Found: The 13 Best Kits For Touching Up Your Roots at Home (2024)

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.”

• # of Shades: 6
• Water-Resistant: No
• Format: Spray

Glowing Customer Review: “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!"

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.

• # of Shades: 2
• Water-Resistant: Yes
• Format: Stick

Glowing Customer Review: “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.

Pogosyan is a fan of L’Oreal Paris’ Root Cover Up, which is a total crowd favorite for covering gray hair—and beyond. For one, it's affordable (like, roughly half the price of other luxury root touch-up sprays). Second, it comes in eight 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.

• # of Shades: 8
• Water-Resistant: No
• Format: Spray

Glowing Customer Review: “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."

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 powder is also virtually foolproof; just dab the included brush, apply, and you're good.

• # of Shades: 3
• Water-Resistant: Yes
• Format: Powder

Glowing Customer Review: “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!"

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, 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 large streaks of gray to smaller areas of regrowth along your hairline with precision.

• # of Shades: 8
• Water-Resistant: Yes
• Format: Powder

Glowing Customer Review: “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."

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.

• # of Shades: 9
• Water-Resistant: Yes
• Format: Powder

Glowing Customer Review: “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."

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?

• # of Shades: 6
• Water-Resistant: Yes
• Format: Powder

Glowing Customer Review: “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.”

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.

• # of Shades: 7
• Water-Resistant: No
• Format: Spray

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

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 transfer-proof too, so it's a good choice for the humid summer months ahead.

• # of Shades: 5
• Water-Resistant: Yes
• Format: Spray

Glowing Customer Review: “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!"

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.

• # of Shades: 10
• Water-Resistant: Yes
• Format: Powder

Glowing Customer Review: “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."

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.

• # of Shades: 1
• Water-Resistant: N/A
• Format: Brush-on

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

If you're dealing with a thinning hairline—we see you, traction alopecia!—then go with this easy-to-apply powder, which offers coverage without feeling heavy or looking ~faux~. Not only does it come in a whopping 14 shades, but it also lasts up to 48 hours (!) and can hold up to both sweat and rain.

• # of Shades: 14
• Water-Resistant: Yes
• Format: Powder

Glowing Customer Review: “The Boldify root touch-up powder is the best one I've found yet! I've used a few other brands previously, and none come close to Boldify. I love that Boldify offers several unique shades of brown, not just the standard dark, medium and light. The other brands I've tried were never perfect - dark brown was often too dark, medium brown was sometimes too light. I could never find a happy medium. Well, now I've found one The hazel brown Boldify shade matches my hair almost perfectly. For reference, I typically dye my hair to have just a touch of violet mixed in with the brown that covers up my emerging greys. I hope they never stop making this root touch-up. It's incredible!"

Let’s be real, we want our hair color to look its 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.

• # of Shades: 7
• Water-Resistant: Yes
• Format: Powder

Glowing Customer Review: “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!!”

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.

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.”

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.”

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. On that note, you should also consider the formula, "such as whether it is a spray, powder, or liquid formula, to determine which is easiest for you to use and provides the desired coverage," says Pogosyan.

• Gigi Pogosyan is a the master hair colorist and founder of Balayage by Gigi in Los Angeles, CA. Known for her expertise in creating personalized hair colors and styles, Gigi has built a reputation that draws clients seeking the pinnacle of hair artistry and individual expression.
• 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.
• 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.