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QUICK FIX

We put speedy hair care solutions to the test to see if you really can spray away your roots

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WITH a month to go until hairdressers reopen, our roots can’t hold on much longer.

More than a million women splash out at least £100 every month and a half to get their colour done, a survey by hair-care brand Living Proof found last year.

Before you despair at dark roots and rogue grey hairs, try the quick-fix option that promises to be the perfect cover-up
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Before you despair at dark roots and rogue grey hairs, try the quick-fix option that promises to be the perfect cover-upCredit: Camera Press

But with salons closed since March, dark roots, grey hairs and wayward highlights mean we are counting down the days until we can sit back in that chair.

But before you reach for that DIY dye kit, there is another quick-fix option that could be the perfect cover-up.

Tanith Carey asks six women to try different shades of touch-up products to see if they can get to the root of their lockdown hair problem.

Here they give their views and rate each out of ten.

Ash blonde

MERLE Crichton, 27, a financial writer from Aylesbury, Bucks, tried Phil Smith Root Touch-Up concealer spray for light blonde hair.

How to apply: A handbag-size aerosol you spray on to dry hair from 10cm away.

Merle Crichton wanted a touch-up for her dark roots, having not had her hair highlighted since February
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Merle Crichton wanted a touch-up for her dark roots, having not had her hair highlighted since February

Her verdict: “The last time I had my brown hair highlighted was in February.

Now my roots are so obvious I feel like a skunk!

“This is the longest I’ve gone without a touch-up since I was 16 and I absolutely hate it.

“Using this reminded me of spray-painting my hair pink for a festival as a teenager.

“The bottle was compact enough so I could aim it towards my head without it going everywhere.

She says the Phil Smith spray covered her roots quickly and well, but it left her hair feeling sticky and matted
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She says the Phil Smith spray covered her roots quickly and well, but it left her hair feeling sticky and matted

“I got a good coverage in hardly any time.

“It quickly covered my roots on top and there was probably enough left in the bottle for one more round.

“The only thing is that as well as changing the colour, it also altered the texture of my hair quite drastically and made it feel sticky and matted.

“It got a bit better when I ran my fingers through it afterwards.

“I’d recommend it if you wanted a quick fix before the hairdressers open.

“The cherry on top would be if it didn’t make your hair sticky.”

It still scored an impressive 7.5 out of ten
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It still scored an impressive 7.5 out of ten

Rating: 7.5

  • Phil Smith Root Touch-Up concealer spray, £6, from philsmithhair.com - buy now

Auburn

ANNETTE Kellow, 35, a web editor from Notting Hill in West London, tried out TouchBack PRO Root Touch-Up Marker Applicator, Light Auburn.

How to apply: Like a felt tip, which you use on dry roots.

Annette Kellow tried the TouchBack applicator which comes with a handy comb to help keep the dye away from your skin
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Annette Kellow tried the TouchBack applicator which comes with a handy comb to help keep the dye away from your skin

Her verdict: “My natural hair is mousy brown, and I feel very uncomfortable with so much regrowth showing – in my mind, it makes me look messy and unkempt.

“The pen was easy to hold and use because of the shape, and not gloopy at all.

“Plus it was a great match for my hair colour.

“The more you press down, the more comes out, so you have to be careful that it does not go on your scalp.

“Handily, there’s a comb included to help lift the hair up and keep the dye away from your skin as you colour.

She says the pen was easy to use and a great colour, but unfortunately her hair didn't take it too well
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She says the pen was easy to use and a great colour, but unfortunately her hair didn't take it too well

“Unfortunately, as my roots are fairly dark, it didn’t take that well.

"But I do think it would work better if you had lighter coloured or grey hair.”

Annette rated it a four - although she says it would be more effective for those with lighter hair
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Annette rated it a four - although she says it would be more effective for those with lighter hair

Rating: 4

  • TouchBack PRO Root Touch-Up Marker Applicator, £21.95, from Amazon - buy now

Dark blonde

MARIA Eleftheriou, 43, a full-time mum-of-three from ­Barnet, North London, tried out Phil Smith Root Touch-up, Dark Blonde.

