The Best At-Home Hair Color Options For Every Dilemma, According To Colorists

So you've been doing your part by staying home and social distancing (👏👏👏) but now your roots are coming in and you're trying to figure out how to get through these next weeks or months without going into the salon. First of all, don't panic—it can be done. But to ensure you get what you need, you're going to want to follow these expert tips before getting started.

"Start by calling your colorist and see if they're offering a curbside delivery of your hair color," says Katelyn Bode, owner of The Copper Comb Salon in Oklahoma who is dropping off a custom mix along with gloves, a mixing bowl, application brush, and a disposable cape to her clients. Next, she says to assess what your hair color actually needs. "Is it your roots that need touching up? Is your color turning brassy or losing its shine? Depending on what you're looking to achieve, boxed color isn't always the answer." In fact, Bode suggests that boxed color is your last resort as it's the method that tends to have the most application errors.

If your color just needs a glow-up, try a color-enhancing shampoo and conditioner. "Extending your salon color at home is best done by using color depositing shampoos and conditioners," says MATRIX Celebrity Colorist George Papanikolas. "They neutralize unwanted brassy tones for all hair colors, from platinum blonde to dark brown." Another similar option is a color-depositing gloss.

As for your roots, first try a temporary root touch up spray. "They disguise your roots or grays in video calls and will last until you wash it out," says Bode. If, after all this, you still feel like you need the permanent solution of hair dye, just make sure to follow these tips. "Don't trust the girl that's on the box," warns celebrity colorist Tracey Cunningham. "Go one shade lighter than your natural hair color as too much lighter will pick up red tones." She also suggests staying in the ashy and neutral tones as most peoples hair color tends to fall in those categories rather than gold.

When it comes to applying your hair dye, Cunningham recommends only doing your hairline, part, and crown—basically, the places that are most visual to you and your video conference call. If your colorist dyes your hair all one color you can apply the color from roots to ends, but if you get highlights or some combination of the two, keep the dye at your roots and don't comb it through to your ends. "This will help preserve your dimension in the length of your hair, and make it easier for your colorist to blend out once you're able to see them again," Cunningham explains.

Now that you know all of the basics, here are the best products for maintaining your hair color at home.