Hair colour for highlights

[Evianne529]

Hi, I DIY balayage'd my hair and am quite pleased with the look- placement of the highlights etc. However the colour is brassy and I want to tone to a much cooler look. Currently my natural hair is dark brown and balayage highlights are probably a mix of level 5/6, but in a brassy coppery tone.

Does anyone know any ashy toners that would work? There used to be a good Wella colour fresh but they discontinued it.

(I've tried blue/purple shampoo & conditioner and it does nothing).

Thanks x

It’s difficult to visualise without seeing your hair, for toners to be effective, your hair needs to be lifted high enough to begin with. A coppery level 5/6 might need to be lightened again to get an ash tone.

Blue shampoo would be better for you than purple as the blue counteracts the orange, it’s more suitable for brunettes.

Sorry ignore me, just saw that you have tried blue shampoo!

I think you'll have to go lighter

Ok thank you. But if I go lighter still, what toner will cool down the brassy tone? X

You need to stick to the same depth as you have for a toner to work effectively. I.e
my highlights are orange and base 5. My toner needs to be depth 5 and blue ash.
My highlights are yellow and base 6. I need a base 6 toner with pearl/ iridescent/lilac toner.
My highlights are orange yellow and base 5. I need a base 5 toner with the strongest tone being blue and the secondary tone being lilac.
Example in L’Oréal 5.12 Schwarzkopf 5.21 goldwell 5A.
Ash colour will typically make you look a shade darker so lift more if you don’t want to subdue your highlights

Also, choose your peroxide correctly. This varies hugely brand to brand but typically you need 10 vol/3% or lower

Thanks for this. I have taken a quick photo to show the colours. (Ignore messy hair straight after gym!)

Based on this photo are there any products anyone recommends? In the past I have used Wella Colour Charm and also Wella colour fresh, but a lot of the darker / medium tones have been discontinued and they seem to only offer toner for very light blonde hair now. X

Also should I be simply "dyeing" it again with a box dye or using a toner mixed with peroxide...?

Your highlights look base 8 on majority. I’m
Not familiar with wella. Tone with half base 8 + half base 9 lilac. It looks quite cool on that photo

Just replying for anyone else looking for this. I found an amazing product and it worked a treat. Josh Wood colour shot toner in 'cool me down'. There's another one (name I can't remember) but they are basically blue and lilac toners which you mix with his conditioner. I used both colours mixed together as I had both yellow and red tones in my hair, and the whole lot has been neutralised to a lovely cool toned ash blond and brown.