Editor’s Picks: The Best Toning Shampoos and Treatments for Blondes, Reviewed
Banish the brass
Just gone blonde and want to keep it that way? Our resident bleach addict (and Beauty Editor) Red is here to share her holy grails.
Whoever said blondes have more fun… was wrong. Sure, it’s great when you first get it done, but once the roots come in and the dye starts fading, it’s hell. Ever since I got my big bleach, I’ve been constantly worried that my strands are either too yellow or too fried, and—spoiler alert—both things have been true on multiple occasions. It all comes with the territory of getting bleached. At this point, I’ve been every shade of blonde under the sun, be it platinum, golden, or patchy piss yellow.
Still, despite the troubles, I have no plans to go back to black yet. Call it delusion, call it blonde blindness, but I love my bottle blonde tresses—hot roots and all. And I’m determined to keep them looking as good as possible, for as long as I possibly can. That’s why I’ve made it a personal mission to find the best toning shampoos and treatments out there.
That’s right—I’ve done the research so that you don’t have to, and after sifting through a lot of toning shampoos, masks, and conditioners, I’ve got the shortlist of my absolute favourites. Find out which ones have made the cut below:
Bleach London White Toner, £9 (approx. RM50)
At my lowest point (read: patchy, piss yellow roots), there was only one thing standing between me and a buzzcut. In my hour of need, Bleach London’s White Toner pulled my ratty, disgusting strands out of lemon-tinged perdition and breathed clean, pale blonde salvation into them.
Using an at-home hair toner might sound scary, but if any brand has mastered the DIY hair care game, it’s Bleach London. This product is so user-friendly and really works so well to strip yellow hues out of light blonde hair. I typically use it every couple of months, and that’s enough to keep my blonde icy and bright. And, on days that my hair is being particularly stubborn (say, it wasn’t bleached light enough at a root touchup and there’s still some colour discrepancy in my strands), I’ll top it up with the matching White Heat Super Cool Colour dye to make sure everything is perfectly uniform.
Olaplex No. 4P Blonde Enhancer™ Toning Shampoo, RM150
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If you’re thinking of going platinum (and staying platinum), this shampoo is the one thing you need to invest in. This toning shampoo is what I reach for when I’m in need of a big colour correction—that, and when my hair is feeling especially brittle. Of all of the treatments I’ve tried, Olaplex’s No. 4P has the strongest toning effect by far. In my platinum era, just one minute of working this shampoo into my hair stripped any yellow from my strands and left me with an even, icy-cool blonde. That, and it kept my hair strong thanks to the strengthening and repairing ingredients infused in its formulation.
Just be aware that when I say the toning effect is strong, I really mean it! This is the same stuff they use on me at my salon appointments, so don’t go overboard in the shower—unless you’re happy to rock purple for a fair few washes!
Davines Heart of Glass Silkening Shampoo, RM298
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If you’re someone who needs to wash their hair every day, this shampoo is a great option (that’s why it won the ‘Best for Blondes’ award in our 2024 BURO Beauty Empties!). It doesn’t have a particularly strong toning effect, so if you’re washing your hair with it every day, you never have to worry about your hair looking too ashy or grey. That, and it’s so gentle that it doesn’t dry out your hair too much with daily use.
In fact, it actually softens your hair and makes it more manageable when wet, which makes styling so much easier—if you’ve been blonde a long time, you’ll know how bad the knots can get. Plus, the scent is just so good!
Balmain Hair Illuminating Shampoo Silver Pearl, RM128
I’ve recently settled for a creamier, darker blonde in the last few months, and this shampoo has been my holy grail since I made the switch. First of all, it’s packed with toning violet pigments that do a great job of banishing yellow tones. I’ve found that leaving it in for just one minute is enough to maintain my clean, creamy base. However, it can definitely work for silver-grey or platinum hair, too—all you have to do is leave the shampoo in for longer.
Another thing I love about this formulation is what it’s infused with: argan elixir and silk proteins, which keep my hair soft and manageable with every wash.
Oribe Bright Blonde Radiance & Repair Treatment, RM313
Don’t be fooled by the pretty packaging or the gorgeous scent—this blonde treatment isn’t just an ornament for your shower. It’s a stunning formulation supercharged with 13 times more pure violet pigments and does a fabulous job of nourishing, smoothing and toning blonde hair. It takes just one minute to work its magic (three, if you’re rocking some serious yellowing), which is ideal if, like me, you’re lazy and impatient.
In particular, I’ve found it to be a total lifesaver after hair touch-ups when my roots somehow always end up a little more yellow than the rest of my tresses. It is a little fiddly to apply (the applicator is too small, in my opinion), but all in all, it’s a must-have in my shower. While I don’t reach for it on a daily basis, it’s fabulous for a monthly colour refresh.
Available at Andy Ho Haute Coiffure Pavilion KL, D’Luxe Studio Spa Mid Valley Southkey Johor Bahru, Hairoom Plus Salon Alor Setar, Hair Zone Studio by Michael Poh Mytown, Her Maison Bukit Jalil, and Makeover Salon Bangsar.
Schwarzkopf Bonacure New Packing Color Freeze Silver Shampoo, RM68
This is another purple shampoo that I keep in my blonde roster. It’s really easy to use, taking just two to five minutes to work, and it is so effective. Another thing I really like is that it keeps my hair toned for longer than usual (I’d guess-timate around 25-30 washes before I need a top-up), and apparently that’s because it keeps your tresses at an “optimal” pH of 4.5, which helps with colour retention.
If I reach for this in the shower, I’ll always pair it with the matching hair mask. The mask is not tinted with purple pigment, but it is formulated to help keep your colour intact for longer, which is why it’s my dream duo!
Virtue Labs Colorkick® Illuminating Mask
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This hair mask is perfect for when my hair is feeling extremely dry and rough—essentially when it needs nourishment, a light tone and a deep conditioning. It’s designed to add radiance and boost your hair colour’s vibrancy without drying out your hair, and it delivers just that.
Plus, it is infused with Virtue’s iconic Alpha Keratin 60ku®, which strengthens each strand from the inside out and smoothes down rough cuticles for smoother, shinier tresses. Not only does it do a great job of toning my hair without leaving it too grey, but it also makes my hair feel so smooth and look so shiny in just two minutes flat.
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