Question for people with chemical haircolor experience

[Curlsgirl]

I went to the Aveda salon today where I got my highlights and asked them what my options are for covering the gray in between the highlight touchups. They said they would put a "toner" on my roots to last in between highlights. So that means they would not use any developer. My roots are light brown/gray. I asked if it would last and they said yes until the next highlighting touchup. They said it only costs $20 to $25. Would this be a good option? I am trying to get away from doing any of the color myself for fear of overlapping/damage. I guess I could try it with no harm. Just wanted to know opinions.

[burns_erin]

As I understand it-typically the "toner" is what is put on after they bleach hair out. So maybe it is a hair dye without the bleaching out first properties alot of them have. Hopefully an actual hair stylist can give you a better answer. As long as the "toner" is not actually having any bleaching effects it should not be too damaging.

[Curlsgirl]

Well I think they did mean a dye without the developer but it is used for other things than over bleach too I know that. I just wonder how it will cover just being a deposit (which is the same thing if I'm not mistaken). I would rather do this if I could since it shouldn't damage at all like a dye with developer. I may go ask someone at Sally's. I know a color specialist there.

[orangeeyecrayon]

ohh a question i can awnswer since i am a cosmotology student at an aveda school.

toner is just demi perminant color, and since based on your picture from the first of this month you have very little grey that should be fine to cover your hair. i do not know what color your highlights are, but try to stay with a toner in the wamer color family just cause if you get an ashy color, when the color cllngs to the grays it will become more noticable.

[orangeeyecrayon]

you can do this on your own, just get a demi-permanint or deposit only (these do have developers but they are amonia free) these will not lighten your hair at all but they will darken hair.

these are suprisingly gentle on the hair and can be done on there own, just make sure you follow the directions on the bottle of dye (which is really just like apply to your whole head than let sit for a set amount of time) you will proboably need at least double the single amount cause of your hair length

[missy60]

Maybe they would put a light toner on and it would only color the grey blonde. I hadnt thought of that. If its light it wouldnt affect your hair color just deposit on the grey maybe, but I really dont know.

[FrannyG]

Curlsgirl, this sounds like one of those deals where you really can't go wrong. Putting toner on your hair is really not going to inflict damage on your hair, so I'd give it a try. I understand totally about being concerned about overlapping the dye by doing it yourself.

That said, I'm sure that you've developed some good skills over the years in touching up your roots, and it's much cheaper in the long run to do it yourself.

[missy60]

I think if it was me I would go in and let them do it because there are so many options on what they plan to do. Try to see what color toner they are using in your hair and see how it goes. I didnt think toner would cover the grey though. Then you can always do it yourself at a later time if once you figure out the process.

[Curlsgirl]

Thanks! If it's only $25 every 8 weeks and $$85 every 8 weeks then it will be worth it to have her do it for sure because no doubt it will look better! Almost all my gray is on the top of my head though it is quite a bit. I also don't part it when I wear updos so you can't see the roots anyway there. If it's more money than I think or it won't cover the gray then I'll have to make another choice I guess. I really love this salon. I am sure it will be easier on my hair than doing it myself. I can do the roots but I really am not very good at it. I do okay on top but in the back is very difficult for me. Sigh. I just decided if I am going to have healthy long hair, I need to quit being so cheap :)

[orangeeyecrayon]

Okay i think this should be the determanant...

if you have close to 50% or more hair than you should definately go to the salon. but if you have less than that than you can easily do the toning on your own, since you can just apply it all over your hair and massage it in after you apply it to the roots (that is how you are suposed to apply a tonner to blend the color) a less than perfict application should not be a huge ordeal cuase you will get hair on all parts when you massage...

but a third factor is your hair length and thickness you will need at least two bottles of dye plus the developer to go with it (this is not a true developer just a slightly acidic formula that helps slightly lift the cuticule) so basicly if you think you will need more than 3 bottles of dye i would just get it done profesionally cuase the price in the end will be the same aproxomantly

[30isthenewblack]

I always get a toner put on my hair if I feel that the hair is lightened too much. It doesn't cost very much to get it done at the hairdresser so I wouldn't try and do it yourself at home in case you do it wrong. I get my hair colour done every six months and usually one or two toners inbetween.

[Curlsgirl]

you can do this on your own, just get a demi-permanint or deposit only (these do have developers but they are amonia free) these will not lighten your hair at all but they will darken hair.

these are suprisingly gentle on the hair and can be done on there own, just make sure you follow the directions on the bottle of dye (which is really just like apply to your whole head than let sit for a set amount of time) you will proboably need at least double the single amount cause of your hair length

I don't know what color to use though. I don't want it on my length either because it would darken the blonde right?

