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Byrdie / Sabrina Jiang
Blondes (may) have more fun, but they can also have a harder time maintaining their desired hair color. As any blonde will tell you, not all blonde colors are created equal—and more often than not, the difference comes down to the undertone, aka the base shade. And that’s where aptly-named toners come in.
They’re the reason why your color always looks so darn good after you get it professionally colored, the final step colorists use to brighten and balance your specific blonde hue. Toners are particularly ideal at counteracting brassiness—those unwanted orangey, red, and yellow colors that can make your blonde look dingy—as well as imparting mirror-like shine. To combat these warm tones, most (if not all) toning treatments use violet and blue pigments. Some can even help counteract any hair damage incurred during the blending process.
“For bleached or light blondes, the trick here is to make your color last longer by using a toning treatment," says celebrity hairstylist Lisa Laudat, whose clients include the likes of Rita Ora and Pink. “As a blonde, you need to factor in the use of bleach and dye on your hair, so it’s important to treat it properly and give it a little bit of love and care.” Toners aren't just about color-correcting; they're also a great opportunity to add in hair-nourishing vitamins like panthenol and shine-enhancing botanical oils.
The great news? Once reserved mostly for the pros, there are now a plethora of at-home options available. From daily shampoos that even DIY novices can use to salon-worthy permanent colors, check out our favorites for making your blonde look better than ever.
Keep scrolling for the best toners for blonde hair.
Best Overall
IGK Mixed Feelings Leave-In Blonde Toning Drops
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Courtesy of Sephora
Customizable
Ideal for all hair types
Easy to use
Pricey
These drops win the game when it comes to both versatility and ease of use. All you have to do is mix the violet drops in with any shampoo, conditioner, or cream styler. (FYI, you’ll see that a lot of these products are purple. That's because purple is opposite yellow on the color wheel, meaning it counteracts it—and neutralizes brassiness).
It comes with a convenient dosing chart that helps you determine exactly how many drops you need based on your hair color and level of toning desired (customization for the win) and also works well on all hair textures.
Price at time of publish: $29
Active Ingredients: Hydrogenated castor oil, prickly pear cactus extract | Type: Leave-in drops | Shades: 1 | Size: 1 fluid ounce | Cruelty-Free: Yes | Byrdie Clean: No
Best Budget
Garnier Nutrisse Anti-Brass Treatment
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Affordable
Very conditioning blend of three oils
Tampers down possible brassiness of hair
Need to wear gloves when using it
When it comes to hair color, this drugstore brand is one of the best, but don’t miss their toning treatment as well. The weekly toner works great with the brand’s boxed dye, though can also be used by anyone who wants to revive a cooler blond hue. Purple tones tamp down unwanted brassiness, while a blend of three oils makes this extremely rich and hydrating.
Price at time of publish: $8
Active Ingredients: Amodimethicone, black currant seed oil | Type: Wash-out conditioner | Shades: 1 | Size: 5.1 fluid ounces | Cruelty-Free: Yes | Byrdie Clean: No
Best Drugstore
John Frieda Sheer Blonde Colour Renew Purple Shampoo
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Courtesy of Walgreens
Great value
Great for highlights and single process color
Easy to apply in shower
Toning isn't strong
Speaking of toning shampoos, here’s another fab option you can get at the drugstore. (Plus, at this price point, you won’t feel bad about using it daily.) Ideal for all shades of blonde or highlighted blonde hair, use it three times per week for balanced, refreshed, non-brassy blonde.
Price at time of publish: $11
Active Ingredients: Lavender extract | Type: Shampoo | Shades: 1 | Size: 8.5 fluid ounces | Cruelty-Free: No | Byrdie Clean: No
Best Shampoo
Amika Bust Your Brass Cool Blonde Shampoo
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Amazon
Easy to use
Counteracts color-dulling effects of hard water
Performs quickly
Pricey
Very potent so needs conservative use
Using a toning shampoo regularly is one of the best ways to maintain your blonde in between salon visits. We’re especially partial to this purple option, great for any cool blonde, icy, or silver shades. You get the toning benefits, as well as plenty of good-for-your-hair benefits. Credit the addition of antioxidant-rich sea buckthorn berry, ultra-hydrating avocado oil, as well as disodium EDTA, an ingredient that claims to counteract the color-dulling effects of hard water.
Price at time of publish: $26
Active Ingredients: Seabuckthorn fruit seed oil, borage seed oil | Type: Shampoo | Shades: 1 | Size: 2, 8, 10, or 33.8 fluid ounces | Cruelty-Free: Yes | Byrdie Clean: No
Best Conditioner
Kristin Ess The One Purple Shampoo
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Good-for-your-hair ingredients
Large size and good value
Strengthens and protects hair
Can make hair ashy if overused
This is another purple-tinted formula, but the color is subtle enough that you can use it every day, should you so choose. Along with keeping your blonde where it should be, it’s also loaded with the brand’s proprietary ‘Zip-Up Technology’ to help strengthen and protect hair from future damage. Translation: Not only does your color look great, but your hair looks and feels healthy, too.
