Going to the salon to get your gray roots touched up once they’ve grown out used to be an easy errand to run.
You’d just walk to your favorite salon, sit pretty for an hour or so, and walk out with freshly covered up roots. Piece of cake.
But after being forced into quarantine and social distancing, it’s gotten quite difficult to just book an appointment to touch up your roots.
You may have been forced to wait longer between colorings, making your gray roots a lot more noticeable for weeks on end.
So, while you’re waiting for your next root touch-up appointment, you have to get creative with hiding that harsh demarcation line that divides your colored hair and gray regrowth.
Thankfully, there are tons of ways you can do this.
So, what’s the best way to cover gray roots between colorings?
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Why Touch-Ups Are Important When Coloring Gray Hair
Many people who have started growing gray and white hair opt to color their hair darker to hide it.
It’s quite a common practice for those who want to look youthful for longer.
But hiding your grays isn’t as simple as dyeing your hair once and then forgetting all about it.
Your hair will still grow, and when it does, the roots will be gray.
You have to maintain your color by coming into the salon for root touch-ups.
This means coloring just an inch or so of the hair by your scalp to blend nicely with the rest of your hair.
After all, you don’t want people giving you double takes because of your harsh demarcation line, do you?
Not only does a demarcation line look distracting and unnatural, but it also gives away the fact that your hair is starting to go gray.
Don’t get me wrong, gray hair is gorgeous and should be embraced, but others find it kind of embarrassing, especially when they’re just coming to terms with growing older.
So it’s crucial to get root touch-ups when necessary.
However, in the days leading up to your appointment, your demarcation line gets more and more obvious.
You’ll start wondering how you can hide it for the time being.
Lucky for you, there are plenty of ways to hide your gray roots between coloring sessions.
They’re super accessible and a breeze to use.
The best part is they won’t damage your hair the same way dyeing it does.
Best Way To Cover Gray Roots Between Colorings
Here are some of the ways you can hide your gray roots between coloring sessions:
Conceal Your Roots With A Root Concealer
The best way to cover up your roots when you’re between colorings is by using a temporary root concealer to “color” your hair.
It’s a safe way to cover those grays, since it doesn’t have peroxide and ammonia, unlike permanent dyes do.
Instead of seeping into your hair cuticles, these concealers merely sit on the outer surface of your strands.
Since they’re not harmful to the hair, you can use them every day until your next touch-up appointment.
Touch-Up Spray
The most common type of temporary root concealer is a spray.
It’s super easy to use – just spritz it on directly into your roots, and they’ll be colored right away.
They cover large areas at a time, so it won’t take long for you to do your entire head of hair.
There are many options available if you’re looking for a spray touch-up.
When you’re shopping for one, go for a formula that is lightweight so that it doesn’t make your hair look flat and limp.
Also, try to get a quick-dry formula so that you don’t have to sit around and wait for your touch-up color to dry.
One good product is the Oribe Airbrush Root Touch-Up Spray.
How To Use A Root Touch-Up Spray
Here’s the proper way to use a root touch-up spray:
Step 1
Wash your hair and style it as desired.
To make sure the pigments of the spray adhere to the hair well, it should be completely dry.
This will also ensure that the color will stay for a longer time.
Step 2
Before you start spraying, put a towel over your shoulders to protect your clothes and skin from getting stained, especially by the nape.
And if you’re concealing your roots in a part of your home that is carpeted, make sure to cover the area with newspaper first.
Step 3
Shake your root touch-up spray well.
Then, hold it around six inches away from your head and spray directly into your roots.
Spray in small bursts, never continuously.
If you spray for too long, you run the risk of burning your scalp, especially if your spray is quite potent.
Make sure the nozzle is facing downwards as you spray so that you don’t make a mess. Doing it in this direction also sprays the rest of your hair slightly, making it blend with your roots and look more natural.
Step 4
The spray will dry in just a few seconds.
Use a comb to brush through your roots and spread the product a little more for better blending.
And voila! You’re done.
No more gray roots until you hop in the shower and shampoo your hair to wash the color out.
Touch-Up Sticks
Sprays aren’t the only types of root concealers.
You can also use touch-up sticks, which are similar to pastels or crayons.
These are great for coloring gray hair in more obvious areas, like the hairline.
You get more control as it glides smoothly through your locks to color them.
Check out the Everpro Gray Away Root Touchup Quick Stick on Amazon.
Hair Color Markers
Another option is hair color markers.
These look very similar to alcohol markers but are designed for coloring your hair safely.
These are best for more precise applications, like if you only have a few strands of gray in your roots.
The fantastic thing about using root concealers between colorings is that they take almost no time at all, especially since you’re only focusing on the roots, not your entire head of hair.
However, there are still a few downsides to using root concealers.
The first is that many of these products can end up staining your fingers and tiles.
But don’t worry – even if you do forget to protect your skin and floor, you can wash the residue off with some soap and water.
Root concealers can also leave the hair feeling sticky and waxy.
So, make sure you find a lightweight formula to work with to avoid that disaster.
