Best hair toner (Professional, hairdresser and home): Ranking 2024

The best hair toner will even out discolouration, keep hair smooth and deeply nourish. It will refresh your colour, correct failed colouring and allow you to experiment wildly. 

Most toners work best on bleached and blonde hair. You'll also find products for brown, red or grey hair, as well as a bolder palette of shades - white, beige, blue, purple and even pink and black.

There's also a range of toners for brown, red or grey hair.

With the experts, we'll also give you tips on how to choose the best toner and how to perform toning at home.

See also:

• Emollient conditioners
.
• Home hair care products
• Nail vitamins
• Collagen for hair, skin and nails

Choice criteria - what makes the best toner? 

.

Our hair toner ranking consists of three parts. 

The first covers universal toners for all hair types, the second is products for blonde and bleached hair. In the last section, we take a look at the shelves of the most popular drugstores, namely Hebe and Rossmann.

Hair toners for all hair types.

The criteria we used to select the products were: 

.

• optimal and safe composition - no ammonia or unnecessary substances,
.
• intensity of effects,
.
• persistency,
• persistency
• user reviews,
.
• price,
.

Best hair toners - Ranking

.

The best hair toner works on any hair type - blonde, dark or high-pored hair. It does not contain ammonia and does not weigh hair down. It refreshes colour, nourishes hair and allows you to experiment. You will find brands such as Black Professional, Matrix, Montibello or Pulp Riot in the ranking.

.

The best toner for bleached hair is one that helps maintain a cool blonde shade, without yellow tones. Try Matrix Total Results, Syoss Color Glow or Palette Ashy Blonde Toner, for example. A good toner for blonde hair is also gentle on the strands and adds shine.

Best toner for blonde and bleached hair

The best toner for blonde hair works on natural and coloured hair. Neutralises yellow and copper tones. Refreshes and cools down the colour. It does not weigh hair down, but nourishes and strengthens it. Leading brands of such toners include Matrix, Revolution Haircare, Montibello, L'Oreal or Pulp Riot.

Will I get a good hair toner in Hebe or Rossmann?

.

Of course! You can also find good-value hair care products in popular drugstores.

The most appreciated hair toners are also available in Hebe or Rossman.

The most appreciated hair toners in Hebe are products designed for blonde hair.

Check out what users and professionals who use them every day think of specific brands and product lines.

See also:

.

• Matrix toners
• L'Oreal toners
.
• Syoss toners
• Palette toners
• Wella toner

Hair care products are not enough. You can also take care of pigmentation and hair health from the inside. The key will be proper supplementation and the provision of nutrients - the kind that promote hair growth and structure, protect against damage and give you renewed shine. 

Glow Stories - for skin, hair and nail health

.

Product with high-quality folic acid Quatrefolic®, bamboo shoot extract and ingredients that have a positive effect on skin, hair and nails.

See more

.

Collagen Premium (5000 mg)

.

A complex formula in a soluble form, enriched with natural ingredients, which will increase the elasticity of your skin, smooth wrinkles and take care of the growth of your hair and nails. As much as 5000mg of the highest quality collagen peptides in their purest form.

See more

.

.

Collagen Premium (5000 mg)

.

A complex formula in a soluble form, enriched with natural ingredients, which will increase the elasticity of your skin, smooth wrinkles and take care of the growth of your hair and nails. As much as 5000mg of the highest quality collagen peptides in their purest form.

See more

.

What is a hair toner?

.

Hair toner is a semi-permanent colouring product. It has a gentler formulation and is used as an alternative to dyes. Toners do not penetrate the hair structure - they coat the hair from the outside. Toning your hair is primarily about changing the shade of your hair, however, you can also use hair colouring toner.

Purple, pink, green or maybe blue hair toner? You can change the colour without much concern for their condition.

Professional hair toners have no (or very little) ammonia in their composition, so they do not damage the hair. The substances contained in them (e.g. oils and waxes) additionally care for the hair - after colouring it is soft, shiny and nourished,

.

.

The durability of the toning effects depends mainly on how often you wash your hair, but also on the condition of your hair and how often you are in the sun.

Hair toner is mainly a semi-permanent dye, but you can choose other forms of toners such as shampoos, lotions, toning conditioners or hair masks.

How does hair toner work?

.

There are primarily two types of pigments in the hairand responsible for its colour:

• eumelanin (from brown to black),
.
• phaeomelanin (yellow, orange to bright red).

During bleaching, eumelanin is removed and pheomelanin is only slightly affected. As a result, dark hair goes blonde because most of the pheomelanin remains in place. In contrast, light hair, which has less pheomelanin in it, turns light yellow.

Therefore, when deciding to lighten your hair, you will always 'struggle' with warm tones. Especially if your natural colour is dark and you're bleaching your hair for the umpteenth time.

