Though time in the salon chair is a luxury—often doubling as therapy for you and your roots—it’s not always easy to squeeze in frequent color appointments. Enter the best root touch-ups for at-home use, which keep roots in line for a little longer at a time. And while your go-to stylist or colorist may miss your more regular sessions, rest assured that the pros are fully on board with a little home maintenance.
Vogue’s Favorite Root Touch-Ups
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To wit: Justine Marjan, stylist for Gwen Stefani, calls root touch-ups a “game changer” for keeping color fresh at home. Kim Kardashian’s stylist Chris Appleton is also a fan, and says that a good root touch-up is “a must” for his bag. The only question is: Which way should you tend to your roots?
With root touch-ups available as powders, pencils, sprays, and even mascara-style, there are no shortage of options for color maintenance in a pinch. And if you need to stave off greys for longer than, say, a last-minute holiday party, there are root touch-up kits for permanent color will get the job (and the coif) done. Ahead, get some help from the pros in choosing the best root touch-up, no matter your hair color or type.
Best for a Sensitive Scalp: Phyto Permanent Color
- Why we love it: “Phyto Permanent Color is one of the most gentle products on the market. I recommend it for people with a very sensitive scalp,” says Luis Perez, color designer at Julien Farel Salon Spa on Park Avenue. The ammonia-free formula is infused with conditioning jojoba oil and botanical pigments from dye plants. It also has jujube bark, which has anti-itch properties, and epaline, which soothes irritation while coating the scalp in a protective film. Though Perez reiterates this recommendation for anyone with a “super-sensitive scalp,” he says: I wouldn’t recommend it if your hair is very dark and you want to change tones dramatically, or if you are looking for a cooler tone. It may not get the results you are hoping for.”
- Ingredients: Jojoba and monoi oils, jujube bark, epaline
- Shade range: 10
- Size: Milk developer 1.69 oz, coloring cream 1.69 oz, Phytocolor mask 0.42 oz
| Love It | Leave It |
|---|---|
| Soothes itching and inflammation on the scalp | Not ideal for those seeking cooler tones |
Best Permanent Root Touch-Up: IGK Permanent Color Kit
- Why we love it: “The IGK Permanent Color Root Kit is ammonia-free, meaning less harsh fumes for customers,” Perez says. The product is infused with ingredients that boost shine while soothing the hair and scalp; it’s made with squalane, orchid extract, and bamboo extract. “Many of my clients have used IGK in the past, and their feedback is positive—they feel it leaves the hair shiny, soft, and more nourished than many boxed dyes,” Perez says. He adds that the kit comes in an impressive 33 shades (with such an expansive range, you get many brown hair variations like dark brown and light brown, plus options for those with black, blonde, and everything in between), and that “the gray coverage is reportedly very good.” However, Perez has also heard reports that the color—though permanent—tends to fade fast. “In general, I recommend this for any emergency or last-minute situations, until you can get to a professional to help,” he says.
- Ingredients: Squalane, orchid extract, bamboo extract
- Shade range: 33
- Size: 4.75 oz
| Love It | Leave It |
|---|---|
| Leaves hair shiny and soft | Tends to fade faster than expected |
Best Easy Application: Bumble and bumble Bb. Color Stick
- Why we love it: Bumble and bumble’s velvety color sticks are as simple to apply as a coat of lipstick—but without the need to blot. Think of it as a hair concealer. Simply twist up the crayon, dab it over grays, and watch those light hairs fade to black (or medium brown). The highly pigmented hues will stay in place until it washes out: Stay Put Seal, a balm-like emollient, works to lock the color into place.
