Which toner should I use?

What exactly is a hair toner?

A hair toner is a product that color corrects hair. 

Most hair toners contain either purple, blue, green or ash pigments.

These pigments help to neutralize unwanted warm tones which typically occur in bleached or highlighted hair.

There are essentially 3 different types of toners you should know about.

Permanent toners.

Demi-permanent toners.

And purple based toning shampoos and masks. 

We will go through all these 3 categories in this blog and explain to you which one you should use for your hair.

(1) Permanent hair toners

Permanent toners are what you need to use if you are looking to achieve significant hair transformation.

For example, if you are looking to go blonde, white blonde, platinum blonde or ash blonde.

These toners contain ammonia. They open up & penetrate the hair cuticle.

They are mixed with developers.

Permanent hair toners, as the name implies, are very long lasting.

If your client's hair is level 9 or 10, with only very little yellow, then you should tone with the regular lift Ugly Duckling toners.

Toners such as pearl blonde 10V and silver blonde 10B.

Also blonde colors such as purple based 10.2 and blue based 10.1b.

But if your client's hair is level 7 or 8, with more yellow present and a little orange, then you will need to use Ugly Duckling's intense toners.

These toners contain extra lift will kick out the yellow and lift the hair up by around one to two levels.

No other manufacturer has this technology.

The 2 intense toners are intense pearl blonde 100V and intense silver blonde 100B

Intense Pearl Blonde Toner - 100V

Intense Silver Blonde Toner - 100B

Regular Lift Pearl Blonde Toner - 10V

Regular Silver Blonde Toner - 10B

Extra Light Cool Blonde - 10.2 (Purple based)

Extra Light Cold Ash Blonde 10.1b (Blue based)

(2) Demi-Permanent Toners

Demi-permanent toners achieve quick gloss toning effects.

They do not lift the hair.

This has a real advantage if you are looking to tone highlights which have turned brassy but you don't want to lift the base.

Demi's do not contain ammonia and they will tend to fade out gradually in around 4-5 weeks.

At this point they will need a quick refresh.

Hair stylists usually appreciate the quick application time of these toners and the great and immediate color refresh results they achieve.

Ugly Duckling's demi-permanent hair toners are liquid toners, contain no PPD and have been enriched with Bond Protect.

They are very cosmetic and can be used frequently - every 6 weeks, for example, is good.

They are applied out of the bottle. They come in several shades, level 10 and also level 9.

They are very easy to use.

Use the level 10 toners if your hair has been bleached to a true level 10.

Use the level 9 toners if your hair is darker than that.

And don't hesitate to mix any of your chosen toners with Clear.

Although we said these toners are non-lifting, by mixing in with Clear you will be able to get a half level jump up in your hair level.

Natural Ash Blonde 010B

Natural Violet Blonde 010V

Violet Blonde 9V

Blue Ash blonde 9B

Purple Grey Toner

Clear Toner

3) Purple based Masks, Shampoos & Treatment Products

Purple based shampoos, masks and other treatment products don't lift the hair.

Nor do they penetrate or open up the hair cuticle. 

You are basically just applying purple colorant to the outside of the hair.

As there is no chemical treatment involved you can use such toners pretty much as often as you like as regular maintenance product.

These products are best used at the backwash while doing a regular bleach or tone application, or simply on its own.

Ugly Duckling's Brilliant Blonde Purple Shampoo is a good example of such a toning product.

Ugly Duckling's purple shampoo and mask have been formulated specially so that they don't stain.

So you can can just rinse them off after water.

Also, they are acidic products. Meaning that they treat the hair fiber, helping to close them and prevent split ends.

They are also sulfate-free and gluten-free.

How do I tone my client's hair blonde?

The first thing to do is examine the hair and figure out what level it is and how much yellow or orange there is in it.

Use the chart below to help you decide.

The rules for toning are that is the hair is level 6 or darker, you much use bleach to pre-lighten first.

Hair Color Levels & Their Undertones

Now ask yourself these questions:

(1) Are you looking for a significant blonde transformation? Are you looking to do a full head toning?

If yes, you would need to use Ugly Duckling's permanent toners because they are the best at getting you the lift and the 3D ultra white blonde color results. These are also the best toners for those looking for level 10 blonde toning.

Use the intense toners if you need some additional lift even after bleaching.

Use the no-lift toners if the hair is truly well lightened to level 10 and you are looking only to re-pigment.

(2) Are you looking for a quick gloss tone without going full-on level 10 blonde? Or toning just the blonde highlights without touching a dark base?

If you are just looking for a quick gloss toning result and if you have a darker base which you prefer to leave untouched, then you should use Ugly Duckling's liquid gloss toners, Blondify.

These are the best toners for those looking for a level-on-level toning as opposed to a full-on level 10 blonde transformation.

They will work equally well on full head as well as highlights.

When the hair is at level 9-10, use the natural violet blonde toner (010V). The violet will color-correct for the yellow.

When the hair is at level 7-8, use the natural ash blonde toner (010A). The ash will color-correct for the yellow-orange.

When the hair is at level 5-6, use the violet blonde (9V) if you are seeing a lot of yellow and the blue asb blonde (9B) if you are seeing a lot of yellow-orange.

The purple grey and the clear pigments are also colors that hairdressers find useful.

The purple grey provides for additional toning to neutralize yellow and the clear give an extra level of lift and a lot of shine.

Incidentally, you can mix any of these toners together. They have been formulated to work well together.

(3) Are you just looking for a blonde maintenance product?

Has your hair has already been toned but it is still yellow due to the passage of time?

Or do you want to refresh the hair color and maintain its pristine white blonde color, without a time consuming chemical color transformation?

Then you need to use Ugly Duckling's Purple Shampoo & Mask.

These are hair care products with toning pigments added.

There is no chemical process involved & they can be used in-between salon visits or even at the back wash after a bleach or toning service.

Basically use these products as often as you want.

Ugly Duckling's Purple Shampoo & Mask do not stain.

They are sulfate free, gluten free and low pH.

Hair Toner Guide

(1) Read off as accurately as you can the color of your client's hair currently.

(2) Are you going for a significant blonde transformation involving permanent hair toners for full head toning?

(3) Or are you looking for a quick gloss refresh, toning blonde highlights only without touching the base?

(4) The Hair toner guide will guide you which toner you need to use.

How Should I Apply Cream Based Permanent Toners?

For Ugly Duckling cream toners, the mix is 1 part toner to 2 parts developer.

20 Vol would be the developer strength. Remember to pre-lighten first to level 9 for best results.

Ugly Duckling's cream toners are best applied using a brush, as below:

WATCH VIDEO:

How Should I Apply Liquid Demi-Permanent Toners?

For Blondify, the mix is 1 part toner to 1 part developer.

You can use 7 Vol, 10 Vol or 20 Vol depending on the lift required.

Remember to towel dry the hair if it is wet. Excess moisture will cause dilution of your color mix.

Mix in your applicator bottle and apply as below:

WATCH VIDEO:

How should I apply Purple Toning Shampoos and Masks?

Rub in purple shampoo as thoroughly as you can, making sure that every part of the hair comes into contact with the product. Leave in 5 minutes then rinse in tepid water.

Then apply Purple Mask. Let the purple mask sit under a towel in gentle heat for 10 minutes. Then rinse.

WATCH VIDEO:

Hair Toners Before & After

Intense Pearl Blonde 100V - Before & After

Hair by Kim Kevin, Sanford, North Carolina.

Blondify Liquid Toner Natural Ash Toner 010A - Before & After

Hair by Elona Taki