How To Use a Root Cover-Up To Conceal Unwanted Grays

If you dye your hair, you know that keeping your color looking fresh can be demanding, especially when your chosen hue is a far cry from your natural color or you’ve started to go gray. The good news is that keeping your roots fresh doesn’t always require a trip to the salon—you can use a root cover-up to conceal new growth from the comfort of your own home. Below, we’re sharing four techniques for covering your roots when you’re in a pinch, from using a temporary root touch-up spray to dyeing your roots with a permanent color kit. Fresh, seamless-looking color awaits. 

What Is a Root Cover-Up?

A root cover-up is a permanent, semi-permanent, or temporary hair dye solution designed to conceal regrowth without the need to dye your entire head. It can come in various formats, including sprays, pens, and brush-on color, and is typically used to help disguise regrowth between coloring appointments. 

Temporary root cover-ups provide a quick fix, with coverage lasting about one day (or until your next shampoo). Permanent options, meanwhile, can help conceal gray regrowth for several weeks.

A root cover-up is ideal for:

• In-between color appointments: Keeping your color fresh without having to dye your entire head or go to the salon.
• Quick touch-ups before events: Root sprays can quickly cover grays or visible regrowth before a last-minute event.
• Camouflaging scattered grays: Hiding stray grays, particularly around the temples and hairline.

How To Use a Root Cover-Up

If you’re sporting visible roots and want to cover them up quickly, here are a few worthwhile options to consider.

1. Use a root touch-up pen 

If your next salon appointment isn’t as soon as you wish and a few stray grays start to show, you can rely on a root touch-up pen to tide you over. The L’Oréal Paris Magic Root Precision Pen is a great option for targeting small areas of the hair, thanks to its fine tip that can reach close to the roots. You simply brush the product onto your gray hairs to blend them in with the rest of your color. The results will last until your next shampoo session, and this easy approach to covering scattered grays takes only a moment or two. You can even stash the pen in your bag for on-the-go touch-ups.

2. Try a root cover-up spray 

A root cover-up spray is an excellent option for those seeking to cover larger areas of regrowth. These formulas deliver color in a fine mist, allowing you to cover a larger portion of hair at once. Our best root touch-up in this category is the L’Oréal Paris Magic Root Cover Up. The ammonia-free formula is suitable for all hair types and textures, and comes in eight shades (including various shades of red and brown) to easily blend with a wide range of hair colors. If you’re sporting blonde tresses, try the L’Oréal Paris Magic Root Concealer Spray instead—it’s designed specifically for blondes looking to quickly camouflage dark, visible roots. 

Both of these formulas apply in seconds and dry down quickly without any stiffness or residue. Keep in mind, though, that a little goes a long way—we suggest lightly misting the formula onto your roots and brushing your hair to help blend the color with the rest of your hair. If you find you need more coverage after the first round, you can repeat the process. You’ll enjoy seamless, natural-looking color that lasts until your next shampoo. 

3. Try a root dye coloring kit 

If time allows and you’re looking for a long-lasting to tide you over until your next coloring appointment, try covering up your grays with an at-home root coloring kit. The L'Oréal Paris Magic Root Permanent 10 Minute Root Coloring Kit is a permanent hair dye designed to cover up your roots, with results lasting for several weeks. Pick your closest match from the collection of 14 shades and use the brush-tip applicator to apply the color to your roots or any other areas with noticeable regrowth. In just 10 minutes, you’ll enjoy 100% gray coverage for a seamless-looking hair color—no pricey salon visit needed.

4. Utilize mess-free root dye 

The above options are suitable for both men and women, but if you’re a guy looking for a super easy way to camouflage gray roots, we recommend giving the L'Oréal Paris Men Expert One-Twist Permanent Hair Color a try/ The formula blends your grays with your natural hair color, providing seamless, natural-looking gray coverage that lasts up to six weeks.

To use the dye, simply twist the top of the bottle and shake it to mix the formula. Then, crack open the black piece at the top and apply the color to your roots, brushing the applicator onto your hair. Once the color is evenly distributed, let it sit for five minutes before rinsing to reveal your perfectly colored roots.

Next Up: 20 of the Best Hair Color Ideas for Women Over 50

Photo courtesy of L’Oréal Paris