What Is a Root Touch-Up? Salon Color, Home Kit or Powder
Short answer: A root touch-up colors or covers only the new growth at your roots, instead of coloring all of your hair again. There are three kinds: a salon root touch-up, where a colorist applies dye to the regrowth; an at-home root touch-up kit, a dye made for the roots; and a temporary root touch-up, a powder, spray or stick that hides gray until your next shampoo.
The three kinds of root touch-up
| Kind | What it is | How long it lasts | Skin test |
|---|---|---|---|
| Salon root touch-up | A colorist applies dye to the regrowth only | Until the roots grow again | Your colorist decides |
| At-home root touch-up kit | A dye made for roots, with its own applicator | Until the roots grow again | Follow the pack, usually before every use |
| Temporary root touch-up | Powder, spray or stick that sits on the hair | Until your next shampoo | Follow the pack |
Why touch up only the roots
If your lengths are still the color you want, there is no need to dye them again. Coloring only the regrowth keeps the lengths from getting darker and darker with each round, and it uses less product.
Salon root touch-up
A colorist matches your existing color and applies it to the new growth. It takes less time than a full color and costs less, because only the roots are colored. Prices vary a lot by city and salon; see what a salon root touch-up costs.
At-home root touch-up kit
A home kit is a hair dye designed for the roots, often with a brush or comb applicator so the color goes on the regrowth and not on the lengths. It lasts like any permanent color: until the roots grow again.
- Do the skin test the pack asks for, before every use.
- Section the hair and apply to the regrowth only.
- Time it exactly as the pack says, from the moment all roots are covered.
- Rinse well and condition.
Kit or salon? See root touch-up kit vs salon.
Temporary root touch-up
Powders, sprays and sticks sit on the outside of the hair and wash out with your next shampoo. They take a minute, need no waiting time and change nothing in the hair, which is why many people use them between colorings or before an event.
| Format | Best for |
|---|---|
| Pressed powder | Part, temples and hairline, precise |
| Spray | Wider areas, fast |
| Stick or marker | Single grays and the hairline |
More: temporary root touch-up powder and root powder vs spray vs root marker.
How often do you need a root touch-up?
It depends on how fast your hair grows and how much gray you have. The American Academy of Dermatology recommends adding time between coloring touch-ups, especially when the air is dry, and stretching them to every 8 to 10 weeks or longer in winter. Temporary powder covers the weeks in between. See root touch-up between colors.
Before any dye
The American Academy of Dermatology advises testing store-bought hair color before using it and following the maker's instructions. Rash, redness, swelling, burning or itching are signs of an allergic reaction: do not dye, and see a dermatologist.
Where BUNEE fits
BUNEE is a temporary root touch-up: a pressed powder in a compact with a mirror and a puff, in 12 shades. It lasts until your next shampoo and does not dye your hair. To apply it well, see how to apply root cover powder.
FAQ
What does root touch-up mean?
Coloring or covering only the new growth at the roots, instead of coloring all of the hair again.
Is a root touch-up permanent?
A salon root color or a home dye kit lasts until the roots grow again. Powders, sprays and sticks wash out with your next shampoo.
How long does a root touch-up take?
A temporary powder takes a minute. A home kit or salon touch-up takes longer because the dye needs its processing time.
Do I need a skin test for a root touch-up?
For a dye, yes: follow the pack, usually before every use. For a temporary product, follow its instructions.
How often should I do a root touch-up?
The AAD suggests adding time between touch-ups, and every 8 to 10 weeks or longer in winter, with temporary cover in between.
Sources
- American Academy of Dermatology: Coloring and perming tips for healthier-looking hair (read Nov 14, 2026)
- American Academy of Dermatology: 10 hair care habits that can damage your hair (read Nov 14, 2026)
Try BUNEE
BUNEE root-cover powder: a pressed compact with a mirror and a puff, in 12 shades. Delivered to the United States in 10 to 17 business days, so order ahead of the date you need it. Sold by TIGERBESTBRANDS LLC.