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If the pandemic taught us anything, it’s how to handle our beauty issues on our own. We cut our own bangs, did our own trims, and also learned how to quickly camouflage our natural hair color. While experimenting with at-home box color can be tricky, temporary root-color products are goofproof and easily wash out. Even though salons are open once again and you’re now able to visit your beloved colorist, it never hurts to have an option in between appointments.
We spoke with hair colorists and individuals who dye their hair frequently to learn about how they keep up with their root color between appointments. Whether they stick with having their professional colorists work their magic and manage the in-between with certain shampoos, masks, and glosses, or use at-home root-touch-up products to color themselves, they dished on everything you need to know about root care.
FAQs
The Best Color-Safe Shampoos
Jessica Wu, co-founder, stylist, and press director of Peter Do, sticks with Clairol Shimmer Lights shampoo and conditioner. The restorative New Wash is ideal for people with curly hair, while the Davines Minu Shampoo is a rich foam that helps preserve color and add volume.
The Best Hair Glosses
“A gloss is a low-commitment hair-color service that gives a subtle sheen of color on top of the hair,” explains Tylor Johnson, hair colorist and founder of Nous Haircare. “They’re made to enrich existing hair color as well as get rid of unwanted tones all while giving an immense amount of shine. If you don’t have color-treated hair, this is a perfect way to try something a little different without the worry of the color permanently changing your hair.”
The Best Masks & Scalp-Care Products
Wu swears by the NatureLab Tokyo Perfect Repair Treatment Mask. “It’s a holy grail product for sure,” she says. “It gives instant moisture and completely hydrates your hair.” Other top-rated options include K18 Leave-In Molecular Repair Mask and Ceremony Aceite de Moska.
The Best Products for At-Home Touch-ups
Florist Ryan Norville has been dyeing her hair for over ten years and using the Pravana Vivids pastel shade range to touch up her roots for the last five years. “This doesn’t cover up growth in new roots, but it helps tint and refresh the rest of your hair without using bleach,” she explains.
If you want a quick fix, Casanova also recommends opting for powder and spray products, like Oribe’s Airbrush Root Touch-Up Spray and Color Wow’s powder.
Other Root Touch-up Products We Recommend
Madison Reed Root Touch-Up Powder
At about the size of a compact, this touch-up powder is a great on-the-go option. Along with the near perfect color match, reviewers love how long-lasting and natural the powder looks. But those with sensitive noses, beware — it does have fragrance.
Paul Mitchell Color Safe Shampoo
Too much exposure to the sun can significantly change your hair color. With the help of sunflower extract, this shampoo provides UV protection that preserves your color. Bonus: If you’re a sucker for a good scent, the blend of bergamot, orange, and apple will be a delight to use in the shower.
L’Oreal Paris Magic Root Cover-Up Gray Concealer Spray
If you’ve got a party to go to and no time to make it to the salon, this magic spray will be your savior. It’s a temporary hair spray that works on all textures and will camouflage your roots in a flash. It’s also super-easy to wash out in the shower.
TRESemmé Root Touch-Up
For quick, easy, and affordable touch-ups, this is your best bet. The temporary color sprays on and stays put until your next wash. Some reviewers refer to the affordable spray as a “salon in a bottle.”
L’Oréal Magic Root Precision Temporary Gray Hair Color Concealer Brush
L’Oréal’s Magic Root Concealer now comes in a clickable pen, but for the moment it’s only available in brown and black. Don’t pull the rookie move of impatiently overclicking to activate this — a little goes a long way, and users have noted that too much can result in hardened hair. Users do appreciate how its compact size fits perfectly in a purse’s side pocket.
Rita Hazan Root Concealer Touch-Up Spray
The nozzle attachment of this spray helps with aim precision and dries quickly. Staying put between shampoos but easily washing out.
R+Co Bright Shadows Root Touch-Up Spray
With a lineup that includes a shade for redheads (often overlooked), this formula is made of mineral-derived pigments and moisturizing amino acids. Its texture is lightweight without being sticky, and a little goes a long way.
dpHue Color Touch-Up Temporary Color Spray DPHUE
This spray has a dual-action nozzle for the most targeted coverage, so you can get right into those roots. Coming in up to six shades for your ideal match, this is a favorite for darker hair colors and thinner hair.
Bumble and Bumble Bb. Color Stick
Kind of like Clinique’s Chubby Stick, this easy-to-hold tapered-tip pencil, which comes in five shades, gets a lot of praise from reviewers for its covering ability. It makes covering your roots as easy as coloring inside the lines.
TouchBack Touch Color Marker
This flat, wide marker might not be the most high-tech of cover-ups, but all eight of its shades are available on Amazon. It includes a little comb for more precise application along the hairline, where you’d rather not get any ink on your skin.
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