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Byrdie / Chloe Jeong
If you dye your hair frequently, you know the pesky reality of the time between visits to the salon. There’s regrowth, the reappearance of greys, and problem of mismatched color. No matter what color you choose to dye your hair, roots are the telltale sign that it’s time to head to the salon ASAP. However, this leaves one question: What do you do in-between appointments?
First things first: Certainly don’t attempt to dye your hair at home—it can bring about a whole slew of other problems. But what you can do is use one of these handy root touch-up products to conceal your color problems. Aside from being super simple to apply—just a spray or dab of color is all it takes—it's an easy, affordable way to conceal your roots until your next hair appointment. Best of all, the color will stay put during the day but wash out regularly with shampoo at night. All in all, it’s a safe reprieve to your color woos.
We conducted hours of research on the best root touch-ups, evaluating products on their type (spray or stick), their active ingredients, shade range, and how easy it is to use. We also considered how well each formula works on different hair types and how easily the formula blends with your natural (or dyed) color. After consulting with a celebrity hairstylist and expert color matcher, and considering dozens of brands, we landed on the following best in show.
Best Overall
R+Co Bright Shadows Root Touch-Up Spray
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Dermstore
Blends well with hair color
Adds shine
Strengthening
Smells good
Reviewers note colors run dark
A quick spritz of this spray instantly conceals re-growth, covers grays, and keeps your hair looking fresh. And its seven different shades don’t disappoint. Meaning: They actually look like real hair color and blend seamlessly. Infused with biotin, pearl extract, and mica, it’ll keep your color shiny while strengthening your hair—a double win. Arriving with a targeted applicator, it keeps color precisely where you want it instead of everywhere. Plus, its bergamot, fig, and cedarwood scent is reason alone to love it.
Price at time of publish: $26
Ingredients: Pearl extract, biotin, treated pigment, mica, tapioca starch | Shades: 7 | Size: 1.5 ounces | Cruelty-Free: Yes | Byrdie Clean: Yes
Best Budget
Clairol Temporary Root Touch-Up Concealing Powder
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Amazon
Affordable
Blends well with hair color
Can also use on brows
Can be messy
This pick is not only extremely affordable but also incredibly blendable. Offering three different shades in portable compacts, touching up your hair on the go has never been more effortless. By blending naturally with your existing color, covering up single strands, hairlines, or root lines is seamless—and it washes out with shampoo at the end of the day.
Price at time of publish: $11
Shades: 6 | Size: 0.19 ounces | Cruelty-Free: No | Byrdie Clean: Yes
Best Drugstore
L'Oreal Paris Magic Root Cover Up Concealer Spray
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Amazon
Non-sticky
Affordable
Lightweight
Reviewers note it transfers
Ideal for all hair types and textures, this lightweight root coverup magically vanishes it all without any sticky residue or smudged color. Its nine shades—including various blonde, red, black, and brunette options—work for practically every hair color. And, did we mention that it’s under $15? Because it’s worth adding to the cart asap.
Price at time of publish: $10
Shades: 8 | Size: 2 ounces | Cruelty-Free: No | Byrdie Clean: Yes
Best Splurge
dpHUE Color Touch-Up Spray
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Sephora
Two spray settings
Smells good
Non-sticky
Pricier than other options
This pricey spray is well worth the splurge for two reasons: First, it has two spray settings—one for precise application and another for more diffused color. Second, it comes in an extensive range of 10 different shades (which is more than any other brand). But we’d be remiss not to mention its incredible scent.
Price at time of publish: $28
Shades: 6 | Size: 2.5 ounces | Cruelty-Free: Yes | Byrdie Clean: Yes
Best for Lighter Hair
Rita Hazan Root Concealer Touch Up Spray In Blonde
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Amazon
Doesn't transfer
Lightweight
Dries quickly
Pricier than other options
Although grays are practically invisible on lighter shades, tell-tale dark roots can be seen from outer space. Covering up golden blonde and sandy shades, this transfer-proof touch-up spray covers everything you need—without any residue, smudging, or movement throughout the day. And since the formula is so lightweight, it works well for thinning hair, too.
