Nobody wants to touch the hair-care aisle at the drugstore. Hundreds of shampoos beckon, and this season’s trendy color is sure to clash with what you already own. But when you love your hair — and there’s nothing wrong with that — the time eventually comes to invest in a good shampoo (and conditioner, maybe).
However, if you’re not careful about how you wash out your shampoo, it can have some serious consequences for your locks. Hair toner is especially tricky since its molecules are so small; they’re easily washed down the drain by flowing water. But, don’t toss it into the drain yet! Instead, follow a few simple tips to safely remove toner from your hair.
How To Wash Toner Out Of Hair
- Rinse hair with mild shampoo and lukewarm water until the water runs clear. Skip this step if you have blonde or bleached hair; the soap will strip out some of the color before you even begin to shampoo. Gently massage the shampoo into your scalp; this will help loosen any dirt and oils so you can easily remove it when you gently rinse.
- Shampoo your entire head, paying close attention to ends and scalp. Avoid shampooing continuously for too long.
- Rinse your hair, then repeat steps one and two if necessary.
- Wash your hands thoroughly with soap and water to remove dirt and chemical residue from your fingers.
- Gently towel-dry hair (or blow-dry it if it’s fine or curly), invert a small bowl over an area of your hair, and rub a few drops of acetone nail polish remover onto the small part of your scalp beneath the bowl. Be careful not to get any on the rest of your hair because acetone is harsh on strands!
- Massage the acetone into scalp with fingertips; this will dislodge strands that are tangled within scalp pores.
- Pour the acetone-treated hair into a coffee filter or something similar and seal the top. Let it sit for 10 – 20 minutes to allow solvent to soak into your hair.
- Rinse carefully with mild shampoo–it’s okay to rinse in one large stream rather than rinsing piece by piece, but make sure your scalp is fully wet before rinsing so you don’t experience dulling or drying of the ends. Packing small sections of hair on your head will help distribute shampoo evenly, making it easier for it to rinse cleanly down your nape.
- Squeeze as much of the leftover shampoo from your head as you can.
- Massage scalp with fingertips to remove extra shampoo.
- Rinse well with cool water, then apply conditioner as usual.
Alternative Ways To Remove Toner From Hair
Fortunately, acetone isn’t the only way to remove toner from hair. You can also try the alternatives methods mentioned below:
1. Use a Clarifying Shampoo To Remove Toner
A clarifying shampoo is a product that’s specially formulated to remove unwanted build-up and residue, like dirt or oils. You can find a clarifying shampoo in the drugstore, or you can make your own at home. For best results, rinse hair with shampoo, then allow to sit for several minutes before rinsing and applying conditioner. Clarifying shampoos have their own mild ingredients that will gently cleanse your scalp without stripping away natural oils or dyes.
2. Mix Baking Soda With Shampoo To Remove Toner
Use a clear shampoo made from baking soda and water, or gently work bicarbonate of soda into your shampoo. Repeat this step if necessary until all traces of the baking soda are gone.
3. Mix Lemon Juice With Water To Remove Toner
Mix a tablespoon of organic lemon juice to one cup of warm water, then add a product that’s designed to remove mineral deposits (like tea tree oil), and wash your hair as usual. If you experience any irritation, discontinue use immediately.
4. Apply White Vinegar To Hair To Remove Toner
Mix a half cup of white vinegar with a half gallon of water, then apply to hair and scalp. Let sit for several minutes before rinsing and applying conditioner.
5. Use a Dish Soap To Remove Toner
Add a tablespoon of dish soap (castile, or castile-olive) to your shampoo and then wash hair as usual. If you experience any irritation, discontinue use immediately.
6. Use Borax To Remove Toner
Mix two tablespoons of borax with a half-gallon of water in a bowl, then carefully apply the mixture to your scalp and let sit for several minutes before rinsing and applying conditioner.
7. Use White Vinegar To Remove Toner
Mix a half cup of white vinegar with a half gallon of water in a bowl, then carefully apply the mixture to your scalp and let sit for several minutes before rinsing and applying conditioner.
8. Use A Resin Remover To Remove Toner
Use a resin remover to help remove all traces of hair dye from the hair. These products, like Prell shampoo or something similar, will carefully cleanse your scalp without stripping away natural oils or dyes.
9. Use Woolite To Remove Toner
Apply a small amount of Woolite to your head and scrub with fingertips to remove built-up residue and dirt from hair and scalp.
Can You Leave Toner In Your Hair Without Washing?
While it’s typically recommended to wash out toner two or three times, there are a few known hair colorists who have had success leaving toner in their hair for days, weeks, and even months at a time. One California-based colorist in particular has left the toner in her hair for over six months; the woman was able to achieve this by applying the product every night before bed. Of course, you should always consult with your professional and check your progress of any given product.
What Should You Do After Removing Toner From Your Hair?
After removing the toner from your hair, you’ll want to follow up with a deep treatment in order to seal and nourish each strand. Treat your scalp with an active or hydrating mask for better results.
They are many products for removing bleach or toner from hair; however, it is not necessarily true that all of them can give you effective results. If you want to remove bleach or toner from hair, it is important that you choose a reliable product such as Noresun Color Remover. This product has been recommended by many professional beauticians because of its effectiveness and safety.