Found: The 13 Best Kits For Touching Up Your Roots at Home

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I’ve never been much of a DIY beauty girl. I've always felt safer in the hands of experts—especially when it came to highlighting or dyeing my fine, fragile hair at home. Of course, all this changed during the pandemic, when professional services became unsafe and home experimentation become the new beauty normal. I began to test my hand at doing my roots at home with all the root touch up kits, powders, and sprays on the market...and now, three years later? I'm basically an expert on the topic.

Lucky for you, I'm sharing all my favorite root touch up product picks and DIY tips—along with some genius intel from hair stylist Miles Jeffries and hair colorist Dominic Roach and hairstylist Dominic Roach—below:

Keep reading for the full list of the 13 best root touch up hair products, complete with pros and cons and tester reviews. And don't forget to check out the best tips and tricks for finding the best root touch up kit for your hair type and color too.

Airbrush Root Touch-Up Spray

Oribe’s Airbrush Root Touch-Up Spray is the ultimate multitasker. Not only does it conceal roots and grays, it soaks up excess dirt and oil (just like a dry shampoo), has UV protection benefits to prevent your color from oxidizing in the sun, and for many, smells seriously amazing. Ultimately though, it’s simply a “great root concealing product,” says Jeffries. “It comes in a range of shades and helps blend grow-out seamlessly.”

THE REVIEWS: “I've used several different root touch products from different companies, and this is the first one that gives a natural airbrush spray," writes a tester. "The others I've tried come out of the gate (or can) way too strong and leaves a distinct line from the spray most of the time. Oribe's spray blends in very nicely. Also, when I rinse my hair with just water, the color does not come out—it only starts to come out when I shampoo. That is very reassuring to know if I get caught in rain or mist, the color won't run down my face!"

Bb. Color Stick

This root touch up crayon is is super easy to maneuver (even if you were never the best at drawing inside the lines)...just use the chubby pencil-like tip to fill in your roots or gray strands. IMO this one is better for using around the hairline and part where you need to be super-precise with your application.

THE REVIEWS: “My hairdresser recommended this so I bought some from my salon and tried it. It works great between my full-hair colorings as well as extending the life of my home root touch ups. I don’t use it after every hair wash, but I use it for the times that I really want to hide the gray and it works great,” reads a tester review.

Magic Root Cover Up

L’Oreal Paris’ Root Cover Up is a total crowd favorite for covering gray hair—and for a few good reasons. For one, it's affordable (like more than half the price of other luxe root touch up sprays that have a similar effect on the hair). Second, it comes in nine shades so you're guaranteed to find something that matches your hair color or comes pretty damn close. And three, once you apply it, the pigments won't budge—in fact, I tried it and the coverage lasted me for over 24 hours.

THE REVIEWS: “I use this in between my monthly "cut and color" trips to the beauty salon," reads one tester's review. "That third week really shows the grey roots, so I use this until my next appointment. A few sprays along the hairline and part, and I am ready to go. It will stay for a couple of days if you don't have to wash your hair daily. Otherwise, it will wash right out with your shampoo."

Root Touch-Up Temporary Concealing Powder

Another great drugstore option, Clairol’s Temporary Root Touch-Up powder is an affordable cult-favorite. It blends easily with natural hair to conceal grays and grown-out roots—and it locks onto hairs for fade-proof color until your next shampoo.

THE REVIEWS: “It’s the best root cover product I’ve ever used," reads one reviewer's review. "It’s so easy and convenient to use and works great! It color matches perfectly and it doesn’t make a big mess unlike other root cover products. I highly recommended it to everyone!"

Root Cover Up

Color Wow’s Root Cover Up powder comes in a eight shades and, unlike some other root touch ups that can feel gunky or product-y on your scalp, this has a totally weightless feel. “It's like an eyeshadow for your grays,” says Roach. And the dual-ended applicator brush makes it easy to cover everything from larger streaks of gray to small areas of regrowth along your hairline with precision.

THE REVIEWS: “This product is genius. It covers grays beautifully and it cannot be removed without shampoo—a total game-changer for anyone who doesn't want to be going to the salon every three or four weeks."

Root Concealer Touch Up Spray

Celebrity colorist Rita Hazan's root touch up comes in a few different shades, but the dark blonde and blonde shades are beloved by those with bleached or highlighted hair. Her spray formula is easy to apply quickly and is great for full coverage and deep root touch-ups. It's waterproof and transferproof too, so it's a good choice for the humid summer months ahead.