Price at time of publish: $12
Ingredients: Mica, titanium dioxide | Shades: 5 | Size: 2 ounces | Cruelty-Free: Yes | Byrdie Clean: Yes
Best Spray
Oribe Airbrush Root Touch-Up Spray
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Sephora
Provides sun protection
Doubles as a dry shampoo
Dries quickly
Pricier than other options
Let’s be honest: Just one spritz of this Oribe spray airbrushes all grays and root growth. Touting rice starch and a UV absorber on its ingredient list, it’ll help keep color from fading while pulling double duty as a dry shampoo. Plus, its quick-drying powder formula applies simply and absorbs dirt and oil to instantly refresh hair.
Price at time of publish: $34
Ingredients: Rice starch, conditioning copolymer, Oribe Signature Complex, natural micro fine mineral colorants, panthenol, UV absorber | Shades: 6 | Size: 1.8 ounces | Cruelty-Free: Yes | Byrdie Clean: No
Best Stick
Everpro Gray Away Root Touch-Up Quick Stick
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Walmart
Dries quickly
Angled-tip applicator
Includes a sponge tip for blending
Can leave a waxy residue
Looking to conceal smaller or more targeted sports? Try a stick root touch-up. This specific formula speedily dries down to a powdery finish while dispersing the product exactly where you want it. Its angled tip provides a super-precise application, while its other end holds a sponge tip to help blend the product undetectably.
Price at time of publish: $10
Shades: 3 | Size: 0.1 ounces | Cruelty-Free: Yes | Byrdie Clean: Yes
Best for Highlights
Bumble and Bumble Blondish Hair Powder
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Sephora
Absorbs excess oil
Adds volume
Matte finish
Pricier than other options
While you can’t really conceal highlights, this Bumble and bumble spray is the closest thing you’ll get to covering the stubborn roots that emerge. By absorbing excess oil, this spray is intended for usage after a blow-dry with color that won’t smudge or move whatsoever—until your next shampoo. Another thing it does? Adds volume and leaves hair looking matte, not oily.
Price at time of publish: $36
Ingredients: Silica | Shades: 2 | Size: 4.4 ounces | Cruelty-Free: Yes | Byrdie Clean: Yes
Best Powder
Color Wow Root Cover Up Powder
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Ulta Beauty
Buildable
Non-sticky
Dual-sided brush for easy application
Pricier than other options
Not all powders are created equal, and this Color Wow one proves it. It’s buildable, adheres seamlessly to your hair—meaning no dusty fallout—and won’t feel greasy or sticky at all. And the powder’s dual-sided brush (one end has rounded, short bristles whereas the other has a longer, square shape) allows for error-free application. Andrew Fitzsimmons, a celebrity hairstylist, recommends using a small brush (like the one that comes with it) to lightly apply a dose of the powder onto the targeted areas on your roots by brushing downwards until you achieve your intended look.
Price at time of publish: $35
Ingredients: Mica, titanium dioxide | Shades: 8 | Size: 0.07 ounces | Cruelty-Free: Yes | Byrdie Clean: No
Best for Darker Hair
Madison Reed The Great Cover Up Root Touch Up + Brow Filler
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Ulta Beauty
Great coverage
Sweatproof and waterproof
Blends well with hair color
Reviewers note it transfers
Having trouble disguising stubborn gray hairs on darker hair? Try this Madison Reed powder. The brush-on-powder uses finely-milled micro-pigments to deliver coverage that’s both full yet natural-looking. With five different dark shades—ranging from light brown to black—you’ll surely find just the right shade to camouflage your pesky grays. Not to mention it’s also sweat and waterproof.
Price at time of publish: $32
Ingredients: Keratin, argan oil, ginseng root extract | Shades: 6 | Size: 0.13 ounces | Cruelty-Free: Yes | Byrdie Clean: Yes
Best for Grays
Garnier Express Retouch Gray Hair Concealer
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Amazon
Doesn't transfer
Cushion-tipped applicator
Affordable
Can be messy
Hide all sneaky gray strands with this. It’ll deliver impeccable gray coverage while using an anti-transfer technology to provide zero movement or transfers onto your skin or clothing. Arguably the best part is its cushion-tipped applicator which conceals grays on hard-to-reach areas—like your temple or hair part—where the pesky strands usually appear first.
