Tone down the red with an Indigo toner

Tone down the red with an Indigo toner

Posted by Charmaine on 21st Jul 2020

Our organic hair colours give slightly different results for each individual. If you have used one the of our beautiful and vibrant reds but feel the colour is a little too bright or you would like to tone down the copper this is for you.

What is an Indigo toner?

This toner is a mixture of Indigo Shadow with a regular conditioner. It will act in a similar way to the blue toner or purple toner shampoos/treatments used by salons by counteracting any red tones in the hair. The natural dye from Indigo Shadow gives a blue tone when used in this way which is perfect for organic colour corrections at home.

The product may not remove the red completely but will subdue the brightness or vibrancy. This particular product is suitable for medium brown to black hair colours. This recipe is not suitable for lighter or blond coloured hair and should only be used in conjunction with Desert Shadow organic hair colours. Instructions must be followed for best results.

What will it do to my hair?

This toner will deposit a small amount of blue dye to your hair shaft which will help to tone down any copper or brassy tones. It is important to follow the directions below. Use the light toner method for medium to dark coloured hair. Use the Deep toner for dark coloured hair . If you are unsure or have any questions please contact us before using this toner so we can assist with any colour corrections.

Important note:

Please contact us with your colour correction concern before using this method so we can assist and confirm this will be your best path forward. Best to send us some pictures of your hair and info about what you would like to achieve.


What you will need:

Indigo Shadow

Natural Palm oil free Conditioner - Important! avoid silicones

Warm water or herbal tea ( rosemary tea is amazing for your hair and scalp )

mixing and application equipment - 1x Bowl, 1x spoon, gloves, tinting brush

Watch our full YouTUBE mixing  video here




Light gloss method: for a subtle toning down of red and copper in the hair.

**recommended for medium to dark hair tones (Walnut Shadow, Chocolate Shadow, Chestnut Shadow, Deep red Shadow & Red Shadow).

1. Take 2 dessert spoons ( approx 15 to 20g ) of Indigo Shadow and mix with 50ml of warm water or herbal tea and leave it to activate for 10-15 mins

2. Once the Indigo has activated add 40g of Conditioner to the mix. You want the mix to be a yoghurt type consistency so you may need to add 20ml-30ml of extra water. 

3. Using gloves, apply mix to the red sections of hair using our  standard application method 

4. Wrap with a shower cap and leave in your hair for 20 to 60 mins.

5. Rinse and style as usual. Use conditioner to help loosen any particles and make rinsing easy.

TIP: If this is your fist time using a gloss leave it in your hair for 20mins or less and then gradually work your way up. Everyones hair soaks up the dye differently so it is better to build it up. This method can be repeated as often as you need we suggest you wait a day or two to allow the oxidisation to occur before reapplication.



Deep Gloss method: for a more noticeable toning down of red and copper in the hair. 

**recommended for darker hair tones only ( Chocolate Shadow, Deep Chestnut Shadow & Indigo Shadow).

1. Take 4 dessert spoons ( approx 30 to 40g ) of Indigo Shadow and mix with 100ml of warm water. Leave it to activate for 10 - 15 mins

2. Once the Indigo has activated add 50g of Conditioner to the mix. You want the mix to be like a yoghurt type consistency so you may need to add 60ml of extra water

3. Using gloves, apply mix to the red sections of hair using our standard application method 

4. Wrap and leave in your hair for 30 to 60 mins.

5. Rinse and style as usual. Use conditioner to help loosen any particles and make rinsing easy.


TIP: If this is your fist time using a gloss leave it in your hair for 30mins and then gradually work your way up. Everyones hair soaks up the dye differently so it is better to build it up. This method can be repeated as often as you need.This method can be repeated as often as you need we suggest you wait a day or two to allow the oxidisation to occur before reapplication.


IMPORTANT: if you use this treatment on light brown, blonde or grey hair directly it will result in a blue rinse style tint. This Indigo toner should only be used on hair that has a red tone and is in the mid to dark colour range. Having the red tone pre existing ensures that the toner will work its magic and simply subdue the red. If you are unsure if you need this treatment please contact us before applying this product.