Root Perfection™ Root Touch Up Kit
Root Touch Up Made Easy!
I loved the product, just enough to cover the roots that needed it until my next salon appointment. This makes the whole process so is that I can do it wherever I am. Thank you!
15 Best Root Touch-Ups to Extend Your Hair Color, Tested by Experts
These at-home temporary fixes and permanent dyes cover grays and regrowth fast.
Reviewed by Birnur K. Aral, Ph.D. Beauty, Health and Sustainability Lab Executive Director
In a perfect world, roots wouldn’t show in between salon visits or at-home hair color sessions, and hair would grow in a way that blends seamlessly with your previous dye job. Unfortunately, real-life roots tend to grow in looking less than perfect. Whether your roots are sprouting up darker, lighter or grayer, if you’re not ready to transition to your natural color and you can’t get to the salon or make time for a full DIY, reach for a root touch-up.
Our top picks:
Best Permanent Root Touch-Up Dye
Clairol Nice ‘n Easy Root Touch-Up
Best Root Touch-Up for Gray Hair
Garnier Express Retouch Gray Hair Concealer
Best Root Touch-Up Stick
Roux Tween Time Instant Root Concealer Temporary Touchup Stick
Best Root Touch-Up Spray
Clairol Root Touch-Up Color + Volume 2-in-1 Temporary Spray
Best Temporary Root Touch-Up
Clairol Root Touch-Up Powder
Best No-Mess Root Touch-Up
Color Wow Root Cover Up
Best Root Touch-Up for Thinning Hair
Rita Hazan Root Concealer Touch Up Spray
Best Root Touch-Up for Highlights
Madison Reed Root Touch-Up
Best Portable Root Touch-Up
Calista Embellish Root Touch-Up
Best Natural Look Root Touch-Up
Me Cosmetics The Scalp Foundation
Root touch-ups are a cost-effective way to help seamlessly blend your roots into the rest of your hair. “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 and Sustainability Lab Senior Chemist Danusia Wnek. Temporary root touch-ups “can be applied in a moment’s notice, and are often compact enough for a purse or bag,” she says. There are also permanent, semi-permanent and demi-permanent root touch-up products that consist of hair dye created to be applied specifically to roots.
When the GH Beauty Lab tests root touch-up products, they are evaluated in the Lab using scientific instruments and on testers for multiple factors, including ease of application, color and gray coverage, look and feel on hair, and color retention. Read on for more details on the GH Beauty Lab’s best root touch-ups that are worth it for all hair colors, from blonde to brunette, black and red, plus the best way to do a root touch-up and how to choose the right color.
Clairol Nice ‘n Easy Root Touch-Up
Clairol Nice ‘n Easy Root Touch-Up
Pros
- Includes applicator brush to target roots
- Covers grays well
- Large shade selection
- Processes quickly
Cons
Extend the time between salon visits or DIY dye jobs with Clairol’s permanent color root fix kit in an extensive 28-hue range, which is a GH Beauty Award winner and recommended by Hitomi Ikeda, Artistic Director at Rob Peetoom NYC in Brooklyn, New York. With a 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. (Note that some users found the color didn’t last as long as desired.)
Garnier Express Retouch Gray Hair Concealer
Garnier Express Retouch Gray Hair Concealer
Pros
- Stay-put gray coverage
- Easy to use targeted sponge applicator
- Bargain price
Cons
Hide grays between coloring with this GH Beauty Award-winning Garnier temporary root cover-up, with a sponge applicator to precisely apply pigment. It scored high with GH Beauty Lab testers for not transferring or flaking, and staying in place. “Easy to use and very targeted,” a tester reported, those some reviewers have found it difficult to remove. It comes in various tones to seamlessly blend with a range of black, brunette and blonde hair colors.
Roux Tween Time Instant Root Concealer Temporary Touchup Stick
Roux Tween Time Instant Root Concealer Temporary Touchup Stick
Pros
- Easy to apply stick formula
- Covers well
- Stays in place
Cons
This bargain root cover stick from Roux is a classic for a reason, beloved by consumers and pros alike. “You can’t go wrong with this root concealer, which provides good coverage,” Ikeda says. It comes in black, brown, auburn and light brown/blonde shades. “The crayon was very easy to use and the color stayed in until I shampooed my hair,” a reviewer noted, though others mentioned that it left a residue.
