Toner on Wet or Dry Hair What Works Best

Toner on Wet or Dry Hair

Even when you have bleached your hair and have been left with an orange or a brassy mess of it you know how miraculous toner can be. It is that small product which can make a help-me yellow to a beautiful icy blonde or soft ash color. 

Yet there is one question that puzzles nearly every one, which is should you apply toner on wet or dry hair?

We are going to get down to what exactly occurs when toner is applied to your strands, how moisture can alter the outcome and what the experts do recommend.

1. What Exactly Is Hair Toner?

Hair toner acts as a filter of hair color. It does not lift or lighten. It simply adjusts the tone. Imagine that it is a color adjusting tool which makes even a shade that has gone wrong during the bleaching or coloring process balanced.

How Toner Works

Toners typically have color dyes that complement those of the tones to be avoided in the color wheel. 

As an example, violet colors cancel out yellow and blue colors neutralize orange. When such pigments are placed on the hair cuticle they shift the color to a colder or more natural color.

Why Hair Needs Toning

When bleaching dark hair the lightener does not evenly remove the melanin. This deposits warm colors largely yellow and orange. 

Toner prevents the presence of those undertones and provides your color with a salon fresh look rather than a brassy one.

2. So what is it that Toner actually does to Hair?

Fine tuning of color is the main job of Toner. It may lighten your blonde and color your silver or make your brunette more equal.

Neutralizing Brassiness

When your hair looks like it was bled into an orange or yellow, then it will be countered by a cool toner, such as violet or blue.

Also Read:Can You Use Lavender Dye on Orange Hair Truth

Enhancing Desired Shades

Toners may not only remove tone, but add it as well. An example is rose gold or lavender toner that will provide you with soft pastel colors without complete dyeing.

Extending Salon Results

Toning will keep your color fresh during the time between visits to the salon. Toners or purple wash once a week will help to achieve that fresh after the shower appearance.

3. Wet vs Dry Hair: The Real difference

This is where there is the interest. The level of moisture of your hair affects the performance of tone

Behaviour of Hair Cuticles in the wet

The cuticles or outer layer is open when the hair is wet. This implies that molecules of color slide easily in but they will not remain longer due to the dilution of the hair shaft by the water.

Reaction of Toner with Wet and Dry Strands

A wet hair toner provides a less sharp and more diffused effect. It is great for gentle toning. On dry hair, toner adheres more firmly and forms more strongly. That is why they are selected by the professionals according to the required finish.

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Why Moisture Level Matters

Excess water will dissolve the toner resulting in discolored or poor performance. However, totally dry hair will take up toner too fast leaving it darker than wanted.

4. Is Toner to be applied on Wet or Dry Hair?

The honest response is found here, namely, slightly damp hair is generally the best.

What Stylists Recommend

The majority of the professionals use toner on hair that is dried by towel. Hair is supposed to be approximately 70-80 percent dry. This makes sure that the pigment is not over deposited.

The difference in timing on the outcomes

When toner is applied on wet dripping hair it becomes too weak. On dry hair it may become too black. The ideal balance is wet hair.

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Wet hair is excellent in subtle toned or pastel effects.

Strong color correction or cool smoky finishes are better done on dry hair.

5. Toning Wet Hair: Expectations

Wet hair toning produces soft blended natural effects which are ideal when one does not want to look too ashy.

When It Is Ideal

Apply to damp hair when your color feels like it is a bit warm and or when you are in the mood to freshen up.

Step by Step Method

Wash the hair using clarifying shampoo.

Towel Dry towel dry dry.

Add toner along with developer in proportion of between 1 and 2.

Apply evenly from root to tip.

Allow to set 5 to 10 minutes color checking frequently.

Rinse and deep condition.

Also Read:What Is Hair Shrinkage Explained Simply

Pros and Cons

Advantages: Even coverage of tone reduces chances of over processing.

Weakness The weaker pigment leaves shorter tones.

6. The Expectations of Applying Toner on Dry Hair

When used on dry hair it grabs better and deeper. It suits the recalcitrant brassiness or darker sounds better.

When It Is Ideal

In case of bright yellow orange hair or of hair that requires stronger neutralizing toner apply toner on dry strands.

Step by Step Method

Unplait and part hair.

Mix toner and developer.

Be quick as dry hair takes in water and thus is easily absorbed.

Color change is to be observed

Rinse when you wish to have the tone you want.

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Pros and Cons

Advantages: High color correction is prolonged.

Disadvantages: Increased chances of uneven color might dry up ends.

7. How to Find Out Which of the Methods Fits You

Whether to use wet or dry toner will also depend on what you want your hair to be like as well as your toner formula.

Based on Hair Type

Fine or porous hair? Wet toning is the best choice as it captures color.

Thick or resistant hair? Dry toning works better.

Based on Color Goal

Desire light brown or pastel colors? Use wet hair.

Want icy silver or smoky ash? Use dry hair.

