The Power of Toner for Yellow Hair: 2023 Guide

Blondes, we’ve all been there – that moment when your gorgeous golden locks start to take on an unwanted yellowish tinge. It’s a common struggle, but fear not! The secret weapon in your arsenal to restore your hair’s brilliance is none other than a toner. If you’ve ever wondered how to say goodbye to those pesky yellow undertones and hello to your dream shade of blonde, you’re in the right place. In this guide, we’re diving headfirst into the world of toner for yellow hair, uncovering the science behind it and discovering how this magical elixir can be your ultimate ally in achieving hair that’s as stunning as it is vibrant.

What Causes Yellow Hair After Bleaching?

When you bleach your hair, it opens up the hair cuticle and removes your natural pigment. However, it does not remove the underlying yellow/orange pigment. This causes your hair to take on a yellow or brassy appearance after lightening.

The level of brassiness depends on factors like:

  • Natural hair color – Darker hair has more underlying pigment
  • Hair porosity – More porous hair absorbs more pigment
  • Bleach strength and processing time

How Does Hair Toner Work?

Hair toner contains pigments that neutralize unwanted yellow and orange tones.

There are two main types of toner:

Permanent toner – Contains peroxide and ammonia to open the cuticle and deposit permanent pigment. Lasts 4-6 weeks.

Semi-permanent toner – Deposits pigment without lifting the cuticle. No peroxide or ammonia. Lasts 2-3 shampoos.

Choosing the Best Toner for Yellow Hair

Level of Brassiness

  • Slight brassiness – semi-permanent toner
  • Heavy brassiness – permanent toner

Hair Color

  • Cool, ashy blondes – blue or violet toner
  • Warm golden blondes – beige toner

Hair Porosity

  • More porous hair = longer processing time
  • Less porous hair = shorter processing time

Hair Condition

  • Damage = use a conditioning toner

How to Apply Toner

  • Clarify hair with a shampoo to remove product buildup
  • Mix toner according to instructions
  • Apply toner evenly with tint brush from roots to ends
  • Process according to toner directions
  • Permanent = 15-30 mins
  • Semi-permanent = 5-10 mins
  • Rinse thoroughly with cool water
  • Condition hair

How to Use Toner to Neutralize Yellow Hair

  • To get rid of brassiness, use a toner with blue or violet pigments. These opposite colors on the color wheel will cancel out yellow tones.
  • When hair is very yellow, a permanent toner will give longer-lasting results. Semi-permanent options work well for mild brassiness.
  • Strand testing toner before full application allows you to see the color result and adjust the timing if needed.
  • Porous or damaged hair may require a longer toner processing time than healthy hair. Monitor frequently to avoid over-toning.
  • For best toner maintenance, use a purple shampoo weekly and avoid hot tools. Heat damage can make hair more porous and prone to brassiness.
  • To keep blonde hair bright, re-tone every 4-6 weeks. Toner fades over time, so regular applications preserve the color.
  • When toning at home, always follow the directions carefully. Leaving toner on too long or mixing incorrectly can lead to unwanted results. Professional help is best for tricky color jobs.

Best Toners for Yellow Hair

Wella Color Charm T18 Lightest Ash Blonde Toner: A cult favorite, this toner works wonders to neutralize yellow and create a cool, ashy blonde shade.

Schwarzkopf Professional BlondMe Instant Blush Blonde Beautifier: This customizable toner offers a range of shades to counteract yellow and infuse beautiful pastel hues.

Fanola No Yellow Shampoo and Mask: A dynamic duo, this purple shampoo and mask combo is renowned for swiftly banishing yellow tones and maintaining vibrant blonde hair.

Redken Shades EQ Gloss: Known for its conditioning formula, this toner not only removes brassiness but also leaves hair shiny and silky.

Joico Color Balance Purple Shampoo and Conditioner: Another purple power couple, these products work in harmony to eliminate yellow undertones while hydrating your locks.

Matrix Total Results So Silver Shampoo: A purple shampoo that’s loved for its effective color correction and its ability to maintain cool-toned blonde shades.

TIGI Bed Head Dumb Blonde Purple Toning Shampoo: This shampoo offers a double whammy of toning and nourishing, making it a go-to for neutralizing yellow.

Paul Mitchell Platinum Blonde Toning Spray: For a quick and easy fix, this toning spray can be applied to damp or dry hair to help counteract yellow tones.

Clairol Professional Shimmer Lights Shampoo and Conditioner: A classic choice, this duo has been trusted for years to refresh blonde hair and keep it looking vibrant.

Pravana The Perfect Blonde Purple Toning Masque: This masque not only tones out brassiness but also helps strengthen and nourish your hair.