Clairol Root Touch-Up Color + Volume 2-in-1 Temporary Spray
Clairol Root Touch-Up Color + Volume 2-in-1 Temporary Spray
Pros
- Water-resistant
- Delivers even, full color coverage
- Non-messy
Cons
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. “The nozzle distributes color evenly and covers hair well in the first spray, yet doesn’t appear messy,” says GH Beauty Lab Senior Chemist Sabina Wizemann, though hair does get a bit damp before the product dries. “The result looks even and natural.” When water was added to the hair swatches, the product repelled the droplets, preventing absorption, and the color stayed on hair after water exposure.
Clairol Root Touch-Up Powder
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
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. This powder comes with an applicator brush, but some users found its small size meant it took longer to apply the product.
Color Wow Root Cover Up
Color Wow Root Cover Up
Pros
- Doesn’t flake
- Covers large or small areas, including scalp
- Easy application
Cons
Color Wow’s temporary root cover powder, a GH Beatuy Award winner, is easy 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 may also works for hiding small areas with thinning hair. “Covered the gray and a few hair loss spots,” a tester reported. It comes with a higher price tag, but the double-ended brush makes this root touch-up perfect for both large areas or highlights that need coverage. Expert tip: While you may be inclined to sweep the brush through your hair, this formula actually works best by being gently pressed on.
Rita Hazan Root Concealer Touch Up Spray
Rita Hazan Root Concealer Touch Up Spray
Pros
- Resists transferring
- Easy to use spray
- Covers and tints sparse areas on hair
Cons
Created by famed New York City salon owner Rita Hazan, this temporary spray is able to cover large areas of hair and tints sparse areas on the scalp, making hair appear fuller. After spraying a little to roots, it dries quickly and remains waterproof and transfer-proof until you wash your hair. This root touch-up is buildable, so you can make your coverage as heavy or as light as you want. “I have been losing my hair and with black hair and a white scalp this shows awfully,” a reviewer shared. “I spray down my root line and you can’t tell my hair’s so thin.” Be aware that some users found the shades didn’t match their hair.
Madison Reed Root Touch-Up
Madison Reed Root Touch-Up
Pros
- Includes two colors to customize your shade
- Transfer-resistant
- Can be used on eyebrows
Cons
Brush this Madison Reed temporary root touch-up powder on to camouflage any roots that might be peaking through. Reviewers support the claims that it doesn’t come off on pillows or hands. “It looks totally natural, and stays put,” one reported. Since this root touch-up comes with two different colors, it can also create more depth and dimension in blonde tones, including highlights. Although it’s pricey, the compact has a built-in a mirror and brush for on-the-go. Wnek also uses the product on her eyebrows, thanks to the included dual-ended applicator brush.
Calista Embellish Root Touch-Up
Calista Embellish Root Touch-Up
Pros
- Large shade selection, including red
- Compact size
- No mess
Cons
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 red, gray and white. In a study, it scored well for being sweatproof, GH Beauty Lab evaluation found, though it’s more of a splurge. Beauty Lab Executive Director Birnur Aral, Ph.D., is a fan of the travel-friendly powder, too: “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 says. “The mess-free sponge applicator gets the powder where it’s needed without getting on my fingertips. “
Me Cosmetics The Scalp Foundation
Me Cosmetics The Scalp Foundation
Pros
- Works to cover roots, grays and scalp
- Simple to apply
- Appears natural
Cons
- Applicator brush sold separately
- Pricey
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.) “The finish was shiny, like real hair, unlike other powder root touch-ups that are matte,” a tester said.
Style Edit Root Touch Up Powder
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
Unlike many root touch-ups which have just one (or zero!) shades for red hair, Style Edit offers three: light, medium and dark red, in addition to brown, blonde and black hues. The formula also earned praise from Ikeda: “It’s easy to use and blends well,” she says. Even better, the powder comes in a compact with a built-in mirror and sponge applicator to make it simple to dab on anywhere. Some users found that the coverage wasn’t as strong as they’d like, however.
TRESemmé Root Touch-Up
TRESemmé Root Touch-Up
Pros
- Thorough coverage for dark brown and black hair
- Spray goes on easily
- Good value
Cons
Darker hair colors like brown and black need rich pigment to hide visible roots, especially those that are gray or lighter. Enter this TRESemmé root touch-up spray, which earned raves for covering and blending into dark tones. (A caveat: Some complained of a sticky residue left behind.) “It’s the only one I tried that really is black and blends in beautifully. making my hair look thicker and fuller, covering my scalp as well,” a reviewer remarked.
