How to cover grey roots at home?

Covering grey roots: Key takeaways

• Grey roots can be easily covered at home using a permanent grey root touch up.
• Root touch ups target regrowth only, helping prevent colour build-up on lengths.
• Most grey root touch ups take around 10 minutes to work.
• Choose a shade that matches your hair colour for the most natural result.
• Dark hair shows grey roots faster than blonde or highlighted hair.
• There are natural ways to cover grey hair too, using temporary root concealers, styling hair curly or wavy, and using hair accessories.

Why do we get grey or white hair roots?

Melanin; that's the stuff. If you're going grey, it's a lack of melanin that's to blame. Without wanting to blind you with science, there are two types of pigment that result in hair being a certain colour: eumelanin and pheomelanin.

Pheomelanin colours hair orange and red, and all humans have some pheomelanin (so maybe we're all redheads at heart), whereas eumelanin is responsible for the browns and blacks. Generally, if you have more eumelanin your hair will be darker; more pheomelanin and it will be lighter.

Grey or white hair is not coloured by melanin; it's caused by a complete lack of pigment. Think of a glass tumbler, fill it with a coloured liquid – blackcurrant juice, for example – and the glass takes on that colour; it looks red. Fill it with nothing at all and it looks grey or white because of all the light reflecting off different surfaces. That's what we mean by grey hair: a whole bunch of pigment-free follicles reflecting light and appearing grey or white.

But, why do some get greys or whites, and others don’t? Well, in truth, there’s a number of reasons why those annoying little white or grey hairs show themselves. So, let’s take a look at the main ones:

Age, my dear, age and genetics

Your mother was right; it does come to us all eventually. Grey hair is hair that no longer contains any pigment and as your body slows with age, so does your melanin production. Melanin is the pigment – a complex polymer, to be precise – that gives your hair its colour. And the rate at which you go grey naturally is genetic. So, don't cry in front of the mirror, blame your parents (or grandparents).

Medical and health-related causes

Unfortunately, there are a variety of health issues that studies have shown to affect the colour of your hair, from IBS and anaemia to thyroid complications and chronic conditions like vitiligo. In cases like this, it’s important to consult a medical professional and follow a treatment plan to lessen the effects on your body (and hair).

Poor diet and nutrient deficiency

Now, we’re all guilty of not eating enough fruit and veg (again, mother was right), but if your body is deficient in key nutrients like vitamin B12, iron and copper the imbalance will show itself in your hair and skin.

Put down the styling tools and avoid chemicals

Our favourite go-to straighteners and curling irons might be ideal for a special night, but the overuse of heat and chemical treatments, like perms or relaxers, will weaken hair fibres and could damage your scalp in the long-term – not the ideal conditions for a rich and vibrant head of hair.

Stress

Take a breath because one of the best ways to ease the greying process is by cutting out any unnecessary stress from your day. Extended periods of stress and exhaustion take a toll on your body and lower your vitamin B levels, which is linked to going grey. Plus, pulling your hair out on a regular basis isn’t going to help matters. Just stay calm.

Okay, but how does a lady go about hiding these pesky grey roots?

How do I cover grey hair at home

Whether you’re getting a few grey or white hairs poking through your temples, or are dealing with a full-on grey invasion – root touch up dyes like our Garnier Color Retouch are the go-to solution for quick and easy grey root touch up.

Unlike full permanent hair dye, which colours the entire head, a permanent root touch up targets only regrowth. This helps prevent colour build-up on the lengths and ends of your hair, which can make hair look darker, dull, or dry over time. Instead, grey hair root touch ups refresh your colour exactly where you need it most — at the roots and around the hairline where greys tend to appear first.

Benefits of grey hair touch ups

1. Root touch up kits are faster to apply than full hair dye – grey hair touch ups often take around 10 minutes to develop, making them ideal for quick colour maintenance between salon visits or full colour applications.
2. Help prevent colour build-up and reduce damage to lengths – because you’re only colouring new growth rather than repeatedly dyeing the lengths, hair stays healthier, softer, and more natural-looking over time.
3. A more cost-effective option – since you’re using less product, root touch ups are more affordable than full hair dye kits or frequent salon appointments.
4. More precise application – grey root touch ups are designed with small brushes or applicators, making it easier to target grey roots, temples, and partings.
5. Ideal for emergency grey coverage – great before events, meetings, holidays, or special occasions when greys suddenly make an unwanted appearance!

How to cover grey roots with our Color Retouch

Step 1: Do an allergy test
Before using any permanent hair dye, always carry out an allergy test 48 hours before application, even if you have coloured your hair before.