Other Creative Ways To Temporarily Cover Your Gray Roots
There are also other creative hair products that can help you color your gray roots while you’re waiting on your next touch-up session at the salon.
The best part is you probably already have some of them in your vanity.
Color-Depositing Shampoos And Conditioners
Color-depositing shampoos and conditioners were designed to do the functional benefit of washing and hydrating your hair, but also to deposit temporary pigments in your strands.
They’re often used to prevent color fading but are excellent for covering the roots as well.
Color-depositing formulas work best on porous hair, which gray hair usually is.
You also have to note that these shampoos and conditioners can be a little more drying than usual, so it’s best to follow up with a hydrating conditioner afterward.
Recommended Post: How To Use Color Depositing Conditioner
Tinted Dry Shampoos
You may also find tinted dry shampoos helpful for covering your gray roots.
Dry shampoos are used to refresh greasy-looking hair by absorbing excess oils and impurities on the scalp.
Some of them are formulated with darker pigments to color your roots.
If you use these to cover your grays, you’ll be hitting two birds with one stone.
You’ll refresh and add volume to your hair while hiding the gray in your roots and turning them a bit darker.
Related Post: How Often Should You Use Dry Shampoo?
Dark Powders And Spare Mascara
If all else fails, you can reach into your make-up bag and use dark powders and spare mascara to get the job done.
For powders, you can use black or brown eyeshadows.
All you have to do is take a small brush (maybe the size of a blush brush) and press the powder into your roots.
They will then stay dark until you wash the make-up out with shampoo.
And mascaras do an amazing job darkening little stray hairs of gray, especially by the edges.
It allows for super-precise coloring when you only want to hide a little bit of the gray in your roots.
Just be sure you’re using waterproof mascara.
You don’t want black goo running down your face as you sweat!
Always remember one thing though: Temporary color is terrific for hiding your gray roots, but it will still wash out.
Your locks are still gray underneath, and your gray hair is drier.
So, you still need to care for and nourish your gray roots with lots of moisture.
Use leave-ins and hair masks whenever you can.
Covering Gray Regrowth Without Using Touch-Up Tools
Of course, root concealers and color-depositing products aren’t the only ways you can hide those gray roots before touching them up.
You don’t always have to color your strands.
If you don’t want to make a mess with temporary color and are in a rush, there are other things you can do too.
Beanie Or Headband
For instance, you can simply wear a beanie or headband to cover up those roots.
It’s a terrific way to add a bit of attitude to your outfit while taming frizzy flyaways as well.
It only takes five seconds to put on, and your gray roots will disappear just like that.
Switch Up Your Hair Part
You can also choose to switch up your hair part.
Move it to the side or slick your mane back to hide the roots.
More often than not, changing the part of your hair will give you added volume.
This is perfect for those with fine, low-density hair that tends to look lifeless and flat on most days.
Not only will you be hiding your demarcation line, but you’ll be giving your locks extra body and movement too.
Get Highlights
This one’s a little more high maintenance, but it’s worth it if you’ve been thinking of lightening your hair a little anyway.
If your gray roots aren’t that dramatic, you can get highlights close to the color of your roots.
This will soften your demarcation line and make your grays blend nicely with the rest of your hair.
Note, however, that every time you touch up your hair, you’ll need to get the same shade of highlights again too.
It’s a big commitment, but it will give you less of a headache between colorings.
How Frequently Should You Touch-Up Your Gray Roots?
Of course, you can’t rely on these quick fixes forever.
Sooner or later, you’ll have to come back to the salon to touch up those roots permanently.
But how long should you wait until coming back in to color your gray roots?
In general, around 6-8 weeks is a good enough time between colorings.
It can be a bit of a long wait, which is why temporary touch-ups are tremendously helpful.
It’s important to wait at least a month and a half before you dye your hair again because your previous coloring session probably dealt some damage to your locks too.
Give your hair some time to recover and repair itself first before coming back in for another potentially damaging chemical process.
Just be sure to get your roots done before it grows to be one inch long.
The hair nearest your scalp takes color a lot faster than the rest of your hair.
So if you get your roots dyed after they’ve grown too long, you’ll likely get uneven results – hair that’s richer by the scalp and less vibrant an inch or so down.
Related Post: Best Ammonia-Free Hair Color To Cover Gray Strands
Conclusion
With a little creativity, resourcefulness, and quick thinking, concealing those gray roots will be a walk in the park.
You’ll be able to confidently be around people between colorings because you can mask your roots and make them look invisible for the time being.
The best way to do it will always be using a root concealer, whether it’s the common spray type or an innovative stick or marker format.
Regardless, these root touch-up tools are extremely easy and painless to use, so they’ll be your best friends in hiding gray roots before your next salon appointment.
So, if you’ve been trying to figure out the best way to cover gray roots between colorings, try out the tips and techniques above to freshen up your grays.
You won’t stress over waiting long to get your roots colored.
By mastering the best ways to cover your roots, you can kiss self-consciousness goodbye and be confident in how your hair looks even with gray regrowth.
