Why Toning Shampoo Is a Must-Have for Your Haircare Routine

If you have color-treated strands, a toning shampoo is key for keeping brass out of your hue. Here’s how to select the right one for you.

What Does a Toning Shampoo Do?

Toning shampoo is a type of tinted haircare formula that deposits vivid pigments (often blue, purple, or green) onto hair’s surface to neutralize the appearance of brass. Different colors of toner can help address different unwanted undertones in your hair:

• Purple toning shampoo: Purple can help cancel out yellow brassy tones in blonde, silver, or gray hair for a more cool-toned look.
• Blue toning shampoo: Blue toners can help offset orange brass in dark blonde and lightened brown hair so they appear more neutral.
• Green toning shampoo: Green, although less common, can help balance red brassy tones in very dark hair to enrich its depth and add shine.

Their efficacy all goes back to the basic concept of color theory: Hues that lay opposite on the color wheel can cancel each other out when overlaid. To determine which type of toning shampoo you’ll need, examine your strands, identify any undesired, underlying hues, and choose a shampoo in a contrasting color.

Who should use toning shampoo?

Anyone looking to minimize the appearance of warmth in their hair can benefit from a toning formula. Those with lightened or very blonde hair will see the most noticeable results from using a toning shampoo, but it’s not exclusive to one shade.

What Does Toning Shampoo Do to Brown Hair?

All three shades of toning shampoo can help enhance the vibrancy of brown hair. However, picking the right one all comes down to your hair color level. For example, lightened brunettes with highlights or balayage level eight or higher can reach for a purple shampoo to cool down their blonde accents. Meanwhile, anyone with black to dark brown hair (levels 1-4) can benefit from a green toning shampoo to offset red undertones that typically appear. Brunettes who fall somewhere in the middle can pick up a blue toning shampoo, which is specifically designed to address orange undertones in this hair color range.

Is Toner Just Purple Shampoo?

Purple toning shampoo may be the most well-known kind of at-home toner (especially if you’re a bottle blonde), but there are other options. These can include glosses, conditioners, masks, and sprays. And, as discussed, different colors of toners are available, too.

How Do You Use Toning Shampoo?

How to use toning shampoo can vary from product to product, so be sure to read the label on your chosen formula. Here are a few general steps for washing with a tinted shampoo:

1. Determine how much shampoo you’ll need based on your hair’s length. Typically, a dime-sized amount works for shorter hair, while a quarter-sized amount will do for longer lengths.
2. Massage your shampoo onto your scalp using circular motions to help loosen any buildup. Gently work the lather down through the lengths of your hair.
3. Let toning shampoo sit on your hair before rinsing so it can really work its magic.
4. Follow with a toning conditioner from the same range, or a moisturizing formula to add shine and softness.

How often can you use toning shampoo?

Toning shampoos aren't intended for daily use. The effects of these formulas can last for a few washes, and using them continuously can darken or stain your strands. It’s recommended to use them once or twice a week.

Our Favorite Toning Shampoos To Try

Matrix Brass Off Shampoo

Ideal for brunettes who lighten their hair, Matrix’s Brass Off Shampoo deposits balancing blue-violet pigments to help reduce the look of brassy tones.

Matrix So Silver Shampoo

Whether you have naturally gray hair or color-treated blonde strands, Matrix’s So Silver Shampoo can help eliminate any dull yellow undertones.

Redken Blondage Shampoo

Redken’s Blondage Shampoo is a toning shampoo for blonde hair that can help refresh your color and address the damaging effects of bleach.

Kérastase Bain Ultra-Violet Purple Shampoo

Kérastase Bain Ultra-Violet Purple Shampoo helps keep bleached hair feeling nourished while neutralizing brassy tones.

Shu Uemura Art of Hair Yūbi Blonde Anti-Brass Purple Shampoo

Shu Uemura Art of Hair Yūbi Blonde Anti-Brass Purple Shampoo contains exclusive Japanese-crafted technology to help deposit more neutralizing pigments onto your strands.