Save Money Between Salon Color Services

Let’s be honest; hair maintenance can be expensive and time-consuming, especially when maintaining color. Salon visits often need to be booked weeks in advance and rarely seem to sync up with special occasions or social events where you want to look your best.

Enter DIY at-home root touch-up products.

These can be a game-changer when it comes to grown-out roots or gray hairs popping up between colorings, and there are many effective and affordable types on the market today that can keep your hair color looking fresh from the salon. These products range from temporary sprays, powders, and sticks that are quick and easy to use at home, to permanent dyes that keep color-treated hair looking fresh longer while saving you money.

A good root touch-up product will seamlessly blend dark, light, or gray roots into the rest of your hair color. They are applied directly to the roots and can be used at a moment’s notice.

Look for a root touch-up formula with full, quick, and easy coverage that’s not too messy; one that blends flawlessly with the rest of your hair color without looking cakey, flat, or unnatural. Temporary root touch-ups should last all day without flaking or transferring, while still washing out easily with shampoo.

There are also many different brands and colors of root touch-up products available. When it comes to choosing the best shade, look at the base of your hair color (not the highlights) and try to best match that shade.

Also, consider the undertone: is it cool, warm, or golden? When in doubt, opt for a shade or two lighter than you think you need. A small amount of these products goes a long way, so use them sparingly and add as needed, then use a fine-tooth comb to blend and distribute evenly for the most natural results.

Best Sprays

To apply spray-on root touch-up products, first, shake the bottle well. It is best to use short, controlled spurts from about two inches away and build coverage until the desired results are achieved.

After spraying, gently comb through to blend and distribute color. If you are not comfortable spraying directly onto roots, you can also spritz a little product into the lid and apply with a makeup brush.

It is always a good idea to use an old towel to cover your shoulders and clothes while spraying as well.

L’Oreal Paris

The L’Oreal Paris Magic Root Cover Up Concealer Spray comes in a variety of shades, provides full coverage (even on stubborn grays), and looks natural. It’s suitable for all hair types and textures, is easy to use, and sprays on in seconds.

The lightweight formula also isn’t sticky and maintains color vibrancy until it’s washed out.

Style Edit

Another great spray option is the Style Edit Root Concealer Touch Up Spray. It only takes a spritz or two to completely cover root growth, plus it has a natural-looking, buildable coverage that dries fast and leaves hair shiny without dulling.

The natural pigment of this spray sticks to hair fibers to prevent running while the color-adaptive dyes adjust to best match your color. An ultra-fine nozzle provides precision control, and this formula is also cruelty, paraben, peroxide, and petroleum-free.

Oribe

The Oribe Airbrush Root Touch-Up Spray magically airbrushes away root growth and grays in just one spritz. The spray-on formula quickly dries to a powder—similar to a dry shampoo—that absorbs dirt and oil to refresh hair instantly.

Ingredients include the Oribe Signature Complex, rice starch, conditioning copolymer, natural micro-fine mineral colorants, panthenol, and a UV absorber to prevent color from fading while protecting hair from the sun. This spray is available in multiple cruelty-free shades.

Best Powders

When applying a root touch-up powder, it’s best to use a small brush. Working in small amounts at a time, tap the product with the brush onto targeted areas and build in layers to reach natural, full coverage.

Color Wow

Color Wow’s Root Cover Up Powder has a weightless, buildable mineral powder formula that seamlessly adheres to hair for full coverage without fallout. Tiny reflective particles provide shine for a natural, never-full finish.

The included dual-sided applicator features a compact rounded brush on one side and a wider flat brush on the other for easily targeting small or large areas. The built-in mirror is a travel-friendly bonus, and these powders are available in various peroxide-free, water-resistant, sweat-proof, and cruelty-free shades.

Style Edit

Style Edit’s Drop Red Gorgeous Root Touch-Up Powder For Reds is specifically designed for redheads who often have fewer color options than blondes or brunettes. Three red hues (in light, medium, and dark) make it easy to find the perfect match that flawlessly blends with your color.

The built-in sponge applicator also makes this powder easy to apply in one mess-free swipe. This ultra-light binding powder instantly conceals roots and grays with color-adaptive pigments that glide on to lock in color and shine. The sweat and wind-resistant formula also easily washes out.

Best For Targeted Precision

Bumble and Bumble

Bumble and Bumble’s Color Stick is as easy to use as crayons and a coloring book. The velvety cream formula glides on gray hair and mismatched roots like butter, is water-resistant, and stays put until your next shampoo.

The pointed tip is perfect for specific, smaller areas like the hairline, roots, and even individual gray flyaways. The color dries instantly and resists transferring.

The only downside to this root stick is that it’s only available in two shades (brown and black).

Cover Your Gray

The Cover Your Gray Brush-In Wand makes application a cinch with the spoolie brush applicator that mimics individual hairs. Perfect for targeting areas such as the roots, sideburns, mustache, beard, and even eyebrows, this formula is compatible with all hair colors, will not matt or clump, and lasts all day (but easily washes out). It comes in several shades in travel-friendly tubes.

I recommend rolling the spoolie applicator on a paper towel before application to remove any excess product and prevent it from going on too thick. You can then redip the wand to build color as needed.

Best Tinted Dry Shampoo

Always shake dry shampoo well before applying. Hold it six to eight inches away from your roots and spray. Massage the spray into your scalp, allow a minute to dry, and then comb or brush through to blend and style as usual.

Moroccanoil

With more than 6,600 5-star online reviews, Moroccanoil’s Dry Shampoo Light Tones is best on blondes and highlights. It instantly leaves hair feeling cleansed and refreshed with ultra-fine rice starch that absorbs oil, buildup, and odor while adding volume.

This argan oil-infused formula provides UV protection and contains subtle violet undertones to balance brassiness and bring out the best in light-toned hair.

Batiste

On the flip side, Batiste’s Hint of Color Dry Shampoo Divine Dark is designed for brunette or darker-toned hair.

Like all dry shampoos, this one instantly removes oil, refreshes hair, and adds volume, but with the added dark tint, it is also a great temporary fix to conceal roots. With over 3,100 5-star online reviews, this product works equally well on color-treated and natural hair, plus it’s sulfate-free.

Best Permanent Options

With all permanent hair color, follow the included application instructions exactly.

Clairol

Looking for a root touch-up solution that lasts a little longer? Clairol’s Nice N’ Easy Root Touch-Up is a targeted cream that gives hair color a boost while completely covering roots and grays for up to three weeks.

You will get permanent hair color that blends seamlessly in just ten minutes! The included precision brush allows for quick, easy, and targeted application, and this formula has more than 9,800 5-star online reviews.