Why You Should Use a Level 9 Toner When Achieving the Perfect Blonde

Toners are used to neutralize unwanted tones and refine the final color.

All hairdressers know that if you want to achieve the right shade of blonde, toners are a key in that process.

When it comes to hair coloring, achieving that perfect blonde shade can be a delicate process.

But one of the most crucial steps in this journey is selecting the right toner, and today we're focusing on why a level 9 toner might be your best bet.

Understanding Hair Levels and Toners

Before diving into the benefits of a level 9 toner, let's quickly review what hair levels are.

Hair levels range from 1 (darkest) to 10 (lightest).

When the hair has never been colored (in other words, it is virgin hair) those levels will look like this:

But when hair has been colored or lightened in the past and has faded out, it will look more like this:

The Science Behind Getting Rid of a lot of Yellow & Orange

Have you ever put a toner on your hair and found that it did not do what it said it would do?

In other words, it did not neutralize the yellow and warmth in your hair enough?

It may have been that your hair was between level 8-9 and would have benefitted from a level 9 toner.

Level 9 toners typically contain more blue and purple pigments than level 10 toners do.

This is especially so for Ugly Duckling level 9 toners.

This is because we have built these toners to counteract the higher amount of yellow and gold which is typically found on level 9 hair.

As a result, although these toners are less blonde than level 10 toners, they contain way more neutralizing pigments.

These neutralizing pigments work to counteract the warm yellow and gold tones often present in lightened hair level 8-9.

The Sweet Spot: Level 9

A level 9 toner is often considered the ideal choice for several reasons:

Versatility

Level 9 toners work well on a range of blonde shades, from light blonde to medium light blonde. This versatility makes them a go-to option for many colorists.

Balanced Results

Unlike level 10 toners, which can sometimes be too sheer, level 9 toners offer enough pigment to effectively neutralize unwanted tones without overpowering the base color.

Natural-Looking Outcome

Are you interested in a natural looking blonde rather than an ultra white or fake looking blonde?

Level 9 toners can help achieve this.

When to Choose a Level 9 Toner

Consider using a level 9 toner in any of these scenarios:

• Your hair is between levels 8 and 10 (see the charts above). 
• There is truly a lot of yellow and gold in your hair that you are looking to neutralize.
• You are aiming for a cooler, ashier blonde
• You are aiming for a more natural looking blonde result. 

Which Level 9 toner should I choose?

Ugly Duckling has 2 level 9 toners. One is a blue ash based toner and the other is a violet blonde based toners.

Both are intensely pigmented and will neutralize warmth in the hair very effectively.

Blue Ash Blonde 09B

Violet Ash Blonde 09V

Using level 9 toners: A Real Life Example

In the example below, a client walked in with a lot of warmth in her hair. Our stylist used 09B Blue Ash blonde and toned away the warmth very successfully to produce a medium blonde result.

Before toning

After toning

Application Tips for your toner

For best results with a level 9 toner:

1. Ensure your hair is light enough before toning. 
2. Use the correct developer. 20 Vol is what we recommend.
3. Respect the correct mix ratio, which is 1 part toner to 1 part developer.
4. You can mix Ugly Duckling liquid toners in a plastic applicator bottle, which makes things easier.
5. Then afterwards just pour over the hair and rub in very thoroughly to make sure that every part of the hair gets into contact with the toner mix.
6. Rinse after 10 minutes or so.

A Word of Caution

While level 9 toners are versatile, they may not be suitable for all hair types or desired outcomes. If your hair has too much orange in it, for example, a level 9 toner might not be strong enough to neutralize them effectively. I

It would be better to tone down using a level 7 or a level 8 blue based regular ash color such as light cold ash blonde.

Alternatively, apply a good quality bleach first and take the hair closer to level 9. That way you will eliminate much of the orange prior to toning, which is the right thing to do when aiming to go blonde. Then use a level 9 toner or indeed a level 10 as desired.

Conclusion

Choosing the right toner is crucial in achieving your desired blonde shade.

A level 9 toner offers a great balance of pigment deposit and versatility, making it a popular choice among both professionals and at-home colorists.

Remember, the key to successful toning lies in understanding the starting level of the hair and the desired outcome.