The Madison Reed Radiant Hair Color Kit earns our best overall title for a few reasons. The ammonia-free formula delivers 100% gray coverage even on stubborn roots while nourishing strands with ingredients like keratin, argan oil, and ginseng root extract. Although the dye does have a thicker consistency, it’s designed to prevent drips and messes, making at-home application surprisingly easy. If you’re looking for salon-quality results without the salon appointment, this kit is hard to beat.

Type: Permanent hair color
Active Ingredients: Keratin, argan oil, ginseng root extract, and hydrolyzed wheat protein
Shades: 25+ shades (including blonde, brunette, black, red, and auburn options)

If you’re looking for a quick fix, the Clairol Root Touch-Up by Nice’n Easy Permanent Hair Dye has been a drugstore favorite for years. Designed specifically for roots, the formula promises gray coverage in just 10 minutes and seamlessly blends with leading hair color brands. The precision brush makes application easy, while the permanent formula ensures your results last until your next touch-up.

Type: Permanent Root Touch-Up Hair Color
Active Ingredients: ColorBlend Technology, hydrogen peroxide, conditioning agents
Shades: More than 20 shades (ranging from blonde and brunette to black and red)

With thousands of glowing reviews, Revlon ColorSilk Permanent Hair Color has earned drugstore “icon” status, according to shoppers. The permanent, ammonia-free formula offers 100% gray coverage and leaves hair looking glossy and healthy thanks to its multi-tonal color technology for under $10!

“If we were to talk about the trustworthiness of drugstore hair colors, this is one of the most trustworthy ones,” explains Sherry Velarde, beauty industry expert and luxury salon owner of Deseo Salon & BlowDry. “Offering full coverage and a gentle, ammonia-free formula enriched with Bond Repair Complex and vegan keratin to prevent breakage of hair strands. It’s the right choice for those looking for an ammonia-free color and an easy-to-use and affordable product.”

Type: Permanent hair color
Active Ingredients: Keratin, silk amino acids, and Revlon’s 3D Color Gel Technology
Shades: 40+ shades (including blonde, brunette, black, auburn, red, and fashion-inspired tones)

If you’re willing to splurge on a root touch-up product, the Oribe Airbrush Root Touch-Up Spray is worth every penny. It camouflages grays and refreshes hair between washes by soaking up oil and impurities at the scalp. The spray is effective and leaves a delicious scent behind that is sure to earn a permanent spot in your bathroom cabinet.

Type: Temporary root touch-up spray
Active Ingredients: Rice starch, mineral pigments, and Oribe’s Signature Complex (watermelon, lychee, and edelweiss flower extracts)
Shades: 2 (Light brown and dark brown)

If you’ve ever struggled to apply at-home hair color evenly, John Frieda Precision Foam Color can help. The richly pigmented foam formula spreads effortlessly through hair, ensuring even coverage from root to tip without missed spots. The color also delivers rich, fade-resistant color and excellent gray coverage, making it especially popular among first-time DIY colorists.

Type: Permanent foam hair color
Active Ingredients: Color pigments, conditioning agents, and anti-fade technology
Shades: 20+ shades (including blonde, brunette, black, red, and auburn options)

Experts say the Schwarzkopf Keratin Color goes beyond covering grays. The formula features a three-step bond-enforcing system and keratin to help strengthen hair and reduce breakage during the coloring process. Combined with the brand’s reliable gray coverage and wide shade range, it’s an excellent choice for anyone looking to give their strands some extra TLC.

Type: Permanent hair color
Active Ingredients: Keratin, collagen, and Bond Enforcing System technology
Shades: 20+ shades (including blonde, brunette, black, red, and auburn options)

The dpHUE Root Touch-Up Kit is another hairstylist-recommended pick for a more customized approach. The easy-to-use kit is formulated to blend seamlessly with your existing hair color while providing long-lasting gray coverage. The included tools make it easy to target roots without processing the rest of your hair.

Type: Permanent root touch-up kit
Active Ingredients: Hydrogen peroxide, conditioning agents, and silk proteins
Shades: 8 shades (including blonde, light brown, medium brown, dark brown, black, and red)

Finding an at-home hair color that enhances red tones isn’t always easy, but the Garnier Nutrisse Nourishing Hair Color Creme is worth adding to your routine. The dye is available in an array of rich auburn and copper shades. The permanent formula delivers up to 100% gray coverage while nourishing strands with a blend of five fruit oils. It also leaves strands looking glossy and multidimensional — two things every redhead knows can be difficult to maintain.

Type: Permanent hair color
Active Ingredients: Avocado oil, olive oil, shea oil, argan oil, and coconut oil
Shades: 65+ shades (including blonde, brunette, black, red, auburn, and copper options)

The Herbatint Permanent Haircolor Gel takes a natural approach to covering grays with its ammonia-free formula. The hair dye is crafted with herbal extracts like aloe vera, witch hazel, and echinacea to help nourish hair and soothe the scalp while delivering long-lasting, natural-looking color. And the gel consistency makes precise application a breeze.

Type: Permanent hair color gel
Active Ingredients: Aloe vera, witch hazel, echinacea, walnut husk, rhubarb, and aloe extracts
Shades: 30+ shades (including blonde, brunette, black, auburn, and copper options)

Velarde says that the L’Oréal Paris Excellence Crème is one of those products that never fail to deliver full gray coverage, even when it comes to hard-to-color grays. It has a non-drip crème formula that protects hair from damage during the coloring process. “Also, it comes with after-color shampoo and deep conditioner for additional protection and is available in a wide selection of shades,” she adds. “If I had to choose only one drugstore hair color for grays, this would be it.”

Type: Permanent hair color
Active Ingredients: Pro-Keratin complex, ceramide, and collagen
Shades: 35+ shades (including blonde, brunette, black, red, and auburn options)