[justgreen]

I've been getting toner put on my hair after my highlights and it really cuts down on the brassies. She doesn't charge me extra for that either. Man Aveda is expensive!

[JessTheMess]

I say go for it. After I bleached my hair several times, it ended up looking like a bale of hay on my head. I mean I was platinum blonde, and I wanted to get closer to my natural color...which is dark brown. The stylist put a toner in my hair and it brought me to a dark auburn color, without causing any damage to my hair at all. In fact my hair looked and felt a lot healthier.

[missy60]

MOst places dont charge extra for toner when its on the same visit that you get the highlights put in. I only had a toner put on once and it was sort of just smoothed over the outside of my hair so I dont know much about toners. I have only been a blonde once so I dont know all the tricks.

I would love to never have to dye my hair again and only do the roots. I cant though because my hair goes brassy. I thought when curlsgirl first started talking about this it sounded like the perfect solution, but I just didnt see how it would work so Im really interested in the outcome. I always thought if you were grey you would have to have the highlights redone ever 6-8 weeks like Justgreen does.

[Curlsgirl]

Okay I went today and this is what she did. It had been 4 weeks since the highlights and about 8 weeks since I did my roots (base color). This time she used a 10 minute thing mostly on my roots, called it toner but she did say it had a low volume developer in it. It was level 9 I think. She said we're going to try this in between highlight retouches to see if it will blend the gray, light brown roots in enough for me because it costs less and is easier. I love the way it looks. It did not color my highlights at all. I will have to get highlight ROOT touchups every 2-3 months and the toner should be once or twice in between that. She said she will not pull the highlights or anything through my hair so it won't damage the length. It was $30 today and I think the highlights are like $65 or something. That's an average of about $50 a month or less. I never get haircuts or anything else so I think this will be worth it to keep from overlapping it like I know I do.

She said something that made me SO happy! She said she could tell I take super good care of my hair because it is so healthy and she hardly ever sees anyone that does that. She knows I want to KEEP it that way and is willing to listen and do everything she can to help I believe. :cheese:I'll have to see how it lasts. She said if I wasn't happy with it we could go to a base color instead which would cost more but if this is not good I will do that probably. I love that salon!

[Curlsgirl]

Oh and she was SO relieved when I said I didn't want it blown dry this time LOL! I told her I probably wouldn't do that very often because of not wanting the heat damage. She kept being amazed at all the things I DON'T do to my hair LOL.

[FrannyG]

Curlsgirl, I'm so glad it all went well. Having seen exactly how and when you'll be having this done, it seems like a really good plan to me.

Now that you've found someone you can trust, and with whom you have a good rapport, I can see why you feel more comfortable having someone else take care of the roots so as to avoid overlap.

I'm really happy for you, and you look marvellous. :cloud9:

Now, missy, when do we get some photos of your fab curly blondeness? Now that I know DH is on board, there can be no excuses. :inlove: :p

[Curlsgirl]

Curlsgirl, I'm so glad it all went well. Having seen exactly how and when you'll be having this done, it seems like a really good plan to me.

Now that you've found someone you can trust, and with whom you have a good rapport, I can see why you feel more comfortable having someone else take care of the roots so as to avoid overlap.

I'm really happy for you, and you look marvellous. :cloud9:

Now, missy, when do we get some photos of your fab curly blondeness? Now that I know DH is on board, there can be no excuses. :inlove: :p

Thanks Franny! I am pretty happy!!! I also like that they don't have silicones in a lot of their products. I am going to have to talk to her about wet combing though. She did use a wide tooth comb but ripped through a bit more than I would. :shudder: If I am going all the time I will have to break her of that too! :D I'll get those pics soon I promise! Maybe tomorrow.

[missy60]

Thanks for explaining what she did that sounds great Im really glad it is all going to work out for you. It sounds like an excellent plan to me and very hair friendly

[30isthenewblack]

Thanks for explaining what she did that sounds great Im really glad it is all going to work out for you. It sounds like an excellent plan to me and very hair friendly

Toners between retouching the hair is definitely the way to go. That's why I can always wait 6 months between getting my hair redone.

[Curlsgirl]

Toners between retouching the hair is definitely the way to go. That's why I can always wait 6 months between getting my hair redone.

Wow 6 months! That sounds great! I wonder if I can stretch it longer than I thought then. I'll have to see. Do you have much gray in your hair?

Yes Missy I think definitely it will be a good plan. I am happy so far at least!

[psvzum]

I also have highlights and need to cover my greys/roots every 3-4 weeks (I have dark hair and can't stand it when you can see the greys : ) ).