Based on Product Formula

You should always follow the directions issued by your toner. Such brands as Wella Redken, Matrix tend to mention the level of hair moisture since their toners are made in different ways.

Also Read:How Long Does Black Dye Last On Hair

8. The Science of toner absorptions

Toner combines with hair chemistry by the pH and porosity.

Porosity and pH Levels

Hairs which are bleached possess raised cuticles and increased porosity. Toner replenishes such gaps balancing the pH back to normal.

How Toner Binds to Pigment

The toner attaches temporarily to the hair on a temporary basis of color molecules on keratin. The damper the strand the less toner molecules are able to adhere to creating a less firm finish.

Formula Variations

Certain toners such as demi permanent require moisture to be evenly spread whereas others such as permanent or color depositing mask adhere better to dry hair.

9. Errors that are made by people when using toner

Toning is not that hard and you can destroy your shade with minor mistakes.

Leaving Toner Too Long

Toner will continue to work so long as it is on your hair. Check the color after every several minutes. It results in over toning; the hair looks gray or dull.

Wrong Developer Ratio

Combining toner with an excessively strong developer such as 20 vol can pick up and ruin hair. Committee to 10 vol / manufacturer.

Choosing Wrong Shade

Select toner undertones to what you wish to cancel. Blue cancels orange. Violet cancels yellow. Brass can be made worse by using the wrong tone.

10. Tips from Hair Experts

Celebrity colorists confess that toner may be your best friend or your worst nightmare depending on how it is done.

What Stylists Do

To balance the color, stylists tend to tone right after bleaching damp hair before styling.

Real Life Example

Hairstylist Kristin Ess recommends towel drying before toning since you would prefer the hair to be damp and not dripping.

At Home Tricks

In case you are toning at home workout under bright light and apply a wide tooth comb to spread the product evenly.

11. How to Fix Toner Gone Wrong

However, when the toner is going outside, it is not the end of the world, as it can be fixed.

If Hair Turns Too Ashy

Apply clarifying shampoo or an anti dandruff shampoo to raise up excess tone.

If Hair Looks Uneven

Re tone Stir a wash of toner with three times its amount of developer on damp hair to mix patchy spots.

If Hair Feels Dry

Add masks with argan or ceramide to rejuvenate the skin and make it soft.

12. Toner Recommended and Products

These are just a few of the stylist approved toners that will always give results.

Platinum Hair and Best for Blonde.

Wella Color Charm T18 of yellow.

Redken Shades EQ Silver of icy finishes.

It suits the Orange or Brassy Tones best.

Matrix So Silver Shampoo with purple hue to cancel brassiness.

Fanola No Orange light bronzer or darker blonde.

Ingredients to Look For

Use toners containing amino acids of vegetable origin or botanical oils. They equalize pH and do not dry it out.

13. Caring for Hair After Toning

Toning alters the chemistry of your hair a little bit hence post care is important.

Keep Color Fresh

Apply sulfate free shampoos and do not wash everyday. Once a week purple shampoo is used to keep the tone.

Deep Condition Weekly

Moisture is the favorite of bleached hair. Wear masks with hydrolyzed proteins or oils such as the jojoba or avocado.

Limit Heat

Heat fades toner fast. Apply low temperatures and heat protecting spray.

14. Frequently Asked Questions on Wet or Dry Hair Toner

1. Is it possible that toner can ruin hair in case it is used too frequently?

Yes. Toner is not bleach but wear and tear may dry up hair and disturb pH balance. Rest at least 3 or 4 weeks between toning.

2. What is the recommended duration of toner on hair?

Usually 5 to 15 minutes. Observe the color of your hair since the lighter your hair the quicker it lightens up. Instructions on products must be obeyed.

3. Is it possible to use purple shampoo in place of toner?

Purple shampoo will serve as a maintenance and not a replacement of a true toner. Full color correction is not good in upkeep.

4. Is it better to dry freshly bleached hair?

Yes but on top of rinsing and towel drying. Do not shake when bleach is still processing since it may result in breakage.

5. Is toner practicable without a developer?

Some do. Toning can be done without the use of a developer using glosses and color depositing conditioners. Check your product label.

6. Is it possible to apply toner on natural hair?

Yes but it merely changes the tone a bit. In the absence of bleach, the outcome will be ethereal or short-lived.

7. What will be the effect of toner used on dirty hair?

Pigments are blocked by oils and build up. Always wash the tone so that it can be even.

8. Is it permissible to receive two tones a week?

Not recommended. Over toning may result in dull and brittle hair. Instead use a color equalizing shampoo.

9. Is it possible to apply toner on emphasized hair only?

Yes you can add toner on the light areas so that you can fine tune the color.

Final Thoughts

Toner is applied on slightly damp, not dripping and not dry hair. There you have the just right combination of pigment deposit and softness.

Wet toning produces soft and natural results.

 Dry toning provides very strong and bold results.

When you know how the moisture level of your hair influences toner you will never again have patches of gray or irregularly colored hair. Love your hair the way science suggests and have toner make you look the part every single time.