Price at time of publish: $9
Ingredients: Mineral clay, pearls | Shades: 4 | Size: 0.34 fluid ounces | Cruelty-Free: Yes | Byrdie Clean: No
Best for Thinning Hair
Toppik Hair Building Fibers
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Amazon
Comes in a nice variety of shades
Both conceals roots and adds fullness
Shake-on applicator can be a bit messy
For those who want to conceal tell-tale roots and/or have thinning hair, these colored fibers are a dream. They’re made from a keratin protein (that’s similar to the keratin found in your natural strands) that’s statically charged to grip onto even the tiniest of tiny hairs, instantly helping to camo sparse spots, think around your hairline or your temples. Available in nine different shades, there are options that work with a variety of hair colors. Plus, they’re wind- and sweat-resistant, too, yet still wash out easily with just shampoo.
Price at time of publish: $24
Ingredients: Keratin fibers, ammonia chloride, silica | Shades: 9 | Size: .42 ounces | Cruelty-Free: Unknown | Byrdie Clean: No
Tarte Big Ego Dab-and-Go Hair Concealer
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Tarte Cosmetics
Waterproof formula is long-lasting
Contains moisturizing ingredients that are good for your hair
Sponge-tip makes for easy application
Some reviewers note the blonde shade doesn’t work great for all blonde tones
May transfer to fingertips
Long-lasting and waterproof, dab on this guy and you can feel confident that it isn't going anywhere. In fact, some happy reviewers point out that it lasts for up to two to three days, without even rubbing off on their pillowcase. The rounded, sponge-tip makes precise application—and covering either large or small spots—a breeze. Not to mention that the formula is infused with ingredients such as argan, grapeseed, and castor oils to moisturize your strands while also camouflaging re-growth or grays.
Price at time of publish: $15
Ingredients: Dimethicone, mica, tapioca starch, kaolin clay, argan oil | Shades: 7 | Size: .26 ounces | Cruelty-Free: Yes | Byrdie Clean: Yes
Final Verdict
Our overall favorite pick, R+Co Root Touch-Up Spray at Amazon seamlessly covers regrowth, hides grays, and keeps hair looking fresh with its real-looking seven different shades. For a drugstore option, we love the L'Oreal Paris Magic Root Cover Up as it’s affordable but doesn’t sacrifice quality. Lastly, if you’re looking for a worthwhile splurge, dpHUE Color Touch-Up Spray is your best bet with its extensive range of shades and two spray settings.
Meet the Expert
Andrew Fitzsimons is a celebrity hairstylist who splits his time between New York and Los Angeles. His work spans editorial and commercial campaigns, and he's an expert in color blending and color matching for all hair shades, types and textures.
What to Look for in a Root Touch-Up
Shade Match
For root touch-ups, in particular, explains celebrity hairstylist, Andrew Fitzsimmons, it's not just about trying to match the exact shade of your hair. “It's also important that you assess how different your dyed hair color may be from your natural one, which can determine the best type of product to use on your hair altogether.”
Ease of Use
The goal of a root touch-up is to make it as easy as possible to conceal between visits, so there's no need to complicate things. If you’re someone who doesn’t do well with sprays, opt to go with a color stick, and vice versa.
How We Researched
To compile this list, our team of editors and contributors spent hours researching the best products on the market in this category, evaluating their key features—like ingredients, shade range, or design—in addition to reviews from customers and other trusted sources. We then used this research to assign a star rating from one to five (five being the best; one being the worst) to certain products on the list.
Why Trust Byrdie
During her career, Byrdie contributor Rachel Dube has written for some of the biggest magazines and websites out there and has tested hundreds (if not thousands) of beauty products. Most recently, she has transformed her hair with blonde highlights. To prolong her highlights, she’s become an advocate of blonde toning products and root touch-ups to keep the color looking fresh between visits.
According to our Diversity Pledge, 15% of products in our newly-published market roundups will feature Black-owned and/or Black-founded brands. At the time of publishing, we were not able to find any root touch-ups from a Black-owned and/or Black-founded business. If you know of one we should consider, please email us at contact@byrdie.com and we will evaluate the product ASAP.
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