Lightening toner is a hair product used to neutralize unwanted yellow or brassy tones in bleached or highlighted hair, resulting in a lighter, brighter, and more even hair color. It's applied after the hair has been lightened to a desired level.
How Lightening Toner Works
Hair toner works by depositing color molecules onto the hair shaft. These molecules counteract the warm, brassy tones (often yellow or orange) left behind after bleaching, creating a more desirable shade like platinum blonde, icy blonde, or a cool ashy tone. The level of lightening achieved depends on the developer used alongside the toner. A higher volume developer will lift the hair color further, enabling a more dramatic lightening effect.
- Before Bleaching: Hair that is naturally dark will require a pre-lightening process before toner can be applied effectively.
- After Bleaching: The toner is then applied to neutralize any brassiness and achieve the desired level of lightness and tone.
Types of Lightening Toners
Lightening toners come in a variety of shades, enabling customization to achieve different results. Popular shades include:
- Ash: Neutralizes yellow and orange tones, creating cool, ashy blonde shades.
- Pearl: Creates a soft, subtle lightening effect with a pearly sheen.
- Silver: Neutralizes yellow and gold tones, producing a silvery, icy blonde.
- Platinum: Lifts hair to a very light blonde, removing all traces of yellow and orange.
Remember that the term "lightening toner" is slightly misleading. A toner's primary function is to tone or neutralize existing color; it doesn't significantly lighten the hair beyond what has already been achieved through bleaching. The "lightening" refers to the effect of removing the warm tones, which makes the hair appear lighter and brighter.
The reference states that hair toner is "a product used on hair after it has been subject to strong chemical bleaching and lightening processes in order to get rid of brassy hair tones". This aligns with the explanation provided above.