- Ingredients: Mineral-based pigments, microspheres, Stay Put Seal
- Shade range: 2
- Size: 0.12 oz
| Love It | Leave It |
|---|---|
| Easy to use | Caters to dark hair exclusively |
| Compact |
Best for Brows: Madison Reed The Great Cover Up
- Why we love it: If you like your touch-ups with a side of multitasking, Madison Reed’s clever powder palette is just the thing for you (and your roots, and your brows). Made with natural ingredients that strengthen and nourish the hair—including keratin, argan oil, and ginseng root extract—the powder touches up the roots with blonde, brown, and black pigment. It can also be used on the brows, and it comes with two brushes to demonstrate its multifunctional capabilities: A blush-like brush helps cover the roots, while a spoolie distributes color on the brows.
- Ingredients: Keratin, argan oil, ginseng root extract
- Shade range: 6
- Size: 1.62 oz
| Love It | Leave It |
|---|---|
| Can also be used on the brows | Some say the product requires multiple coats to make a visible difference |
Best for Blonde Hair: L’Oréal Paris Magic Root Cover Up
- Why we love it: It takes countless salon visits to maintain a pristine blonde mane (just ask any celebrity colorist!). Luckily, L’Oréal’s quick-drying spray is just the thing to stretch out the time between appointments. Available in eight shades ranging from black to brown and vibrant red, the cover-up caters to a spectrum of blondes: one hue works best for light to medium blondes, while dark blondes have their own devoted shade. Meanwhile, anyone of any hair color, will appreciate the ease of application: Shake the can, spray the product on the roots, then comb it through the hair and let it dry for one minute.
- Ingredients: Hydrofluorocarbon 152A, butane, ethyl trisiloxane, isobutane, Ci 77499/iron oxides
- Shade range: 8
- Size: 2.0 oz
| Love It | Leave It |
|---|---|
| Good shade range | Can transfer easily onto skin and nails |
Best for Black Hair: TRESemmé Root Touch-Up
- Why we love it: Marjan leans on TRESemmé’s Root Touch-Up “for quick and easy hair touch-ups.” She adds that the formula, which is enriched with vitamin E and keratin, nourishes the hair while providing flawless coverage. “The lightweight spray blends seamlessly with your natural hair color, leaving no residue,” she says. "My go-to hack is to apply it to the roots and then use a fine-tooth comb to distribute the product evenly, ensuring a natural finish.” It comes in two shades, black and dark blonde, and—thankfully for dark hair in particular—leaves no residue behind.
- Ingredients: Butane, hydrofluorocarbon 152A, ethyl trisiloxane, trimethylsiloxysilicate
- Shade range: 2
- Size: 2.5 oz
| Love It | Leave It |
|---|---|
| Nourishes the hair | Can be tough to wash out |
| Leaves no residue |
Best for Styling: Rita Hazan Root Concealer Touch-Up Spray
- Why we love it: Leave it to a top celebrity colorist to design a touch-up that refuses to budge. Rita Hazan, whose superstar clients include prone-to-hair-whipping superstars like Beyoncé and Jennifer Lopez, developed her root concealer as a transfer-proof, waterproof product that clings to the hair until it’s washed out. “I especially like to use this to touch up hairlines to make them appear fuller for updos, braids, or any other styling needs,” says Cristina B. King, a hairstylist at Rita Hazan salon.“I also use it on men for the same reason: It gives the hair a fuller appearance without leaving residue or buildup.” She adds that the formulation, made with natural pigments and resin, adheres to the hair without feeling tacky.
- Ingredients: Butane, hydrofluorocarbon 152A, ethyl trisiloxane, phenyl trimethicone
- Shade range: 5
- Size: 2 oz
| Love It | Leave It |
|---|---|
| Ideal for hairlines, men | Can feel slightly sticky |
Best for Thinning Hair: R+Co Bright Shadows Root Touch-Up Spray
- Why we love it: Enriched with biotin to thicken the hair and stimulate growth, R+Co’s root touchup is also fortified with pearl extract. Packed with minerals and amino acids, the latter ingredient helps moisturize and regenerate the hair, while providing a pearlescent coat of shine. Using the spray “is a great way to instantly cover regrowth and extend your color between hair appointments,” says Kandasamy. The product comes in seven multidimensional shades.
