Can Toner Damage Your Hair?

Your hair care routine should nourish your strands. In an ideal world, every product you place on your locks would lead to healthier hair overall. Unfortunately, that’s not always the case. Many styling and dying products can lead to damage, causing split ends and sometimes even breakage. So, what about toner? Can toner damage your hair if left on too long? In this article, learn all you need to know about the potentially damaging effects of toner and how to use it properly.

What is a Hair Toner?

Toner is a popular hair product that aims to eliminate brassy tones in blonde hair. It’s usually used immediately after bleaching by a hairdresser so that the colour looks right, but you can also purchase a toner for home use. It works by utilising a colour at the opposite end of the colour wheel to balance out the shade – that’s why most toners are purple, as purple is at the opposite end of yellow. When used, this purple neutralizes the yellow-orange tones and leads to a more desirable and brighter blonde shade.

Fortunately, this colour-enhancing product generally does not contain ammonia (like most hair dyes), so it will not damage your hair in the same way. However, some people still worry that the chemicals in toner may cause damage.

Does Toner Damage Your Hair?

So, can a toner damage your hair? It can. Most of the time, toner will not damage your hair. However, that depends on a few factors, including whether the toner was used correctly and the specific kind of toner used.

The reason toner has the ability to damage your hair is due to some harsh chemicals, which, left in too long, will leave your hair dry and brittle. There’s also the chance that the toner can lead to unwanted tones, especially if it’s left in for more time than it should be.

Can You Still Use Toner?

Yes! Hair toner can be perfectly fine for your hair, giving you a more beautiful blonde hair colour without too much fuss. It’s all about using it correctly. For example, someone who consistently uses a toner with lots of harsh chemicals in the ingredients will experience more damaged hair compared to someone who uses a high-quality toner every couple of weeks. If you purchase the best toner and follow the instructions to a tee, you won’t have to worry too much about your hair condition.

How to Use Toner

Using it correctly means you can enjoy healthy hair without worrying about toner damage – here is how.

1. Choose the Right Toner

Start by purchasing a toner that works well for your hair. It helps to look carefully at the ingredients, avoiding any toner that contains ammonia or other harsh chemicals and permanent ones that can interfere with your hair’s natural oils. You can also look at previous customer’s reviews, as this will give insight into how well the toner works and whether it leads to damage (or harsh tones!). When picking a toner, you should also take your hair type into consideration, as those with curls would be better off choosing a toner that works with the curls rather than against them.

2. Don’t Use Too Often

One of the habits that can quickly lead to hair damage is using a toner too often. When people ask, “Can a toner damage your hair?”, the answer is usually: yes, but only if you use it too often. The frequency you can use a toner depends on the type of toner you have. If you have bright blonde hair and are using a mild violet toner, you can use that more often than one that has harsher chemicals. In this case, weekly use would be fine.

3. Start by Washing Your Hair

Before applying the toner, wash your hair as you usually would. This ensures the toner can penetrate the hair shaft through the hair cuticles properly, leading to the best results.

4. Apply the Toner

Applying the toner is pretty simple. There are a couple of ways to go about it – you can either apply all over while in the shower, or you can separate the hair and apply with an applicator brush. The second method will ensure even distribution throughout, so is generally considered the better option.

5. Leave the Toner In

This part is important – for the toner to work its magic, it must be left for a little while. How long you leave it depends on the toner itself, but be careful not to leave it in any longer, as this may cause damage.

6. Rinse Out

After leaving the hair toner in for the appropriate amount of time, it’s time to rinse it out. Be thorough during this stage, as you don’t want to leave any toner in the hair.

7. Follow Up with Shampoo and Conditioner

After using the toner, wash your hair with shampoo and conditioner. The shampoo will remove any excess toner in the hair, and the condition will add plenty of moisture to the strands, leaving you with softer locks at the end. If you find that toner dries your hair out, choose a good conditioner that is highly moisturising – one with oils will work particularly well.

That’s it – using toner is pretty simple, but it’s important to get it right to avoid causing any damage. If you want to keep track of the effect of toner on your hair, you can use a hair track app.

Of course, there is another method of toning your hair, and that involves getting it done professionally at the hairdresser. If you regularly get your hair dyed blonde professionally, your hairdresser will tone your treated hair at the end to achieve the perfect shade. For this, you don’t need to do anything other than choose a hairdresser that you trust.

Signs Your Hair Has Been Damaged by Toner

Are you unsure whether your hair has been damaged by toner? Here are some signs that it has:

Your Hair is Dry and Brittle

The most common side effects of hair damage from toner are dry, brittle strands. If your hair feels dryer after using a toner, that’s a sure sign the toner has impacted your hair health, and perhaps you should stop using it.

You’ve Experienced Breakage

One of the most unpleasant symptoms of hair toner damage is breakage, which means your hair breaks off more at the ends. There are varying levels of breakage – you might experience a little bit at the ends of your hair, or, you might find your hair breaks off and leaves you with an uneven look. Either way, it’s a sure sign your hair is damaged. Keep in mind that hair loss is different than breakage – hair loss typically means your hair comes out at the scalp, and a toner will not cause this. In this case, you should look into a hair loss treatment.

You Have an Irritated Scalp

An irritated scalp will feel dry and itchy. If your scalp feels irritated after using toner, that’s a sign of damage. You should stop using the toner if you experience this.

There’s No Other Cause

If your hair is undoubtedly damaged after using toner, your first thought may be that the toner is the reason. However, how sure are you? Sure – toner can damage your hair in some cases, but there are other hair habits that have more of a damaging impact. For example, heat styling and hair dying are both far more likely to cause noticeably damaged hair compared to toning.

Can Toner Lead to Purple Hair?

A toner typically isn’t strong enough to turn your hair from blonde to purple. However, it is more than possible. The stronger the pigment, the more likely your hair will become discoloured from a toner. The best way to avoid this is to either get your hair toned professionally or pick a toner at home that matches your hair shade and goals. You will only need a mild violet pigment if you have very light blonde hair.

What to Do if Your Hair Has Been Damaged by Toner

First things first – determine whether your damaged hair has been caused by the toner or something else. If you are sure it’s the toner that has damaged your hair, stop using it. It’s best to find a different toner to achieve your desired results – one that doesn’t contain as many harsh chemicals.

Have You Experienced Hair Loss?

While the answer to the question, “Can a toner damage your hair?” is yes, that doesn’t mean it will lead to your hair falling out. A toner typically does not cause hair loss, although it may lead to some breakage.

If you have experienced hair loss, you should determine its cause. There are many potential causes, from hormonal imbalances to androgenetic alopecia. There are also several remedies, from daily treatments like hair loss medications to permanent hair solutions like a hair transplant. It’s best to speak to a hair specialist about the best route for you.

In Summary

The question, “Can a toner damage your hair?” doesn’t always lead to a straightforward answer. The truth is that – yes, toner can damage the hair, but only when it’s not used properly. Most people can use toner regularly without experiencing dry, brittle hair.

Does your hair loss go further than mild damage from a hair toner? If so, our hair restoration specialists can help. Get in touch today or check out our patients gallery to see what we can do for hair loss.