Whether you’re 30 or 60, spotting your first gray hair can leave you with mixed emotions. Do you reach for your tweezers and pluck it? Or should you simply let it be?
Embracing your inner silver siren can certainly be liberating, but it can take some time before you’re truly ready to let your grays grow out.
Until that day comes, coloring your hair is the best way to cover up your grays and maintain your desired hue. The only problem? Trips to the salon aren’t cheap and gray hairs have a way of growing back in a flash.
If you’re looking to stretch out those pricey color treatments, you can always conceal your telltale roots at home.
DIY root touch-up kits and products that cover lingering gray hairs are all you need to get a bit more life out of that color job, and they won’t cost you a fortune.
Not sure which DIY method is best for your situation? Shop TODAY consulted top hairstylists to get their recommendations for affordable products that don’t take a beauty degree to use. We also asked them to share some tips for making your hair color last.
Now it’s time to tackle those grays like a pro!
Best root touch-up products, according to hair experts
Affordable and easy to use: Garnier Nutrisse Color Reviver 5 Minute Nourishing Color Mask
- Quick to use
- It’s not widely available online
Size: 4.2 oz. | Number of shades: Six | Format: Liquid | Fragrance? Yes
Available in six shades, this lightweight creamy mask refreshes hair color and nourishes strands with the help of avocado oil. The affordable treatment can be used every two weeks and works its magic in only five minutes.
“This mask is an easy way to refresh your color at home and is formulated with pigment to give color a boost,” says Nikki Lee, co-owner of 901 Salon in West Hollywood.
Color-matching and compact: Everpro Gray Away Quick Stick Root Touch-Up
- It uses “self-adjusting color technology” to match hair color
- There aren’t a lot of lighter shades available
Size: 0.1 oz. | Number of shades: Five | Format: Stick applicator | Fragrance? No
Whether you’re planning a fun night out or simply need to conceal your roots, this portable stick is the perfect quick fix when you can’t make it to the salon. A gentle wax-free formula means you don’t have to worry about waxy residue, and the angled tip lets you access those hard-to-reach areas with ease.
“For a quick root touch-up, I enjoy an easy-to-use stick form of application. When using these, think of filling in those test scores from school. Start off light then go back and fill in where needed,” hairstylist Rheanne White says.
Lightweight and precise: L’Oréal Paris Magic Root Cover-Up
- Affordable
- Available in a wide array of shades
- Some reviewers said it was messy to apply
Size: 2 oz. | Number of shades: 11 | Format: Aerosol | Fragrance? No
Want results fast? This L’Oréal Paris root touch-up spray hides grays in a matter of seconds with the help of a lightweight formula that doesn’t leave behind a sticky residue. It also features a micro-diffuser tip that easily targets stray grays and comes in a range of shades.
“This works amazing as a hair color concealer and is an easy spray-on color if you don’t feel up for doing the whole hair color process at home,” hairstylist Cheryl Bergamy says.
Hair-thickening color match: Toppik Colored Hair Thickener
- Many reviewers said it’s good for thinning hair
- Some reviewers said it stained their clothing and bathtub
Size: 5.1 oz. | Number of shades: Four | Format: Aerosol spray | Fragrance? Yes
This lightweight formula is full of pigments that work to match your color. Plus, it dries quickly and comes off easily with shampoo.
“I like to recommend this spray to male clients with grays or thinning hair. It masks the grays for a more subtle, natural look and fills in any thin spots and makes hair look fuller,” hairstylist César DeLeön Ramirêz says.
Conditioning color treatment: Aloxxi InstaBoost Color Depositing Conditioning Masque
- It deposits semi-permanent color
- Conditions, hydrates and strengthens hair
- Adds shine
- Some reviewers said it stained their skin
Size: 6.8 oz. | Number of shades: 13 | Format: Liquid | Fragrance? Yes
This paraben-free mask refreshes and tones colored hair. Coconut oil and shea butter smooth locks and add shine, while sunflower seed oil protects strands from color-fading UVA/UVB rays and maintains vibrancy.
“This is an amazing product to use in between salon visits and can help tone out unwanted brass or even add high shine,” hairstylist Ashley Wahler noted.
Clean ingredients: R+Co Bright Shadows Root Touch-Up Spray
- It’s vegan, gluten-free and paraben-free
- You may need to use a comb while applying it
Size: 1.5 oz. | Number of shades: Seven | Format: Aerosole spray | Fragrance? Yes
Don’t want to attempt at-home coloring? This spray temporarily covers roots until your next shampoo. The sulfate-free, vegan formula includes pearl extract, an ingredient that helps moisturize hair and add shine, plus biotin, a true powerhouse ingredient.
“Biotin can help add body and encourage hair growth,” says Bianca Hillier, colorist at Andy Lecompte Salon in Los Angeles. “This spray also comes in a wide range of colors, so there’s something to suit everyone’s needs.”
Temporary, yet precise: dpHUE Color Touch-Up Spray
- The dual-action spray nozzle has two spray settings
- It’s not widely available online
Size: 2.5 oz. | Number of shades: Nine | Format: Spray | Fragrance? Yes
When your roots start to show, you might be tempted to try at-home color kits, but Stephanie Brown, Master Colorist at IGK Soho in New York City, says temporary color is a much easier option: “Sprays and powders are great if you have a video conference or meeting. If you’re tempted to do your own color, you also don’t want to choose the wrong color and then have to get your hair fixed.”