- Ingredients: Pearl extract, biotin, treated pigment
- Shade range: 7
- Size: 1.5 oz
| Love It | Leave It |
|---|---|
| Has hair-thickening and moisturizing ingredients | Some say the hue is darker than expected |
Best for Brunettes: dpHUE Color Touch-Up Spray
- Why we love it: With panthenol for smoothing the hair and fruit extract for strengthening it, dpHUE’s touch-up spray is a go-to for Korab. “I love it because it provides a quick, easy way to cover grays while conditioning and enhancing the hair’s natural shine,” she says. What’s more, the dual-action nozzle has two settings for ultra-precise application: the smaller nozzle delivers a concentrated dose of color that’s perfect for covering gray roots, while the wider nozzle helps blend the roots and cover gray hairs. The spray comes in 10 shades, including three variations of brown for brunettes of different stripes.
- Ingredients: Butane, hydrofluorocarbon 152a, isobutane, alcohol denat., ethyl trisiloxane, panthenol, biotin, Serenoa Serrulata fruit extract
- Shade range: 10
- Size: 2.5 fl oz
| Love It | Leave It |
|---|---|
| Smooths and strengthens the hair | Can feel slightly heavier than some other products |
| Dual-action nozzle for targeted application |
Best for Gray Roots: EverPro Root Touch-Up Quick Stick
- Why we love it: EverPro’s dual-ended stick is like a gray concealer—making it easy to cover grays in any nook and cranny, including temples, parts, and hairlines. Delivered with an angled tip, the creamy pigment glides on easily without skipping or dragging. But just in case a hiccup does occur, there’s a built-in sponge for blending. “I love it because it offers a convenient, mess-free way to cover gray roots and blend seamlessly with your hair color, all while providing conditioning benefits,” Korab says.
- Ingredients: C12-15 alkyl benzoate, tapioca starch, polyethylene, octyldodecanol
- Shade range: 5
- Size: 0.1 oz
| Love It | Leave It |
|---|---|
| Built-in sponge for blending | Some report the pencil dries out fast |
Best for a Receding Hairline: Boldify Enhance Hairline Powder
- Why we love it: Korab has seen Boldify’s Enhance Hairline Powder put a spring in her clients’ steps—particularly if they’re struggling with receding hairlines. “It provides a natural-looking boost to thinning hairlines, enhancing coverage effortlessly with a blend of micronized pigments and botanical ingredients that deliver both aesthetic and confidence-boosting results,” she says. Available in an impressive 14 shades, including hard-to-find hues like white, ash brown, and auburn, the formula also excels at covering bald patches and extending the life of highlights. (It even makes beards appear fuller.) It comes with a built-in mirror and a precise root touch-up powder applicator for fuss-free application. Plus, it’s infused with squalane for hydration and shine.
- Ingredients: Squalane, talc, mica, silica, magnesium stearate
- Shade range: 14
- Size: 0.14 oz
| Love It | Leave It |
|---|---|
| Ideal for receding hairlines | The product tends to stick to the applicator, so some use a brush instead |
| Good shade selection |
Best for Platinum Blondes: Oribe Root Touch-Up Spray
- Why we love it: Oribe’s Root Touch-Up Spray comes in six shades. Crucially for the likes of Lady Gaga, who was a client of late brand founder Oribe Canales, those shades include platinum blonde. Infused with rice starch and Oribe’s Signature Complex, which protects the hair from UV rays, the dermatologist-approved formula doubles as a dry shampoo. Thanks to its infusion of rice starch, it absorbs dirt and oil to refresh the mane between washes. Plus, its famously alluring scent—a mix of bergamot, jasmine, and sandalwood—swathes the hair in a cloud of fragrance inspired by the Côte d’Azur.
