Cover Your Gray Hair Like a Pro with These At-Home Colors (2025)

These days, so many gorgeous faces—famous and otherwise—are absolutely rocking their natural gray hair. Others of us would rather not. If you're in the latter camp and are looking for easy ways to keep gray roots covered, then this guide is for you. It's full of stylist-approved at-home haircolors that don't cost a fortune. Now, if you've put off touching up your gray roots out of fear or confusion (the sea of options and the idea of permanent dye can feel daunting!), then we have even more excellent news: These days, the at-home haircolor options are so easy to use and provide great results. Turn to them to refresh and update your color regularly or to do your own root touch-up between salon visits—and be sure to use our tips, below.

How to pick the right haircolor for gray coverage

The hardest part of the at-home color process is selecting the right color (that wall of smiling hair models in the drugstore really can be daunting). Look for the hue that is most similar to the majority of your current hair (don't try to match it to highlights, lowlights, or the gray area). "If you're between a few colors, always choose the lighter shade," says master colorist Madison Garrett from Spoke & Weal salon. "Roots that are too light are much easier to fix than color that's too dark." Plus, generally, at-home dye errs on the darker side.

How to apply

The process is straightforward: Most boxes have you mix the dye with an activator (do wear the provided gloves!) and then brush the color onto hair. But there are a few off-label tips you need to know. First, only "apply the product to your part and hairline," Garrett says. In other words, put the color only where the grays are visible. If you put it all over your hair every time you dye it, then the longer, older ends are going to get darker and darker each time (plus dry ends soak up more color); you'll end up with very inky ends after a while. For that same reason, you want to shield the rest of your hair from the dye on your roots—especially as you rinse it out. "After you've applied your dye, smooth conditioner on the midlengths and ends," says celebrity haircolorist Rachel Bodt, the owner of Homecoming Salon in New York City. "It will coat the hair and help prevent any dye from depositing on the ends when you go to wash." Bodt also recommends that you do an especially thorough job rinsing out the hair. "A typical shower head isn't nearly as powerful as what we use in a salon, so make sure you rinse until the water runs clear at home."

Post-dye haircare

It's essential to preserve your hue and protect your color-treated hair from damage. There are many special shampoos and conditioners to care for grays, but Garrett has found what she calls a magical solution for processed hair of any shade: K18, a one-of-a-kind leave-in hair mask, repairs and reverses damage in under four minutes.

Otherwise, whether you're looking for quick touch-ups between trips to the salon or prefer coloring your hair at home exclusively, here are her favorite product recommendations.

It's iconic for a reason: The original permanent root touch-up kit is still a sure bet for 100 percent gray coverage in 10 minutes. It's easy to mix and then apply with the included brush, and the result is seamless, shiny, natural-looking roots.

Developed with salon professionals, this at-home root touch-up kit uses permanent haircolor to cover up to one inch of root growth and is available in six shades. This kit has everything you need to nix gray roots for two application sessions: low-ammonia permanent haircolor, developer color activator, two disposable mixing bowls, two disposable gloves, two disposable processing caps, an applicator brush, and a sample of dpHUE Color Fresh Shampoo and Conditioner for your first wash after roots are touched up.

The formula is gentle and yet gets the job done, keeping even resistant grays covered for weeks. Plus, it comes in 84 shades; once you choose the one for you, make sure to add it cart along with this starter kit (each are sold separately).

This gentle, permanent haircolor turns to botanical pigments to create a rich, true, and incredibly long-lasting hue. It also makes your hair luminous and soft with a powerful blend of jojoba and monoi oils. Jujube bark has natural anti-itch properties to reduce discomfort while the dye sits, and epaline, a botanical oil, has anti-irritant properties to keep your scalp happy.

This haircolor is formulated with the brand's "pro-keratine" complex, which is meant to nourish hair as it deposits root-covering pigment. We like that it doesn't have a robust smell and that it's wallet-friendly.

A foam texture makes it easy to glide color allover gray roots quickly. It'll saturate the area for a no-drip, no-mess application. With nearly two dozen shades you're likely to find a nice match, be it a deep warm brunette or an ashy golden blonde...or anything in between.

If the fear of picking the right box is what's stopped you from DIY haircolor, then turn to Madison Reed's five-minute color quiz to make your ideal selection for you. You'll finish with a pro-guided pick that's perfect for root touch-ups between salon visits. The kit comes with enough for two root touch-up applications.

This product is ammonia-free and provides 100 percent gray coverage. Not only is it seriously budget-friendly at less than five bucks a box, it comes in a whopping 41 permanent shades; chances of finding your color are high! There's enough in a box to dye your entire head, but if you're touching-up roots, then you can still only apply dye to your part and hairline.

This color-depositing mask won't fully cover grays, but it will help them blend in more. It not only tones your roots but also makes grays less coarse and wiry, thanks to a nourishing blend of amino acids, argan oil, and apricot kernel oil.

If you want to blend, but not completely hide, your grays, then consider a semi-permanent dye that lasts for up to 28 washes. This vegan formula includes soothing aloe and softening coconut oil to help protect strands from root to tip.

This zero-drip formula comes in a wide range of color options (from intense blue black to extra light ash blonde). Each kit includes a separate fruit oil ampoule that you snap and pour directly into the mix to help protect and soften your hair with each touch-up.

This temporary gel is paraben- and sulfate-free and isn't likely to irritate a sensitive scalp. It comes in four rich shades (cranberry, light chestnut, dark blonde, and golden blonde) and fades evenly in five to seven shampoos, so you can try your hand at root coverage without a long-term commitment.