Step 2: Prepare your hair and clothing
Apply to dry hair and place a towel around your shoulders to protect clothing. Put on the gloves provided in the kit before mixing the colour.

Step 3: Mix the colour
Pour the colourant and developer sachets into your gloved hands and mix together until the texture is smooth and even.

Step 4: Apply to cover grey roots
Apply the mixture directly to visible grey roots and regrowth, focusing on the parting, hairline, and temples. The formula is applied like a shampoo, making it quick and easy to distribute through the roots.

Step 5: Massage and leave to develop
Massage the colour gently into the roots to ensure even coverage, then leave to develop for around 10 minutes.

Step 6: Rinse thoroughly
Rinse hair with lukewarm water until the water runs clear, then dry and style as usual to reveal refreshed colour and covered grey roots.

Using a grey root touch up every few weeks is one of the easiest ways to keep grey roots covered and hair colour looking fresh without needing to dye your entire head every time.

How to hide grey roots depending on your hair colour

When covering grey roots, choosing the right shade for your hair colour is very important. Greys and white hairs are more visible when there is a strong contrast between your roots and the rest of your hair, so matching your root touch up shade as closely as possible to your hair colour helps greys blend more naturally.

How to hide grey roots on dark hair

If you have dark brown or black hair with grey roots, the contrast created by the greys will unfortunately be more noticeable. This means precise application and good colour matching are especially important.

The best ways to hide grey roots on dark hair include:

• Use a permanent root touch up in a shade that matches your brunette or black hair colour.
• If you’re between shades, it’s usually better to choose a slightly lighter shade rather than a darker one, as very dark roots can look flat and create a harsh line against the lengths.
• If you have dark brown hair, a medium or natural brown root touch up often blends more naturally than a very dark brown or black shade. Focus application on the parting, temples, and hairline where greys are most visible.

Because dark hair shows regrowth faster, root touch ups may be needed slightly more often than for lighter hair colours.

How to cover gray roots on blonde hair

A natural blonde? Then you’ve got a slight advantage here! Grey roots are usually less noticeable on blonde hair because the colour contrast is lower, which makes greys easier to blend into the hair.

The best ways to cover grey roots on blonde hair include:

• Choose a root touch up shade that matches your blonde tone (warm, golden, or ash blonde)
• Avoid choosing a shade that is too dark, as this will make roots more noticeable.
• Use root touch ups mainly along the parting and hairline
• If your blonde is very light, a slightly lighter root shade can help greys blend more naturally

Blonde hair generally allows more time between root touch ups because regrowth is less visible.

How to cover grey roots on highlighted hair at home

Covering grey roots on highlighted or bleached hair can be slightly more difficult because the hair contains multiple tones rather than one single colour. The goal is to blend the grey roots into the highlights rather than create a solid block of colour.

The best way to cover grey roots on highlighted hair at home includes:

• Opt for a root touch up shade that matches your base colour, not the lightest highlights.
• Apply colour only to the roots and avoid overlapping onto highlighted lengths.
• Focus on the parting, hairline, and temples first.
• Do not leave the colour on longer than instructed, as highlighted hair can absorb colour quickly!
• Towards the end of the process, comb a small amount of colour through the roots for a softer blend, if needed.

When covering grey roots on highlighted hair, the aim is always to blend, not block, so the regrowth looks natural and the highlights still look dimensional.

How to cover grey hair without dye

Don’t want to go for the permanent dye just yet? No problem! There are plenty of natural ways to cover grey hair. These quick fixes are perfect for covering grey hair between colour applications or when greys first start to appear.

Use a temporary hair root concealer
Temporary root concealers are one of the quickest ways to hide grey roots instantly, without using dyes. These products are applied directly to the roots and hairline to disguise grey hairs and blend them with the rest of your hair colour. The colour washes out with shampoo, making it perfect for quick touch ups or last-minute plans.

Change your parting
Grey roots are usually most visible along the parting. Switching to a side parting or a slightly messy parting can help disguise regrowth naturally.

Add texture or waves
Adding texture and waves is an effective and easy natural way to cover grey hairs. Very straight hair makes roots more visible, while waves, curls, and textured styles help disguise colour differences between roots and lengths.

Use accessories
Headbands, clips, scarves, and hats are a simple and fun way to cover grey roots, especially around the hairline and temples.

Cover grey roots at home with our Garnier Color Retouch!

Covering grey roots is quick and easy. Whether you’re opting to do a grey root touch up or finding natural ways to cover grey hairs, we’ve got you covered!

Unsure about which root colour to go for? Try our Virtual Try On.