15 Best Root Touch-Ups To Conceal Overgrown Color
![Best Root TouchUp Temporary hair tinting products from Tarte Toppik and L'Oral on a light pink background](https://media.allure.com/photos/649ef5b11432bd92d01f29f7/16:9/w_320%2Cc_limit/best-root-touch-up-spray_001.jpg)
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For those who regularly color their hair, there comes a time when the roots start growing in — but it's too soon to call your colorist. The best root touch-up can help you DIY it, quickly and adequately concealing visible or dark roots in the meantime. But it can be overwhelming to choose the right color, much less the right coloring kit, to tackle your regrowth.
That's why it helps to call in reinforcements. New York City-based colorist Aura Friedman, who's worked with Lady Gaga and Sky Ferreira, suggests reaching out to whoever typically colors your hair for advice on picking the right shade. The good news: That doesn't mean running to the salon, since some colorists, like bicoastal colorist Rachel Bodt, do FaceTime consultations with clients. "Picking the right shade can be so overwhelming," she says. "FaceTiming is a great way to connect with my customers and help people."
While we're all for embracing our natural hair color, visible roots can make even the best salon job look worse for wear. With that in mind, we've narrowed down the best root touch-up kits to add to your beauty product lineup.
Our Top Picks:
- Best Overall: DpHue Root Touch-Up Kit, $35
- Best for Gray Coverage: Madison Reed Root Perfection Touch-Up Kit, $34
- Best Powder: Tarte Big Ego Dab & Go Hair Concealer, $26
- Best for Hairline Coverage: Boldify Hairline Powder, $18
- Best Spray: Oribe Airbrush Root Touch-Up Spray, $34
- Best for Thinning Hair: Toppik Hair Building Fibers, $25
- Best Stick: Bumble and Bumble Color Stick, $30
- 1/15
dpHue
DpHue Root Touch Up Kit
Why It's Worth It: One of New York City-based colorist Nikki Ferrara's favorite coloring kits for roots is the DpHue Root Touch-Up Kit. It's got everything you need: a brush, bowl, pair of gloves, and a plastic cap. It also comes with enough color for two applications, so you get more for your money.
Editor Tip: Pair it with DpHue's editor-approved Gloss+ to bring your hair color back to life, from roots to ends.
# of Shades: 6 | Who It's For: People who have the time and experience for a kit
- 2/15
Madison Reed
Madison Reed Root Perfection Touch Up Kit
Why It's Worth It: Bodt is a fan of the Madison Reed Root Perfection Touch Up Kit because the eight color options blend in beautifully with roots, making your faux color look more realistic. "This is really easy to color over other colors or even lift them, plus the finish is shiny and natural-looking," she says.
Editor Tip: The process takes just 10 minutes from start to finish, making it easy to slot into any routine.
# of Shades: 8 | Who It's For: Those seeking a natural finish
- 3/15
Tarte
Tarte Big Ego Dab & Go Hair Concealer
Why It's Worth It: Using a root touch-up powder has never been easier, thanks to the compact Tarte Big Ego Dab & Go Hair Concealer. New York City-based colorist Abby Haliti calls it a "quick and easy solution for covering up hair" and also notes that the formula's totally waterproof. Its sponge applicator offers precise application and dispenses color evenly without streaking or over-saturating hair in powder. It's available in seven shades, including a hue for intentionally gray roots.
Editor Tip: It's infused with argan, grapeseed, and castor oils to nourish hair while it conceals.
# of Shades: 7 | Who It's For: People new to root concealers
- 4/15
Oribe
Oribe Airbrush Root Touch-Up Spray
Why It's Worth It: Don't want to go the permanent color route? Then easily conceal your roots while you await your next salon visit with Oribe's Airbrush Root Touch-Up Spray. Mirko Vergani, a colorist at Fabio Scalia salons in New York City, says this hair-care product is one of his favorite temporary root concealers for moments when hair dye isn't accessible. "This spray offers easy application and is a great tool to carry in your bag for touch-ups anywhere," he says.
Editor Tip: It defends against UV exposure, which is a major source of color fading, and doubles as dry shampoo.
# of Shades: 6 | Who It's For: People seeking a quick, temporary fix
- 5/15
Boldify
Boldify Hairline Powder
Why It's Worth It: The Boldify Hairline Powder resists wind, water, and rain, all while being stain-proof so it can also be used on eyebrows and beards. The powder formula is infused with squalane, which gives it conditioning properties to leave hair smooth and shiny.
Editor Tip: It's also designed for easy touch-ups, with a built-in mirror and puff applicator.
# of Shades: 14 | Who It's For: People targeting precise areas
- 6/15
Toppik
Toppik Hair Building Fibers
Why It's Worth It: If you're on TikTok, chances are the Toppik Hair Building Fibers have popped up on your FYP at some point. What beauty of this powder root concealer is that it also plumps the appearance of thinning hair types, so it conceals grays, roots, and patches of thin or barely-there hair all at once.
Editor Tip: The fibers uses static charges to adhere to strands.