How to apply: A handbag-size aerosol you spray onto dry hair from about 10cm away.

Maria Eleftheriou also tried out Phil Smith Root Touch-up and found it was really easy to apply
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Maria Eleftheriou also tried out Phil Smith Root Touch-up and found it was really easy to apply

Her verdict: “I usually have my hair done every six to eight weeks, so by this stage the regrowth is really showing and I can’t wait a second longer.

“The spray was really easy to apply.

“It wasn’t wet or chalky and when a bit went on my forehead, I could easily wipe it off with a ­tissue without any staining.

“The colour is a tiny bit darker than that of my highlights and therefore it makes my roots look dark.

“But it definitely covered the grey.

“Looking in the mirror afterwards, I was impressed.

“It also stayed in really well between washes.”

While it did make her roots look a bit darker, Maria says it definitely covered any grey
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While it did make her roots look a bit darker, Maria says it definitely covered any grey
She awarded it an impressive eight points
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She awarded it an impressive eight points

Rating: 8

  • Phil Smith Root Touch-up, £6, from philsmithhair.com - buy now

Brown

RACHEL Smith, 43, a mother of two from Preston, tried the Cover Your Gray Touch-Up Stick.

How to apply: Looks like a lipstick bullet, which you dab on dry hair.

Rachel Smith was in search of a product that would cover up any grey showing, and says she had high hopes for the Cover Your Gray Touch-Up Stick
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Rachel Smith was in search of a product that would cover up any grey showing, and says she had high hopes for the Cover Your Gray Touch-Up Stick

Her verdict: “I feel old and tired-looking with my greys showing, so I had high hopes for this.

"After applying, I brushed it through my roots with a brow brush to give it an even finish.

“It looks and feels like a lipstick, so it was really easy to apply.

“It’s handy for emergency Zoom calls but, like make-up, you might want to top up if you were using it for an all-day event.

"It’s nice and compact, though, and easy enough to pop in your handbag.

Her hair needed touching-up throughout the day, but overall the coverage was good and made her greys less noticeable
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Her hair needed touching-up throughout the day, but overall the coverage was good and made her greys less noticeable

“It left a shady patch on my pillow the next morning but that came out in the wash.

"It didn’t fully cover my greys but it certainly took the edge off and made them less noticeable.

“So overall, I’d recommend it.”

Rachel says she would recommend the Cover Your Grey Touch-Up Stick, and gave it eight out of ten
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Rachel says she would recommend the Cover Your Grey Touch-Up Stick, and gave it eight out of ten

Rating: 8

  • Cover Your Gray Touch-Up Stick, £5.50, from Amazon - buy now

Black

MUM-of-two Nicola Maasdam, 50, from Grimsby, is a jewellery designer and the founder of beadelightful.co.uk. She tried the Bumble & Bumble BB Colour Stick, Black (£23, escentual.com).

How to apply: A big chunky pencil for colouring in dry hair.

Nicola Maasdam put the Bumble & Bumble BB Colour Stick to the test
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Nicola Maasdam put the Bumble & Bumble BB Colour Stick to the test

Her verdict: “I found this easy to use on my inch of grey regrowth but it was really like using a wax crayon on my head and it took a few strokes to cover it all.

“However, the fact I had to use so much meant I didn’t like the heavy, oily feel of it on my hair.

She wasn't keen on the 'heavy, oily' feeling it left on her hair but she says it was long-lasting
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She wasn't keen on the 'heavy, oily' feeling it left on her hair but she says it was long-lasting

“On the plus side, it’s long-lasting.

“It didn’t brush out and was still in my hair after two washes.

“In fact, it was really difficult to wash out!

“I think it would be perfect for someone with just a few greys coming through at the temples, where a quick stroke of the pencil would do the job.”

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It was given a solid six out of ten, with Nicola saying 'it would be perfect for someone with just a few greys coming through'
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It was given a solid six out of ten, with Nicola saying 'it would be perfect for someone with just a few greys coming through'

Rating: 6

  • Bumble & Bumble BB Colour Stick, £23, from escentual.com - buy now
Matt Hancock discusses reopening hairdressers and barbers on This Morning

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