What is Root colour?
Hair grows on average about one to one-and-a-half centimetres per month. On colour-treated hair, this means a visible band appears at the scalp after roughly four to six weeks – the natural or greyed-in root that no longer matches the rest. A root touch-up closes exactly this gap: instead of re-colouring the entire head, only the regrown area is treated. This protects the lengths, saves colour and keeps the overall look even.
During the treatment, the hairdresser first mixes a shade that matches the existing colour precisely. The colour is then applied with a brush, carefully and only to the roots – section by section, along the partings. The key is that the colour does not overlap onto the already-coloured lengths: over-colouring otherwise causes dark bands, colour build-up and unnecessary stress on the hair. After application, the colour is left to develop for usually 20 to 45 minutes, then rinsed out; a toner, gloss or conditioning treatment often finishes the service to unify roots and lengths in a single tone.
A root touch-up suits anyone who wears permanently coloured hair – whether refreshing a chosen shade or covering grey. People who have lightened or darkened their colour significantly, or who cover a high proportion of grey, notice the regrowth sooner and benefit most from regular touch-ups. The technique works equally well for all hair types – fine to coarse, straight to curly – because only the root is treated.
The root touch-up alone takes around 30 to 60 minutes depending on hair length, density and the amount of grey, and correspondingly longer with washing, blow-drying and styling. The result lasts roughly four to six weeks – after which the new regrowth becomes visible again and the next appointment is due. To stretch the interval, root sprays or colour combs can bridge the gap short-term. For home care, colour-protecting and ideally sulphate-free shampoos, heat protection when blow-drying and straightening, and UV protection in summer help keep the colour vibrant for longer.
In terms of price, a root touch-up in Switzerland typically ranges roughly from CHF 45 to 95, depending on region, salon and the effort involved; add a cut, wash and blow-dry and the total is often higher. This range is a rough guideline only and without guarantee – actual prices vary considerably from salon to salon. Using CityHero's [hairdresser price comparison](/en/preise) you can compare the prices of salons near you before booking an appointment.