10 Best Root Touch-Ups to Revive Your Hair Color
Cover grays and regrowth at home with these top-tested permanent dyes and temporary products.
Tested by Danusia WnekSenior Chemist
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Many of us who color our hair have experienced that yikes moment where root regrowth has become too noticeable to ignore or grays start popping up where they aren't wanted. But there's not always time (or funds) available to immediately book a pro colorist appointment or DIY a full dye job. Enter root touch-up products, a category created to prolong the life of your color between salon visits and at-home hair color sessions.
Root touch-ups are a cost-effective way to help seamlessly blend your roots into the rest of your hair (they can also help ease the transition to your natural color). "These products, in formulas like sprays, powders, creams and dyes, are applied directly to roots and act as hair color extenders," says Good Housekeeping Institute Beauty, Health & Sustainability Lab Senior Chemist Danusia Wnek. Temporary root touch-ups, which wash out of hair, "can be applied in a moment’s notice, and are often compact enough for a purse or bag," she adds.
When the GH Beauty Lab tests root touch-up products, they are evaluated in the Lab using scientific instruments and on testers for factors including ease of application, color and gray coverage, look and feel on hair, and color retention. Read on for reviews of the GH Beauty Lab’s best root touch-ups for all hair colors.
Pros
- Includes applicator brush to target roots
- Covers grays well
- Large shade selection
- Processes quickly
Cons
- Color wasn't as lasting for some
What made it a winner: Extend the time between salon visits or DIY dye jobs with Clairol’s permanent color root fix kit in an extensive 30-hue range, which is a GH Beauty Award winner and also a great value. With an included brush for easy application, you paint the dye on roots and leave it on for just 10 minutes. In GH Beauty Lab testing, the drugstore bargain formula blended seamlessly with users’ current hair color and gave good coverage of gray roots.
Expert says: Hitomi Ikeda, Artistic Director at Rob Peetoom NYC in Brooklyn, New York, also recommends this kit for permanent color touch-ups. (Note that some Beauty Lab testers found the color didn't last as long as desired.)
Formula type: Cream hair color | Permanence: Permanent | Number of shades: 30
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Me Cosmetics The Scalp Foundation
Pros
- Works to cover roots, grays and scalp
- Simple to apply
- Appears natural
Cons
- Applicator brush sold separately
What made it a winner: Like makeup for visible regrowth, grays and scalp, this GH Beauty Award-winning Me Cosmetics mirrored pressed powder compact (in nine shades from black-brown to gray and white) allows for discreet application on the go. The product effectively covers roots, looks natural and applies easily with the corresponding brush, Beauty Lab evaluation showed. (Note that the brush is sold separately, making the product more expensive than other options.)
Tester said: “The finish was shiny, like real hair, unlike other powder root touch-ups that are matte,” one user commented.
Formula type: Powder | Permanence: Temporary | Number of shades: 9
Clairol Root Touch-Up Powder
Pros
- Powder blends well with hair color
- Lightweight and mess-free
- Includes applicator brush and mirror for on-the-go
Cons
- Can take longer to apply with small brush
What made it a winner: Brush the powder pigment in this bargain Clairol mirrored compact, a GH Beauty Award winner, onto strands to temporarily hide regrowth (it washes out). GH Beauty Lab evaluations confirmed that 83% of users said it blended naturally with their color, and it scored highly for being easy to use, not messy and feeling light on hair.
Testers said: This powder comes with an applicator brush, but some users found its small size meant it took longer to apply the product.
Formula type: Powder | Permanence: Temporary | Number of shades: 3
L’Oréal Paris Magic Root Rescue Permanent Hair Color
Pros
- Dye dispenses through brush applicator to reduce mess
- Simple to apply
- Comes in a range of brown and black shades
Cons
- Not as strong gray coverage
What makes it a winner: If you have dark hair, you're likely to find a match with this L’Oréal Paris permanent root touch-up dye (at less than $7!), which Ikeda recommends. It comes in seven shades of brown, from light to dark, and two shades of black. Even better: The dye is dispensed through a handy brush applicator to minimize mess.
Expert says: Ikeda likes that this kit "comes with everything you need" for application and calls it "easy to use." Some users reported that it didn't cover their grays well, though.
Formula type: Gel hair color | Permanence: Permanent | Number of shades: 14
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Style Edit Root Touch Up Powder
Pros
- Comes in several red shades
- Simple to apply
- Blends nicely
Cons
- May not provide strong enough coverage for some
What makes it a winner: Unlike many root touch-ups which have just one (or zero!) options for red hair, Style Edit offers three shades of red: light, medium and dark red, in addition to brown, blonde and black hues. Even better, the powder comes in a compact with a built-in mirror and sponge applicator to make it simple to dab on anywhere.
