In the age of blonding and balayage, it’s more than likely that you’ll probably need a toning product in your shower at some point! Toning shampoos, conditioners, and masks are great tools to maintain bright blondes at home, but which one is right for you?

Purple vs. Blue

In general anything on the cool end of the color spectrum will tone down blondes who are feeling a little to golden, but as a general rule of thumb, purple is better at neutralizing yellow tones, blue is better for brass! If you have naturally darker hair, balayage, or caramely tones that tend to go orange, a purple shampoo won’t do much, blue is what you need! If your are a power blonde that struggles with yellowing, purple is your new best friend! However, pigmentation, tone direction, and performance all vary from brand to brand. If you’re not sure what you need, feel free to ask!

Every stylist has a different preference when it comes to at-home toning products. My personal favorites are the Oligo Blacklight Blue Shampoo and Conditioner for bright, icy blondes, and the Verb Purple Mask for blondes with lots of length!

Toning Shampoo

Toning shampoos are great, but won’t do much is the majority of your blonde is focused on the ends of your hair. I usually recommend purple or blue shampoos to clients who have traditional foils vs balayage because they need brightness all over, not just on the ends! Remember, you only shampoo your scalp, so if that’s where you’re noticing the most yellow, go for shampoo!

Toning Conditioner/Masks

Toning conditioners and masks are perfect if you have more lightness on your ends. If you have balayage, foilayage, or a natural, rooty look, toning conditioner would be your best bet! Remember, conditioner should be applied to your hair from the ears down. If you have more brassiness/ yellow on the ends of your hair, go for conditioner! Toning masks are also amazing if your blonde is feeling a little crunchy. They infuse extra moisture and repair while busting thru brass!

Pro Tip:

You can get more bang for your buck if you let your toning products sit and soak for a few minutes while you’re in the shower! 2-5 minutes is usually great if you need some extra brass busting! It’s best to use purple or blue toning products a few times a week and stay on top of it after your color service. If your color gets past the point of no return, no amount of purple or blue can remedy excess yellow, it’s best to just keep it at bay!