This vegan touch-up spray from dpHUE dries quickly and blends easily at the roots. It will last until your next shampoo, and also has a wide range of color options.
Long-lasting DIY kit: dpHUE Root Touch-Up Kit
- It shouldn't wash out the first time you shampoo your hair
- It’s more time consuming than other methods
Size: Two applications | Number of shades: Six | Format: Liquid | Fragrance? Yes
If you’re looking for something a bit longer-lasting, this gentle kit tackles your roots and hairline and offers salon-worthy results that won’t fade after your next shampoo. Each kit has everything you need for two applications.
“It’s a permanent root color that is great for those in-between salon visits and that you can do at home,” hairstylist Laura Rugetti says.
Long-lasting and easy to use: Madison Reed Root Touch-Up
- The compact includes a mirror for on-the-go application
- Reviewers were mixed on the amount of coverage it provides
Size: 0.13 oz. | Number of shades: Six | Format: Powder | Fragrance? Yes
When it comes to covering your grays, there are multiple products that will get the job done, depending on your personal preference. This paraben-free brush-on powder from Madison Reed is made of micro-milled pigments that cover up roots and last through rain and sweat. One palette lasts up to 60 uses!
“For temporary touch-up products, I recommend powder in a palette. This is my favorite and is easy to apply right in the roots,” says hairstylist Ayumi Yamamoto.
Portable and compact: Color Wow Root Cover-Up
- Portable, TSA-friendly product
- Some customers with thick hair said it didn't work well for them
Size: 0.07 oz. | Number of shades: Eight | Format: Powder | Fragrance? No
Concealing gray hairs without over-applying product can be tricky. Gina Rivera, founder of By Gina and Phenix Salon Suites, says this powder applicator from Color Wow makes it easy: “You can either brush it on for a light touch up or press it on for a darker cover-up. It works especially well along the hairline if you want to pull your hair back.”
Editor-favorite root touch-up product
Long-lasting powder: BOLDIFY Hairline Powder
- Lasts a while
- Great coverage
- Adds illusion of more hair
- Be cautious applying near face
Size: 2.5" x 2.5" x 2" | Number of shades: 14| Format: Powder | Fragrance? No
Vivien Moon, an editor at Shop TODAY, recommends this simple-to-use touch-up powder. She says, "I have used this before when I used to color my hair a deeper shade as my roots are a bit lighter and loved how beautifully it gave me coverage and let me get a 'touch-up' within seconds."
Moon continues, "It's very easy to apply and the bot lasts a while. I also love that as somebody with thinner hair who could use a boost in scalp coverage, this does a great job at making it look like I have more hair. I think it's good for both coverage and for masking any spots where I have thinner hair/bald spots from stress."
What causes gray hair?
Why am I going gray? It’s the million dollar question that we all ask when the inevitable happens. Lucky for us, hairstylist Michelle Cleveland was kind enough to explain the phenomenon.
“Gray hair is caused by the loss of melanin in the cortex of the hair. Melanin is the pigment that produces the natural color of your own hair. As we age, the follicles decline in function and therefore result in silver or white hair. Some other contributing factors are genetics, hormonal changes and stress,” she says.
How can you extend the life of your color?
Hoping to slow down those dreaded gray roots? We have some good and some bad news for you.
“While regrowth is something that happens internally and is dependent on one’s own growth cycle, there are ways to extend the life of your color from the outside,” Cleveland says.
Here are a few things you can do:
- Use color-protecting products
- Lower the temperature of your water when washing your hair
- Protect your hair from the sun with a hat or hair SPF
Frequently asked questions
Trying to determine how often you should set up a salon appointment to color your hair? Cleveland recommends considering a few things.
“The answer to this question depends strictly on the rate of regrowth of your own hair, the level of contrast between your gray hairs and the processed color as well as what amount of regrowth you are comfortable seeing between visits,” she said.
Generally, the hair pro says, getting your color done every four to six weeks is a good general timeframe to follow.
Of course, it’s possible to get hair applied too often.
“Getting color applied too often can cause an overlay or ‘banding’ of color, which aesthetically isn’t a good look and can also make it more difficult to remove should you want to correct it,” Cleveland says.
Once you decide to color your gray hairs, it’s time to determine what to ask for when you get to the salon.
“When you’re looking to cover up just the regrowth with a single color, the term used is called a ‘single process color application,” Cleveland explains. “If you are looking to ‘blend’ the grays into your color for a low maintenance look, that would be considered a high/low light process.”
The pro recommends getting a consultation first so your hairstylist can better understand your hair color goals and how to help you achieve them.
How we chose
Shop TODAY spoke with various hairstylists and hair colorists, and they shared what their favorite root touch-up products are. We also included and editor favorite as well as a root touch-up device seen on TODAY. While including these items, we kept format and available colors in mind.
Meet the experts
- Cheryl Bergamy is a celebrity hairstylist.
- Stephanie Brown is a hair colorist at IGK in New York City.
- Michelle Cleveland is a celebrity hairstylist and extension artist.
- César DeLeön Ramirêz is a celebrity hairstylist and creative director.
- Nikki Lee is the co-founder of 901 Salon in West Hollywood.
- Gina Rivera is the founder of XOXO Gina and Phenix Salon Suites.
- Laura Rugetti is a hairstylist based in Los Angeles.
- Ashley Wahler is a hairstylist and colorist who appeared on “The Hills: New Beginnings.”
- Rheanne White is a hairstylist who also specializes in men’s’ grooming.
- Ayumi Yamamoto is a hairstylist based in New York.