Expert says: The formula earned praise from Ikeda: "It's easy to use and blends well," she says. Some users found that the coverage wasn't as strong as they'd like, however.
Formula type: Powder | Permanence: Temporary | Number of shades: 10
Clairol Root Touch-Up Color + Volume 2-in-1 Spray
Pros
- Water-resistant
- Delivers even, full color coverage of gray hair
- Non-messy
Cons
- Hair may be damp before the product dries
What made it winner: The GH Beauty Lab evaluated this Clairol temporary root touch-up spray on gray human hair swatches and found it provides strong color coverage that is water-resistant. When water was added to the hair swatches, the product repelled the droplets, preventing absorption, and the color stayed on hair after water exposure.
Expert says: "The nozzle distributes color evenly and covers hair well in the first spray, yet doesn't appear messy," says GH Beauty Lab Director Sabina Wizemann, though hair does get a bit damp before the product dries. "The result looks even and natural."
Formula type: Spray | Permanence: Temporary | Number of shades: 3
RELATED: Can You Reverse Gray Hair?
Color Wow Root Cover Up
Pros
- Doesn't flake
- Covers large or small areas, including scalp
- Easy application
Cons
- Small amount of product
What made it a winner: Color Wow's temporary root cover powder, a GH Beauty Award winner, is simple to apply and feels weightless on hair. GH Beauty Lab testers also raved that it did not look cakey or flake after application, and that its powder form also works for hiding small areas with thinning hair. The dual-ended brush makes this root touch-up perfect for both large sections or highlights that need coverage. Expert tip: While you may be inclined to sweep the brush through your hair, this formula actually works best when gently pressed on.
Testers said: "Covered the gray and a few hair loss spots," a user reported. One drawback is that the compact houses a small amount of product.
Formula type: Powder | Permanence: Temporary | Number of shades: 8
RELATED: Best Hair Thickening Products
Calista Embellish Root Touch-Up
Pros
- Large shade selection, including three blonde colors
- Compact size
- Easy to apply
Cons
- Some users didn't like the powdery finish
What made it a winner: With a built-in no-mess sponge applicator and mirror, GH Beauty Award winner Calista hides hair regrowth fast in an impressive range of 11 shades, including three blonde colors as well as white and gray. In a study, it scored well for being sweatproof, GH Beauty Lab evaluation found.
Expert said: The GH Beauty Lab's former executive director is a fan of the travel-friendly formula: "All I need is a few dabs on my hair part to cover new growth and blend it with the rest of my hair," she noted. "The mess-free sponge applicator gets the powder where it’s needed without getting on my fingertips." Some users did complain that the finish was too "powdery," however.
Formula type: Powder | Permanence: Temporary | Number of shades: 11
Madison Reed The Great Cover Up Root Touch-Up
Pros
- Includes two colors to customize your shade
- Transfer-resistant
- Can be used on eyebrows
Cons
- May not give sufficient color coverage
What makes it a winner: Brush this Madison Reed temporary root touch-up powder on to blend any growth that might be peaking through. Since this root touch-up comes with two different colors, it can also create more depth and dimension in blonde tones, including highlights. The compact includes a built-in a mirror and two applicator brushes for on-the-go.
Expert says: Wnek also uses the product on her eyebrows, thanks to the included dual-ended applicator brush. Be aware that some users didn't think the powder provided enough color coverage.
Formula type: Powder | Permanence: Temporary | Number of shades: 6
Pros
- Can cover larger areas of hair and scalp
- Absorbs oil
- Blends well
Cons
- Can transfer onto fabric
What makes it a winner: Ikeda recommends Oribe's temporary root touch-up spray, which can be used to cover larger areas of the hair and scalp. While it dispenses in the form of a spray, it's actually a quick-drying powder formula that helps absorb any oil on the scalp, much like a dry shampoo.
Expert says: This formula comes in "good blonde shades choices," Ikeda notes, and blends well with hair, making it a great pick for anyone transitioning to their natural color. A caveat: Some users reported that the formula transferred onto their pillowcases.
Formula type: Spray | Permanence: Temporary | Number of shades: 5
How we test root touch-ups
The GH Beauty Lab evaluates root touch-up products both in the Lab using technical instruments and on consumer or expert testers. Temporary root touch-up products are assessed by testers for ease of application, color coverage (including gray) and blending, transferring and staining, flaking, lasting power and ease of removal.
In the Beauty Lab's permanent root touch-up products test, scientists dyed human hair samples in brown, red and blonde shades mixed with gray, then assessed initial gray hair coverage and shine using the Chromameter machine.
Next, each dye's color retention was gauged by putting the dyed hair samples through 20 wash and dry cycles using the Swatch Wash Station and four hours of UVA light exposure with the Q-Lab QUV Accelerated Weathering Tester (below). Final Chromameter readings where taken, then Beauty Lab scientists assessed color change in the dyed hair samples to determine how well each resisted fading. Following these tests, Beauty Lab scientists tally from dozens to hundreds of data points to identify which products perform best.
