NewBeauty Awards: Hair Color + Scalp Care

BEST AT-HOME HAIR COLOR

Salon closures sent many of us into a hair color tizzy, but tried-and-true Clairol Nice ’N Easy ($7) came to the rescue with its 52 permanent shades, 100-percent gray coverage, and ME+ molecule that helps prevent hair dye allergies.

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BEST AMMONIA-FREE AT-HOME HAIR COLOR

Dermatologically tested to be kind to the scalp, Schwarzkopf Simply Color ($10) is made without ammonia or alcohol and housed in a 100-percent recyclable carton—even the lid is compostable.

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BEST ROOT CONCEALER SPRAY

Yes, we’ve missed our colorists, but Oribe Airbrush Root Touch-Up Spray ($34) makes for a slam-dunk, easy-to-use substitute when we just can’t get there, and helps absorb oil, too.

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BEST ROOT TOUCH-UP PEN

Ideal for masking pesky grays on the go, dpHUE Touch-Up Stick ($28) has a water-resistant “marker” of sorts on one end—it’s also sweat-proof— and a blending brush on the other for natural-looking results.

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BEST ROOT TOUCH-UP POWDER

Our go-to gray concealer for everything from two strands to two inches—thanks COVID—Style Edit Root Touch Up Powder ($34) binds to every tiny hair, and comes in 10 shades.

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BEST SCALP SOOTHER

Tea tree, menthol and aloe vera meet in DERMA E Scalp Relief Treatment ($14), a water-based oil-serum that alleviates pretty much all signs of scalp strife, including bothersome itching.

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BEST SUNSCREEN FOR SCALP AND HAIR

Skin cancer does not discriminate against the scalp, so don’t forget to throw fast-absorbing Sun Bum Scalp & Hair Mist SPF 30 ($15) in your beach bag, along with your cute sun hat.

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BEST SCALP CLARIFIER

Gentle on the scalp but tough on debris, Act+Acre Cold Processed Scalp Detox ($42) banishes all signs of buildup—hello dry shampoo residue—as it nourishes with anti-inflammatory agents to restore a healthy environment for hair growth.

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BEST SCALP SCRUB

There are few products that feel as good as an in-salon scalp massage, but Philip B. Avocado Peppermint Scalp Scrub ($75)—an invigorating blend of sea salt, avocado oil and peppermint oil slough off product buildup—might be even better.

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