These All-Star Root Touch-Up Products Make Maintaining Hair Color At Home SO Easy

"Hearst Magazines and Yahoo may earn commission or revenue on some items through these links."

Maintaining your hair color can be costly. A typical trip to the colorist to try a new fall hair color or experiment with TikTok's hair contouring trend might set you back at least a couple hundred dollars, not to mention that the appointment itself is likely to be super time-consuming. So if you're not into coloring with an at-home dye kit, what can you do? Fortunately, you don't have to just transition back to gray to save yourself the headache because root touch-up products exist, and you can use to maintain your hair color in between salon appointments.

Peep some of the best root touch-up products, below:

“There's a lot of options in the root coverage category,” says Shvonne Perkins, Madison Reed's master colorist. With this in mind, you’ll want to choose a product based on how long you want the root touch-up to last. For instance, if you want your root touch-up to last for a day or two, you can opt for a compact powder or root concealer spray, but if you want something that lasts a few weeks (or longer), you can choose a semi-permanent or permanent color for your roots.

Ahead, shop the best root touch-up products in the game to use in between hair color appointments.

Root Concealer Touch-Up Spray

This touch-up spray "stays on until you wash it," says hairstylist Miguel Luis. "You can sweat, it can rain on you, and nothing's going to drip. It's true to color." It's easy to use, simple to apply, and reviewers say it's *really* worth the money.

Rave Review: "This product is a lifeline for me. I have medium brown hair that's got caramel highlights so I purchase both the light brown and the medium brown and use them both where needed. It is incredibly easy to cover grays and it COMPLETELY covers them in an instant like magic."

Root Cover Up

Luis also recommends this root cover-up because it's an easy solution sans aerosol. "I like it because some people don't know how to use aerosol, so it's just a little easier for them," he says. "It's more of a direct contact." It comes in eight shades, and reviewers love it because it's easy to apply, doesn't clump, and the colors match well to their natural hair.

Rave Review: "It is exactly what I needed for in between color treatments. It does not clump. It's so easy to apply. It blends nicely. I love that I have a choice of colors for cover-up, depending on the season and my latest color treatment. It has a good price for what I wanted. Thank you Color WOW."

Magic Root Cover Up

If you want just a day or two of covered roots, you'll want to opt for a concealer spray or powder. "It's really just personal preference on what they feel, what they like, whether they like powder as a touchup or do they like the spray as a touchup," says Kevin Kelly, a celebrity hairstylist based in New Jersey, who recommends this one. And it has over 3,000 five-star reviews on Ulta for how it blends gray hairs, is easy to use, and ability to mix different shades.

Rave Review: "I have highlights. My roots are dark brown mixed with white hair. I used this spray to cover my roots. OMG, does it work!!! I recommend this! I also bought the light brown just in case the blonde spray didn't work. (I've read that the dark brown spray is too dark...like a black color)."

Gray Away Quick Stick

If you're on the go and you need to fix your gray hairs ASAP, I recommend this stick. Coming in three shades, it works best on the temples, part, and hairline and it's a great way to refresh the look of your highlights. Users say it's easy to use, doesn't run, and is better than some more expensive products.

Rave Review: "Great product, it delivers with confidence. Purchased another product for almost $40, which didn't do squat for me. Stick to the stick ladies 😉."

Read more: Hair Color Removers

Root Touch-Up Kit

This root touch-up kit is very popular with Ulta reviewers. With over 1,000 reviews and an average of 4.4 stars, this color is permanent and amazing for covering up gray hairs. With one order, you'll get everything you need for two applications. It's easy to apply, and it can be left on for 45 minutes. Reviewers adore that it works really well, it's not messy, and goes a long way between uses.

Rave Review: "I was tired of the money/time commitment it took booking appointments in the salon and decided to give this color a chance. WOW! Takes about an hour to cover ALL MY GRAYS. Takes less than 10 minutes to prep and apply. I'm so in love with this product. All supplies are in the kit—no mess. If someone like me who is spoiled by her colorist can do this—anyone can!"

