Got roots?
If you've gone to the trouble and expense of professional hair color, there's nothing more deflating than seeing visible root regrowth a mere 2 weeks later—especially if you have dark hair and have colored to hide your gray. But no need to sigh and book another appointment just yet. "There are a ton of styling and product options that can stretch the time between salon color appointments by a week or two," says Nicholas Penna Jr. of SalonCapri in Newton and Dedham, MA.
Here are 7 simple fixes—whether you're covering gray hair or masking a dark root stripe—to make your color last longer.
1. Shampoo smarter
Most salon experts don't recommend shampooing every day, but oil flattens your hair and enhances root color irregularities. Dry shampoos absorb excess scalp grease and give your tresses more camouflaging texture. Try Oscar Blandi Pronto Dry Shampoo ($25, oscarblandi.com), which comes in powder or spray forms, between regular lather jobs. The lemon verbena scent is as refreshing as a shower. (See how to use dry shampoo the right way with this quick video.)
2. Downplay your part
If you always split your hair in the same place, that area naturally flattens and becomes more prominent. Flip your part to the other side of your head, and regrowth will be less noticeable, says New York City colorist Paul Cucinello. Also, keep the part messy: "A perfectly straight part is a dead giveaway for roots."
MORE: 5 Annoying Hair Problems (Including Dandruff!), Solved
3. Pump it up
A salon blowout that creates hair body and volume at the roots helps camouflage unsightly strays. "It helps a lot of clients go a few weeks longer between color or highlight appointments," says Alli Webb, founder of Drybar. To volumize at home, take a small section of hair from the crown of your head, hold it straight up, and comb the roots up and down to add texture. You can also set your locks in rollers, or use a curling iron, says Penna. And a volumizing foam, like Shu Uemura Ample Angora ($38, shuuemuraartofhair-usa.com), is lighter than a spray and distributes to the hair more evenly.
4. Pencil it in
Some women used to comb mascara onto their temples to hide stray grays, but now there are touch-up wands and pens designed specifically for that purpose. A new favorite: TouchBack Hair Marker ($25, touchbackgray.com), a Sharpie for your hair that dries quickly and blends seamlessly. Powder formulations, like Joan Rivers Beauty Great Hair Day Fill-In Powder ($29.50, qvc.com), are applied to the scalp like eye shadow. In a pinch, blondes can use baby powder and brunettes a brown eyelid shade, says Cucinello.
5. Spray it on
Once the territory of Halloween costumes, spray-on color products can subtly stretch time between color appointments. Rita Hazan Root Concealer ($25, sephora.com) comes in four natural shades and contains dry shampoo that absorbs oil and creates texture. It takes a few spritzes to get the hang of applying it, but when aimed correctly, it covered grays well.
6. Color your roots yourself
While the other products simply mask regrowth, root-coloring kits contain permanent dyes designed to color your roots—rather than your whole head. L’Oréal Paris Root Rescue 10 Minute Root Coloring Kit ($7, drugstore.com) is a low-ammonia formula that is applied with a fine-tooth, flexible comb. "Choose a shade one lighter and more neutral than what you are trying to achieve to allow the natural warmth of your hair to come through," says Cucinello.
7. Get highlights
Particularly if your hair is a lighter shade, highlights are a highly effective regrowth minimizer. "They distract people from focusing on the grays in your hair, and put the eye's focus on the light, sunny color," says Penna. And brunettes: You don't need to have blonde streaks to have an impact. "Choose a hair color that is one or two shades lighter than your natural color for a more natural effect."
Brook Shields Made Haircare for Women Over 40
15 Best Hair Growth Oils for Healthy Strands
Sofia Vergara on Aging and ‘All-White Hair’
12 Supplements That Will Make Your Hair Grow
