Pro tip: Mix a drop of purple toner into your clear gloss for ashy brunettes

I had a client last month who wanted a cool toned brown gloss but didn't want to buy a whole tube of a specific shade. I just squeezed out my usual clear gloss and added one single drop of purple toner, mixed it on the back of my hand, and applied it. The result was a subtle ashy finish without any brassiness. Has anyone else tried mixing toner into clear gloss instead of buying pre-colored ones?

3 comments

3 Comments

alicer5310d ago

Have you ever tried swiping a tiny bit of the toner mixture on a paper towel first just to see the actual color before it hits hair? I got burned once when I used too strong of a purple toner and it came out looking like Barney threw up on my ends, now I always do a quick test.

olivia67010d ago

Just keep in mind that not all purple toners are the same concentration, so one drop might turn your gloss slightly purple if you're not careful with the brand you use. I've seen people go overboard and end up with a weird violet tint that looked more like a mistake than a subtle ash effect. It works fine if you test it first on a small section, but acting like this is some life changing hack feels a little dramatic.

wright.leo10d ago

You know what your comment reminds me of? My cousin tried that purple toner trick last summer and turned her whole head a shade of lavender that literally matched my grandma's couch. She was going for "icy blonde" and ended up looking like she dipped her hair in grape Kool-Aid. I had to sit through a whole family dinner listening to her blame the brand for ruining her vibe. The kicker is she only used half a drop too, so you're definitely right about concentration being all over the place. I think people just get excited because they see a TikTok video where someone nails it, and forget toner is basically hair chemistry, not a magic wand.