THE REVIEWS: “This is the bomb for root touch-ups," one tester review reads. "I have tried just about every root spray out there and is brand is by far the best. It is easy to use, looks very natural, and lasts. Rita Hazan nailed it with this product!"

Hair Building Fibers

This is technically a hair thickening product, but it doubles as a great root concealer too since it comes in a nine different tints. It's made with colored keratin fibers that are designed to cling to baby hairs to create temporary fullness and thickness *and* camouflage grays, especially at the roots or along your part. My favorite application tip? Spray on a thin layer of hairspray before shaking the fibers on to your hair, then mist on a second layer of hairspray to really lock them in.

THE REVIEWS: “First of all, the application process couldn't be easier," writes one tester. "All you have to do is shake the bottle onto your thinning areas, and voila—instantly thicker and fuller-looking hair. I was honestly amazed at how well it blended in with my natural hair color. And the best part? It stayed put all day, even through sweat and humidity."

The Great Cover Up Root Touch Up + Brow Filler

A little goes a long way with this hairstylist favorite, which includes a deeply pigmented powder and two application brushes, one for precise hair touch ups and a second for filling in your brows. I mean, who doesn’t love a two-in-one product?

THE REVIEWS: “This is a great root touch up powder that is less messy than sprays. I would recommend this powder for touching up the areas around your face where you need more precision than a spray. It really helps me go an extra couple weeks before going to the salon.”

Bright Shadows Root Touch-Up Spray

R+Co’s touch up spray is best known for its natural hues, made with multidimensional pigment which make them suited for a broader area of coverage. It’s the one to reach for should you need a full-head of concealment or color-correction, not just at your roots (although it's great for that too). Plus, it's infused with biotin and pearl extract add moisture and shine to your strands.

THE REVIEWS: “Finally, a root touch up spray that looks natural, washes out easily, and doesn’t leave my hair feeling nasty.”

Drop Red Gorgeous Root Touch Up Powder

One of the few options with multiple shades designed specifically for red hair, Style Edit’s Drop Red Gorgeous Root Touch-Up offers three grades of red—light, medium, and dark. It comes with a built-in mirror and powder puff applicator so you can touch up on the go—plus it's water and wind resistant too so you don't need to worry about the pigments smearing or fading during the day.

THE REVIEWS: “I’ve used other powders and they haven’t done much," writes a tester. This one finally does what it says it will. Now I can go longer between hair appointments and save some money."

Hair Lightening Blonding Brush

DpHue’s Hair Lightening Blonding Brush is a great option for covering dark roots or "shadow roots" on blonde or highlighted hair. It utilizes lemon juice, heat-activated hydrogen peroxide, and purple pigments to bring out blonde tones in hair. Just don’t forget: You’ll need to spend some time in the sun or blow dry your hair to see results since the formula is heat-activated.

THE REVIEWS: “It conditioned my hair while lightening it! I'm very impressed with this product. Highly recommended.”

ChromaSilk VIVIDS Everlasting

Finding a good root cover up in a rainbow-bright hue can be tricky, but Pravana's is available on Amazon and it's fairly easy to use according to tester reviews. Apply to your regrowth, and be sure to work the product down your hair during the last five or minutes for a more seamless looking application. Roach recommends patch testing color on a small piece of hair first and then using Vaseline or Aquaphor as a protective barrier on the skin along your hairline to prevent staining during the application process.

THE REVIEWS: “The cool thing about Pravana Vivids is you can intermix the shades to custom create your color. You can test this by dabbing a bit of the color onto a white piece of paper/paper towel. Keep in mind that the color of your hair BEFORE application of Vivids is IMPORTANT and this will determine the end color result.”

Big Ego Dab & Go Hair Concealer

Summer is here, and let’s be real, we want our hair color to look it's best at the pool or beach without having to avoid a swim. Enter: Tarte’s waterproof root concealer. It's incredibly long lasting (yes, even if you're spending hours swimming). One reviewer even noted that the formula will last two to three days without rubbing off on your pillowcase at night. It’s also moisturizing, containing nurturing ingredients like castor oil, grapeseed, and argan oil.

THE REVIEWS: “I have started recommending this to anyone who is hiding gray! It works well between washing until you’re able to get your hair done!!”

What does a root touch up product do?