My experience with toners is they wash out. How quickly depends on howoften you wash but I don't think it would last until the next highlighting touchup. But.....it's certainly worth a try to see how long it lasts.

[30isthenewblack]

Wow 6 months! That sounds great! I wonder if I can stretch it longer than I thought then. I'll have to see. Do you have much gray in your hair?

Yes Missy I think definitely it will be a good plan. I am happy so far at least!

I should add that my base colour is only a few shades lighter than my natural hair colour which is why I can probably get away with doing my hair every six months. With brunettes, the regrowth is not as obvious unless you have gone from black to blonde. In my signature, it had lightened up quite a lot & I had the colour redone a month ago. This is where curly heads have an advantage as regrowth is much easier to disguise. I don't have any grey in my hair. My mum is almost 65 and still only has a few grey hairs.

[Curlsgirl]

I should add that my base colour is only a few shades lighter than my natural hair colour which is why I can probably get away with doing my hair every six months. With brunettes, the regrowth is not as obvious unless you have gone from black to blonde. In my signature, it had lightened up quite a lot & I had the colour redone a month ago. This is where curly heads have an advantage as regrowth is much easier to disguise. I don't have any grey in my hair. My mum is almost 65 and still only has a few grey hairs.

Yeah that is why she said we would have to see. She did say that since it's lightened the grays would blend in better that way. Oh and the toner is not meant to totally cover the grays but to help blend them in between highlight touchups. I don't mind if they show a bit.

Unfortunately though I am a curly, I'm a 3a and that means my roots are pretty straightish until about 3 or so inches down. BUT I don't have that much gray except on top of my head so far. Around my face and neck it has hardly any. That will help. A lot of times with updos I don't really part my hair.

I will have to see how it does in the long run. She even said that because everyone is different. I don't wash my hair more than usually once a week so that will help and I always use a diluted color protectant shampoo, VERY diluted. She said that was a great idea. She applauds everything I do which is VERY refreshing. Some hair stylists want to poo-poo anything that we do here. Smart girl!!! Maybe she'll end up growing her hair out! She admitted it is a choice between long hair and flat irons. She said you just cannot have both healthy long hair AND irons. Okay rambling now :)

[30isthenewblack]

Yeah that is why she said we would have to see. She did say that since it's lightened the grays would blend in better that way. Oh and the toner is not meant to totally cover the grays but to help blend them in between highlight touchups. I don't mind if they show a bit.

Unfortunately though I am a curly, I'm a 3a and that means my roots are pretty straightish until about 3 or so inches down. BUT I don't have that much gray except on top of my head so far. Around my face and neck it has hardly any. That will help. A lot of times with updos I don't really part my hair.

I will have to see how it does in the long run. She even said that because everyone is different. I don't wash my hair more than usually once a week so that will help and I always use a diluted color protectant shampoo, VERY diluted. She said that was a great idea. She applauds everything I do which is VERY refreshing. Some hair stylists want to poo-poo anything that we do here. Smart girl!!! Maybe she'll end up growing her hair out! She admitted it is a choice between long hair and flat irons. She said you just cannot have both healthy long hair AND irons. Okay rambling now :)

Haha ... I am the queen of ramblers! With your routine, the hair colour will be preserved a lot longer than people like me who wash their hair once a day. My hair is actually a lot darker than I wanted it & at the moment I'm trying to lighten the colour a little bit ... argh! I am yet to find a hairdresser who knows the difference between chocolate brown & black. Anyway, toners are an alternative & as you say, it's a matter of trialing what is best for your hair & how fast your hair grows. I am just lucky that I can keep my colour for six months but I would say that is probably the maximum that most people would be able to do even with a great haircare routine like yours. It's fantastic that you have found such a lovely, supportive hairdresser & you're inspiring her to grow her hair long. Good work :)

[Curlsgirl]

Haha ... I am the queen of ramblers! With your routine, the hair colour will be preserved a lot longer than people like me who wash their hair once a day. My hair is actually a lot darker than I wanted it & at the moment I'm trying to lighten the colour a little bit ... argh! I am yet to find a hairdresser who knows the difference between chocolate brown & black. Anyway, toners are an alternative & as you say, it's a matter of trialing what is best for your hair & how fast your hair grows. I am just lucky that I can keep my colour for six months but I would say that is probably the maximum that most people would be able to do even with a great haircare routine like yours. It's fantastic that you have found such a lovely, supportive hairdresser & you're inspiring her to grow her hair long. Good work :)

Thanks!!!! Even three months between highlight touchups would be great compared to what I have been doing!