Read more: Best Natural Hair Dyes Of 2023

The Great Cover Up Root Touch-Up Powder

Perkins recommends this root touch-up powder for a temporary, natural look. "It's super versatile. It kind of can act as a dry shampoo. It can fill in a sparse hairline," she says. "It does not come off easily under fingernails when you're doing normal sweating. You can go to the gym with this powder on and you're going to be just fine."

Rave Review: "I am 36 years old, and I have some gray hair that I hate, but I can't be doing highlights every month, because it will damage my hair. The Great Cover Up root touch-up powder is the best solution. I love it it covers really well."

Hairline Powder

With nearly 18,000 ratings, reviewers seem to adore this hairline powder from Boldify. It comes in 14 colors, two sizes, and has won over the hearts of tons of users. They love that it's a great color for red hair, lasts two to three days, doesn't irritate the skin, and blends in well.

Rave Review: "After taking out some box braids (in my already fine and thin hair) I lost a lot of my hair causing some thinning in some areas and made me really insecure when I wore my hair down. I have been using this product and it definitely covers those spots up, I would absolutely recommend this product."

Nice 'N Easy Root Touch-Up

This permanent color lasts up to three weeks before you might need to use it again, and it works in just 10 minutes. It comes with a precision brush for easy application, and it has great options for brunettes. Users love it, raving about how it covers up gray roots, it's easy to use and clean up, and blends well.

Rave Review: "It's easy to use, fast, and covered the grey roots. It matched my salon color. I used 5N, a medium brown, as my stylist describes my color to me as a medium chocolate brown. I will definitely use again when I can't get to the salon for a couple of weeks!"

Radiant Hair Color Kit

If you're ready to make the jump to a full permanent color for your root touch-up, this one is a great option, Perkins says. "That's our sort of hallmark product, is that permanent color," she says. There's a bigger range of shades to choose from than the other root touch-up products, and there's more lifting capability. However, it still takes a bit longer to process, up to 45 minutes.

Rave Review: "My hair stylist loves my color (and she's not upset that I do it myself!). I'm 57, and my natural hair color is probably more than 60 percent gray (but no one knows thanks to this product!). Napoli Brown covers really well and doesn't leave a noticeable line after root touch-up."

Temporary Root Powder

This powder is great for covering up gray hairs on the go. It blends well with one's natural hair color, plus, it washes out with shampoo. It can even be used to fill in your eyebrows, too! Users love it because the power isn't crusty, it's affordable, and works well. One reviewer even says it's the "best root coverage product I've tried!"

Rave Review: "I absolutely love this for touching up my roots between salon visits! It's every bit as good as more expensive versions! The small brush allows you to put this exactly where you want it. Great product!"

Root Perfection Root Touch-Up Kit

Madison Reed's root perfection product goes on the T-zone of the hair (around your hairline and down your part) and it processes in just 10 to 15 minutes. Although this is a permanent color treatment, "the reason that we say it sort of buys you a few extra weeks is because you're only touching up part of your head, you're not doing the full on coverage," Perkins says. "It's something that the average consumer can completely handle with confidence and they're not going to interfere with the rest of what their colorist has created."

Rave Review: "I loved the Root Perfection, it's easy to use, with clear instructions. I have extremely hard-to-cover grays (whites) and have been processing for 45 minutes with Root Reboot and at the Salon. I abided by the instructions and went with a 15-minute process and it covered perfectly. I couldn’t be happier!"

Instant Root Cover Up Spray

This spray covers gray roots and any natural growth coming in, blending well. It dries quickly and the color lasts for up to 24 hours, and it's even rain-resistant. Just wash it out with shampoo at the end of the day. A plus? It's formulated sans ammonia, peroxide, synthetic dyes, sulfates, or parabens.

Rave Review: "Good coverage. I spray my roots and areas that need it, then let dry for a few minutes and I give it a quick brush through and I'm ready to go. The colors they offer match perfectly."

Airbrush Root Touch-Up Spray

What makes this touch-up spray stand out is that it works for all hair types and textures, and it absorbs dirt and oil. It's even formulated with Oribe's signature complex to protect your hair from any destructive environmental elements. Reviewers say it blends well and doesn't make their hair feel gritty, which is an absolute must.

Rave Review: "This may sound dramatic but I can’t live without this product. About three weeks after I get my hair done, my few white hairs start showing their ugly selves. I do a little spray with this magic potion and boom, white hairs no more! I also love it doesn’t make my hair gritty like dry shampoo typically does."

