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Even after a successful lift, the right toner can make the difference between "almost there" and the finished blonde your client was hoping for. Different blonding scenarios call for different formulas, and having a few go-to combinations makes it easier to choose the right one. Below, four colorists share the 5-minute toner formulas they're reaching for to refine everything from lingering yellow to stubborn warmth.
A longtime blonde client wanted to return to full highlights after years of keeping the underneath darker, but expert colorist and educator Sammie Jones (@sammiejones_hair) knew the transition wouldn't happen in a single appointment. After previously adding base color back through the underneath to recreate the dimension her client missed after a full highlight, Sammie was now working through the lingering artificial warmth as they transitioned back to an all-over blonde.
To begin lifting through the previously colored sections, she used Paul Mitchell® BLONDE Pre-Bonded Lightener and a 5-volume developer. "With a 9-Level lightener, a 5-volume will do the job I need it to do. [But] I wouldn't use it on anyone darker than a Level 6," she explains.
As she worked through the correction, Sammie also set realistic expectations with her client, explaining, "There's nothing I can do to tone that. We're just going to have to start highlighting it out."
To account for the remaining warmth while preserving her client's dimension, Sammie used a gradient toning technique with Paul Mitchell® The Demi Pre-Bonded 5-Minute Toners. She applied equal parts Ash and Beige underneath where the warmth remained, then added Paul Mitchell® The Demi Clear through the brighter top sections to create a softer toning effect. The result balanced the overall blonde while allowing the brightest pieces to stand out.
Tap the image to see her full formula:
Paul Mitchell® BLONDE Pre-Bonded Lightener + 5-volume developer
Paul Mitchell® The Demi Pre-Bonded 5-minute Toners Ash + Beige + developer
The Demi Pre-Bonded 5-minute Toners Ash + Beige + Paul Mitchell The Demi Clear + developer
When Sammie's client wanted to go brighter for an upcoming wedding, she wanted to create a clean lift while preserving her dimension. After lifting her client to a Level 10, her goal was to refine the remaining yellow while preserving the blonde's clarity.
Sammie sheered her formula with The Demi Clear to soften the toner's effect, subtly refining the remaining yellow while maintaining a bright blonde in just five minutes.
Move the slider to see how Sammie refined lingering yellow while preserving a bright Level 10 finish:
Here's her full formula:
Pro tip: For high-level blondes, Paul Mitchell Advanced Education Team Member and National Trainer Nikki Ramos (@nikkiramoshair) recommends anchoring your toner formula with extra The Demi Clear and using Paul Mitchell® Porosity Equalizer Spray before toning.
Tap below to see Sammie's placement and formulas:
On a busy Saturday in the salon, BTC Team Member, custom color expert and educator Ciarra Russo (@colorbyciarra) needed a toning approach that would cool her client's brunette without adding unnecessary time to the service.
"She wants it pretty ashy, but I also don't want it to overtone and look muddy,” Ciarra explains. After adding her client's gray coverage, she created a cooler finish without over-depositing pigment using the following formulas:
Tap through the images to see her process:
Working on darker starting levels often means spending extra time refining warmth after lightening. For salon owner and stylist Stevie Meech (@hairbystevie), the priority was creating a clean lift first, then quickly refining the final tone. On this service, the five-minute process helped reduce her overall appointment by approximately 15 minutes.
Watch how Stevie used The Demi Pre-Bonded 5-Minute Toners Ash and Beige to refine warmth without extending the appointment:
Here are the formulas she used:
Use this quick guide to help determine which The Demi Pre-Bonded 5-Minute Toners shade to use:
This content is sponsored.
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