- Ingredients: Mineral colorants, rice starch, Oribe Signature Complex
- Shade range: 6
- Size: 1.8 oz
| Love It | Leave It |
|---|---|
| Dermatologist-approved | Not ideal for those looking to avoid fragrance |
| Doubles as a dry shampoo |
Stylists’ Pick: Color Wow Root Cover Up
- Why we love it: “This formula is my absolute favorite touch-up as it s highly buildable across its eight-shade range, but still applies lightweight to help not weigh the roots down. And, it thickens as it sets to create a fuller effect,” says Appleton. “It also features water-resistant and shine-infused properties to help illuminate roots. This is a must-have in my bag, perfect for last-minute touch-ups to cover any dull area.” Korab is also a fan. “It s one of my favorites because it provides instant, natural-looking coverage for roots, adds volume, and extends the time between salon visits,” she says. She adds that the formula is “easy to apply and blends beautifully.” Meanwhile, Cleveland says: “I love love love this product! The slim case design makes it easy to throw in your purse and the brush and mirror included in the compact add to the ease of application.”
- Ingredients: Talc, mica, synthetic fluorphlogopite, octyldodecyl stearoyl stearate, ethylhexyl palmitate, zinc stearate
- Shade range: 8
- Size: .007 oz
| Love It | Leave It |
|---|---|
| A go-to pick for professionals | Some feel its finish is too matte |
Everything You Need to Know
Does root touch-up really work?
“The best root touch-up products generally do work when used correctly,” Perez says. He explains that the products, designed to temporarily or permanently cover gray hairs or regrowth at the roots, are typically ideal for instant, short-term coverage. “They blend well with existing color if the shade is a good match,” he says. Though the at-home hair products are not a substitute for regular salon maintenance, “Root touch-up products are a practical, effective solution for managing regrowth and extending the life of your color—especially when done with care and a good color match,” Perez says.
How often should you touch up your roots for grey hair?
Typically, grey roots should be touched up every three to six weeks, Perez says—but there’s not a universal cadence. “It all depends on how much your hair grows or if you are more than 30 to 50 percent grey,” he says. On those with more gey hair may overall, regrowth may be more noticeable sooner, requiring more frequent touch-ups. The good news? “Root-concealer sprays and powders can be used as needed between [salon] sessions,” Perez says.
Who should use a root touch-up?
According to celebrity hairstylist Christopher Naselli, whose clients include Rashida Jones and Alicia Vikander, anyone who’s cheated on their natural hair color could benefit from a root touch-up. “Root touch-up is perfect for anyone who colors their hair and wants to hide growth between appointments or cover gray roots,” he says.
Silvia Reis, the hairstylist behind YouTube channel Ellebangs, specifies that a root touch-up works best for those who have already colored their hair and want to maintain that look with fresh roots. Those who want a change of color should, of course, go the dye route —either at a salon or with a formulation that can be used at home. (Her pick for the latter? Better Natured’s range of permanent, naturally-derived hues.)
What’s the difference between a root touch-up and at-home hair color?
Speaking of at-home hair color, dyes and root touch-ups are not created equal. “A root touch-up spray is a temporary solution that specifically targets the roots and new growth, ensuring a seamless blend with the rest of your hair,” says Min Kim, L’Oréal Professionnel’s global ambassador. “At-home hair color, while it can be used only on the roots, is typically applied on all the hair.”
Key Ingredients to Look For
As always, it helps to read the label. “When choosing a root touch-up, key ingredients can enhance its effectiveness and ensure it suits your hair type and needs,” notes New Jersey hairstylist Jennifer Korab. “Ammonia is an ingredient to look out for as it opens the hair cuticle so the color can penetrate the hair shaft—but be cautious [with ammonia] if you have a sensitive scalp [to avoid itching and irritation.]” Korab also recommends looking for conditioning agents like keratin, argan oil, or silk proteins. “These help protect and strengthen the hair during the coloring process,” she says.