What to look for when shopping
"Root touch-ups have come a long way since older formulas that could look cakey, feel crusty or cover only a small area," says beauty scientist Birnur Aral, Ph.D. "The modern formulas look and feel more natural." Here, guidelines for finding your ideal match:
✔️ Pick your formula based on how long you would like the results to last.
- Temporary will last until you shampoo your hair, Ikeda explains.
- Semi-permanent color lasts a few weeks and the coverage is more transparent.
- Demi-permanent color blends gray roots into your dyed color and appears more translucent, Ikeda notes, with results lasting four to eight weeks. Semi- and demi-permanent color are less commonly used for root touch-ups because the regrowth may still be visible.
- Permanent color fully covers regrowth and grays and also has the ability to lift your natural hair color. It lasts four to six weeks.
- ✔️ Choose your format for temporary root touch-ups based on your application needs.
- Sprays and powders are best for camouflaging large areas of regrowth and the scalp, as they can deliver high pigment load with a single application, Aral says.
- Sticks and pens are ideal for hiding individual hairs (like grays that sprout up) or small areas along the hairline.
How do I pick the best root touch-up color?
"The color palette of root touch-ups has improved in general over the years," Aral says. That said, there are usually more options for brown hair than for other colors like red and blonde.
To start, "consider both your natural and dyed hair colors, as they need to blend together to cover roots properly," Ikeda recommends. "Pick one shade lighter than your dyed hair color, as the root touch-up can overlap with the dye and make hair appear too dark, which is harder to corrrect." If you get your hair colored professionally, you can also ask your colorist for advice on the best root cover-up shade to choose, Ikeda suggests.
What is the best root touch-up technique?
In general, apply your root touch-up "only where the regrowth is visible," like the part and hairline, Aral advises. "Do not try to color your whole head, as this can cause overlapping or missed spots, uneven color and blotchiness," Ikeda says.
Also, consider the type of product you're using: "With a spray, aim the nozzle towards the part almost parallel to the top of the head and spray once or twice starting from the front and moving back," Ikeda advises. "With powder forms, start applying at the front of the head and move back along the part." When finished, lightly brush through hair to blend.
Wash hands after application if any product has transferred. "Keep in mind that temporary root touch-ups can transfer or bleed if exposed to water or after a workout and will wash away with your next shampoo," Aral notes.
Is a powder or spray root touch-up better?
One isn't necessarily better than the other. "Both powders and sprays are usually part of the temporary root touch up category," Wnek explains. "Powders used with a brush can offer more precision, and you can even use them directly on skin in thinner areas of the scalp for a fuller appearance." On the other hand, sprays can cover larger areas at a time, which makes for quicker application, she adds.
Why trust Good Housekeeping?
This article was researched and written by former GH Beauty Assistant Katie Berohn and GH Beauty Director April Franzino. To compile this list of recommendations, they worked closely with GH Beauty Lab Senior Chemist Danusia Wnek and GH Beauty Lab Director Sabina Wizemann to translate Beauty Lab hair color testing data and interviewed industry experts. Wnek conducted the Beauty Lab's most recent at-home hair color test and Wizemann has executed past Beauty Lab at-home hair color testing, and has a background in hair dye research and synthesis.
Katie Berohn is the Beauty Assistant at Good Housekeeping, Woman's Day and Prevention magazines, all part of the Hearst Lifestyle Group. She graduated from the University of Colorado, Boulder, with a major in journalism and minor in technology, arts, and media, and earned her Master’s Degree at NYU’s Graduate Program of Magazine Journalism. In addition, Katie has held editorial internships at Denver Life Magazine, Yoga Journal, and Cosmopolitan, a digital editorial internship at New York Magazine’s The Cut, a social good fellowship at Mashable, and has freelanced for HelloGiggles. When she’s not obsessing over the latest skincare launch or continuing her endless search for the perfect shade of red nail polish, Katie can be found in a hot yoga class, trying everything on the menu at New York’s newest restaurant, or hanging out at a trendy wine bar with her friends.
April (she/her) is the senior beauty and style director at Good Housekeeping, Prevention and Woman's Day. She has over 15 years of experience under her belt, starting her career as an assistant beauty editor at GH in 2007, and working in the beauty departments of SELF and Fitness magazines.
Danusia (she/her) is a senior chemist in the Beauty, Health and Sustainability Lab at the Good Housekeeping Institute where she evaluates haircare, skincare, cosmetics and beauty tools. She holds a B.S. in chemistry from St. John’s University and a M.S. in pharmaceutical sciences with concentration in cosmetic science from the University of Cincinnati. Danusia has over 10 years of experience in the personal care industry including formulation, product development, claim evaluation and efficacy testing.
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