Touching Up Blonde Roots: Expert Recommendations

Visible roots can be a source of frustration, especially when a salon appointment is still weeks away. The market for at-home products to touch up your blonde roots is vast, but so is the fear of choosing the wrong shade or achieving an unnatural result. It's easy to make the wrong choice. This article provides an overview of various solutions, based on product parameters and application methods, to help you make an informed decision that suits your hair and preferences.

What to Consider When Choosing a Root Treatment?

Before selecting a product, it's helpful to understand the key differences. Your choice will depend on the desired longevity of the results, the type of regrowth (dark or grey), and how much time you have.

Solution Type: Permanent or Temporary?

• Permanent Colour: This type of product, often a cream, grows out with your hair and does not wash out. It is suitable if you are looking for a long-lasting solution between full colour treatments. Its chemical formula opens the hair cuticles to deposit colour pigments deep within the hair shaft.
• Temporary Camouflage: Products such as powders or sprays deposit a layer of colour on the surface of the hair. They are ideal for quickly concealing roots for a special occasion. These solutions wash out with shampoo. They are typically ammonia-free and less harsh on the hair.

Application Method: Cream vs. Powder

• Cream: Requires mixing components (colour cream and developer) and is applied with a brush. This method provides precise, permanent coverage but demands more time and accuracy.
• Powder: Applied directly to dry hair with an included brush. This is a quick and easy way to camouflage blonde roots, similar to applying makeup.

Colour Match and Coverage

Always check the colour chart on the packaging and compare it to your current hair colour, not your desired one. For covering grey roots, it's important to consider the level of coverage. Some products are specifically formulated for high grey coverage.

Processing Time

The processing time varies significantly. Permanent kits often require a processing time of 10 to 20 minutes, while a powder provides instant results.

Our Top Picks for Touching Up Blonde Roots

Below are three products with different features, suitable for various situations. The selection is based on product specifications and intended use.

Syoss Hair Color Rootset - BR1 Blonde

Why This Product This is a permanent blonde hair dye for roots that offers a fast and long-lasting solution. According to the manufacturer, the Color-Match system ensures a seamless blend with the rest of your hair colour, regardless of which dye you have used previously.

Pros

• Type: Permanent hair colour in cream form.
• Processing Time: Results in 10 minutes.
• Formula: The formula is enriched with nourishing oils.
• Application: Comes as a complete kit with an application brush for precision work.

Who It's For For users who desire permanent coverage for their dark or grey roots and are comfortable with mixing and applying hair dye themselves. It's a practical solution to extend the time between salon visits.

Color Wow Root Cover Up - Blonde 2.1g

Why This Product This blonde root cover-up is a temporary powder solution. The product adheres to the hair, providing natural-looking coverage that lasts until your next shampoo. It is a non-permanent, quick-fix solution.

Pros

• Type: Temporary camouflage in powder form.
• Ease of Use: Simple to apply to dry hair with the included brush.
• Formula: Ammonia-free and, according to the manufacturer, water-resistant, making it resistant to sweat and rain.
• Versatility: Can also be used to create highlights or lowlights.

Who It's For Ideal for those seeking a quick, commitment-free solution. Perfect for camouflaging roots for an event, while travelling, or for those hesitant to use permanent dyes. Suitable for all hair types.

Schwarzkopf Blondme Lift & Blend Ash 60ml

Why This Product This product is designed for a specific demographic: mature hair with a percentage of white hair. It combines lifting and blending in a single step. According to Schwarzkopf, when combined with the BLONDME Premium Developer, it can provide up to 4 levels of lift and ensures optimal blending of white hair.

Pros

• Type: Permanent hair colour (cream) with a lift & blend function.
• Purpose: Lifts the hair while simultaneously covering white hair.
• Specification: Designed for a natural base colour of 6 and lighter, with 30% to 70% white hair.
• Result: Delivers a sophisticated, ashy blonde tone.

Who It's For This is a product for the more experienced at-home user or for those aiming for a professional-level result. It is specifically intended for simultaneously lifting natural roots and blending grey or white hairs for an elegant, blonde finish. Requires mixing with a separately purchased developer.

Didn't Find What You Were Looking For? Explore More Options

The products above offer solutions for the most common scenarios when touching up blonde roots. However, the world of hair colour is vast, and you may need a different shade of blonde, another type of product, or a full hair colouring kit.

For a broader overview of permanent and semi-permanent colours, root touch-up kits, and camouflage tools, you can browse our full range.

? Explore our full range of blonde hair colour.

Frequently Asked Questions

1. How often should you touch up your roots? This depends on how fast your hair grows and how much the regrowth bothers you. On average, hair grows about 1 to 1.5 cm per month. Most people touch up their roots every 4 to 6 weeks with a permanent solution. Temporary products can be used daily or weekly as needed.

2. Can I use a root kit on highlighted hair? Be cautious. A root kit is designed to apply a single, uniform colour to the roots. If you apply this over your highlights, they may lose their light shade. Apply the product exclusively to the dark or grey regrowth and avoid the already lightened strands for a better result. A powder product like the Color Wow Root Cover Up allows for more precise application in this case.

3. What is the difference between a root cover-up powder and a root touch-up kit? The main difference is longevity and mechanism of action. A root touch-up kit (like Syoss) is a permanent colour that penetrates the hair structure and permanently alters the colour. A root cover-up powder (like Color Wow) is temporary; it deposits a layer of colour on the hair's surface that washes out with your next shampoo.

Written by: Joybuy Product Recommendation Officer