Final Thoughts

So, there you have it – the journey from yellow to fabulous is just a toner away! Toner for yellow hair isn’t just a quick fix; it’s a game-changer that can transform your blonde from meh to marvelous. Whether you’re aiming for icy platinum, a soft ash hue, or any shade in between, the power of toner is undeniable. So, bid adieu to those pesky yellow tones and embrace a blonde that’s pure, radiant, and absolutely stunning. With a little help from the toner magic, your hair will shine like the star you are, turning heads and leaving a trail of envy in your wake.

Top 12 Least Damaging Hair Bleach Brands

Want to bleach your hair at home but afraid of going bald? We have your back. It’s understandable that you want to “DIY” because you will have to spend a lot just to get your hair done in salons. With our 12 recommendations on the least damaging hair bleach brands, you can achieve your wanted look at home without overspending.

Best Affordable Hair Bleach – L’Oréal Super Oreal Blanc Professional Powder Bleach

One of the more economical professional bleaches is made by L’Oréal. Super L’Oreal Blanc is a dust-free powder mix, which means it’s designed to reduce the number of particles you inhale when getting your hair done. It transforms into a non-drippy, workable paste with up to seven levels of lift.

If you’re searching for a low-cost hair bleach that won’t cause your hair to fall out, this is the one. Because of its non-drippy recipe, you may create flawlessly bleached hair at home without smearing the product all over your clothes for a reasonable price. But for those who bleach their hair for the first time, you should check out other products as this bleach is sold separately. 

Best Hair Bleach for Dark Hair – Schwarzkopf Blonde Me Premium Lift 9

Schwarzkopf Blonde Me Premium Lift 9 is a professional hair-lightening powder intended for use on natural or dyed blonde hair. This treatment has a number of chemicals that work together to raise the hair up to 9 levels while reducing damage.

This is fantastic for breaking through previously colored dark hair when performing heavy freehand work on naturally dark brown and black-headed customers. However, you have to be cautious of possible irritations which are inevitable if you have a sensitive scalp. 

Safest Bleach for Hair at Home – Clairol Professional BW2 Lightener

Clairol Professional BW2 Lightener is a hair bleach powder that may lighten hair up to 8 levels when used with a developer. It contains chemicals that assist to reduce hair damage, such as a protective barrier that develops around each strand of hair to prevent breaking. This hair bleach powder is safe for all hair types and may be blended with a variety of developers to obtain varying amounts of lift.

Like L’Oreal Super Oreal Blanc Professional Powder Bleach, this product is sold without any bleaching tools and it also has a very strong, which is not sensitive-nose consumers. Aside from that, you give this item a shot as it can work on very dark hair and is dust-free, which makes the cleaning process much easier.

Best Cruelty-Free Hair Bleach – Manic Panic Flash Lightning Hair Bleach Kit 30 Volume

Manic Panic also makes a bleach with a developer that has a 40-volume intensity, but we chose this 30-volume to appeal to a wider audience. This package has everything you need and is both budget-friendly and vegan, cruelty-free, and PETA-certified. It will elevate your hair five levels in tone, so it is probably better for lighter tones, and you can achieve lightening by following the simple directions.

Most of the reviews of this product are pretty positive. They discovered that it lightened their hair to the ideal color of pale blonde without damaging or breaking it. They appreciated that the kit included all required components and that the directions were simple to follow. Several consumers said that the bleach powder was messy and difficult to apply and that the developer emitted a strong odor. 

Best Moisturized Hair Bleach – Wella Professionals Color Charm Powder Lightener

If you’re concerned about your hair drying out like a doll’s hair after bleaching, here is the solution. The Powder Lightener is appropriate for both on- and off-scalp application procedures due to its regulated and dependable lightening effect. It features a protective oil system that helps to keep moisture in.

Whether you’ve bleached your hair too many times to count or you’re new to lightning, this mixture will get the job done—potentially with less harm. The powder has a bluish-purple color that contrasts with the yellow, orange, and brassy tones that are common in artificially lightened hair. Brushes and mixing tools, like the majority of the products on this list, are not included. 

Best Smelling Hair Bleach – Blond Forte Perfect Blond Extra Strength Hair Lightener

This composition is creamy and no-drip, making it simple to use and contains coconut oil to keep in hydration as well as delivering a lovely aroma. It’s also paraben-free and has an anti-yellow ingredient to counteract brassy undertones. You should receive 6 to 7 levels of lift if you combine one scoop with a developer of your choice.

