Color Wow Root Cover Up: How It Works, How Long It Lasts, and Does It Transfer?
Short answer: Color Wow Root Cover Up is a temporary mineral powder in a compact with a two-ended brush. You press it onto dry roots to cover gray, extend highlights or fill in sparse areas. Color Wow says it lasts until your next shampoo, is water resistant, and stays put when you sleep, sweat or swim. It comes in 8 shades, from Platinum/Light Blonde to Black, and the brand says one compact lasts 6 months to 1 year.
What it is
Root Cover Up is made by Color Wow, part of Federici Brands. The brand's FAQ says it uses a positively charged mineral powder that attaches to negatively charged hair. The ingredient list starts with mica, talc and synthetic fluorphlogopite, and the color comes from iron oxides, titanium dioxide and Yellow 5 Lake. Color Wow says it has no waxes, no dyes and no PPDs, and that it is cruelty-free.
The facts, from Color Wow's page
| Question | What Color Wow says |
|---|---|
| Format | Pressed mineral powder in a compact, with a brush that has a small end and a wide end |
| Shades | 8: Platinum/Light Blonde, Blonde, Dark Blonde, Red, Light Brown, Medium Brown, Dark Brown and Black |
| How long it lasts | Until your next shampoo. It washes out completely with shampoo |
| Water | Water-resistant. "Sweat-proof, rain-proof and swim-proof" |
| How often | Every time you see gray or regrowth; you can use it every time you wash |
| One compact | 6 months to 1 year of use |
We checked colorwowhair.com on 2 November 2026. These are the brand's claims, not our test results.
Does Color Wow Root Cover Up transfer?
Color Wow says the powder stays put when you sleep, sweat or swim, but its page does not make a separate claim about collars or pillowcases. With any root powder, the usual cause of marks is a heavy layer or loose powder sitting on top of the hair. Color Wow's last step is to dust off excess with the wide end of the brush, and that step matters.
How to keep any root powder off fabric is in does root powder stain clothes and pillowcases.
Does it wash out?
Yes. Color Wow's FAQ says it lasts until your next shampoo and washes out completely. If a trace stays at the hairline, a second lather usually takes it.
More on that in does root powder wash out.
Where it works, and where something else may be easier
A root powder is made for the areas people see: the part, the hairline and the temples. Color Wow also sells it for extending grown-out highlights. If most of your regrowth is gray all over, pressing powder on every day takes time and product, and that is when a permanent root kit is worth comparing.
The options are weighed in root powder vs dye shampoo vs box color.
No gray, silver or white shade
All 8 shades are made to cover gray. If you are growing your gray out and want to soften the line rather than hide it, Color Wow has no shade for that.
How to use the brush step by step is in how to use Color Wow Root Cover Up, choosing between the 8 shades in Color Wow Root Cover Up colors, and comparisons in Color Wow vs Clairol powder and Madison Reed vs Color Wow.
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, and a mirror in the compact. Delivery is 10 to 17 business days, so order ahead of the date you need it.
FAQ
How long does Color Wow Root Cover Up last?
Until your next shampoo, according to Color Wow. It washes out completely with shampoo.
Is Color Wow Root Cover Up water resistant?
Color Wow says it is water-resistant and describes it as sweat-proof, rain-proof and swim-proof.
Does Color Wow Root Cover Up rub off on pillows?
Color Wow says it stays put when you sleep. Dust off excess with the wide end of the brush after applying, so no loose powder sits on top.
How long does one Color Wow compact last?
Color Wow says 6 months to 1 year of use.
Does Color Wow Root Cover Up contain PPD?
Color Wow says it has no PPDs. It is a temporary powder, not a dye.
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: Color Wow, Root Cover Up product page and FAQ · 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.