Toner for home use?

[tsf]

My hair was BSL and I gave up and whacked it off to collar length because the texture had become very bad. I stopped using henna, and had it streaked to allow me to grow out the gray gracefully. That actually worked pretty well.

My texture is still a little rough but definitely better. It's been about year since I had the highlights and they did a good job of hiding the skunk stripe for the grow out process. Now, I have 50/50 gray/brown mix for about 5 inches from the scalp, and about 5 inches of brown/highlighted hair at the ends. The transition line is visible but not too terribly obvious.

My issue now is that the highlighted area will be with me for a while as it grows out and it has become brassy. It needs a toner on it. I have used a couple of the "purple shampoos" and they did a good job of fixing the color but they were very very drying. I usually do CO, so would like to avoid the shampoo. How do I select a toner at the beauty supply store? I've done color at home but toner is a whole different thing and I do not know how to select one.

Any tips?

[Laccaria]

There are purple conditioners avaliable. I didn't find the one I tried (Clairol Shimmer Lights) to be very moisturizing. It did tone, though. You can also add just a little bit of a purple semipermanent dye like Manic Panic (I've used the purple from the Ion Brights line) mixed with your regular conditioner. Obviously, this mix is going to require a bit of tweaking to get the right level of toning without turning the bleached bits lavender, but it is cheap and easy and completely non-damaging. Plus, if you do go a little too purple it does wash out.

[CremeTron]

I second this ^^

I use purple crazy colour weekly to keep my white streak at the front, white. I used a bit too much today and so it is stained purple for now. When mixing aim for the conditioner to be lavender colour. Don't accidentally dye your hair purple!

[MINAKO]

Revlon Nutri Color in Platinum gives an amazing cool tone to brassy hair. I actually use it, although i have black hair, but for me i often mix it with the blue. Anyways, the color payoff is pretty amazing and it leaves the hair in great condition.