Hair toner and hair dye are two products that are often confused for one another. However, these two products have two distinct purposes which come together to give you the perfect hair dye that you’ve always wanted. Continue reading to learn about the difference between hair toner and hair dye.

What Is a Hair Toner?

A hair toner is a product you use when you want to adjust your hair dye to eliminate uneven bleach unwanted shades like yellow and orange. Though you can use a toner for other dyes besides blonde, toners are most common when someone has bleached their hair and needs to dye correctly.

We have warm undertones in our hair, which are the last to break down during the bleaching process. It’s typically a bit challenging to get your hair completely lightened to the state that you want it because of the fear of damaging your hair cuticles irreparably.

When you finish bleaching your hair and you still have those yellow, gold, or orangish shades, it can ruin the final look you’re going for. This is where the toner comes in. The toner will cancel those shades by coating your hair with a different pigment. This is different than hair dyes, which can change the dye of your hair.

The toner merely adjusts the dye, using low ammonia levels to enhance or neutralize the tint. Over time, toner gets washed out, and you’ll have to reapply it to keep up with the dye you want.

You can also use toner to adjust for other popular hair dyes such as red, brown, and even platinum. 

What Is Hair dye?

Hair dye is a chemical that changes the dye of your hair by penetrating deep into the hair shaft. Once the dye reaches the hair shaft, the dye can get deposited.

However, before this can happen, the dye has to penetrate beyond the hair cuticle; the cuticle functions like tree bark. Its job is to protect your hair from getting damaged. Penetration occurs from using ammonia within the dye to raise the pH balance of your hair and to relax and lift the cuticle.