What exactly does a toner do for hair color?

So i bleached my hair about a month and a half ago, and a couple weeks after that i used a toner on it to take out the yellowness. When I talked to the woman at the beauty supply store, she said the toner would also lighte the color a little, so I should test sections every so often. When I rinsed it out, it looked really good but I don't think it's lighter. So my question is, does a toner do anything to lighten up your hair or does it just get rid of brassiness? If i put a toner in my hair again would it lighten it a few shades and allow me to avoid bleaching again?What exactly does a toner do for hair color?
If you use a real toner, then yes, it has some slight lightening abilities on your natural hair, that hasn't been lightened. In general, a toner is meant to add warm/cool tones back to your hair. For instance, a gold toner would give you more of a golden blonde, while a violet based toner would give you more of a platinum blonde (no brass).





If you use a demi-permanent color as a toner, it does not have the ability to lift or lighten. These are better toners, since they won't alter your natural, unlightened hair.





Demi's can only give you a warmer or cooler effect or take you darker. Demi permanent colors at Sally Beauty would include Clairol Radiance, Clairol Complements Demi, Clairol Second Nature, Wella Color Charm Demi.





Examples of real toners at Sally Beauty that will lighten your natural hair, just ever so slightly are Clairol Creme Toners and Wella Color Charm Toners.





A toner typically will not lighten your hair enough to give you the same effect as bleach. Toners may just lift 1 level, while bleach can lift 9 levels. Big difference in strength. Typically when you get lift from a toner, it is lightening your natural hair, thus making it susceptible to a little brassiness.