What does a green toner do to the hair?

What are green toners and how do they work?

The hair color wheel - red cancels out green

Let's start by exploring the science behind color theory.

The color wheel showcases the relationships between different hues.

Red and green are complementary colors, meaning they sit opposite each other on the wheel.

This fundamental principle is the key to utilizing green toners effectively in neutralizing red and also magenta tones.

Green toners work by counteracting the warm tones in red hair, creating a more balanced and neutral result.

They are particularly effective in cases where unwanted warmth, such as copper or orange undertones, needs correction.

The green pigments in toners cancel out the red undertones, providing a harmonious and natural-looking color.

How green cancels out red - and which green to use

Ugly Duckling Green

Green will cancel out red. But here's the catch:

Not all green toners are created equal.

In particular, if you use a green shampoo or mask you will just be coating the outside of the hair.

You will not be achieving a permanent transformation.

So that's where oxidative technology comes in.

You will get better results if you use a green based color along with developer.

That way you achieve a permanent transformation of your red or magenta hair.

The best green toner you can use - and what to use it with

We mixed Green with 6N to produce this stunning no-red result. Hair by KandKhair Salon

We would suggest you utilise the Ugly Duckling green toner.

And we would suggest you use it the way Ugly Duckling professionals do: mix it with your target color.

That way you cancel the red and achieve the exact tone that you want.

Ugly Duckling Green has in fact been designed as an additive, meaning it has been designed to be mixed along with other colors.

So which color should you mix them with?

It all depends on the final result you want. You have total flexibility here.

Looking to cancel red and achieve a medium blonde result?

Mix green with a pearl blonde toner such as Pearl Blonde 10V.

Looking to cancel red and achieve a rich brown result?

Then mix your green with a level 5 or level 6 base color. Dark Natural Blonde 6N for example would work very well.

Looking to cancel red and achieve an ash blonde result?

Then mix your green with a medium ash blonde toner such as Ash Blonde 7.1 (7A) for example.

How do I use the green toner and these other colors?

We recommend that when you start off, use one inch squeezed out of your tube of Green to 1 full tube of your regular toner or color.

So say, for example, that you want to use a pearl blonde toner as we saw above.

Use one inch of green to a full tube of pearl blonde toner.

Then add in the developer. a 1 part color to 1 part developer ratio for the whole mix is good.

If you are using a base shade like 6N, then once again, one inch of green mixed with one inch of 6N, plus the same amount of developer.

Once you get used to doing this, you can experiment by using a little more green and a little less to see the exact result that you get.

If, for example, you really have a lot of dark red, then you can increase the amount of green to 2 inches versus one full tube of your target color.

Application techniques to neutralize your red

Make your mix nice and wet, because we want to get a very good color saturation.

The consistency in color needs to be very smooth, with no lumps.

Then segment well and apply.

Color neutralization of reds requires a lot of pigments, which luckily Ugly Duckling colors and toner do have.

But getting the product really into contact with the hair is important also.

So let that process happen.

Keep watching. If you see the hair literally changing color in front of your eyes, do not be alarmed. 

That is exactly how color neutralization works.

And how you are going to get rid of the red.

Rinse when done and then shampoo and towel dry.

Using green and pearl blonde toner to neutralize red - Watch video:

Hair by Elona Taki