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If your hairline has been looking a little sparse lately, the best hair powders for thinning hair can help by boosting volume, matching your hair color, and subtly disguising thinning areas. Hairstylists swear by these clever powders to blur visible scalp, add grip at the roots, and refresh second- (or third-) day hair. “Hair powder instantly gives thin, fine strands a boost in volume, making hair look and feel fuller,” says Amy Abramite, a hairstylist in Chicago. It also has styling perks: “It lifts the hair at the roots, giving it a denser texture,” adds Darrius Peace, a master barber and hairstylist in Birmingham, AL.
Our Top Picks
- Best Overall: Madison Reed The Great Root Touch Up Powder + Brow Filler, $34
- Best Long-Lasting: ColorWow Root Cover-Up, $35
- Best for Blondes: Alfaparf Milano Invisible Root Touch Up Powder, $34
- Best for Brunettes: L’Oréal Paris Magic Root Precision Temporary Gray Concealer, $12
- Best Shade Range: Toppik Hair Building Fibers, $25
Tinted formulas take it a step further by filling in gaps and reducing the contrast between your scalp and hair. They’re especially helpful along part lines and temples, where strands tend to thin first and hair growth can be slower. Many also absorb oil and sweat, acting like a dry shampoo meets a root touch-up in one. “Volumizing powders are also great for absorbing buildup on the strands, which can give the appearance of more volume on the hair,” says Peace. So, which hair powder should you try first? Scroll ahead for editor-tested favorites.
Frequently Asked QuestionsAccordionItemContainerButtonLargeChevronIs hair powder good for thin hair?How do you use hair powder on thin hair?What are the side effects of hair fiber powder?Meet the expertsHow we test and review productsOur staff and testers
Best Overall: Madison Reed The Great Root Touch Up Powder + Brow Filler
Madison Reed
The Great Cover Up Root Touch Up + Brow Filler
$34 $24 (29% off)
Amazon
$34
Ulta Beauty
Allure shopping director Shanna Shipin applying the Madison Reed Root Touch Up Powder + Brow Filler
Shanna Shipin
Why it’s worth it: Madison Reed’s Root Touch Up Powder + Brow Filler is what happens when makeup and hair care team up in the best possible way. This 2024 Best of Beauty Award winner covers grays and sparse spots at your roots—and even doubles as a brow filler. The soft, micro-milled powder blends in seamlessly, stays put through sweat and rain, and rinses out easily when you’re ready. “This is really easy to color over other colors or even lift them, plus the finish is natural-looking,” bicoastal colorist Rachel Bodt previously told Allure. It’s infused with hair- and skin-care staples like keratin (for strength), argan oil (for softness), and ginseng root extract (to help revitalize), so your strands get nourishment while you wear it. Our favorite part: One compact lasts for up to 60 uses.
Shipin before applying the Madison Reed Root Touch Up Powder + Brow Filler
Shanna Shipin
Shipin after applying the Madison Reed Root Touch Up Powder + Brow Filler
Shanna Shipin
Tester feedback from shopping director Shanna Shipin
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“After both of my pregnancies, I dealt with a horrifying amount of hair loss, and nothing worked better for me than simply applying hair makeup to my scalp to cover up the bald spots. My biggest area of concern was my hairline, which receded so far back, every time I looked in the mirror, my face just appeared off. I used this Madison Reed cover-up for both of my fourth trimesters, and loved how easy it was to powder a hairline back onto my scalp. The product has great staying powder, and easily comes out in the shower (I’d suggest a detox shampoo to really lift it out of your roots). I love that the brush helps seamlessly blend the powder into my scalp, and that it comes with a really great brow brush and spoolie to tackle your brows at the same time!” —Shanna Shipin, shopping director
More to know
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- Shades: 5
Best Long-Lasting: ColorWow Root Cover-Up
Color Wow
Root Cover Up
$34
Amazon
$35
Revolve
$35
Ulta Beauty
Allure social media director Kassidy Silva applying the ColorWow Root Cover-Up
Kassidy Silva
Why it’s worth it: This mineral-based powder instantly conceals grays, fills in sparse spots, and blends out roots with a natural-looking finish that lasts until your next shampoo. “It holds well and is easy to shampoo out,” says Gina Rivera, a Las Vegas-based hair artist. “I love the texture because it isn’t sticky. It works on any hair type, whether thinning, gray, or color-treated.” The formula clings to hair (not your scalp) for believable fullness, and the dual-ended brush makes “application a breeze,” Rivera adds.
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