How to Cover Up Grays

Cover your gray roots fast with three in-a-pinch fixes that work.

The fastest root route is temporary hair color, applied with a wand (some colorists say water-resistant mascara works just as well for brunettes). But keep your fingers out of your hair: Like eye makeup, this type of dye can smudge and wipe off.

Try: Avon Advance Techniques Grey Root Touch-Up ($5)

Color is combed in to cover grays, and roots look touched up and like new.

Spritz on shine spray; brush hair into a ponytail. The serum darkens your overall hue, cutting the roots-to-hair contrast. Pulling the hair back also hides your part where regrowth is obvious.

Try: Garnier Fructis Color Shield Shine Spray ($6.29) and Mason Pearson Handy Bristle Brush ($170; beauty.com).

Hair sprayed with shine serum looks darker and helps hide roots.

Spray a tinted dry shampoo (it’s a liquefied powder) at roots, then gently comb through. This helps blend grays until your next “wet” shampoo and — bonus — makes limp hair instantly appear thicker.

Try: Bumble and Bumble Hair Powder ($34), available in five shades.

Dry shampoo is a great quick fix for gray roots and a boost of volume.

Originally published in MORE magazine, February 2009.

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