It's not a good idea to bleach your hair.

And this is where a hair toner comes to the rescue.

Toners work according to colour theory and the so-called colour wheel. The principle is simple: you balance an undesirable tone by adding a colour from the opposite spectrum.

When choosing a shade, always follow the colour wheel: 

.

• violet toner - neutralises yellow tones (ideal for light blondes),
.
• blue toner - neutralises orange, brassy, copper tones (ideal for light brown to medium blonde hair),
.
• green toner - neutralises red tones (ideal for dark brown to black hair),
.
• red toner - enhances red, red-violet and magenta tones, you'll also get rid of green strands with this,
.
• orange or copper toner - enhances the intensity of warm browns, golden blondes and chestnut tones,
.
• yellow toner - lightens brown tones and softens overly intense reds.

Hair toner does not penetrate the inside of the hair, but only 'coats' the outside. This is both its advantage and disadvantage. 

On the one hand, toner does not damage the structure of the hair, while on the other hand, the colour washes out much faster than with dyes. However, thanks to the nourishing properties of the toner, you can change your hair colour much more often - depending on your mood or the occasion, without worrying about the health and condition of your hair.

.

. .

Hair toner versus hair dye

.

The fundamental difference between hair dye and hair toner lies in their effect. Modern hair toners contain little or no harmful ammoniaand have very little of it. 

Unlike dyes - toners do not penetrate the inner structure of the hair. Instead, the pigments wrap around the surface of the hair or are deposited between the hair scales. Because of this, the effects of toning will be shorter and can last up to several weeks - depending on how often you wash your hair and its exposure to external factors such as smog or sunlight. 

The mineral ingredients and vitamins contained in professional toners further nourish and condition hair.

Before and after hair toner - when to use and what results can I hope for?

.

Hair toners are gaining popularity for a reason. You can use them in a number of ways, each of which will improve and beautify your hair colour. Here's a list of the effects you can achieve with toning:

.
• Pre-toning: this refreshes the colour and prepares the hair for the next colouring. Applying a less intense toner than the desired colour will create a neutral base for a cohesive and expressive style.
•  
• Pre-toning.
• Refresh: when you notice the colour starting to fade, reach for a toner - it's a much quicker and healthier solution than 'full-on' colouring. Stylists often combine the two: permanent colour is applied to the emerging roots, and toner is used on the rest of the hair to balance everything out and give it a nice shine.
• Correction: the toner will quickly and gently "fix" imperfections or colouring problems - you'll get rid of unwanted spots or strands that were created by inaccurate paint application. You can lighten or darken your hair colour slightly.
.
• First gray hairs: emerging gray hairs can be perfectly hidden with toner - it makes everything look consistent and natural.
.
• Reflections: if you want to lighten individual strands of hair, a toner will neutralise unwanted reflections.

The effects of "before and after" hair toners will be more quickly and strongly visible on blonde and bleached hair.

. .

Hair toning at home

.

Many hair salons have hair toning treatments on offer. However, you can do it yourself at home. 

How?

.

It all depends on what form of toner you choose. 

Using a mask, conditioner, mousse or colouring shampoo won't cause any problems.

If you opt for a professional semi-permanent hair toner, the whole procedure will be similar to traditional colouring.

How to use hair toner step by step:

.

1. Read the instructions and wear protective gloves.
2. .
3. Mix the cream with the oxidant in the correct proportions - the oxidant needs to be at a much lower concentration than for permanent paints.
.
4. Apply the mixture to damp and combed hair - start with the areas you particularly want to improve or refresh.
.
5. Keep the toner on your hair for about 15-30 minutes - check the manufacturer's recommendations on the leaflet.
.
6. Wash hair and apply conditioner.
.

What hair is best for toners?

.

I've got good news for you - hair toners can be used on all hair types, and the results can be stunning!

With a toner, you can remove warm tones from blonde hair or finish it off with pleasing shades falling into lily, patina or rose gold.

Brunettes will get rid of ashy highlights and overly warm colour, and add depth to colours. 

The toner will also work well on reds - especially if you're looking to enhance their brilliance and juiciness.

Whether you're going for pastels or vibrant colours, toners can be combined to create the shade palette of your dreams.

Toner works best on bleached or lightened hair. The darker your hair, the less visible the effect will be. However, a properly selected and applied toner will breathe new life into any hair!"

What types of toners can you choose from?

.

Toners are available on the market in various forms. You can choose:

• semi-permanent paints,
.
• toning conditioners,
.
• creams,
.
• emulsions,
.
• balsams,
.
• colour masks,
.
• shampoos,
.
• rinses,
.

These vary in formulation, strength and action - sometimes toning is one of the effects, not the main one. The toning result is quite subtle, and increases in intensity with successive uses.

