So you’ve finally got the perfect hair colour of your dreams. It’s been a few weeks, and you’re starting to see your natural roots coming through. You’re probably wondering, how often should I get a root touch-up?
As your hair grows out, your roots will begin to peek through, and it’s important to keep up with regular touch-ups at the salon. This way, your hair continues to look fresh, consistent, and perfectly styled, and you can stay confident knowing your hair looks its absolute best.
Let’s dive into everything you need to know about getting your roots touched up at the salon, including how it works and how often you need to do it.
What is a root touch-up?
The root touch-up process involves re-colouring new hair growth so that it matches the rest of your hair. It ensures even colour from root to tip, giving your hair a seamless, freshly-coloured finish. It’s one of the most common hair colour maintenance services at the salon, specifically for those with coloured or highlighted hair.
For most people, hair grows at a rate of about half an inch per month. While that doesn’t sound like a lot, even a small amount of regrowth can stand out, especially if you’ve done a dramatic colour change. The longer you wait, the more your roots will show, and the colour and style won’t look as even or consistent.
Staying on top of regular root touch-ups will help keep your hair looking fresh and styled, as if you’ve just stepped out of the salon.
How often should you touch up your roots?
How often you need to get a root touch-up depends on the type of colour service and your hair growth. Everyone’s hair grows at a different rate, and if you find your roots showing very quickly, you may require more frequent touch-ups. On the flip side, if your hair grows more slowly, you might be able to wait longer between appointments.
Here is a general timeline for root touch-ups, depending on the colour service:
- Grey coverage: 3-4 weeks
- Full colour: 4-6 weeks
- Bleach: 4-6 weeks
- Highlights or balayage: 8-12 weeks
Grey regrowth stands out more against coloured hair, which means you may need more regular touch-ups to maintain a consistent look. If there’s a high contrast between your roots and coloured hair, you may also want to schedule root touch-ups more frequently. However, styles like balayage blend more naturally with your base colour, so regrowth is less noticeable and it’s not necessary to do touch-ups as often.
Regular touch-ups can help reduce over-processing damage, as the stylist only targets the new hair growth rather than the entire head. To keep your hair colour looking consistent and even, stay on top of regular root touch-up appointments.
Signs you need a root touch-up
So, how do you know when you should get your roots touched up? It really depends on a variety of factors, such as how quickly your hair grows and the difference between your natural and dyed hair.
Here are some signs it’s time to book an appointment for a refresh.
Visible root regrowth
The most obvious sign for needing a root touch-up is if your roots have grown out. If there’s high contrast between your natural hair colour and dyed colour, such as black with blonde, the grow-out will be a lot more visible and you may want to touch up your roots more often.
However, if there’s lower contrast, such as brunette with blonde, the grow-out isn’t as obvious and you can go longer between appointments. If you’ve gotten highlights that have been blended more naturally into your hair, your root growth will also be less visible for longer.
Faded colour
It’s completely normal for your colour to fade over time. Washing your hair and exposing it to environmental factors like sun exposure will inevitably cause it to lose vibrancy. If your hair colour has faded or looks uneven, it may be time to book an appointment to touch up your roots and refresh your hair colour.
Greys becoming more noticeable
Grey hair strands don’t have pigment in them, so they stand out more in coloured hair, especially if your hair is darker. Even a small amount of regrowth can make your hair look less uniform. If you begin to notice your greys more, it may be time for a refresh. Regular root touch-ups can maintain consistent coverage and keep your hair looking even and polished.
Ultimately, the frequency of your root touch-ups truly depends on your hair colour and goals. When it’s time to schedule a root touch-up, you can book an appointment for a refresh at PERFECT X HAIR.
Can you do a root touch-up at home?
It is possible to do a root touch-up yourself at home, however it’s not ideal. While it may seem more convenient to touch up your roots at home with box dye, it can result in uneven coverage or damage that will need professional correction later, as it’s difficult to avoid overlapping previously coloured hair and achieve an even application.
It’s highly recommended to visit the salon for root touch-ups, as professional stylists can give you consistent results while also protecting your hair. An experienced stylist will be able to match the shade accurately, keep the coverage even, and ensure your roots stay healthy throughout the process. Your stylist will also give you expert advice on how best to maintain your hair colour at home.
How do you make your hair colour last longer?
Root growth is unavoidable, and it’s a good thing, because it means healthy hair growth. Your coloured hair will also fade over time, but there are ways to slow down the fading process and maintain its vibrancy for longer.
Here are some tips on how to make your hair colour last longer.
Use a colour-safe shampoo and conditioner
Switching to a shampoo and conditioner safe for coloured hair is crucial for maintaining vibrancy and slowing down fading. These products are typically formulated without harsh chemicals that can damage dyed hair or strip its colour.
Instead, they contain gentler ingredients that protect the hair cuticle and keep your colour intact. They also often contain moisturizing and restorative ingredients that support your overall hair health.
Washing your hair with cold water
While you may love hot showers, it’s best to avoid them for the sake of maintaining your beautiful hair colour. Hot water can strip colour from your hair, which is why cold water is recommended. And this doesn’t mean lukewarm – cooler temperatures will preserve your hair colour the best.
Hot water swells the hair cuticle, allowing the colour molecules to escape. Cold water, on the other hand, helps seal the cuticle, keeping your hair colour looking vibrant for longer.
If you truly must shower with hot water, you can use a shower cap to protect your hair from the water.
Limiting use of heat styling tools
High heat can strip your hair colour and cause damage, which is why it’s best to limit the use of heat styling tools. When you apply heat to your hair, it causes the colour pigments to break down faster, leading your colour to fade more quickly. Excessive heat can also weaken your hair and leave it dry, brittle, and more prone to damage.
If you do use heat styling tools, it’s crucial to apply a heat protectant to protect the integrity of your hair. Heat protectant creates a protective barrier to slow down fading and reduce damage.
Reducing exposure to environmental elements
Environmental elements like sun exposure, saltwater, and chlorine can cause your hair colour to fade faster. Protect your hair from UV rays by wearing a hat, and rinse your hair immediately after swimming.
Regular refresh appointments at the salon can help your hair colour stay vibrant and keep your roots looking seamless.
What low-maintenance hair colouring techniques are there?
If you’re not too keen on revisiting the salon every 4 to 6 weeks for a root touch-up, consider low-maintenance hair colouring techniques instead. These styles are designed to grow out more softly, so there is less noticeable regrowth and fewer salon visits are needed.
Balayage
Balayage is one of the lowest maintenance hair colouring options, as the new colour blends in seamlessly with your natural colour. The stylist hand-paints highlights onto sections of your hair, blending your base colour with the new colour. This soft blend makes the grow-out look less harsh, and actually looks more intentional.
Highlights
There are many different hair highlighting techniques, and though they aren’t as low maintenance as a balayage, they still require less frequent touch-ups than a full colour service. Highlights are less of a dramatic change compared to full colour, but are still easier to maintain over time.
Some of the most popular highlight styles at the moment include babylights, lowlights, and money pieces. Your stylist can even customize highlights completely tailored to you.
Book your root touch-up at PERFECT X HAIR
With regular touch-ups, your hair can stay looking its best. Visible root regrowth can make your hair look uneven and less polished, and over time, your colour will also lose its vibrancy. Staying on top of regular touch-ups ensures your roots stay under control and your colour looks fresh.
Our expert stylists at PERFECT X HAIR can determine the best approach to fit your hair goals and lifestyle, whether you’re looking to maintain your current colour, or want to try a lower-maintenance style.
Book an appointment at PERFECT X HAIR to keep your hair looking bright, fresh, and fabulous.