Price at time of publish: $13
Active Ingredients: Panthenol, hydrolyzed keratin | Type: Wash-out conditioner | Shades: 1 | Size: 33.8 fluid ounces | Cruelty-Free: Yes | Byrdie Clean: No
Best Mask
Verb Purple Hair Mask
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Courtesy of Verb
Good-for-your-hair ingredients
Has UV protection to combat color fading
Both tones and masks gray hair
Toning effects could be stronger
Ideal not only for blondies but also for those with gray and/or silver hair, this does its job as both a toner and mask equally well. In the toning department, violet pigments neutralize brass and keep cool blonde and silver shades nice and bright. In the mask department, the formula contains ingredients like acai extract and pro-vitamin B5. Bonus points for the addition of sunflower seed extract which offers UV protection to ward from color fading, always a boon for blondes.
Price at time of publish: $20
Active Ingredients: Açai extract, panthenol | Type: Mask | Shades: 1 | Size: 6.3 fluid ounces | Cruelty-Free: Yes | Byrdie Clean: No
Best Leave-In
Bumble and Bumble Bb. Illuminated Blonde Tone Enhancing Leave-In
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Great for multi-tasking
Easy to use
Also detangles and protects from heat
Potent; don't overdo it
The easiest way to score the benefits of a toner? Use a spray version, like this one. Infused with anti-yellow, purple pigments all you have to do is mist it onto towel-dried hair before blow-drying to keep any cool blonde (or gray) color super fresh. But the benefits don’t stop there. It’s a true multi-tasker, also acting as a leave-in conditioner, detangler, heat protectant, and frizz fighter.
Price at time of publish: $28
Active Ingredients: Nymphaea caerulea flower extract, natural oils | Type: Leave-in spray | Shades: 1 | Size: 4.2 fluid ounces | Cruelty-Free: Yes | Byrdie Clean: No
Best Treatment
Oribe Bright Blonde Radiance Repair Treatment
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Great for improving hair look and color
Only needs to be used weekly
Restores softness and hydration
Pricey
Lightened blonde hair can often use toner not only as a little help in the toning department but to keep it in good condition. (After all, repeated bleaching can take a toll on your hair.) That’s where this two-in-one comes in. Yes, it has brass-fighting violet pigments to keep your hue crisp and vibrant, but it’s also a powerful treatment, helping to restore softness, elasticity, hydration—you name it. It’s super effective, so you only need to use it once per week in place of a regular conditioner, leaving it on for one to three minutes before rinsing.
Price at time of publish: $58
Active Ingredients: Watermelon, lychee, and edelweiss flower extracts; moringa, olive, and sunflower oils | Type: Wash-out conditioner | Shades: 1 | Size: 4.2 fluid ounces | Cruelty-Free: Yes | Byrdie Clean: No
Best Styler
Color Wow Color Control Purple Toning + Styling Foam
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Courtesy of Color Wow
Great for multi-tasking
Option for brunettes available
Creates volume, hold, and fullness
Pricey
For a simple, subtle way to keep your color refreshed, try using this styler on the reg. Not only does the slight lavender tint keep brassiness at bay, but it’s also just a darn great mousse on its own. Alcohol-free, it won’t dry out your hair and uses a unique type of rubber-like substance to create volume, hold, and fullness… without any sticky or crunchy feeling. It also comes in a blue variant that’s amazing for counteracting brassiness in brown hair, so be sure to tell all your brunette friends about it.
Price at time of publish: $24
Active Ingredients: Hydrogenated castor oil, panthenol | Type: Leave-in foam | Shades: 2 | Size: 6.8 fluid ounces | Cruelty-Free: Yes | Byrdie Clean: No
Best for Bleached Blondes
Philip B Icelandic Blonde Conditioner
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Good daily option
Hydrating
Quickly does the job in minutes
Works only on palest of blondes
Tint is very subtle
The lighter the blonde, the more noticeable unwanted brassiness can be, making a good toning product, such as this one, an essential part of your color upkeep. Specially made for the palest of blonde shades (as well as gray and silver hues), this removes brassiness and also ups the shine factor, all while imparting plenty of hydration. Leave it on for one to three minutes before rinsing, depending on how much of a toning effect you need.
Active Ingredients: Grapeseed extract, plum extract | Type: Conditioner | Shades: 1 | Size: 6 fluid ounces | Cruelty-Free: Yes | Byrdie Clean: No
Best for Golden Blondes
Shu Uemura Color Lustre Reviving Hair Balm
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Courtesy of Shu Uemura
Works on darker shades of blonde
Nourishing
Applies within minutes
Pricey
Needs use every two to three shampoos
The majority of toning products for blondes are geared towards cooler shades; as we said, they’re more likely to experience brassiness and yellowing. But that doesn’t mean that warmer or more golden blonde hues don’t also need a little love. Enter this unique option, a silicone-free balm that adds just a small amount of color to balance and brighten your shade and ward off fading. All you have to do is apply it onto clean, towel-dried hair and let it sit for five to 10 minutes before rinsing; use it after every two to three shampoos for the best results.
