semi-permanent toners can be used once or twice a week for a quick touch-up.
Otherwise, you want to use toners with some degree of caution. Frankly, nothing is worse than unnecessary damage to your hair. It is best to avoid it if you can.
That being said, toners can be more harmful than good in some cases and can actually worsen any present damage your hair is experiencing if used in excess.
Never use toner twice in a day, or more than once a week, and keep your applications a month apart at minimum for the sake of the health of your hair. Also, if your hair has had a real go of it and is particularly damaged, wait two months until you tone it again.
Can I Tone My Hair The Same Day I Bleach It?
You absolutely can tone your hair the same day that it is bleached. In fact—if your hair is still healthy—toning immediately following bleaching is recommended by most beauty professionals. When applying toner to freshly bleached hair, make sure the hair is damp for best results.
Also, hold off on using conditioner until after you’ve toned your hair. Conditioning before can lead to weaker, slightly patchy results since the color absorption would be interrupted by the hair conditioner.
Remember that although toning will be a must if you end up with yellow or orange hair after bleaching, we do not recommend toning your hair twice in a row. Always tone only as it is needed.
Should I Bleach My Hair Again If It Came Out Orange?
No, you should not bleach your hair again if it comes out orange. In all honesty, a vibrant orange is one of the most prevalent colors that appears immediately after bleaching—besides a pale yellow, that is—and it shouldn’t cause panic.
Orange hair won’t disappear overnight though, so we should probably do something about it. But, be warned: double bleaching is not the answer here. As it is, bleach strips your hair of keratin as it is actively dissolving melanin (what gives your hair its pigment).
By lacking this necessary protein while the hair cuticle is open, your hair is in a perpetual state of fragility and is prone to further damage. Bleaching out orange is only going to exacerbate the present damages.
Thankfully, this is where hair toners step in to save the day. Even the most stubborn of orange discoloration can be defeated by the appropriate toner application.
Note that hair toners are tailored to neutralize most any unusual color—even green. They can (and will) eventually fade, and will need to be reapplied. However, until then you can enjoy some good looking hair.
Will Wella T18 Tone Orange Hair?
Yes, Wella T18 will tone orange hair! That is its job, after all. Since this specific toner will create a beautiful ash undertone, Wella T18 works wonders on hair that is particularly discolored towards an orange-y color. As a toner, Wella T18 will deposit cool undertones of violet, blue, and gray.
If you are planning on using Wella T18, your desired results likely lay along the lines of a cool ash blonde or an eye-catching platinum. On the other side of the spectrum, Wella does offer toners that will grant warm undertones if that is what you are looking for instead.
To check out more Wella products, you can find the brand carried at most Sally stores, or on various e-commerce beauty stores. Here you can find select Wella toners on Amazon. They even have their very own Wella Professionals website.
Why Is My Hair Still Orange After Toning?
If your hair is still orange after toning, make sure you use a blue toner next time around. Unfortunately, there is no one-size-fits-all umbrella hair toner. You will have to diagnose the exact color issue you’re having before using a corrective product.
In order to figure out what exact toner color is best for you look no further than a standard color wheel. After identifying what color you want to eliminate, go to the exact opposite of the wheel to find the toner you need.
For example, if your hair is showing up green, opt for a toner with red pigments. If yellows are ruining your look, try out a purple toner. But, if your issue is orange, use blue.
How Do I Prepare My Hair To Tone It For A Second Time?
There are a few ways you can prepare your hair for a second round of toning, but above all else you want to make sure your hair is moisturized. That’s right: it is time for a deep conditioning hair mask.
While any conditioning treatment can feasibly work, tons of folk out there are swearing by coconut oil hair masks. They’re easy to do, inexpensive, and get the job done. Even better? This handy-dandy mask can be prepared and done from the comfort of your home.
To prepare a coconut oil hair mask simply follow the steps below:
- Carefully measure out 2 tablespoons of coconut oil into a sauce pan. Bear in mind that the amount may vary depending on your hair’s thickness—if your hair is thinner or more fine, then a single tablespoon may work better.
- Turn the burner on low and slowly heat the coconut oil.
- Once the coconut oil has liquified, remove from heat.
- While the oil is still warm, carefully massage the oil from the roots of your hair to the tips. You should avoid handling hot oil at the risk of burns, so make sure you give the coconut oil ample time to reach ~65 degrees.
Ideally, don’t use a conditioning hair mask the day-of, instead applying it throughout the weeks leading up to the big day. And before we forget, there are no rules that say you can’t apply cool oil to your hair—room temperature coconut oil can work just as well.
How Do I Apply Hair Toner A Second Time After 6 Weeks?
After a 6 week grace period, apply your hair toner just as you would normally. There’s really no special steps to take for applying toner a second time around.
As usual, follow the directions on your select toner of choice. In the case of toners with ammonia, you will need to mix the product with appropriate amounts of developer.
