Hair Makeup Is the Secret to Covering Up Grays, Concealing Sparse Spots and More—Learn How to Use It
See all the different ways you can use these genius products
If you’ve always considered hair color to either be the kind you get in a salon or the box you buy at the drugstore, you’re in for a happy surprise. There’s a whole other category of hair color out there that can be a game-changer: hair makeup. Hair makeup is very temporary hair color—available in a variety of formats and formulas—that can instantly change up your hue, but washes out with regular old shampoo. It lets you quickly and easily cover up telltale roots, make strands appear thicker and conceal thinning areas along your hairline. Here, everything you need to know about why—and how—you should consider working hair makeup into your routine for thicker-looking hair.
What is hair makeup?
Hair makeup is exactly what it sounds like. Just as you’d apply eyeshadow to your eyelids, hair makeup is temporary color that you apply to your hair. It’s not hair dye as in the box dye you’d pick up at the drugstore or the color you’d get in the salon; Rather, hair makeup is color that temporarily conceals areas that are thinning or are showing grays. It doesn’t require any developer or involve any type of chemical reaction in hair, explains Kristen Fleming, a colorist based in Chicago, Illinois.
All of this is to say that hair makeup doesn’t change the actual color of your hair—rather, it just sits on top of strands, which is why it can so easily be washed out, notes Fleming. The other nice thing about hair makeup is that it comes in a variety of different forms, including powders, sprays, waxes and more, adds Tiffanie Richards, a colorist at Louise O’Conner Salon in New York City.
Benefits of hair makeup and how to use it
1. Hair makeup makes hair look thicker
As we age, it’s very common to experience hair thinning and hair loss, whether through your whole head or in certain areas like the hairline and along the part. For the latter, hair makeup is a great way to conceal these sparse spots and thinning areas. “Hair makeup, especially the kind that contains fibers, will build volume and add texture, filling in and masking thinning hair,” says Fleming. If your hairline is receding, hair makeup can help restore the illusion of fullness to the hairline. For sparse spots along the hairline, we like using Toppik Fill Me In Hairline Filler, available at the drugstore.
2. Hair makeup instantly covers up gray roots
Both Fleming and Richards cite hair makeup’s ability to conceal grays as the biggest benefit. Whether you’re in between coloring appointments, have a big event or just need a quick touch-up, it is a great way to temporarily cover up those pesky grays or soften the look of tell-tale roots, says Fleming. L’Oréal Root Cover Up is an easy-to-use spray that can be found at the drugstore and covers grays in seconds.
3. Hair makeup can create instant highlights
According to Richards, using a shade that’s just slightly lighter than your base color around the hairline is a great way to create faux highlights. Similarly, Fleming adds that using hair makeup in blonde hues is a great way to lighten up grown-out highlights.
4. Hair makeup gives you an easy way to experiment with hair color
Sometimes, you might want to play around with a new hair color but are too scared to fully commit. This is where hair makeup can come in handy. It offers a quick and easy way to change up your look with a new color, no commitment required. And if you end up loving the way it looks, you’ll know what to look for in a box color or what to ask for at your next salon visit. On the contrary, if you realize the color isn’t for you, all you have to do is wash it out.
How to remove hair makeup
As mentioned, one of the biggest benefits of hair makeup is that it isn’t permanent and it simply washes right out. When you’re ready to remove your hair makeup, simply wash your hair as you normally would with shampoo. It may be beneficial to do a double shampoo cleanse to make sure you’re getting rid of all the product and not causing build-up. Most of the time, your standard shampoo should be sufficient to remove hair makeup, says Fleming. A few caveats: If you’ve used a waterproof formula or have added on multiple layers of product, Fleming says you may want to opt for a clarifying shampoo. These shampoos are slightly stronger than their traditional counterparts and are specially made to remove product build-up. One we like: Nexxus Clean & Pure Nourishing Detox Shampoo.
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