Grey hair toners Y or N?

RoseandJoan

I'm now in my mid 40s and haven't used hair dye since before the pandemic and feel entirely neutral about the grey at present.

I usually allow my wavy hair to do its own thing so it was a surprise to see how different my hair colour looked after being cut and blow-dried by the hairdresser yesterday.

I know a lot of forum members are going through the same process and wondered if you now use grey toners or purple shampoos to enhance your colour?

Of course, any product recommendations would be much appreciated

# pic 1 blow-dried

ETA # pic 2 my hairs usual wavy texture

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2 years ago

General

36 replies

Latest reply was from greycat6

Anonymous

Your hair is super pretty !

2 years ago

Stagiaire Fash

Veteran

I love the waves in your hair—so soft and gentle!

I use shampoo formulated to get chlorine out of hair, because I generally wash it only after I swim (which can give me an extra push to get to the pool when I’m being lazy )

PS. I can’t recall seeing you post photos before, though you make lovely comments on mine. I’d like to return the favor, if you’d post more often.

2 years ago

CarolS

Veteran

Wow, your hair is gorgeous! I experimented once with a purple shampoo but I think that was to help take out brassiness while I was growing out my old highlights and letting the grey come in. I don't use anything currently.

2 years ago

slim cat

Veteran

I tried couple of purple shampoos but have not noticed much effect on my greying hair. I'm still doing a bit of high/low lights in mine - too washed out without it.
Your hair looks great - nice texture and pretty soft wave!

2 years ago

JAileen

Veteran

Purple shampoo is very harsh. I still have the same bottle from ten years ago.

2 years ago

RoseandJoan

Veteran

Thanks Lisa

S Fash, your hair looks really healthy so it definitely works for you.

Carol, that's interesting that it was something you only used during transition.

Slim Cat & JAileen, if they are harsh and ineffective I may pass.

2 years ago

Jenni NZ

Veteran

Hi there I also started going grey in my mid 40s and have never used any toners. I dyed it back to brown only once ( home job) aged 46 and didn’t like it being all one colour, so have used nothing special since just shampoo and conditioner. Overall I am happy with it.

2 years ago

Marlene1

Active Member

No toners, but get a clear gloss at the salon when I get a cut. My grey hair is not as shiny as my former brunette and the gloss helps.

2 years ago

Runcarla

Veteran

I actually asked my stylist about this the last time I got my hair cut. She advised against - but I’m a redhead going white, so my hair colour reads as sandy blonde. I don’t think it’s possible for me to go silvery grey. I’m treating myself to a gloss treatment (like Marlene1 has mentioned) at my next haircut. Like you, I enjoy the occasional blow out, but my natural texture is quite curly. The colour looks quite different depending on how it’s styled.

2 years ago

RoseandJoan

Veteran

Jenni, that's interesting about missing your natural highlights after dying your hair.

Marlene and Carla, I'm intrigued by the clear gloss.

Carla, i assume it's how the light plays off our waves that makes the colour look different.

2 years ago

bella

(website)

Veteran

I love your wavy hair! But the blow-out is a nice change and highlights your silver hair.

I do use a silver hair shampoo. I finished one bottle that was only so-so, and now I am using this brand, and I am happier
https://www.amazon.com/Matrix-.....crid=CO6OS=

I use it every 7-10 days as silver shampoos can dry your hair. If you want to see results, you need to lather, wait about 5 minutes (depends on your hair, start with 2 minutes and experiment), and then rinse. I think this product is not curly girl method approved, so if you are following it, you need to look into a different product.

2 years ago

Anonymous

In both photos your hair color doesn't look like it needs improvement?

I think the clarity of grey hair can be affected by residue from products, like jojoba oil etc. so best maybe to ask your hairdresser? I asked mine and she said I didn't need it.

2 years ago

Stagiaire Fash

Veteran

Wow, that’s a really different look. How cool that you can switch between them so easily!
I’m surprised to hear people saying the purple products are harsh. My grey hairs are more wiry than the others, so if anything I would expect extra conditioning would be the route to take. So far I just use the same conditioner I always have.

2 years ago

Kate

Veteran

I do use a purple conditioner to combat brassiness, but I can’t really tell whether it’s made much of a difference. When this bottle is done, I’m just going to go back to a good rich conditioner. I am intrigued by the gloss treatment. I think I’ll ask my stylist about it next time I go in for a trim.

2 years ago

cat2

Veteran

I have been using DP Hue purple shampoo once a week to tone down the dyed bits during my grow out. I don’t yet know if I will continue with it now that the two tone bits have been trimmed off, but can confirm it didn’t wreck my hair.