Blondish Hair Powder

This vegan hair powder is a great option for darker blondes and lighter brunettes. Not only will it fill it gray hairs and root regrowth, but it'll also absorb excess oil while adding volume. (You can even use it to keep your blow-dry styled for longer than normal!) Many reviewers adore it, using it for multiple purposes: adding volume to their hair, styling it in updos, and more.

Rave Review: "My hair has been thinning for years and I have some really bare spots on my scalp. So, I use this to cover those. It is perfect for that. I hate that I have to use it, but it's made me feel so much better about losing my hair and it hides the bare spots pretty naturally. I don't know what I would do without this product (probably have daily breakdowns!)."

Root Touch-Up Temporary Hair Color

This extremely affordable root touch-up spray is semi-permanent and won't leave any sticky residues behind. With over 4,400 ratings on Amazon (3,000 of which have five stars!) and a 4.4-star average, reviewers love this product because it's easy to use, is a great value, and tops all of the other products they've used.

Rave Review: "I've tried tons of powders, fibers, fillers, extensions, etc and appreciate everything each product does, BUT for root touchups as well as thin spots that need filling...THIS IS AMAZING! If you have thin hair and want an easy way to reduce scalp breakthrough, this is the stuff."

Read more: Women’s Health 2023 Healthy Hair Awards Winners

Magic Root Rescue 10 Minute Permanent Coloring Kit

L'Oréal's Magic Root Rescue comes in six colors and sets in in just 10 minutes. Just mix the permanent solution, then apply it to your roots. One reviewer says it lasts them a whole five weeks. Several reviewers love the quality and say it's the "best product" they've ever used for this purpose.

Rave Review: "It's easy to use, left my hair glossy, and perfectly covered my roots super quickly. I would recommend this product. I love how easy it was to use and not messy."

Meet the experts

Shvonne Perkins is Madison Reed's master colorist. Miguel Luis is a New York City-based hairstylist at Rita Hazan Salon in New York. Kevin Kelly is a celebrity hairstylist based in New Jersey.

How we chose the best root touch-ups

For the last month, Women’s Health editors have been researching the bestselling, most popular, and top-rated root touch-up products. Our team consulted hairstylists Shvonne Perkins, Miguel Luis, and Kevin Kelly, and then evaluated hundreds of customer reviews and ratings to narrow down the best 16 for a wide range of needs and preferences.

How often should you touch up your roots?

Well, it depends on the product you use and your personal preferences, since the temporary and semi-permanent colors can be washed out with shampoo. Luis says that you can touch them up as often as needed, maybe a few times a week, depending on how much you shampoo.

How to touch up your roots at home

"Typically, we break this down into how long the root touchup will last," Perkins says. If you want something for the day, you can pick up a compact powder or root concealer spray and use it at home or on the go, she and Luis say. "It fills brows, covers sparse areas, covers roots," she adds.

If you want your covered-up roots to last for a few more weeks, you can try a semi-permanent hair color. You can apply this type of hair product down your T-Zone, around the front of your hairline, and down your part. This is helpful "just so you can get through whatever you need to get through and then see your stylist," Kelly says.

How to conceal gray roots

"In general, your quicker options—your powder, your root perfection—those are going to be better for touch-ups that are quite close to your natural [color]," Perkins says. So, maybe you're covering gray or another tone close to your hair color. Essentially, you just want to blend the line. Luis recommends using a root concealer spray in this case.

How to conceal dark roots

It depends on how close the natural root color is to your dyed hair color, but if it's pretty close, you'll want to use a quick temporary or semi-permanent root touch-up product, like a power or spray, Perkins and Luis say.

Luis even recommends a technique if you want to cover up dark roots. "They can kind of create lines at the root, making it have a highlight effect when their roots come out," he says.

Shop more hair products for women

Best Natural Hair Dyes Of 2023 | Best Gray Hair Dyes | Hair Color Removers | Women’s Health 2023 Healthy Hair Awards Winners

You Might Also Like

• Jennifer Garner Swears By This Retinol Eye Cream

• These New Kicks Will Help You Smash Your Cross-Training Goals