All sass, no brass: your guide to toning at home

Sure, everybody likes to say blondes have more fun. And who are we to argue? But it's not all glitz and glam. Those who think so haven't felt the abject terror of dealing with the brassiness that comes around to remind you it's been a minute since your last salon visit. 

With a little know-how, you won’t have to book in with your hairdresser the second you see signs of brassiness creeping in. It’s time to take things into your own hands and banish brassiness by toning your hair at home. Scroll on to get the scoop on toning hair.

Why does your hair change colour?

There are several reasons why your blonde hair doesn't stay its bright and shiny best indefinitely after your hairstylist does his or her thing. 

Your hair naturally goes through a process called oxidation after it's coloured. We won't get into the nitty-gritty science of it, but this oxidation is what causes your hair to change colour as the days pass post-salon. This process is the main cause of brassy hair.

There are some other reasons your blonde moments (the good kind) may not last forever. Some of these are your run of the mill common causes of summer hair damage, including too much time in the pool and too much time under the sun's UV rays.

What does toning hair do?

While lifting weights at the gym and never missing a pilates class might tone the rest of your body, the same cannot be said for your hair. Thankfully, a trusty toning product can help you put up a fight against brassy hair. 

Hair toner helps combat or slow the impact of that oxidation we talked about by subtly changing the undertones of your hair. While it’s not as overtly colour-altering as some other hair colour products, it will tone down those annoying brassy vibes. 

How often should you tone your hair?

Everybody's body is different, which means rates of hair oxidation and colour change vary from person to person. Consider toning your hair every 4 weeks or so depending on the strength of the toner and how much your hair colour has changed. We recommend reading the label on your chosen toner for tailored instructions on how often to use it. Just remember, less is often more when it comes to hair toner. Over-toning your hair can sometimes lead to it looking dull, so don’t go too hard too soon!

Choosing the best hair toner for you

Whether you’re looking for an intense toning treatment that will provide the ultimate hair refresh or something a little more subtle that you can use on the reg to maintain your colour, there is a toner out there for you.

Adding the right toning products to your bleached haircare routine can make all the difference. Muk’s Blonde Muk Toning Treatment banishes brassiness from blonde hair without drying it out, and can be left on for as little as 1 minute if you’re in a hurry. If you’re a low maintenance type of girl, swap out your regular shampoo for a purple shampoo every once in awhile, like the cult fave shampoo from the superstars at Evo. Evo Fabuloso Platinum Blonde Toning Shampoo gently cleanses hair while neutralising brassy tones, and can be used in combination with Evo Fabuloso Platinum Blonde Colour Boosting Treatment for the ultimate blonde boost. Just watch out for the hand stains when using purple shampoo or any other toning product that contains coloured pigment!

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It’s not just blondes that can benefit from regular toning goodness. Brunettes can also ban brassiness by adding some toning products to their haircare lineup. Blue shampoo can provide some blue-violet pigmentation to your darker hair to balance out its colour. Try Redken Color Extend Brownlights Blue Toning Shampoo and see what we mean. Pair it with Redken Color Extend Brownlights Blue Toning Conditioner to really bring out your best brunette self.  

 

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The 6 steps to toning hair at home

While application varies depending on the product, there are some steps to toning hair at home that you should generally follow for the best results. 

Lean on the expert. Your hairstylist is more than just a pair of hands. He or she is your confidant and trusted advisor in all things haircare (and, if you're anything like us, love, family, friendships...pretty much everything). They aren’t going to care if you're cheating by toning at home, so don't hesitate to ask them for their tips & tricks. You can also reach out to the expert customer service team at Oz Hair & Beauty for product recommendations or tips by using our live chat function.

Wash it out. Start with a really good wash of your hair with a trusty shampoo. If your hair is weighed down with product build-up we recommend using a powerful cleansing shampoo to give you a deep cleanse. 

A developing situation. Now it's time to get to work. While there will be clear directions on your chosen hair toning treatment or shampoo, the general deal is that you apply it evenly from roots to ends and wait a few minutes for it to develop before rinsing it out. If you’re using a highly pigmented toner, we recommend wearing gloves for the application step to avoid stained hands. 

Hydration is key. After rinsing your toner out, you’ll want to go in with a hydrating conditioner or hair treatment. While a good quality toner will be full of nourishing ingredients, the hair toning process can be slightly drying, so restoring moisture to your hair afterwards is super important.

Brassiness is a pain in the neck. Luckily for you, you don't have to hit the hair salon every week just to make sure your hair looks its best. Explore a great range of hair toning products online at Oz Hair & Beauty today and give your hair the revamp it deserves!