Magic, also known as a hair toner, helps to take out any unwanted warm or brassy tones after a color or bleach treatment. It is a product that can help personalize a color for each client. Hair toners can be in the form of toning shampoos, demi-permanent colors, or gloss. They are not meant to change the color of your hair, but to adjust it for a more natural, healthy, and shiny look.

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When Should I Use Hair Toner?

Color toner should ALWAYS be used after a lightening service of any kind has been performed. It helps to neutralize the unwanted undertones that can sometimes come from the service and allows you to customize your hair color. This is very helpful when your hair pulls more orange tones or your hair undercoat is coming through. In that case, a stylist will need to use a toner at a lower hair level. The same toner could be used for a client pulling yellow: the level can be at the same tone level, but never above what you’re lifting to.

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If your hair tends to pull orange or yellow hues, it will most likely require multiple sessions to go to a platinum blonde or white hair shade, and this would solely depend on the health of your locks. Using a toner to finish off the round of your going blonde journey will protect the hair strands and give them a healthier look.

Besides being the last step in any coloring process, you can use hair toner at home to eliminate brassy tones coming through. Also, you can schedule a toner-only service in between color treatments to freshen up the hue without going through a full-color service. Toner will only last about six to eight weeks, so plan salon visits accordingly. Again, the next appointment may be an all-over toner only or root touch-up with toner, which will preserve the integrity of your hair.