How to Fix Over-Toned Hair

This article offers solutions for correcting over-toned hair, a common problem resulting from extended toner application or salon mishaps. If your hair has developed unwanted blue, purple, grey, or silver tones after a toning treatment gone wrong, don’t worry. This guide provides simple and relatively gentle methods for removing excess toner. Over-toning can occur for several reasons, including prolonged processing time, using a toner that’s too strong, applying too much product, or having highly porous hair. Fortunately, there are ways to reverse these unwanted color effects without causing significant damage.

How to Fix Over-Toned Hair

Clarifying Shampoo

The easiest and most common first step for fixing over-toned hair is washing it a few times with a clarifying shampoo. While it’s not the fastest method, it’s the gentlest on your hair. It’s best to wash your hair as soon as you realize it’s over-toned. Since most toners are temporary, the cool tones will eventually fade with regular washing. However, if you want to speed up the process, two or three washes with a clarifying shampoo can help remove those unwanted blue, gray, or purple hues more quickly.

Baking Soda
Another option, which you can do after shampooing, is to use baking soda. Just take one or two tablespoons—depending on how much hair you have—and massage it into your hair. Let it sit for a minute or two, then rinse it out. Because baking soda has natural brightening properties, it can help lift the toner and gradually bring back any underlying warmth or golden tones.

Dishwashing Liquid
Dish soap is another option you can try to remove unwanted purple tones. Use a small amount and lather it into your hair like you would with regular shampoo. Again, the sooner you do this after noticing the over-toning, the better. Let it sit for a couple of minutes before rinsing thoroughly. Because dish soap is very clarifying and can be quite harsh, it will likely leave your hair feeling dry and brittle. So, it’s really important to follow up with a deep conditioning treatment to restore moisture.

Hydrogen Peroxide
Finally, diluted hydrogen peroxide can be used to remove unwanted tones from over-toned hair. However, this method is very harsh and stripping, so it’s crucial to follow up with multiple conditioning treatments. To use it, dilute the hydrogen peroxide with water and spray it onto your hair. To minimize damage, leave it on for only about a minute. After rinsing thoroughly, apply a deep conditioner and ideally leave it in overnight for the best results. This will help replenish moisture and restore the health and appearance of your hair.

With these straightforward tips, you now have several options for correcting over-toned hair. Remember that these methods are generally safe for natural hair but are not recommended for extensions. You should be able to get rid of those unwanted tones quickly. Good luck!