How often should you tone blonde hair?

What toner does

When hair is lightened, its natural warm pigments show through, which is why freshly lightened hair can look yellow or orange. Toner adds a sheer layer of colour over the top to cancel that warmth and set the exact shade, from cool and bright to warm and golden.

Toner deposits colour rather than lifting it, so a refresh doesn’t lighten your hair any further. Some toners are clear or nearly clear and are used mainly for shine, which is why the service is often called a gloss.

Why toner fades

Toner sits on the surface of the hair and gradually washes out with every shampoo, especially in our humid climate where extra washing is common. Lightened hair is also more porous than untouched hair, so it lets go of colour faster.

Hot water, sun, salt water and chlorine all speed this up. As the toner fades, the warmth underneath comes back through, and blonde starts to look brassy or flat.

How often to book a refresh

Every 4 to 6 weeks suits most blondes. If you wash often, swim, or spend a lot of time outdoors, you will usually be at the shorter end.

Balayage is designed to grow out softly, so most clients go 10 to 16 weeks between full colour appointments. One or two toner refreshes in that time keep the tone right while the colour itself grows out. Foils give a brighter lift, so regrowth shows sooner, but toner fades at the same rate either way.

Signs your blonde is due

• A yellow or orange tinge, especially through the ends.
• Blonde that looks dull or flat, even straight after washing.
• Less shine than when you left the salon.

Making tone last longer

• Wash less often, and rinse in cool or lukewarm water rather than hot.
• Use a sulphate-free shampoo and conditioner made for coloured hair.
• Use purple shampoo once a week, not every wash. Used too often, it can leave blonde looking dull or slightly lilac.
• Use a heat protectant before blow-drying or hot tools.
• Wet your hair and add a little conditioner before swimming, and rinse straight after.

More on this in caring for coloured hair in Brisbane’s humidity.

What a refresh costs

With Tara, a toner or gloss refresh starts from $60 and is a much shorter visit than a full colour. See add-on pricing ›

If you tone regularly, the Gloss & Glow Plan prepays three toner and blowout visits within six months for $380. The Signature Blonde package includes a gloss refresh at week 6. For the full picture on colour and upkeep, see balayage in Teneriffe.