# of Shades: 9 | Who It's For: People looking for fullness
- 7/15
Bumble and Bumble
Bumble and Bumble Color Stick
Why It's Worth It: Bumble and Bumble's Color Stick is a chubby crayon with some of the best color payoff we've ever seen. This temporary hair color stick effortlessly conceals grown-out roots and grays without any down time. Simply swipe this hair color pencil on your target areas and watch as it dries down immediately to provide mess-free, water-resistant color.
Editor Tip: Unfortunately, Bumble and Bumble's Color Stick is not available in red or blonde shades, so anyone that isn't a brunette should pick another color retouch option on this list.
# of Shades: 2 | Who It's For: Those with black and dark brown hair that need a quick, easy touch-up.
- 8/15
Style Edit Root Concealer Touch Up Spray
Why It's Worth It: The Style Edit Root Concealer Touch Up Spray was made with darker hair colors in mind, with five variations on brunette (including an auburn shade) for a close color match. The pigments adapt once you apply it for an even closer match, and the formula sets instantly once you mist it onto roots.
Editor Tip: You can get it in packs of one, two, three, or five, depending on how much you plan to use it.
# of Shades: 5 | Who It's For: People with light brown hair or darker
- 9/15
Color Wow
Color Wow Root Cover Up
Why It's Worth It: Our executive beauty director, Jenny Bailly, swears by the Color Wow Root Cover Up, which is one of the many reasons it's won multiple Best of Beauty Awards. This one is a pressed powder that comes in eight shades. Bailly keeps one pretty much everywhere since it comes in such a travel-friendly compact. Just dip the brush into the powder and sweep it onto your roots.
Editor Tip: It has three different shades for blondes, including bleached hair.
# of Shades: 8 | Who It's For: People who want an easy option
- 10/15
EverPro Gray Away Root Touchup Quick Stick
Why It's Worth It: If you don't have enough roots to merit a root coverage kit, the EverPro Gray Away Root Touch-Up Quick Stick is a better alternative, since you can swipe it on the temples and along your part in a matter of seconds. It also has a tip on one end for application and a sponge on the other for blending, and the pigment within won't skip or drag.
Editor Tip: It's forgiving, so you can easily apply it to the nape of the neck with the help of a mirror.
# of Shades: 4 | Who It's For: People looking to get darker coverage in a pinch
- 11/15
Rita Hazan
Rita Hazan Root Concealer Touch Up Spray
Why It's Worth It: Celebrity colorist Rita Hazan (whose clients include Beyoncé — just putting it out there) created her Root Concealer Touch Up Spray as a budge-proof option. It won't transfer once you apply it, and has buildable pigments so you can layer on only as much as you need.
Editor Tip: It has a red shade that's ideal for redheads and those with auburn hair.
# of Shades: 5 | Who It's For: People who want staying power
- 12/15
TouchBack
TouchBack Pro Hair Marker
Why It's Worth It: Vergani also gives his seal of approval to the TouchBack Pro Hair Marker, a quick-drying root coverage color stick that's available in eight shades. "It is easy to apply, dries quickly, and provides natural-looking coverage for gray hair and overgrown spots," he says. Oh, and did we mention that this root touch-up product is a triple-Allure Best of Beauty winner?
Editor Tip: It can only darken, not lighten, so keep that in mind if you have highlights.
# of Shades: 8 | Who It's For: Those seeking a quick fix, with some trade-offs
- 13/15
IGK Hair
IGK Permanent Color Kit
Why It's Worth It: New York City-based hair colorist Lauren Paglionico says IGK's Permanent Color Kit is one of the best at-home dying kits for those who want to cover grays and overgrown roots in-between salon appointments, or even ditch them altogether. "This specific kit has bamboo extract which promotes hair strength, and as a bonus, the site even allows you to virtually color match your shade," she says.
Editor Tip: This permanent root touch-up kit contains everything you need to ace your at-home coloring routine, including pigment (which is available in 33 shades), developer, and even color-block gel for the skin around your hairline.
# of Shades: 33 | Who It's For: People comfortable wielding permanent color
- 14/15
L'Oréal Paris
L'Oréal Paris Magic Root Cover Up
Why It's Worth It: If you're looking for a quick drugstore fix, the L'Oréal Paris Magic Root Cover Up concealer spray may be up your alley. Haliti says this spray-on formula is incredibly easy to use, dries instantly, and stays put until your next shampoo. Spritz this stuff on your roots and you'll look like you just got them refreshed — at least until you rinse out the color during your next wash.
Editor Tip: Each can has 25 uses, which should keep you covered between appointments.
# of Shades: 8 | Who It's For: Beginners and those seeking a foolproof option
- 15/15
Clairol
Clairol Nice 'N Easy Root Touch-Up
Why It's Worth It: According to Ferrara, the Clairol Root Touch-Up Permanent Hair Color is especially easy to use at home if you want color for the long haul. "It comes with a foolproof little brush that makes application a breeze," she says. Plus, it's available in 14 shades, so you've got plenty of options to choose from.
Editor Tip: The color lasts three weeks without fading.
# of Shades: 14 | Who It's For: Those who want lasting results