How to Remove Toner (Balancing Water) from Hair

Hair toner (balancing water) can address yellow, orange, or brassy tones in bleached hair. Like other hair dyes, toner results aren't always predictable, and the outcome might not be to your liking. The good news is that toner will fade over time. You can even speed up this process by washing your hair with a strong cleansing product like deep cleansing shampoo, anti-dandruff shampoo, baking soda, or dish soap. If you'd like toner to fade even faster, try applying lemon juice to your hair overnight.

Use deep cleansing shampoo. As the name suggests, this type of shampoo will cleanse dirt, oil, and build-up from your hair. If you're not happy with the results after using toner, the good news is that toner will naturally fade over time. You can accelerate this by washing your hair with deep cleansing shampoo.

• Deep cleansing shampoos are available at beauty and cosmetics stores.
• You may need to wash your hair several times for it to be effective.
• Avoid washing your hair more than 4-5 times a day as it can damage your hair. (Even with regular hair care, it's best not to wash your hair more than 1-2 times a day.)
• Use a deep conditioning treatment after shampooing.

Use anti-dandruff shampoo. This type of shampoo is designed to remove dirt, oil, and dandruff from your scalp. Additionally, anti-dandruff shampoo has a mild bleaching effect on hair color. Try washing your hair with anti-dandruff shampoo several times until you achieve the desired results.

• Avoid washing your hair more than 4-5 times a day.
• Use a deep cleansing conditioner after washing.

Add baking soda to your shampoo. You can speed up the toner removal process by adding baking soda to your shampoo. Add about 1 teaspoon (5 ml) of baking soda to the amount of shampoo you normally use. Mix the solution well and wash your hair as usual. Be sure to rinse thoroughly to remove the baking soda from your hair. Follow up with a deep cleansing conditioner.

Condition your hair at home. This process is designed to remove build-up from products and oils on your hair. Typically, this step is done before coloring, but you can also use it to eliminate unwanted toner. First, wash your hair with a bit of dish soap and rinse. Then, squeeze fresh lemon juice directly onto your hair and leave it for 1-2 minutes. Finally, rinse the lemon juice out and follow with a deep cleansing conditioner.

• Note: Your hair will be very dry after this treatment, as the lemon juice removes your hair's natural oils.

Apply this method within 24 hours of applying the toner. If you're not satisfied with the toner color, you can attempt to remove it at home. The longer the toner stays on your hair, the harder it will be to remove. For the best results, it's recommended to try this method within 24 hours after applying the toner.

Make a mixture of lemon juice and conditioner. Extract lemon juice using a juicer or by hand. Then, mix it in a ratio of 3 parts lemon juice to 1 part conditioner. To minimize any damage to your hair, use a deep cleansing conditioner.

• For short or medium hair, you'll need about 3 lemons.
• For long hair, 6 lemons should suffice.
• Fresh lemons will give the best results, but if unavailable, bottled lemon juice can be used as a substitute.

Apply the mixture to your hair. Carefully apply the lemon-conditioner mix from roots to tips, ensuring every strand is evenly coated. If your hair is long, consider tying it up. Use a shower cap, plastic wrap, or a plastic bag to cover your hair.

Leave the mixture on for at least 3 hours. The acid in the lemon juice will gradually lighten the color, while the conditioner helps prevent damage. For optimal results, leave the mixture on overnight.

• The next morning (or 3 hours later), wash your hair and follow up with a deep cleansing product.
• You can also use heat during the process, such as sunlight, a blow dryer, or a hair steamer (optional).