What Root Concealer Is Right for You?
Root concealers are the best thing that ever happened to those who color. The only problem? So many options. Colorist Kyle White breaks them down by hair type.
By Krista Bennett DeMaio
Powder
These adhere without stickiness, so your hair won't look flat or greasy.
Hair type: Fine
Madison Reed Root Touch Up Powder, $30;
Madison-Reed.com
Markers
Liquid color pens are precise (perfect for patchy grays) with a weightless finish.
Hair type: Fine, Normal or Thick
TouchBack Pro, $25;
TouchBackGray.com
Hair Mascara
The swipe-it-only-where-you-want-it applicator won't tint your scalp the way a spray can.
Hair type: Fine
Cover Your Gray 2-in-1, $7;
CoverYourGray.com
Stick
The waxy consistency works well with thick, dry hair, which can handle a product with a heavier texture. A PSA brought to you by every expert interviewed for this story: If you're using a stick root concealer, do a deep clean before your next color session. These products can leave behind a waxy residue that prevents dye from penetrating the hair shaft, and regular shampoo (especially the gentle stuff for color-treated hair) won't remove the buildup. The day before you hit the salon or color at home, suds up with a clarifying shampoo, suggests Sharon Dorram, owner of
Sharon Dorram Color at Sally Hershberger in New York City.
Hair type: Coarse
Bumble and Bumble Bb. Color Stick, $26;
BumbleAndBumble.com
Spray
The biggest benefit here: You can cover large areas with one continuous mist.
Hair type: Coarse, Normal or Thick
Rita Hazan Root Concealer Touch-Up Spray, $25;
Sephora.com
From the
October 2017 issue of
O, The Oprah Magazine
