Toner is temporary, so even if you choose to experiment with a peachy tone or the full pastel rainbow, you'll always be able to return to your blonde base shade after a few weeks of washing. Would a toner help get the icy blonde look?

from bottle to hair starting at the roots. Work mixture down length of the hair from roots to ends and massage thoroughly to ensure all hair is covered evenly. Make a new parting and flip the already covered hair to one side. Apply mixture as before. Repeat process all over the head, until all hair is covered and mixture is distributed evenly. If you want to extend the time between salon visits, an at-home toner can get the job done. “At-home toners are best used when you’re in between salon visits. Most often, you’ll find them in the form of a pigmented shampoo, conditioner, mask, or a semi-permanent gloss treatment,” says Kusero. “Results can last anywhere from one to ten washes. There is much more versatility and customization of toning depending on the product, which makes these toners ideal for at-home color maintenance.” A toner will help to get the icy blonde look, but you should discuss this with your colourist as it is used for subtle shifts in tonality such as cooling or warming up colour, so it's important to select the right one for the look you want to achieve. Are there different colours of hair toner?Toners are products that help neutralize brassiness, add complexity to blonde shades, brighten, and enhance shine,” says Kusero. Toners are essential whether you're a blonde, brunette, redhead, or fun punky color. “Think of a toner like a color corrector,” says Castillo. “A toner is important when the undertones become more visible after a chemical service or just the roundabout sun and hard water damage. You know it’s time to tone when the surface color of your hair starts to fade away and the crazy golds, yellows, oranges, and red undertones start to take front and center.”

Yes, toners can make a significant albeit nuanced difference, as the changes in coolness and warmness create a subtle change based on suitability of each hair type. Although you can’t massively alter the shade of your hair from the colour you have had - you can really transform the tone. Colour isn’t actually being applied, it is a non-permanent rinse that lasts up to two to three weeks. However, if you're looking for a dramatic colour transformation, toners aren't for you. Can I do a hair toner at home? Yes, and no. “The difference is in longevity and wear,” says Castillo. “When you visit your salon and get a toner applied, you can assume that it will last at least six weeks until you’ll need to have another color service. But when you use at-home toners, the process is done weekly and usually during your shower. The combination of the two can be really beneficial, especially when discussed with your hairstylist.” Consider the formula. At-home toner options include rinses, drops, sprays, glosses and purple shampoos, but Friedman prefers toning conditioners, treatments and masks for their added moisturizing benefits. Using a toner will enhance or neutralize your color," explains Aura Friedman, Senior Colorist and Creative Director at Suite Caroline Salon in New York City.Hair can get brassy when your color starts to fade, which happens for many different reasons, including sun exposure, minerals in water, shampoos that strip color and the stress of heat styling. "By neutralizing hair color, the brassiness will be removed — and if you love your current shade, toner can work with your hair to keep the colors you like most and make them even more vibrant," she says. Toner is a science," Friedman explains. "If you apply too much, hair becomes dull and dark, but if you don’t use it at all, hair can become brassy." Follow her guidelines to choose the right one for you:Toners are used to enhance the shade and correct the undertone of your hair colour after (and in-between) treatment, especially if you have blonde or bleached hair. For example, lots of blondes like a cool effect and a toner the perfect product to help to neutralise any brassiness. Does hair toner work? It all depends on what kind of blonde you want to be. “When choosing a toner, it is best to first determine whether you are trying to avoid a tone or enhance it,” says Kusero. “For maintaining ashy and icy blondes, it is best to choose toners in the violet or purple family. For maintaining vibrancy in warmer blonde shades, it is best to choose a toner in the yellow or gold family.” Are in-salon toners different than at-home toners? You can use a hair colour toning treatment at home in the form of silver or purple shampoos. These are great to use as maintenance in-between salon visits to prolong the brilliance and shine of your colour. For the uninitiated, let Aveda's Advanced Creative Director, Bruno Ellorrioroz, answers the all-important questions about hair toner, including how it works and which shade to go for... What is hair toner and how does it work?

Toner is not a self-select process and your colourists will be best to advise based on your colour appointment and what you have discussed in terms of the final finish you are looking for. Does hair toner wash out? Leave mixture on for 10-25 minutes depending on the depth of colour you want then wash out immediately. Rinse hair until water runs clear then shampoo lightly with bond builder shampoo to remove any colourants. The majority of celebrities would be having a toner after their colour appointment, it’s quite a salon standard these days as it's such a great way to subtly bespoke your colour. Poppy Delevingne is a good example. Can brunettes use a toner or is it just for blondes?

Will you be claiming the VAT back?

Aqua, Propylene Glycol, PPG-1-PEG-9 Lauryl Glycol Ether, Phenoxyethanol, Potassium Hydroxide, Xanthan Gum, Carbomer, Coco-Glucoside, Parfum, Potassium Phosphate, Caprylyl/Capryl Glucoside, Ethanolamine, Xylitylglucoside, Sodium Sulfite, Arginine, Lysine HCl, Succinic Acid, Anhydroxylitol, Etidronic Acid, Niacinamide, Panthenol, N,N-Bis(2-Hydroxyethyl)-p-Phenylenediamine Sulfate, Xylitol, Resorcinol, Geraniol, Toluene-2,5-Diamine Sulfate, Glucose, 4-Amino-2-Hydroxytoluene, Hydrolyzed Keratin, 5-Amino-6-Chloro-o-Cresol, Potassium Sorbate, Sodium Benzoate, Paraffinum Liquidum, Cetearyl Alcohol, Hydrogen Peroxide, PEG-40 Castor Oil, Sodium Cetearyl Sulfate, 2,6-Dicarboxypyridine, Disodium Pyrophosphate, Sodium Sulfate, Behentrimonium Chloride, Litchi Chinensis Fruit Extract, Morinda Citrifolia Fruit Extract, Prunus Armeniaca Kernel Oil, Tocopheryl Acetate, Isopropyl Myristate, Stearamidopropyl Dimethylamine, Isopropyl Alcohol, Glyceryl Stearate, Polyquaternium-37, Glycerin, Dicaprylyl Carbonate, Citric Acid, Limonene, Linalool, Hexyl Cinnamal, Lauryl Glucoside, Benzyl Alcohol

Wash and towel dry hair. Make sure you protect your clothing before starting the application and have a watch or phone nearby so you can monitor the processing time.

Can you have just a toner appointment and if so, is it worth it?