Food Coloring as Hair Toner Is the Latest Hair Trend Taking Over— Does It Work?
A professional weighs in.
Unsplash / Design by Camden Dechert
Reviewed by Jeremy Tardo
Beauty hacks make the world go ‘round—especially one that can potentially save a trip to the salon. So when beauty bloggers took to the internet to sing the praises of food coloring (yes you heard that right, food coloring) as a homemade toner, our ears instantly perked up. A simple concoction with ingredients readily available in your kitchen cupboard—two cups of vinegar with 10 to 15 drops of blue and red (or just purple) food coloring—to counteract unwanted brassiness in blonde hair sounds almost too good to be true. And judging from these before and after pictures, it may be the ultimate cost-cutting hack we’ve been waiting for. But we’ve also been burned by many a #PinterestFails, so we decided to ask the ultimate judges for their takes: a professional hairstylist and a beauty industry vet turned trichologist. Here’s what they had to say about the viral hair trend.
Meet Our Expert
Fatima Rahman is a California-based freelance hairstylist and colorist. She's also a certified makeup artist, a henna artisan, and an eyebrow threading specialist.
Kerry Yates is the founder of the Colour Collective and is a trichologist.
What's in Food Coloring?
Synthetic food coloring is a substance typically used to enhance the appearance of food. Food dye was created in 1856 using coal tar, but in these modern times, the artificial coloring is made from petroleum.
Is It Safe to Use Food Coloring on Your Hair?
Somewhat unsurprising, stylist Fatima Rahman of New York's Broome Street Society salon doesn't exactly recommend this method as a way to tone hair. Aside from the kind of obvious fact that putting food coloring in your hair is a very easy way to ruin an expensive dye job (watered down or not, you never know), soaking your locks in vinegar is a less practical (and much smellier) method of diminishing brassiness than using a product that's specifically formulated to do so.
"Theoretically, it could work, but it's not the greatest idea," she says. While acidic vinegar actually is a really great and thrifty way to seal the hair's cuticle, lock in moisture, and boost shine in a pinch, a proper dosage would maybe be a mist—not a soak. "Overdoing anything when it comes to hair, skin, or nails causes a reaction to restore balance," Rahman says. "Plus, with so many restorative masks on the market, it hardly seems worthwhile to soak your locks in stinky vinegar." She's right: Speaking from experience, it takes at least a few vigorous shampoos to completely get rid of that smell.
Davines Alchemic Conditioner ($37)
Yates and Rahman agree that vinegar can be a great way to seal the hair's cuticle, with Yates adding, "it is natural anti-fungal/bacterial [solution] and works wonders on soothing the scalp and as a natural remedy for dandruff. However, she isn't opposed to giving the DIY method a try, but she does suggest using another ingredient in place of the vinegar.
"Most of us have some form of food coloring in our cabinets," she says. "So it is easy to use, especially since it mimics the results you find with toning shampoos in retail." But, you need to know a few things before adding food coloring to a mixture for your hair. "The [food coloring] is, in essence, a stain, and if you have ever spilled some on your hands [or] counter tops, you know how hard it is to remove." With that in mind, she suggests adding the food coloring to your shampoo or conditioner. "Both will have an acidic pH, which will automatically smooth the cuticle down. In addition, these types of products will also contain heavier conditioners that will control potential color [from] grabbing [onto] porous ends."
Here are a few DIY food coloring formulas Yates shared with us.
Neutralizing Warmth on Medium Brown to Light Brown Hair
4 drops of blue food coloring
1 drop of red food coloring
1 oz. of product (shampoo or conditioner)
Neutralizing Warmth on Light Brown to Dark Blonde Hair
3 drops of blue food coloring
1 drop of red food coloring
1 oz. of product (shampoo or conditioner)
Neutralizing Warmth on Dark Blonde to Blonde Hair
2 drops of blue food coloring
1 drop of red food coloring
1 oz. of product (shampoo or conditioner)
So, What About Using Other Pantry Items?
Or the fact that this method only uses two ingredients? Rahman can actually do you one better: Her go-to method for preserving her own highlights is just plain coconut oil. "One of the little-known benefits is that it's antibacterial, which will help with balancing my scalp health as well as keeping the ends soft," she says.
SheaMoisture 100% Extra Virgin Coconut Oil ($18)
Byrdie Tip
Coconut oil can be difficult to rinse out of your hair. We suggest applying it gradually and brushing it through your strands as you progress to avoid too much product in your strands.
The Final Takeaway
In short, if you want to give the Pinterest food coloring hack a try, skip the vinegar and mix a few drops in with your shampoo or conditioner. DIY hacks aren't for everyone, so here are a few of our go-to products for maintaining and preventing brassy blonde hair.
Amika Bust Your Brass Cool Blonde Conditioner ($28)
Made with shea butter and hydrolyzed keratin, this conditioner helps your hair retain moisture while keeping your color looking its best.
Christophe Robin Baby Blonde Shade Variation Care ($53)
This moisturizing mask is blended with almond butter and buriti oil, so your locks will feel (and look) extra hydrated. It's made specifically to enhance blondes with natural color.
Oribe Bright Blonde Radiance & Repair Treatment ($58)
We love a treatment that replenishes the nutrients in our hair quickly. This three-minute treatment does just that while brightening and toning your hair to keep the brassiness at bay.
John Frieda Violet Crush Purple Shampoo ($10)
Budget buys that work are always a win, and this one guarantees results in just one wash.
Aveda Blue Malva Color Depositing Conditioner ($24)
If you're looking for a deep conditioner that is lightweight enough for fine hair that neutralizing brassy-looking locks, we think you've met your match.
Related: Hair Toner 101: What You Should Know
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