While talc is often used in root touch-ups to soak up excess oil in the hair and texture, the ingredient has the potential to irritate sensitive scalps. As such, hairstylist and extension artist Michelle Cleveland recommends looking for talc alternatives such as charcoal or tapioca-starch powder, which cleanse the scalp while absorbing oil.
Some root touch-ups, including R+Co’s Bright Shadows Root Touch-Up Spray and dpHUE’s Color Touch-Up Spray, contain biotin. “Biotin is an ingredient I love to see in color products because it strengthens the hair and colored hair tends to need more nourishment,” says Naselli. If it’s shine you’re after, look for a product infused with gleam-inducing ingredients such as mica, which is present in Color Wow Root Cover Up and Boldify’s Enhance Hairline Powder.
How to Apply Root Touch-ups
Root touch-ups come in several forms. To wit: Madison Reed’s Great Cover Up is a pressed powder that can be applied with a blush brush or spoolie. Bumble and bumble’s Bb. Color Stick works like a jumbo crayon, adding creamy color to the roots as the product is drawn on. Of course, there are also spays.
“I think aerosol root touch-ups are the easiest to use,” Naselli says, referencing formulations like Oribe’s Root Touch-Up Spray. “Make sure you shake the product so the color will distribute evenly, and then spray a few inches away from your head directly onto your [dry] roots. “After spraying, use a small makeup brush to blend the product into your hair for a more natural appearance or to even out the application,” suggests vice president of color development at R+COLOR Richy Kandasamy. “If applying around the hairline, place a piece of tissue to prevent the spray from getting on your skin.”
Naselli adds that it’s important to make sure you re using the right color. “Otherwise, it could draw more attention to your roots than you re looking for,” he says. Most root touch-ups come in a range of hues, including shades of black, brown, blonde, red, and even white or gray. If you can’t decide between two shades, a rule of thumb is to choose the darker hue for root touch-ups and the lighter color for highlights. Some products, such as L’Oréal Magic Root Cover-Up, even have experts on hand for live color-selection assistance via text.
Can I use a root touch-up every day?
Once you’ve found your ideal root touch-up, application frequency is up to you—and your roots. “There is no need to apply a root touch-up every day,” Reis notes. “A root touch-up is only needed when your roots inevitably grow out again.” However, since most root touch-ups won’t last much longer than a wash or two, one shouldn’t be ashamed of liberal application. According to Naselli, “You can use root touch-up as often as you like!”
How We Tested
When we test and review a product, we take a holistic approach to deliver well-rounded product recommendations. First, we lean on Vogue s vast network of experts—from board-certified dermatologists to celebrity estheticians—to gain professional acumen on the industry s standout products, ones these specialists would actually use on their clients. We pair their expertise with our editorial best practices to curate the thoughtful edits you read on our site.
As it relates to root touchups, we selected the best based on the following characteristics: ingredients, form, shade range, ease of application, and how long the color lasts. To do this, we paired our own personal tests of each formula with expert guidance and reviewer insights to determine which we would recommend to you.
Meet the experts
- Chris Appleton is a celebrity hairstylist for the likes of Kim Kardashian and the creative director of Color Wow.
- Michelle Cleveland is a hairstylist and extension artist.
- Richy Kandasamy is vice president of color development at R+COLOR and R+COLOR Collective Member.
- Min Kim is a global ambassador for L’Oréal Professionnel.
- Cristina B. King is a hairstylist at Rita Hazan salon in New York City.
- Jennifer Korab is a New Jersey-based hairstylist, colorist, and hand-tied extensions specialist.
- Justine Marjan is a celebrity hairstylist based in Los Angeles. Her clients include Gwen Stefani, Ashley Graham, and Kylie Jenner.
- Christopher Naselli is a celebrity hairstylist whose clients include Rashida Jones and Alicia Vikander.
- Silvia Reis is the hairstylist behind the YouTube channel Ellebangs.
- Luis Perez is a color designer at Julien Farel Salon Spa on Park Avenue in New York.