Otherwise, simply apply the toner to damp hair and monitor your time carefully. Most toners need to only sit between 20 and 45 minutes, though the exact time does depend on the brand used.
Remember that mistakes can happen, especially in beauty regimes. Look out for going over the amount of time required for your hair toner, as you could end up with some messy consequences akin to extensive hair damage and flat, undesirable undertones.
On the flip side, leaving the toner on for too short of a time isn’t as dire of a situation. Of course, you won’t achieve that look, but you won’t risk any crazy damage to your hair either.
Is Toning Your Hair Damaging?
To some degree, yes: toning your hair can be potentially damaging. Speaking on that, correctly using hair toners should have minimal negative effects on your hair, if any.
The potential damage caused by toners is the leading reason why toning twice in a row is a huge no-no. Similarly, it is the reason to space out your toning sessions.
Since toners are usually applied as a corrective following hair bleaching, you are technically adding chemicals to hair that is in a fragile state. Naturally, too much of these chemicals can overburden the hair.
Look out for hair that is crunchy, dry, brittle, or dull. In addition to this, keep an eye out for notable hair loss from damages. A solution to this could be using a porosity equalizer prior to toning.
Porosity equalizers act as protective barriers to shield your hair from further damage. They are chalked-full of minerals and proteins that help balance hair porosity to ensure even color absorption.
But, what is porosity? And why is it so important? Hair porosity is your hair’s ability to absorb and retain moisture. People tend to fall into three categories with porosity, which include low, medium, and high porosity levels.
Low porosity means your hair has some trouble with retaining moisture. Although naturally occurring, low porosity can be caused by damaging hair treatments like bleaching, and the use of hot tools (blow dryers, straighteners, curlers, etc).
Ultraviolet exposure can also trigger low porosity. Medium porosity is the happy middle ground for hair. Your hair retains moisture well, which makes coloring and styling a breeze. Hair that is of medium porosity is known to be shiny, bouncy, and overall healthy.
High porosity hair is the other end of the spectrum. Where there will be no issue absorbing moisture, the hair won’t hold onto it for long. Limp hair that is easy to break are some tell-tale signs of high porosity hair. Additionally, you may notice that your hair is dry or frizzy.
The biggest fear after bleaching is the development of low porosity hair, which makes even coloring difficult to achieve. Using a porosity equalizer can help address the hair’s inability to retain moisture enough to achieve a unified color after toning.
If you are DIYing your new do, check out brands like Kenra, Ion, and Schwarzkopf for their lines of porosity equalizers—they are available at most in-person beauty stores.
What Can I Use If I Don’t Have Toner For My Hair?
Here’s the sitch: you find yourself in dire need of a hair toner, but you don’t have any. Or, that’s what you think! You see, dear reader, there are quite a number of reliable things in your cabinets that can be used as a neat, in a pinch toner.
These options include but are not limited to:
- Apple cider vinegar (diluted with cool water)
- Lemon juice and conditioner
- Chamomile tea
- Green tea
- Hibiscus tea
- Black tea
The above concoctions are useful for various toning needs, from sterling grays to warm browns. Prior to application, double check for any possible allergy risks or topical sensitivities.
Sensitivities aside, many of these at-home options can possibly cause some dryness—we recommend using a deep conditioner after applying these natural hair toners.
Final Thoughts: Can I Tone My Hair Twice?
To concisely summarize all of this information: hair toners are as varied as hair itself. While you won’t exactly find a single toner for all of your toner needs, you will be able to find the perfect toner for you with a little bit of analysis on your part.
Take a look at a color wheel to help you figure out what exact color of toner you require; to do this, figure out what color you are trying to cancel out. The color immediately opposite of your “problem” color will be the color of toner you should use.
Keep in mind that most toners are ammonia-free, with the lone exception being permanent toners that are used in cases where an intense blonde is the desired outcome. Demi and semi-permanent toners are more flexible and a majority of the selection is ammonia-free.
What this means is that permanent toners can pose more damage on your hair when compared to other toner options. Continuing on, hair toners are generally damaging, but the extent of which is minimal when safely and appropriately used.
If your hair is showing signs of bleach damage (brittleness, dryness, split ends, hair loss, knots) then we recommend using a porosity equalizer prior to applying any toner. The equalizer is a mineral-rich protectant that will help evenly distribute color while offering your hair a reprieve.
On another hand, safe toner alternatives include teas like hibiscus, green, black, and chamomile, and other easily accessible items including lemon juice and apple cider vinegar. These can cause some dryness, but it is nothing that a deep condition won’t be able to fix.
In all, hair toners are a great way to add depth to your hairstyle—they add undertones of your choice while simultaneously enhancing and neutralizing other pigments. Next time you find yourself bleaching your hair, make sure you reach for a reliable toner to give your new look that wow factor!
