ShopSmart Reveals the Best Root Touch-Up Kits

YONKERS, N.Y., March 27, 2014 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- Root touch-up products are a great way to stretch the time between hair-color appointments and help save some money. The April 2014 issue of ShopSmart, from Consumer Reports, highlights findings from tests of eight temporary touch-up products for hair including sticks, sprays, markers, and brushes.  

"While the color match wasn't always perfect, our testers did find several kits that were much cheaper and faster than a trip to the hair salon," said Lisa Lee Freeman, editor-in-chief of ShopSmart. "If you're willing to put in the effort, these products can be a great way to make the gray go away between salon visits – and save you some money."

Best Root Touch-Up Kits

ShopSmart tested products from Oscar Blandi, Roux, Gray Away, Rita Hazan, Colormetrics, Claudia Stevens, Irene Gari, and Alterna Stylist.  Here are those that came out on top:

• Oscar Blandi Pronto Colore Root Touch-Up, $23
  How it works: Brush it on using a marker-like applicator.
  Why it's a Smart Pick: No other product did a better job of covering grays and matching hair color, and it washed out completely, every time. A majority of testers said they would buy the product themselves. On the downside, it was one of the pricier products and it stained a couple of testers' scalps.
• Roux 'Tween Time, $8
  How it works: Dab it like lipstick.
  Why it's a Smart Pick: It's cheap! And it did almost as well as the much pricier Oscar Blandi product when it came to color and gray coverage. However, it involves an extra step of moistening the applicator tip before using it and all of ShopSmart's testers complained of a sticky or tacky sensation after application.

For more information about ShopSmart's top picks, along with the other products that did not make the cut and a safety alert on how to protect skin while applying root touch-up products, pick up the April 2014 issue on newsstands now.

About Consumer Reports:
Consumer Reports is the world's largest independent product-testing organization. Using its more than 50 labs, auto test center, and survey research center, the nonprofit rates thousands of products and services annually. Founded in 1936, Consumer Reports has over 8 million subscribers to its magazine, website, and other publications. Its advocacy division, Consumers Union, works for health reform, food and product safety, financial reform, and other consumer issues in Washington, D.C., the states, and in the marketplace.

About ShopSmart magazine:
Launched in Fall 2006 by Consumer Reports, ShopSmart draws upon the publication's celebrated tradition of accepting no advertisements and providing unbiased product reviews. ShopSmart features product reviews, shopping tips on how to get the most out of products and "best of the best" lists. It's ideal for busy shoppers who place a premium on time. ShopSmart has a newsstand price of $4.99 and is available nationwide at major retailers including Barnes & Noble, Walmart, Kroger, Safeway and Publix. ShopSmart is available by subscription at www.ShopSmartmag.org.

ShopSmart is available 10 times a year. Subscribe at www.ShopSmart.org.

SOURCE ShopSmart

WANT YOUR COMPANY'S NEWS FEATURED ON PRNEWSWIRE.COM?

440k+
Newsrooms &
Influencers

9k+
Digital Media
Outlets

270k+
Journalists
Opted In

GET STARTED