There is a very particular moment that every colour client knows well. You catch sight of yourself in a shop window, or in the unforgiving light of your bathroom mirror, and you notice that your roots have crept further than you realised. Suddenly your beautifully blended colour is feeling less polished and more “I really need to book in.”
So how often should you actually be booking your regrowth tint to keep your colour looking its best? It is one of the most common questions we get asked at The Hair Club London, and like most things in the world of colour, the answer is a little more nuanced than a single number. Here is everything you need to know about timing your appointments, stretching them well when you can, and getting the most out of your colour between visits.
What Is a Regrowth Tint?
A regrowth tint, sometimes called a root tint or root touch-up, is a colour service that refreshes your existing permanent colour at the root. Rather than re-colouring the whole head every time, your stylist applies colour only to the new growth, which keeps your overall colour looking seamless without unnecessarily processing the lengths and ends.
It is the bread and butter of colour maintenance and the appointment most permanent colour clients build their schedule around. Done well, a regrowth tint should be invisible. The new colour should blend so smoothly with your existing shade that you cannot see where one stops and the other begins.
The General Rule: Every 4 to 6 Weeks
For most clients with permanent colour, the sweet spot for a regrowth tint is every four to six weeks. This is based on the average rate of hair growth, which is roughly half an inch per month, meaning regrowth becomes visible at around the four-week mark and increasingly noticeable beyond six.
That said, “average” does a lot of heavy lifting in that sentence. The right timing for you depends on several personal factors, and once you understand them, you can plan your colour calendar with confidence.
What Affects How Often You Need a Regrowth Tint?
Here are the things that genuinely make a difference.
The Contrast Between Your Natural Colour and Your Tint
This is the biggest factor by far. If your natural colour and your tint are close in shade, regrowth blends in more naturally and takes longer to become obvious. If there is a strong contrast, for example a rich brunette tint over naturally lighter hair, or a warm blonde tint over darker roots, regrowth will show much sooner.
Clients with high contrast between their natural and coloured shade often need a regrowth tint every four weeks to keep things looking sharp, while clients with closer matches can often stretch to six.
How Much Grey You Have
Grey hair is another major factor. If you are using colour primarily to cover greys, even a small amount of regrowth can feel very visible, especially around the parting and hairline. Clients with significant grey coverage typically prefer to book every four weeks to keep that fresh, all-one-colour finish.
If you have early greys and would prefer something with a softer regrowth line, a semi-permanent root colour can be a great option, as it fades gently rather than creating an obvious demarcation.
How Fast Your Hair Grows
Hair growth rates vary more than you might think. Some people grow hair noticeably faster than the average, and if that is you, your appointments will need to come around more frequently. Conversely, slower growers can often stretch their colour comfortably.
Where You Part Your Hair
If you wear a strong, defined parting, regrowth will be more obvious sooner. Clients who switch up their parting or wear their hair pulled back differently can often disguise regrowth for longer.
Your Lifestyle and Schedule
Honesty matters here. If you are someone who likes their hair to always look its absolute sharpest, a four-week schedule will keep you happiest. If you are more relaxed about a little visible growth, six weeks (or even a little longer with the right techniques) will work just fine.
Can You Stretch Your Regrowth Tint Appointments?
Yes, and many of our clients are increasingly interested in doing exactly that. There are a few good ways to make your colour go further without compromising its look.
Consider a Lower-Maintenance Technique
If you are finding the four-to-six-week cycle exhausting (or expensive), it might be worth a conversation about whether your current colour technique is the right one for your lifestyle. Balayage and other freehand techniques are designed to grow out beautifully without an obvious regrowth line, which can extend the time between appointments to three or four months. If you are torn between maintenance-heavy and maintenance-light options, our guide comparing balayage and highlights walks through this in more detail.
Use a Root Concealer Between Appointments
Root concealer sprays, powders, and pens have come a long way and can buy you an extra week or two between salon visits. They are particularly useful for covering greys at the hairline or hiding regrowth ahead of a special occasion when you cannot squeeze in an appointment.
Embrace a Softer Regrowth Line
A semi-permanent root colour or a more gradual blending technique can soften the contrast between your natural growth and your tint, making the regrowth far less obvious and reducing how often you genuinely need to book.
Talk to Your Stylist
Honestly, this is the best advice. If you are struggling to maintain your current schedule, tell your colourist. There is almost always a technique, a tweak, or a different approach that can make your colour fit your life better. We would much rather adapt the plan than have a client fall behind on their maintenance and feel unhappy about their hair.
What Happens If You Leave It Too Long?
Life happens. Holidays get in the way, schedules get busy, and sometimes appointments slide further apart than you would like. If you are arriving at the salon with several months of regrowth, your stylist will usually need a little extra time to blend everything seamlessly, and in some cases the appointment may need adjusting. It is always worth flagging when you book so we can allocate the right time and give your hair the attention it deserves.
If your colour has had a particularly long break and is feeling tired, ends are looking thirsty, or you are noticing the lengths feel less vibrant than they used to, this can be a great moment to add a conditioning treatment or a toner to refresh everything in one appointment. If you are interested in protecting your colour longer term, you might also want to read our honest guide to keratin treatments, which covers how some smoothing services interact with coloured hair.
Caring for Your Colour at Home
The best regrowth tint schedule in the world will still struggle if your at-home care is not supporting it. A few simple habits make a real difference.
Use Colour-Safe Products
Sulphate-free shampoos and conditioners are gentler on colour and help it last longer. Investing in the right products is one of the highest-impact things you can do.
Wash Less, Where You Can
Every wash gradually lifts a little colour. Stretching the time between washes, even by a day, keeps your colour fresher for longer.
Protect From Heat and Sun
UV and high heat both fade colour faster. Use a heat protectant when styling, and try to shield your hair on sunny holidays.
Book your Regrowth Tint in London with a Hair Care Specialist
Most permanent colour clients book a regrowth tint every four to six weeks, but the right schedule for you depends on the contrast between your natural and coloured shade, how much grey you have, how fast your hair grows, and how you wear it. If your current cycle feels relentless, there are real options worth exploring, from lower-maintenance techniques to gentler root colours that grow out more softly. The best schedule is the one that fits your hair, your lifestyle, and your budget, and that is exactly what a good colour conversation should uncover.
If you are due a regrowth tint, or you are starting to wonder whether there is a better way to maintain your colour, we would love to talk it through with you. Come and see us at The Hair Club London locations in Battersea Rise & St John’s Hill for a complimentary colour consultation, just a short walk from Clapham Junction in the heart of Battersea.
Book your colour consultation at The Hair Club London today.
