The Easiest Way To Cover Your Grays Between Salon Appointments

Let’s be clear: No one needs to cover their gray hairs. They’re totally normal and natural at any age, and we shouldn’t feel embarrassed by them. However, if gray roots do bug you, there are plenty of solutions that can help cover them and make your hair appear more uniform in color. 

Hairstylists don’t love us taking matters into our own hands when it comes to covering gray hair, which is why we love temporary color options. But to avoid having to even go down that route in the first place, Redken educator and design specialist Adrienne Dara recommends switching up your salon timeline. “If a client is looking to cover their [grays] in between appointments, my recommendation would be talking to your stylist about adjusting the length of time that you see them,” she says. She suggests, for example, “shifting from every six weeks to every four to five weeks if needed.” 

The good news is, you won’t be in the salon forever just for a root cover-up. Dara loves Redken’s 10 Minute Color Gel Permanent Color because “you can now be in and out of the salon in under an hour. This is the perfect choice for a root application, especially if you’re seeking a quick fix that won’t take up too much time.” 

Of course, even if you plan out your salon visits perfectly, there’s still a good chance you’ll have some time in between appointments when you’ll want to cover up your grays. We've got you covered with the best products to help you do so right at home.

Best Sprays for Gray Coverage

1. L'Oreal Paris Professional Root Touch-Up

This spray offers the perfect way to easily touch up gray roots or to conceal gray hairs quickly. It has six shades, doesn't smear or transfer on your clothes, and provides natural-looking results. 

2. Age Beautiful Root Touch-Up

We love the way this spray-on formula stays put even in heat and humidity. It comes in 11 natural-looking shades. 

3. R+Co Bright Shadows Root Touch-Up Spray

R+Co's Bright Shadows Spray contains treated pigment for multidimensional coverage in seven shades. It also features pearl extract (rich in minerals and amino acids) to hydrate the hair and give it shine, while biotin helps thicken hair over time.

4. Oribe Airbrush Root Touch-Up Spray

Microfine pigments in Oribe's Root Touch-Up Spray promise subtle, yet full-coverage results with six shade options. It's also quick-drying and can act as a bit of a dry shampoo as well, absorbing excess dirt and oil to refresh the hair.

Best Powders for Gray Coverage

5. Clairol Root Touch-Up Temporary Concealing Powder

This lightweight powder formula from Clairol requires a bit more of a hands-on approach since it comes with a brush, but the results blend seamlessly into your own hair and with no smudging. As a bonus, it can also act as a shaping and sculpting eyebrow powder. It’s available in six shades, including hard-to-find red.

6. Color Wow Root Cover-Up Powder

Another great powder option is Color Wow's Root Cover-Up, available in eight shades. It covers gray hairs and dark roots, and even helps the appearance of a thinning hairline. Additionally, it’s made with a special blend of emollients that make it water- and transfer-proof.

7. Madison Reed Root Touch-Up + Brow Filler

Madison Reed's gray coverage powder instantly camouflages gray hairs while being sweat-, water-, and even pillow-proof. It comes in six shades, including one option with two colors in one to help blend highlights.

Best Sticks for Gray Coverage

8. Tarte Big Ego Dab & Go Hair Concealer

Not only does Tarte's Dab & Go Hair Concealer provide gray hair coverage with seven shades, but it also makes your hair appear thicker and fuller. The cream-to-powder formula contours your hairline, can fill in any gaps (great for thinning hair), and blends seamlessly into your hair color.

9. Bumble and Bumble Color Stick

This product doesn't have as extensive of a color range, but if you have black or brown hair, it can work wonders. It features a blend of mineral-based pigments, dry fibers, and microspheres that create a velvet-like texture for easy blending and great color payoff.

Best Serums for Gray Coverage

10. Arey To the Root Serum

These options aren’t the same as the quick-fix ones above, but we’re big fans of Arey's gray hair-reducing products that work over time. This serum contains ingredients that actually help increase melanin production at the root, which, in turn, can help bring pigment back to hair strands. Granted, Arey works best for people who fall into the 0% to 30% percentile range for gray hair, but it's worth trying if you're only starting to see the early signs of graying hair.

11. Vegamour Gro Ageless Anti-Grey Hair Serum

Plant-based and shine-renewing, this serum from Vegamour helps reduce the appearance of gray hair while soothing and nourishing the scalp. Key ingredients include peptides, glycoproteins, and a vitamin blend to help reduce hair graying in new growth.