Madison Reed vs Color Wow Root Touch Up Powder: Shades, Brushes and Wear Compared
Short answer: Both are temporary root powders that last until your next shampoo. Color Wow Root Cover Up lists 8 shades, including Platinum/Light Blonde and Dark Blonde, and says one compact lasts 6 months to 1 year. Madison Reed's The Great Cover Up lists 6 shades, comes with a wide brush plus a dual-sided brow brush, and says it lasts over 60 uses. Both brands say it holds through rain and sweat. Neither has a gray or white shade.
Side by side
| Madison Reed The Great Cover Up | Color Wow Root Cover Up | |
|---|---|---|
| Shades | 6: Legno (Black), Ombra (Dark Brown), Terra (Medium Brown), Sabbia (Light Brown), Sienna (Auburn Red) and Cascata + Pinoli (Blonde) | 8: Platinum/Light Blonde, Blonde, Dark Blonde, Red, Light Brown, Medium Brown, Dark Brown and Black |
| Applicator | Wide brush and a dual-sided brow brush | Brush with a small end and a wide end |
| Wear, per the brand | Rain-, sweat- and pillow-proof, until your next shampoo | Stays put when you sleep, sweat or swim, until your next shampoo |
| One compact | More than 60 uses | 6 months to 1 year of use |
| Sold for | Gray roots, thinning-looking hairline, brows | Gray roots, highlights, sparse areas |
| Formula claims | No ammonia, PPD, resorcinol, parabens, phthalates, gluten, SLS or titanium dioxide | No waxes, dyes or PPDs |
From madison-reed.com and colorwowhair.com, checked on 2 November 2026. Both brands cite Allure Best of Beauty awards. We have not tested the two side by side.
Shades
The biggest difference is in the blondes. Color Wow has three, Platinum/Light Blonde, Blonde and Dark Blonde. Madison Reed has one, Cascata + Pinoli. Both have three browns, one red or auburn shade and black. Madison Reed names its shades after Italian words, so read the color in brackets, not the name.
How to choose among Color Wow's 8: Color Wow Root Cover Up colors.
Brushes and brows
Madison Reed includes a second, dual-sided brush for brows and sells the powder as a brow filler too. Color Wow's brush has a small end for pressing powder in and a wide end for dusting off the excess, plus the side edge of the small end for highlights.
Wear
Both say the powder stays until your next shampoo. Madison Reed says rain, sweat and pillow. Color Wow says sleep, sweat and swimming. Neither publishes how it tested.
Getting it to stay
Color Wow starts with dry hair pulled flat and taut and a pressing motion. Madison Reed suggests a light mist of hairspray on freshly washed hair before applying. Both methods aim at the same thing: powder pressed into the root, not dusted on top.
Step by step for Color Wow: how to use Color Wow Root Cover Up. The Madison Reed range: Madison Reed Root Touch Up explained.
Which to pick
- Platinum, light or dark blonde: Color Wow has more blonde shades.
- You also fill in your brows: Madison Reed includes a brow brush and sells it for brows.
- You swim: Color Wow is the one that mentions swimming.
- Gray you want to blend, not cover: neither has a gray shade.
Another comparison: Color Wow vs Clairol powder.
Where does BUNEE fit?
BUNEE is a temporary root-cover powder in a pressed compact with a mirror and applicator puff. It comes in 12 shades: Black, Dark Brown, Medium Brown, Light Brown, Golden Brown, Auburn, Blonde, Medium Blonde, Light Blonde, Dark Grey, Grey and White. It washes out with shampoo and is not a dye. It has 12 shades, including Dark Grey, Grey and White, which neither brand on this page lists, and the compact has a mirror. Delivery is 10 to 17 business days, so order ahead of the date you need it.
FAQ
Is Madison Reed root powder better than Color Wow?
They are close in format. Color Wow has more shades, 8 against 6, including more blondes. Madison Reed adds a brow brush. We have not tested them side by side.
Do Madison Reed and Color Wow root powders wash out?
Yes. Both brands say the powder lasts until your next shampoo.
Which has more shades, Madison Reed or Color Wow?
Color Wow lists 8 shades and Madison Reed lists 6.
Can Color Wow Root Cover Up be used on brows?
Color Wow sells it for roots, highlights and sparse areas. Madison Reed sells its powder for brows as well, with a brow brush.
Does either come in gray?
No. Neither Madison Reed nor Color Wow lists a gray, silver or white root powder shade.
See BUNEE shades
Temporary root-cover powder in a pressed compact with mirror and applicator, 12 shades. Delivered in 10 to 17 business days, so order ahead of the date you need it. Sold by TIGERBESTBRANDS LLC.
Sources, checked 2 November 2026: Madison Reed, Root Touch Up Powder shades · Madison Reed, The Great Cover Up, Terra · Color Wow, Root Cover Up · BUNEE, shades and delivery. Brand names are used for comparison only. We have no business relationship with the companies mentioned, and facts about their products come from their own pages or retailer listings, not our testing.