Root touch up products come in a wide range of formulas, colors and application styles from sprays to sponges, dyes and crayons, all aimed at providing effective concealment and hue-matching coverage in between salon appointments. What they have in common is quick application and pragmatism. (Who doesn’t need an expedient, easy and affordable solution to stray grays, mismatched color and regrowth?)

The ideal product will blend in naturally without creating heaviness or overly opaque shading. Finding the right one can be overwhelming since there are so many options—not to mention color matching can be a challenge. Root touch ups can also be counterproductive if you opt for the wrong shade of a more permanent solution, oversaturating your hair and causing damage to be undone at your next salon visit. So keep reading for how to choose the right formula for your hair needs.

What's the best root touch up color?

The easiest way to find your perfect shade and tone is to work with your hairstylist or colorist. If you don't have a go-to expert, it's a safe bet to go for something neutral and a bit deeper than what your natural color is, says Jeffries.

“My tip for someone touching up grown-out blonde, is to spray roots with a blonde touch up, and layer a light brown over it for a natural blend,” Jeffries explains. “For someone with dark hair trying to cover up light or gray roots, try to find your closest match and then go a shade or two darker. In that situation, I recommend layering dark brown and black root touch up for a natural, ashier look.”

What is the best method for root touch up at home?

The best method will depend on which product style (sponge, powder, dye, crayon, or spray) you choose, but a few things hold true regardless:

First, “focus on what’s being seen, like your part, hairline and crown,” says Jeffries. If you’re selecting a spray, hold the nozzle six to eight inches away from your roots and apply color in a sweeping motion. “Always keep the can moving so it's not too concentrated in one area for the most natural look,” says Jeffries.

Take care in application, especially when working with demi-permanent and permanent root touch up products. “Be conscious of applying just where you need to on the roots,” says Roach. “You don’t want to take that color through the ends of your hair as it's already colored as this will make it oversaturated, matte and solid.”

How to choose a root touch up product:

Don’t be afraid to consult with you hairdresser.

As I mentioned earlier, it’s worth talking with your colorist before picking out a root touch up product. They can help you color match and select the brand that is closest to your shade. “I have quite a few of my guests in the salon that do this,” says Roach. “What I would really recommend is actually sit down and select a shade, talk to your hairstylist, because you’re going to do it anyway. Get them to recommend what they think would be most suited so it doesn’t contradict whatever is being done within the salon. Talk to your salon about it and just have a really honest conversation. I think you just get better results that way. Just more consistency.”

Take color and type into account

Look at the base of your hair color, rather than highlights, and find the brand with the most options for you. From there, consider the undertone. Is your hair warmer or cooler? Undertones are everything if you want your color to look realistic, so it's especially important to keep that in mind.

Think about the formula longevity.

Take how permanent you would like your root touch up to be into account. “If you only have a few grays to camouflage then try a root cover up power before reaching for the dye,” says Roach. More permanent solutions like touch up hair dye will involve more precision–and potentially enlisting a partner or friend, depending on how exact you would like the cover up to be in hard to reach areas.

Meet the experts:

• Miles Jeffries is a celebrity hairstylist and mens' groomer based in Los Angeles, CA. Formally trained at the Sassoon Academy, he specializes in the art of extensions and custom wig design. Continuously fine-tuning and honing his craft with contemporary trends and cutting-edge techniques, Jeffries also takes pleasure in stretching his imagination with art, fashion, and the human condition serving as his inspiration. His celebrity clientele includes Alexandra Shipp, Laura Harrier, Keke Palmer, Zaya Wade, Paris Jackson, Nicole Richie, and Dan Levy.

• Dominic Roach is a hair colorist and the artistic director at the Aveda Lifestyle Salon and Spa in Covent Garden, London. Roach has spent the last 17 years working for Aveda, originally at the Aveda Institute in London, mentored by Ian Michael Black, Aveda’s Global Color Director. Coloring both in salon and educating in the UK and Europe led him to the position of Artistic Director at Aveda Berlin. Fusing classic fundamentals with creative visions, Dominic is your go-to color guru. He believes in creating beautiful bespoke color services for every individual.

Why trust ‘Cosmopolitan’?

Ashley Simpson is a Berlin-based writer who covers beauty, sustainability, visual language and culture for publications including Vogue, W, and Harper’s Bazaar. She has covered everything everything from zero-waste makeup to the effectiveness of infrared hair dryers and the link between fragrance and your mental state. She continually works with industry experts to test and analyze beauty product efficacy and impact.

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