In my defence, I’m not exactly a beauty slouch. Do I wear sunscreen? Religiously. Have groomed brows? Check. Glossy nails? Almost always. But attending to regrowth every six weeks, committing to hours wrapped up in tinfoil like a baked potato? Even a beauty addict has her limits.
Consequently, it’s two months and counting since I had my colour tended and I’m officially in racing stripe territory. So I could forfeit an entire morning to the salon, or I could find a way to dodge the tint brush for another week. Option B, please…
Thing is, I’ve pretty much exhausted my repertoire of styling techniques – there’s only so much ponytails and diversionary parting patterns can camouflage – so it looks like I’m going to need an new strategy…
Tactic one: the stop gap. Sydney’s celeb colourist Belinda Jeffrey once told me she recommends Clairol Root Touch-Up ($11.99) to her clients, even her most famous, most able-to-splash-the-cash ones. “It’s great for maintenance between salon sessions or on holiday,” she said. “It matches to your colour so it doesn’t leave an obvious ‘seam’ and is really easy to apply at home. It means you don’t have to spend extra time and money for the smallest amount of regrowth,” she said. Maybe it’s time I heeded her advice…
After I give lip colour for your roots a shot, that is. Let me explain. Irene Gari’s Cover Your Gray Root Touch-Up ($14.99) hit my desk the other day (like a big, fat hint!). It comes in shades from blonde through to black and, with a wand that looks just like a lip colour’s, you paint the colour along your most conspicuous regrowth, then comb it through for a disguise that lasts until your next wash. What a great idea!
Speaking of which, feted hairstylist Anthony Nader has been known to suggest an even more literal application of make-up to keep roots under wraps. He says spraying your roots with a soft-hold hairspray then patting a little eyeshadow around your hair and part-lines can do the trick. Sounds a little kooky, doesn’t it? But I’ve just tried it and it’s surprisingly convincing. And as long as no one stares too closely. Or tries to touch.
It’s strictly an emergency measure, I know – but I’ll take it. I just need one more week. Possibly two…