Active Ingredients: Candelilla wax, linseed oil | Type: Rinse-out treatment | Shades: 1 | Size: 6.8 fluid ounces | Cruelty-Free: No | Byrdie Clean: No
Best for Shine
dpHue Gloss+ Semi-Permanent Hair Color and Deep Conditioner
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Dermstore
Several shades available
Imparts shine and toning
Can be left on for 20 minutes
Not for beginners
Achieving any desired blonde shade requires bleaching, which takes a serious toll on your hair, leaving it dry and lackluster. Enter this formula, a semi-permanent toning color in a deeply conditioning base. It’s so conditioning that you can truly use it as often as you want without any damage to your hair. Leave it on for anywhere from three to 20 minutes (depending on how much toning you need, it also comes in 11 different shades, FYI), and you’ll be left with refreshed color and mirror-like shine.
Price at time of publish: $37
Active Ingredients: Triethanolamine, dimethicone | Type: Gloss treatment | Shades: 11 | Size: 6.5 fluid ounces | Cruelty-Free: Yes | Byrdie Clean: No
Best Permanent Color
Wella ColorCharm Permanent Liquid Hair Toner
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Courtesy of Wella
Several blonde shades available
Inexpensive
Penetrates and saturates for longer tone
Not for beginners
If you’re fairly well-practiced in the DIY color department, go ahead and reach for this permanent toner. With special technology to improve penetration and saturation, it ensures your newly toned blonde won’t fade. Also nice: It’s available in eight different shades of blonde so you can find the one that’s just right for you and rings in at a super affordable price, too.
Price at time of publish: $8
Active Ingredients: Oleic acid, ammonium hydroxide, resorcinol | Type: Permanent toner | Shades: 8 | Size: 1.4 fluid ounces | Cruelty-Free: No | Byrdie Clean: No
Final Verdict
A good toning treatment can go a long way towards keeping your blond in tip-top shape. We love the customization and versatility of the IGK Mixed Feelings Leave-In Blonde Toning Drops (view at Sephora), which can be mixed in with any shampoo, conditioner, or styler. Drugstore shoppers should nab the John Frieda Sheer Blonde Colour Renew Purple Shampoo (view at Walmart); the Amika Bust Your Brass Cool Blonde Shampoo (view at Sephora) is another great, easy-to-use, toning shampoo. And if your hair needs a little extra TLC, the Verb Purple Hair Mask (view at Sephora) is the way to go. It's a purple-tinted mask that delivers hydrating and reparative benefits, plus UV protectors to further keep your color vibrant.
Meet the Expert
Lisa Laudat is a London-based celebrity hairstylist who has worked with the likes of Olivia Rodrigo, Rita Ora, and Pink. You can find her work across various music videos, editorials, and ad campaigns.
What to Look for in a Toner for Blonde Hair
Purple Pigments
Using a toner with purple pigments in it is a surefire way to freshen up your blonde and counteract unwanted yellow tones. As Laudat explains, the purple tones in the product correct yellow undertones by neutralizing them: Purple falls opposite to yellow on the color wheel, which means depositing these complimentary colored pigments will effectively cancel it out.
Blue Pigments
Have more orange-tinged brassiness than yellow? To bring it back to the color wheel, toning products with blue pigments are the best option for combatting any icky orange cast plaguing your blonde.
Conditioning Ingredients
If you’re not a natural blonde, all that lightening and bleaching takes a toll on your hair. Choosing toners that have conditioning and hydrating ingredients built in not only will help strengthen your hair but will also have the added benefit of upping the shine factor of your hair, too.
How We Researched
To compile this list, our team of editors and contributors spent hours researching the best products on the market in this category, evaluating their key features—like ingredients, shade range, or design—in addition to reviews from customers and other trusted sources. We then used this research to assign a star rating from one to five (five being the best; one being the worst) to certain products on the list.
Why Trust Byrdie?
Byrdie contributor Melanie Rud has over a decade of experience in the beauty industry, writing for some of the biggest magazines and websites out there. Since she doesn’t color her own hair, she relied on expert input, lots of product reviews, and input from family and friends when writing this article. (And because she does have blonde hair, she knows the importance of a good toner.)
According to our Diversity Pledge, 15% of products in our newly-published market roundups will feature Black-owned and/or Black-founded brands. At the time of publishing, we were not able to find any toners for blonde hair from a Black-owned and/or Black-founded business. If you know of one we should consider, please email us at contact@byrdie.com and we will evaluate the product ASAP.
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