Help me fix my unsightly roots fast!

January 27, 2013 3:54 PM

I waited too long and now my roots are coming out. I really ought to fix this tonight. I was wondering if anyone has used the root touch up product and how your results were? Also, do I really need to do a test 48 hours ahead? I've used various hair colors with no ill effects (I have no tattoos). I had a salon job, brown with highlights and cannot go there this week.
posted by Prairie to clothing, beauty, & fashion (9 answers total)

I use it all the time and it works great. My stylist doesn't even notice it usually. Just be aware that you don't get a lot of color and you should start with and concentrate on the forehead area and part.
posted by fshgrl at 4:00 PM on January 27 [1 favorite]

i do my roots all the time with grocery store brand root touch up products. i've never done a skin test first but i've never had an allergy problem. i like the l'oreal brand better than nice & easy's brand. i do have to leave the color on for about 50 minutes, rather than 10 minutes as the instructions say, as the grays on my dark brown hair are really color resistant.
posted by wildflower at 4:00 PM on January 27 [1 favorite]

I've used both the loreal and the clariol root touch ups. They are very good and blend in well. I have very grey resistant hair and leave it in for a little longer for best results but have done it in a hurry for just the 10 minutes and it blended the roots in OK even then. You don't usually get enough for all your hair, well I don't but I do have very thick hair, and I do it along my part and around my face and then if there is enough around the back. It works great. I have alternated full home colouring and root touch up colourings for about a year now as I have roots showing after 3 weeks due to fast growing hair and have had no problems whatsoever.
posted by wwax at 4:07 PM on January 27

My wife uses the Clairol root touch up kit and has had no issues with it to my knowledge. She has never had to do the 48 hour test.
posted by Telpethoron at 4:38 PM on January 27

I use the Bumble and Bumble dry shampoo, which comes in colors. I do my part and lightly on the hairline, and brush it not quite through. Looks fine, except maybe at high noon on a beach with no hat. It's so much more controllable than touch up stuff. You might also ask your colorist if he/she would be willing to do what my colorist does in between full on color---she mixes up the color, does my hairline, roots and maybe behind ears, stuffs me into a shower cap and I drive home, rinse it out, and voila! Color for far less than the full deal.
posted by Ideefixe at 5:55 PM on January 27

I just did this this afternoon. The only reason to buy a root touch up kit is to get the nice little brush, after that you can get all cheap like me and use a regular box dye kit with the ingredients divided into thirds (before mixing and use a glass bowl for mixing) for $3 touchups.
posted by jamaro at 6:21 PM on January 27 [1 favorite]

For the future this color touch-up pen works really well for my dark brown hair with bright white/gray roots when I'm too long between actual hair color touch-ups and it lasts for a really long time, years. It may take a bit to get used to it, using the least amount of the product as possible seems to work best for me on slightly damp hair although dry works too. I tried another brand but did not like it as much, too dark and slightly clumpy needing smoothing with my fingers. As my roots start to show in 10 days I frequently use a portion of a regular box of dye with a little paint brush as I'm not going to the salon twice a month.
posted by kimmae at 1:53 AM on January 28

It's the same as the regular hair color, just less of it with the special brush, for the same price. I just buy regular color, and mix up only a little bit at a time to do my roots.
posted by bluefly at 8:14 AM on January 29

My hair looks great. Thanks all.
posted by Prairie at 4:15 PM on January 30