This hair bleach is popular among consumers because of its mild composition and pleasant coconut aroma. Those who have purchased it praise it as a non-drippy product that does not harm their hair, even if they have the most challenging hair type imaginable. One con of this item is that the container appears a little fragile, but this is nothing compared to its incredible benefits.

Best Subtle-Scent Hair Bleach – L’Oreal Paris Quick Blue Powder Bleach

Another L’Oreal product on this list. It’s undeniable that L’Oreal has one of the best hair care products ever, especially L’Oreal Paris Quick Blue Powder bleach. It has a very faint aroma, making it ideal for individuals who suffer from headaches and have sensitive noses.

There are a few complaints about this item quantity as some users have claimed that it’s not enough. But if you frequently visit the salon to treat your hair, this is a great hair bleach to save some of your hard-earned pennies. All you have to do is thoroughly mix the powder with the correct quantity of developer before dyeing your hair. You may let it sit for a while and then rinse it, depending on your needs. Overall, it is really simple to apply and causes very little hair breaking or damage

Best Hair Bleach For Sensitive Skin – Jolen Creme Bleach

Jolen Creme Bleach is a hair-bleaching cream used to lighten unwanted facial and body hair. It includes hydrogen peroxide, which helps to lighten the natural pigmentation of the hair and make it less obvious. It also has aloe vera and other calming components, which help to reduce skin irritation and redness.

The majority of consumers have had favorable experiences with the Jolen Creme Bleach, describing it as an efficient and inexpensive alternative for whitening hair. They enjoyed how easy the cream was to make and apply, and how soon it produced significant benefits.  Customers have also reported an unattractive orange tint after washing off the product.

Best Nourishing Hair Bleach – Redken Flash Lift Unisex Blonde Idol Maximum Power Lightening Powder

Redken Flash Lift Unisex Blonde Idol Maximum Power Lightening Powder is an incredible product that promises completely bleached hair with only one application. This product offers users adjustable effects from edgy, dramatic highlights to conditioning pro-vitamin B5 for maximum lift without losing hair quality.

 Redken Flash Lift Unisex Blonde Idol Maximum Power Lightening powder is highly recommended by many professional colorists. This lightener can lift up to eight levels and protects bonds to keep fibers in the hair strong without having to use a higher-volume developer. If you’re planning on bleaching your hair at home with this product, it’s better to seek professionals if you don’t want to mess up.

Best Hair Bleach for Highlights – MASIL Dual Glam Self Hair Highlight Bleach

Masil’s Dual Glam Highlight bleach captures the hearts of women who enjoy highlighting their hair every now and then with the easiest and quickest DIY bleaching technique. All you have to do is pour the powder into the container, shake it, and start applying it. It works wonderfully on any hair texture, earning it a spot on our list of the best hair lighteners for dark hair. 

Check out this one if you just want a few blonde highlights in your hair. You may completely achieve your desired look at home because it comes in really elegant packaging. Because this is a low-cost product, it may cause your hair to feel stiff, but this is not a common complaint.

Best Fast-Lightening Hair Bleach – NK Professional Care DiColor Blonde

This is the greatest bleach ever for achieving the pearly blonde results of your desires. It was created with great care by NK Professional, who used protective agents, argan oil, and hydrolyzed keratin. Furthermore, this bleaching powder lightens black hair by up to eight levels. Its blue-violet hues also aid in preventing the unsightly orangish residue in your hair. The benefit of spending extra money on this product is that it leaves your hair feeling smooth, soft, and silky. 

People adore how this device works and rave about its incredible lifting power. Your hair is light enough for a new color in just a few minutes. However, getting to the roots is difficult, so if you want to get entirely blonde, look for other options.

Best Hair Bleaching Kit – Splat Lightening Bleach Kit

This hair bleach kit may be used for highlighting, generating a beautiful ombre effect, tip lightening, or all-over bleaching as needed. You’ll discover shampoo, conditioner, lightning bleach, a set of gloves, and, of course, an instruction page to help you nail your hair game while sitting at home. This package goes above and above by restoring the natural pH levels of your hair strands after usage and providing general nourishment to your mane. 

If Vegan, Paraben-free, and Sulfate-free are important attributes of a bleaching product, you should try this one.  Without those two hazardous ingredients, it’s a highly safe product that works flawlessly on all hair types. Tools are included because this is a kit. If you like a denser product, you can skip this one because it may appear a little runny.

Anyone has the ability to bring the best bleach for dark hair home. With precise information and knowledge, you may easily achieve salon-like results without spending extra money or going through the hassle of making an appointment well in advance. Simply combine your preferred hair bleaching powder with a high-quality developer. If you are not comfortable with powder-based formulations, don’t panic; our collection includes cream and gel-based bleaching kits.