Help please - hair toner disaster!

[MrsCornelius]

Hi, feel an idiot for being so upset about this (it’s just HAIR after all), but 3 days ago I used a semi-permanent toner on my natural grey/silver hair - trying to remove yellow without the purple effect from purple shampoos, and the toner has destroyed my lovely healthy long hair!
I left it on 5 minutes (it said up to 30 minutes), but hair has gone brittle, stretchy, totally flat and straight, huge loss of body and volume (feels like half my hair is gone, though I haven’t noticed shedding), + slightly stinging scalp.
ALL the product info said no risk of damage, gentle conditioning colour blah blah. Total lie, my hair is destroyed.
Anyone else had this from a 5 minute toner? Any solutions? Is it a crew cut or shave my head moment!? ( I’m not young or pretty enough to carry either).
All/any reassurance/advice greatly appreciated 🙏🏼

Sounds horrible What brand was it ? - I would suggest professional help at a salon now

@BeaucoupFish it was Schwarzkopf Igora Expert Mousse -
“IGORA Expert Mousse 9,5-1 Pearl semi-permanent conditioning colour mousse for colour luminosity and ultimate care”.
My arse, frankly.

Going to hairdresser tomorrow but think it might be a cut off the damage job 😡

Is the colour OK? If you're happy with the colour, then focus on treatments. Otherwise it'll probably be best to see a professional.

Use hair masks and Olaplex (there's a cheaper Revolution dupe too, I've not noticed any difference between the 2) to try and salvage some condition. I also use a L'Oreal one in a pot (oil in cream one? Sorry can't check now).

I always found that dyeing my hair back to a dark color masks any damage better :/

Hair is really important to many people, don't feel silly

@MrsCornelius
Thanks - we just needed a warning really I think to avoid
You made the right move, I hope it looks lovely again tomorrow, and after all hair does grow again 💐

@TottiePlantagenet
What is the revolution dupe called please

Thanks @TottiePlantagenet - the colour didn’t change 😖 so whole thing was pointless. I’m going to hairdresser tomorrow, she says trim + Olaplex - but am worried hair is damaged all the way to the roots/scalp. I can’t shave my head! 😳

Sorry to hear that @MrsCornelius. Hope the hairdresser can sort it out for you.

@BeaucoupFish this is the Olaplex dupe that I've used, as I said I didn't notice much difference between this and proper Olaplex :/
www.boots.com/revolution-hair-revplex-no3-bond-hair-perfector-100ml-10293604

@TottiePlantagenet
Thank you - what a bargain ! Good reviews on there

Was it this stuff? Could you have got a fake product? It shouldn't cause the reaction you describe.

www.amazon.co.uk/Schwarzkopf-Expert-Mousse-Semi-Permanent-Colour/dp/B00C2Y9SE6/ref=pd_lpo_2?psc=1&pd_rd_i=B00C2Y9SE6&tag=mumsnetforu03-21

Treatments such as Olaplex can do wonders for damaged hair. It doesn't have to be a crew cut hairdo for Christmas.

@CorrBlimeyGG
Actually that is a very good point

@CorrBlimeyGG yes that’s the stuff, and no, it couldn’t have been a fake product - it’s from an entirely reputable source.
The only think I can think is could it be because I dried my hair with a hairdryer after using the toner, and then used a hair wand to add a few waves?
Or that I live in a very hard water area?
There was no warning on the product or any of the info suggesting not to use hairdryer/hair tools.

Thanks @WhereIsTheRiver I’m going to try a 2 inch trim and Olaplex and see what happens. Scalp is burning a bit, but no visible scars or anything you can see or feel. Hair is not dry/crispy, not at all.
It’s silky and shiny, but completely limp, flat and and floppy, and full of static.
And all the volumes gone. So I’m not sure if I’ve lost half the volume or actually lost half the hair. 😖

I’d contact the manufacturer and complain

@MrsCornelius
Pop back tomorrow if you can OP and let us know how your hair is after some TLC - good luck

Maybe you are being a bit hasty here. How many times have you washed your hair since using this product? It could be the product itself making your hair feel horrible. It is nothing more than a colour depositing mouse, so won't have had any effect whatsoever on the structure of your hair. And mousse probably isn't going to make your hair feel the best.

I had this with one of the Bleach London semi permanent colours, it made my hair feel horrible, but it was just the product itself and once I had washed it out a few times it felt OK again.

For a really good and gentle toner, you can mix purple depositing dye (eg. Shrine drops) with conditioner and it will work well.

I bought a Bleach London grey toner ( I have a good % of grey and I just wanted to liven it up ) . I did a strand test on a pieve of attached hair ( colour/allergy)
It did diddly squat
I am tempted to try it anyway so as not to waste it (bought two boxes !) but now I'm put off

I used some colourless henna a while back and it took ages to restore the condition .

I would sit in a bath tonight with you hair in the water to rinse out any residual product. Stop panicking so much and wait until a professional has worked their magic on your hair. Hairdressers should be trained to look at what has happened to your hair and reverse it.

Post back here tomorrow after you have seen your hairdresser.

Have you washed it since?

If your scalp still stings I'd keep rinsing it out.

I’d try to wash it again gently and see if it’s just residue from the product.

Thanks so very much for your input everyone - @Thefartingsofaofdenmarkstreet @Cheerbear24 @70isaLimitNotaTarget @CommanderBurnham @stayathomegardener @Aderyn21 @TottiePlantagenet 🙏🏼🙏🏼🙏🏼
You’re all absolutely right - I need to take a deep breath and stop panicking.
It’s a huge relief to think that maybe it’s just the coating on my hair left by the toner, and will wash out with time. Fingers crossed I really hope so,
At any rate, am going to refrain from crew cut.
Will have trim and ask hairdressers advice on further action, and feedback on how things turn out.
Thank you all so much, it’s been a huge relief to have someone to talk to about this. My husband won’t discuss hair, ever, as point of principle 🥺.

Thanks @whereistheriver I’ve washed it once, but will now wait before doing anything drastic! - am starting to think it’s the toner left a coating on my hair rather than the ammonia-type ingredient caused lasting damage. I really hope so!
Will wash again tomorrow and get a trim, but not a crew cut.
😬

That product should absolutely not have reacted with your scalp! I would suggest writing to the company and in future for any kind of product with pigment it, conducting an allergy/patch test on yourself to prevent this from happening again!
I would say the product has left a coating on your hair which could be silicones & sulfates. These will weigh down your hair. Hopefully your hairdresser will do a good clarifying shampoo and treatment. If not there are products available to professionals to detoxify and gently remove build up from the hair. Good luck op!

@MrsCornelius
Sleep well and this time tomorrow I’m positive you will be be so much happier
🙂