How to 'colour' hair with toner?

.

A visit to the hairdresser or stylist is an important and enjoyable ritual worth celebrating. However, there isn't always time for this - especially when you want to experiment a little with your hairstyle and colours, or when your faded hair is already crying out for help.

Every hair dye is a good idea.

In fact, you can use any dye as a hair toner. The only thing you need to remember is to use a low-concentration oxidant in the form of a cream or emulsion and to apply it to damp hair. Then even permanent colour will work as a toner.

.

Most toners you can use at home, and the colouring itself should not take you more than an hour. Depending on the manufacturer and type of toner, the process may vary slightly, but the standard procedure is as follows:

Most toners can be used at home and should not take more than an hour.

1. Thoroughly wash your hair.
2. Take a few minutes to shampoo.
3. Apply toner to damp hair.
.
4. Leave it on your head for 15-40 minutes - depending on the manufacturer's instructions and how intense a colour you want. Remember to monitor your shade at all times and get rid of any excess toner on a regular basis.
.
5. Afterwards, wash your head and start your hair care routine by applying a conditioner.
.

How long does hair toner last?

.

The effects of hair toner colouring are not as long-lasting as with traditional colouring. The intensity of the colour diminishes with each wash. The effects last up to 6-8 weeks or several to a dozen washes - depending on frequency.

The permanence of hair toning is further influenced by: 

.

• smog and air pollution,
.
• water hardness,
.
• exposure to the sun,
.
• chlorine and other substances that can be found in swimming pools,
.

To enjoy the intense colour of your hair for longer:

.
• Use professional hair protection products with natural ingredientsand.
.
• Protect your hair from UV rays .
.
• Use cosmetics to protect your hair from heat. 
.
• Choose less damaging heat styling appliances - blow dryers, flat irons and curling irons are not allies of coloured and toned hair .
.

How to choose a hair toner? Advice from a cosmetologist

.

Want to choose the best hair toner? Check out the advice of cosmetologist, Catherine Srebr. 

.

First of all, ask yourself a few questions that will help you determine the initial state of your hair. The answers to these will make it very easy for you to choose the right toner.

First of all, ask yourself a few questions to help you determine the baseline of your hair.

If you havenatural hair:

• Whether it is dark or light:
.
• Are grey hairs visible? If so, is there already a percentage of it? Do they grow chaotically or in strands?
.

If you have coloured hair:

• What is their shade - dark or blonde? Or maybe a vibrant or pastel colour:
.
• Are they coloured uniformly, or in the form of ombre or highlights?
.
• Are they coloured with dye or bleach?

Pay attention to the chemical composition of the toner and try to match it to your hair type and condition. Choose hair toners without (or with a reduced amount of) ammonia and other harmful substances, such as p-Phenylenediamine (paraphenylenediamine, PPDand) and its derivatives, which can cause allergic skin reactionsand.

.

Remember that blonde hair toners can be a little more aggressive. It is therefore essential that you follow the manufacturer's recommendations and don't keep the product on the surface of your hair for too long, so as not to dry it out too much.

There is a solution.

The solution to this problem can also be toning conditioners, which, in addition to colouring, also have conditioning, nourishing and regenerating properties. 

If your hair lacks shine, is brittle and dry - a toning conditioner will work better than a classic toner.

For blonde hair, you can use shampoo with a violet or blue tint. It will help to neutralise the yellow and orange tones that are often produced by bleaching.

Hair toners can dry out not only the hair structure but also the scalp. It is therefore only worth using them occasionally. As soon as you start experiencing scalp complaints, such as itching, burning or dry or oily scales - give up on toners altogether.

Hair toners can dry out the hair structure as well as the scalp.

Brunettes and greys are in a slightly more comfortable situation. Their hair is generally stronger, shinier and smoother compared to blonde hair. Therefore, the toner they use will not be as damaging - especially as most toners have additional smoothing and conditioning properties. 

People with dark hair are more likely to be able to afford to experiment with colours and hairstyles. The 'before and after' effect of hair toners in this case may not be as immediately visible and spectacular, but regular and skilful use will certainly enhance the effects.

Hair toners can also be used to enhance the results.

Hair toners can also be used to enhance the results.

The condition of your hair, skin and nails also depends on your mental wellbeing and healthy sleep. Read how you can take care of them:

• How to take care of your mental health?
• Sedation pills
• Sedation tablets without a prescription
• Sleeping pills without a prescription
• Melatonin for sleep
• Melatonin
• Adaptogens
• Ashwagandha
• CBD oil
• CBD

Hair toners save you time and money. Plus they give you freedom and allow you to be creative. In a matter of minutes - safely, at home, taking extra care of your hair, you can transform yourself beyond recognition.

Hopefully you now know the immense power of toners and will use it responsibly. 

Summary

.

.

.