Are Your Roots (or Gray Hairs) Showing? These Products Can Help.

Coloring hair is sort of like buying a new car: the minute you drive it off the lot, it depreciates in value, and those roots start growing back practically the minute you leave the salon. Knowing that those roots are going to really start to creep in by the four-week mark, it’s nice to have a quick and inexpensive fix when you just can’t get to the salon—or even when you start noticing those errant gray hairs.

Root touch-up powders and sprays to the rescue! Brands like Clairol have been doing this for a while with root-specific permanent color products, but those can be just as messy and time-consuming as at-home dye kits. These newer products let you temporarily but instantly fix the problem, even if you have to reapply after every shampoo. Plus, a lot of them (including these!) are water-resistant (the product can hold-up through swimming and sweating), so results last from shampoo to shampoo. Also, they’re formulated without harsh chemicals like ammonia and peroxide, which means less damage to your hair over time. Generally, you use these products on dry hair, after its been styled, and after all of your usual styling products except for hair spray. Here are three of the best ones we’ve found.

TouchBack Quix | $14.99

good for: dirty-blonde, auburn, dark black, light, medium, and dark brunettes

If you want precision and control, you might prefer the TouchBack Quix, which looks similar to a marker and actually lets you draw right over roots or grays. And even though it looks like something you’d use in grade school art class, the patented formula is made of actual temporary hair dye that bonds to locks and blends seamlessly with your natural color. Of the three, this is the only one that includes a tool (a comb/shield) to guard your skin from the pigment. It comes in six shades, and takes a little longer to do than the other two options. You’ll get about 30 applications from one marker. 

Rita Hazan Root Concealer for Gray Coverage | $25

good for: blonde, dark blonde, red, light, and dark brunettes

This aerosol can works pretty much like spray paint with a long nozzle so you can zero in on and cover your roots. It’s great for gray hair, as the product name implies, but also works well on root outgrowth. You apply it to dry, styled hair, and let it set for a few minutes, and then you’re good to go. The steady stream of color, is quite potent, so be sure your aim is directly on the targeted area; be extra careful along your hairline so it doesn’t bleed onto skin (it can stain). Hazan, the celebrity colorist whose clients include Beyonce and J Lo, tested this product for more than a year before its release, and it shows—it’s by far the most long-lasting of the bunch. There are five shades in all; the lighter colors won’t lift dark roots but work to cover grays.  

Color Wow Root Cover Up | $34.95

good for: platinum, blonde, black, light, medium, and dark brunettes

This pick is the priciest of the bunch, but also the most versatile. It comes in an eye shadow–like compact with a dual-tipped brush with which you can sweep across large areas of roots or target pesky one-off grays. Once your hair is styled, apply a small amount of powder on roots, working from the scalp down. I found the powder form less messy and more natural-looking than the sprays, especially along the hairline. The best part is it’s the only product we found that can work for blondes with dark roots—there’s even a platinum blonde option. It lasts awhile, too (up to 60 applications!), and should save you a few trips to the salon.