
You’ve seen the Overtone coloring conditioner ads ad nauseum but do you know how to use Overtone? Don’t deny it. If you’re on Facebook or Instagram or YouTube, you know you’ve seen the ads and you know you’ve been locked up long enough that your hair is starting to get desperate.
I’m here to tell you that using Overtone coloring conditioner is not an act of desperation. It’s an act of fun! And more importantly, it’s not irreparable fun (meaning, if you hate it, you’re definitely not married to it).
I’ve been using Overtone in multiple shades for a few months now and I’m here to answer any questions you might have.
Table of Contents
Why use Overtone?
I started using it because I had my hair colored, like I usually do every few months, and asked my stylist to change up the shade a bit. I asked her to keep the same balayage but tone it down and maybe add a red or copper tone to it. Here’s what I was going for.
As you can see below, that’s not what I got. I thought it was fine and then felt like it wasn’t. I was nearing my birthday and had a moment of why not? Truth: that moment came after googling tons of articles and videos and waffling for quite a while.
I essentially wanted something to add tone to my hair and get it closer to what I was looking for. More importantly, it wasn’t anything permanent that would totally mess up my hair or dry it out.
Overtone Deep Conditioner is color-depositing conditioner that tints your hair while conditioning it. The color deposit will mostly wash out after about two weeks.
Trying Overtone Ginger on Brown Hair
I went back and forth on what shade to try and ended up choosing Overtone Ginger to use on my brown hair. I even did a strand test and didn’t see much difference so I went unabashedly all in and ended up with… orange hair.
And I hated it.
I mean, I’m not mad at Overtone. I got the shade that was promised. It just looked so different in person than it did in my head. So I washed and washed and washed to get it out and it was pretty stubborn. So I reached out to Overtone.
Fading an Overtone Color You Don’t Love
When Overtone finally responded (I feel like they must be a relatively small company), they provided me some pretty solid advice:
There are a few things you can do to help fade your hair fast and safely. Check out this blog post on how to fade your color! If it hasn’t faded enough, from there you can see your stylist about lifting the pigment from your strands and lightening.
Once it’s faded to a more subtle shade if it’s still too warm-toned you can use a little Pastel Blue Daily Conditioner to tone it to a more neutral color. Blue is opposite of orange on the color wheel and you always want to go with direct opposites for cancellation toning. Check out this video for a guide to toning hair with oVertone conditioners!
And without even asking, they refunded my money.
I did what they suggested. I bought a cheap clarifying shampoo, used the Pastel Blue Daily Conditioner, and rinsed in hot water. I even added some powdered vitamin C to my hair in the shower but hated the smell so much, I didn’t attempt that again.
The Ginger definitely clung to my blond highlights but it eventually faded enough that I didn’t feel like a pumpkin anymore. I still didn’t love the shade, though, so I decided to experiment with a bolder color.
Trying Overtone Rose Gold for Brown Hair on Balayage Hair
For my next shade, I was ready to go a little bolder. One of my good friends used Overtone Rose Gold for Brown Hair on her hair color, which is similar to mine – brown with blond balayage highlights.
This time, I bought a sample size which was enough for me to do one full application on my hair. And I definitely had results! Because this is meant for darker hair, I suspect the pigments are more intense. The brown picked up a hint of rose gold but the blond definitely popped!
I actually got a compliment on my hair color the first day out of the house and I loved it. This color did fade pretty quickly though. After about two weeks, it was ready for another application.
Trying Overtone Pastel Purple on Brown Hair
After using Overtone Rose Gold for Brown Hair for several months, I was ready for a change and I wanted that change to be PURPLE! Again, what I pictured in my mind didn’t match up with the results I got.
I ordered a sample of Overtone Pastel Purple, left it on for 10 minutes, and wondered where the results were. There was a slight hint of a faint purple but not the beautiful lavender locks I was anticipating. I did purchase more product hoping if I applied it more thoroughly and left it on longer, I would get a better result.
Again, the result was too subtle for my taste and I’m already searching for my next color.
Keep in mind that many shades, especially the pastel shades, will work better on very light blond hair. Otherwise, you might not see much of the effect that you want.
How to Use Overtone
Overtone creates three main products: Deep Conditioner (for intense color depositing), Daily Conditioner (for a lightly pigmented conditioner), The Remedy (deep conditioner with no pigmentation). And you can get most products in either a sample size or a full size.
The sample size works for most of a full application for me. I have thin, fine, shoulder length hair. For most people, it would probably work truly as a sample.
The large Deep Conditioner is enough for three applications for me, but probably only one or two for most women, depending on hair thickness and length. By the way, this product is great for men who want to experiment with their hair as well!
Instructions for Applying Overtone
- Start with clean, dry hair.
- Use the plastic gloves that come with the product (or use your own latex gloves). TRUST ME. It WILL stain your hands
- Apply the product with your fingers and work it into the individual strands.
- Set a time for 10-15 minutes. Some leave it on longer while others have said there’s a finite amount of saturation that can occur.
- Rinse in the shower. You may want your gloves for this as there’s still risk of staining.
- If your hair feels clean, you’re done! But I usually do a quick “regular” shampoo and conditioner before getting out.
- Dry and style as usual.
Tips for Applying Overtone
Put on an old buttoned shirt. I usually go pantsless and braless so it’s easy to take off the shirt and pop in the shower when you’re done. You don’t want to have to pull a shirt over your head!
Wear gloves! It will stain…. your fingers, your skin, your bathroom countertop, your clothes. I usually keep a damp tissue or washcloth nearby to clean up stains as I go.
Use your phone to set a timer. You’ll be messy when you’re done so I usually just say “Hey Siri, set a timer for 15 minutes.
Read a book. Leave your phone alone and invest in yourself a little more during this 15 minutes of self-care.
Let the shower rinse your hair before you use your hands to help. This will help reduce the staining on your hands.
Rinse until the water looks clear. But don’t be surprised if you see additional color rinsing away on your next shower.
Apply weekly to maintain your color. Apply every two weeks to refresh your color. I like the faded look a bit so I usually go every two weeks. Also, don’t be afraid to mix shades if you want to create your own custom color!
Watch an Overtone Tutorial
Want to see someone else take the risk before you do? I’ve got you covered. This is my latest application of Overtone Pastel Purple showing you how to use Overtone.
Ready for more change? Join me on some of my other Over 40 Beauty adventures where I’ve tried the American Wave, Coolsculpting, and even a Vichy Shower!
Read my other Overtone posts!
How Long Does Overtone Last? Here’s what I found out.
I TRIED IT: Overtone Purple for Brown Hair