Tired of your highlights looking too harsh or brassy? Want to tone them down for a more natural look? Don’t worry, it’s possible to achieve the perfect shade of blonde without the help of a professional. With the right techniques and a little patience, you can easily transform your over-highlighted hair back to a more subtle and sophisticated hue.
The first step is to determine what kind of toner you need. If your highlights are too warm, you’ll need a cool toner to cancel out the yellow or orange tones. If they’re too cool, you’ll need a warm toner to add some warmth back in. Once you’ve chosen the right toner, it’s time to apply it to your hair. Be sure to follow the directions on the package carefully, as each toner will have its own unique application process. In general, you’ll need to apply the toner to your hair and leave it on for the amount of time specified on the package. Once the time is up, rinse the toner out of your hair and style as usual.
If you’re not sure how to tone your highlights down yourself, you can always consult with a professional hair stylist. They can help you choose the right toner and ensure that it’s applied correctly. However, if you’re up for the challenge, toning your highlights down yourself is a great way to save money and achieve the perfect shade of blonde.
Rinse and Condition Thoroughly
After bleaching or highlighting your hair, it’s crucial to thoroughly rinse and condition it to remove any residual chemicals and restore its moisture balance. Here are some detailed steps to follow:
-
Rinse with Cool Water: Use lukewarm or cool water to rinse your hair thoroughly to remove any remaining bleach or toner. Hot water can open up the hair cuticles, allowing chemicals to penetrate deeper and potentially cause damage.
-
Apply Deep Conditioner: Once rinsed, apply a deep conditioner and leave it on for the recommended amount of time. Deep conditioners provide intense hydration and nourishment, helping to repair and restore damaged hair.
-
Use Color-Protecting Shampoo and Conditioner: Switch to color-protecting shampoo and conditioner to preserve your highlights and prevent fading. These products are designed to gently cleanse and condition color-treated hair without stripping it of its color.
-
Avoid Over-Washing: Over-washing can strip your hair of its natural oils and make it more prone to dryness and breakage. Limit hair washing to 2-3 times per week.
-
Detangle Gently: Use a wide-toothed comb to gently detangle your hair while it’s still wet. Brushing or combing vigorously can cause breakage.
-
Air Dry or Use Low Heat: Avoid blow-drying your hair on high heat, as this can further damage highlighted hair. Air dry your hair naturally or use a blow dryer on its lowest setting.
-
Consider Purple Shampoo: Purple shampoo can help neutralize unwanted yellow or brassy tones in highlighted hair. Use it sparingly, as it can be drying.
Adjust the Tone Gradually
To subtly alter the tone of your highlights, consider the following gradual steps:
Layering a Soft, Cool Toner
Apply a semi-permanent toner in a cool shade, such as ash brown or beige, to neutralize any warmth and add a touch of coolness to your highlights.
Toning with Purple Shampoo or Conditioner
Incorporate a purple shampoo or conditioner into your hair care routine. These products contain violet pigments that counteract yellow or brassy tones, leaving your highlights looking cooler and less harsh.
Using a Blue Toner
For more intense toning, consider using a blue toner. It effectively cancels out orangey or yellow tones, leaving you with a more natural-looking highlight color.
Toning with a Honey Toner
If you desire a warmer tone, opt for a honey toner. It adds a subtle golden hue to your highlights, creating a sun-kissed effect.
Toning to Hide Gray Hair
| Gray Hair Percentage | Toner Shade |
|---|---|
| Up to 10% | Demi-permanent toner in a cool shade |
| 11-30% | Semi-permanent toner in a light beige shade |
| 31-50% | Permanent toner in a medium ash brown shade |
| 51-75% | Permanent toner in a dark ash brown shade |
| 76-100% | Permanent toner in a neutral black or brown shade |
Toning to Correct Brassiness
To counteract brassiness in your highlights, use a blue or violet toner. Apply it to damp hair, leave it on for the recommended time, and rinse thoroughly.
Toning to Create Shadow Roots
For a seamless transition from your natural hair color to your highlights, apply a darker toner to the roots. This technique creates the illusion of shadow roots, giving your hair a more blended and natural appearance.
Toning to Add Dimension
To enhance the depth and dimension of your hair, use multiple toner shades. Apply a darker toner to the roots and a lighter toner to the mid-lengths and ends. This technique creates a beautiful ombre or balayage effect.
How To Tone Highlights Down
If you’ve ever highlighted your hair and then regretted it, you’re not alone. Highlights can be a great way to add dimension and brightness to your hair, but they can also be difficult to maintain. If your highlights are too bright or brassy, you can tone them down to create a more natural look.
There are a few different ways to tone down highlights. One option is to use a toner. Toners are semi-permanent hair color that can be used to change the tone of your hair without damaging it. Toners come in a variety of colors, so you can choose one that will best match your desired results.
Another option for toning down highlights is to use a color-correcting shampoo. Color-correcting shampoos are designed to neutralize unwanted tones in your hair. If your highlights are too brassy, you can use a purple shampoo to help tone them down.
Finally, you can also tone down highlights by using a demi-permanent hair color. Demi-permanent hair color is a type of hair color that lasts for about 24 washes. It’s a good option for people who want to change the color of their hair without committing to a permanent change.
People Also Ask
How long does it take to tone down highlights?
The amount of time it takes to tone down highlights will vary depending on the method you use. If you use a toner, it will typically take about 20 minutes. If you use a color-correcting shampoo, it will take about 5-10 minutes. If you use a demi-permanent hair color, it will take about 30 minutes.
How often should I tone down highlights?
How often you need to tone down highlights will depend on how quickly your hair grows and how well you care for your color. If you have color-treated hair, you should use a color-protecting shampoo and conditioner to help keep your color from fading. You should also avoid using hot tools on your hair, as this can damage the color.
How can I prevent my highlights from turning brassy?
There are a few things you can do to prevent your highlights from turning brassy. First, use a purple shampoo to help neutralize unwanted tones. Second, avoid using hot tools on your hair, as this can damage the color. Finally, get regular trims to remove any split ends, which can make your hair look brassy.