Oribe Airbrush Root Touch-Up Spray
Oribe Airbrush Root Touch-Up Spray
Pros
- Light shades for blondes and highlights
- Absorbs oil
Cons
Ikeda recommends Oribe’s root touch-up spray for its “good blonde shades choices,” including platinum that can work for those with highlights. And 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. A higher-end splurge, this spray blends well with hair, making it also a great pick for anyone transitioning to their natural color.
dpHUE Root Touch-Up Kit
dpHUE Root Touch-Up Kit
Pros
- Permanent results
- Comes with hair coloring tools
Cons
The dpHUE kit offers a permanent solution to your root woes, and comes in a variety of shades for exact coverage. The kit comes with a disposable mixing bowl, hair color gloves, protective cap and hair color applicator brush, as well as shampoo and conditioner samples. The permanent root cream stays on hair for 45 minutes before washing off to reveal salon-quality root coverage (note that some users complained about the long processing time). “This feels really upscale and professional,” a reviewer reported. “The color lasts and you just have to retouch it when it grows out.”
Bumble and Bumble Bb. Color Stick
Bumble and Bumble Bb. Color Stick
Pros
- Crayon helps cover individual strands
- Resists transferring
Cons
Bumble and Bumble’s discreet pen is ideal for precise root touch-ups on specific areas like the hairline. Its unique pointed tip can draw directly on strands, blending right into your base color without any guesswork. “Perfect for covering visible silver flyaways and for on-the-go,” a reviewer remarked. Note that it only comes in black and brown shades and some users reported it left a residue.
How we test the best 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 on factors including 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. 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 types of tests, Beauty Lab scientists tally dozens to hundreds of data points to determine which products perform best.
Good Housekeeping Institute Beauty Lab
What to look for when shopping for the best root touch-ups
“Root touch-ups have come a long way since older formulas that could look cakey, feel crusty or cover only a small area,” Aral says. “The modern formulas look and feel more natural.” Here, GH Beauty Lab and hair color pro 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, she says.
–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 choose 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 generally 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’s the best way to do a root touch-up?
In general, apply your root touch-up “only where the regrowth if 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; with powder forms, start 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.
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 beauty director at Good Housekeeping, Prevention and Woman’s Day, where she oversees all beauty content. 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.
Beauty, Health and Sustainability Lab Executive Director
Birnur (she/her) has led the Beauty, Health and Sustainability Lab at the Good Housekeeping Institute since 2007. In addition to overseeing product testing and GH Seal applications, she conducts the brand’s annual Beauty Awards selection process and is an active leader in GH’s green initiatives, including the Sustainable Innovation Awards and Raise the Green Bar Summit. In addition to earning M.Eng. and Ph.D. degrees in chemical engineering, she recently earned a professional certificate in sustainability management from Columbia University.
Root Perfection™
Root Touch Up Kit
Roots starting to show but can’t get to the salon? Meet the fast fix root touch up that buys you three weeks of time between salon visits.
BLENDS WITH SALON HAIR COLOR
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Root Perfection Reviews
Root Touch Up Made Easy!
I loved the product, just enough to cover the roots that needed it until my next salon appointment. This makes the whole process so is that I can do it wherever I am. Thank you!
6G
Dervio Medium Golden Brown
Root Touch Up
I love this product, especially for it’s quick process time. Color is just right.
5N
Calabria Dark Brown
Works Great
I used the root touch up last week. So quick and easy and covered all the grays I needed.
Great For In-Between Touch Ups
This is quick and easy to use and lasts about 2-3 weeks. Great for in- between getting to the stylist for all over color and comes w/ 2 applications in package.
6N
Savoca Medium Brown
Easy and Beautiful Results
Madison Reed is my all time favorite do-it-yourself permanent hair color. It always turns out shiny and the grey’s are fully covered.
5N
Calabria Dark Brown
I’m a Believer
Box arrived practically overnight, easy, fool-proof application, perfect color match, no harsh scents, and the results, wow! My $200 root touch up salon visits don’t deliver better results. A forever customer.
3N
Corato Black
GOODBYE HARSH INGREDIENTS*
- full of: keratin, argan oil, and ginseng root extract for shine, softness, and extra nourishment
- *free of: ammonia, PPD, resorcinol, parabens, phthalates, gluten, SLS, titanium dioxide
Ammonia Free
Ingredients with Integrity
Cruelty Free
We want you to love your hair. If you don’t—a professional colorist will consult with you to find a solution you do love. And if you’re still not happy? We’ll refund your money on your first box, 100%.