2 years ago

Angie

(website)

Fashion Stylist

Jules, your hair is growing out to grey just beautifully! One of the best grow-outs I've seen.

I don't know anything about purple conditioner, but wanted to tell you that your greying curls are romantic and joyful.

2 years ago

Irina

Veteran

Oh, you hair is gorgeous!
I think purple shampoo or a toner can be useful for those with mostly white hair to combat any hint of yellow. My own hair is light ashy brown and grey, probably in proportions of 50/50. I thought purple shampoo will make my grey hair brighter but instead it lowered the contrast which isn’t that sharp to begin with. I finished one bottle and not going to repurchase.

2 years ago

Style Fan

Veteran

Your hair looks gorgeous! I don't know anything about purple shampoo. I am not sure what the purpose of it is.

2 years ago

The Cat

Veteran

Your hair is beautiful.

For the last 4 or 5 years, I have used a purple shampoo and a purple conditioner. Not sure if the purple colour has much effect, but I like the formula of these products, and they certainly do not dry my hair.

2 years ago

Sal

Veteran

Gorgeous hair both ways.

I have used purple shampoo and conditioner in the past to remove brassiness mostly from chlorine/sun in my hair (both when it was naturally blonde as a teen and highlighted as an adult).

I recently used a treatment that my hairstylist recommended and goodness did it make a difference to my texture and freshen the colour. I am going to buy a bottle on my Friday visit. I don't think I would use it often, but it made my hair so silky and clean. My hair is oily and products seem to cling to it (if that's such a thing).

https://www.colorwowhair.com/u.....ple-shampo

2 years ago

Jaime

(website)

Veteran

Your hair looks gorgeous! I am partial to the curls but both ways are lovely. I have tried a lot of purple shampoos and conditioners over the years and my favorite is by Amika. I do not like a purple cast any more than a yellow one and the Amika Bust your Brass Conditioner seems to toe the line.

2 years ago

rachylou

Veteran

That’s a big difference! Did the stylist use a toning shampoo? Or is this some other magic?

2 years ago

RoseandJoan

Veteran

Bella, I hadn't really considered if these products would be CGM approved. After a quick Google there's an inexpensive purple conditioner Provoke Touch of Silver Colour Care Conditioner which is approved.

Cat2 & The Cat it's good to hear you didn't find the formula drying..

Phoebe, I believe all of the products I use are simply water soluble but I'll double check for the oils.

Angie, thank you for the boost

Irina, that's interesting, I hadn't considered how these products affect the contrasting tones.

Style Fan, I believe the purple helps to neutralise yellow tones to enhance the cool blonde or silver.

Sal, thank you for the product recommendation.

Shevia, I also prefer the curls, they'll be back at my next wash day

Rachylou, no toners or colours, I don't take many photos so the curly pic is from 5 months ago. I think the additional regrowth and how the light plays off of straighter hair accounts for the difference.

S Fash, I would love to post more photos on the forum and hope to find the time soon, I'm currently working in finance, home educating my eldest autistic daughter, studying for an exam on ethics and completing a 10 month yoga course so my involvement is really sporadic. Hopefully, things will settle soon and I'll be able to post some WIWs.

2 years ago

Brooklyn

Veteran

I don’t know anything about purple shampoo but your hair looks really lovely.

I like the Olaplex range (but not sure if they do something specifically for grey).

2 years ago

Bijou

Veteran

I use a purple conditioning treatment called Keep my Colour Blonde, by Eleven. Is is a gentle conditioning treatment and stops my hair from going too yellow.

2 years ago

Anonymous

You have beautiful hair both ways! Was the purple used in the first pic?
I don't think I'd use a purple shampoo, since my skin tone is warm, but yours looks more neutral.

2 years ago

Stagiaire Fash

Veteran

I hope my comment didn’t come off as a criticism or demand. Wishing you all the best on those projects, which are each way more important than posting here!

2 years ago

RoseandJoan

Veteran

Brooklyn, I believe there's a couple of olaplex treatments I could look into, thanks.

Bijou, thank you for the recommendation.

Suntiger, just regular shampoo and conditioner in the first picture, there's five months regrowth in-between the two pics.

S Fash, I didn't read your comment as a demand at all ☺️

2 years ago

Suz

(website)

Veteran

Your hair is so beautiful! In both iterations! Looks as if the silver is growing in beautifully.

My hair is silver grey (former mousy blonde) and I occasionally use a purple shampoo to combat a hint of yellowness. I used it about every ten days when I lived in an area with very hard water that left a deposit. Now I live in an area with softer water so I use it maybe once a month or less. Just for a change.

I've used different ones -- some formulations are a bit more drying than others.

2 years ago

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