How to Use Blonde Toners for Grey Hair: The Ultimate Guide

If you're a stylist or colorist and you're searching for the best blonde toner for grey hair, you're in the right place.

Achieving that perfect, natural-looking blonde on greys is both an art and a science, and requires using the right products in the right way.

Here’s why Ugly Duckling Color Gels are your best ally—and how you can combine them for flawless results.

Why Grey Hair Needs Special Attention

Color Gel 10N mixed with Purple Grey

Grey hair often has a different texture and porosity compared to pigmented hair. Its cuticle can be coarser, making it resist color, or sometimes extra-porous, resulting in uneven absorption.

Most importantly: traditional blonde toners can look flat, too ashy, or even patchy on grey strands if the formula and application are not spot-on.

Why Ugly Duckling Color Gels Are the Perfect Solution

A real life story of perfect grey hair coverage using Ugly Duckling Color Gels.

Ugly Duckling Color Gels have been formulated specially to give good grey coverage for women looking to go blonde naturally.

They contain blonde pigments as well as yellow neutralising pigments.

So they produce a true natural blonde without brassiness.

The toners are ammonia-free. 

How to Use Color Gels for Blonde Toning on Grey Hair

If you have hair which is not 100% white because you have used other colors previously, the best thing is to use bleach to lift everything off and get your hair to as close to level 10 as you can.

We suggest you use Brilliant Blondexx Bleach and our new Premium Developers for that.

After bleaching or lightening your hair to the desired level, apply Color Gels as a toner on towel-dried hair.

Choose a shade closest to the blonde reflect you want. eg 10N is Lightest Blonde,  9N is Very Light Blonde, 8N is Light Blonde, 7N is Deep Blonde, and 6N is Dark Blonde.

Be aware that the colors are very highly pigmented. So it would be a good idea to choose a shade at least 1 level lighter than you would normally use.

Mix your chosen shade with 20 Vol Developer.

Then leave between 10 and 30 minutes according to how much grey hair you have and the type of coverage you are looking for.

Before and After Ugly Duckling Color Gel 10N

The pictures show above how a woman with more than 50% grey hair and a medium dark blonde base cab get a consistent, uniform coverage using Ugly duckling Color Gel 10N.

Mixing Color Gel with Other Blonde Toners

A big advantage of using Color Gels is that they are easy to combine with other Gel based toners.

In particular, stylists often mix their chosen Color Gel shade with Blondify Natural Ash Blonde 010A and Natural Violet Blonde 010B.

This combination gives added neutralization of warm undertones and helps produce either a very natural ash blonde or cool violet (purple) based blonde.

You can also mix with Purple Blonde colors like Color Gel Purple Grey, as shown in the image above,

Color Gel 10N mixed with Blondify Natural Ash Blonde 010A

Some Practical Pro Tips When Using Color Gels or Blondify

Do a strand test first: Always run a strand test to assess how your grey hair will respond, and to fine tune the exact shade that you want to get.

Respect your mix Ratios: We recommend that you mix Color Gels and Blondify shades in a 1:1 ratio with developer. 

Use bleach to pre-lighten: If your client's hair is currently colored, use bleach and 20 Vol to lift that color out and get to a uniform level 10 everywhere on her head. You will get better blonde toning if you do that.

Application: Apply evenly, use a tint brush, and process for between 10 minutes and 30 minutes. Color Gel processes fast, so you need to monitor to make sure that you have the right level of coverage.

Aftercare: Use sulfate-free shampoos and cool water to extend your color’s life and vibrancy.

We recommend that you use Brilliant Blondexx hair care for blondes. The range contains a lot of Bond Protect, and will make blonde hair stronger, thicker and healthier.