Keeping hair healthy involves regular hair cuts and using the right products based on your hair's length, texture and overall well-being. Even healthy care can look faded and washed out if you need to retouch your hair color. Touching up hair color can be done between full head colorings, as a way to freshen up your look. Roots Only One of the primary reasons to touch up hair color is when roots begin to grow out and become noticeable. To touch up just your roots, start by brushing your hair free of tangles and then part your hair. Apply the hair dye down the center of the part, making sure to only apply the color to the roots. Using the end of a rat tail comb, run the pointed end through your hair to get to the next section of root hair. Flip the section over top of the one with the dye on the roots. Reapply a strip of dye to the newly exposed root section. Repeat the process until you have touched up all the roots on your head. Follow the manufacturer's directions to determine time. . Targeted Touch Ups Touching up certain sections or even strands of hair is one way to give your hair's color a boost. Whether you want to touch up those gray hairs that have begun to shine through or if you spent too much time in the sun and ended up with unwanted highlights; targeted touch ups can bring your hair back to the color you want. Using the same hair dye as you used for your whole head, apply only to the areas you want by using a small pastry brush, cotton swab or mascara wand. Follow the manufacturer's directions to determine specific time. Wash It In and Out To get an all-over quick touch-up when you are short on time, opt to use your shower and your normal hair washing time to impart an extra boost of color. For light colored hair add lemon juice or hydrogen peroxide to your normal shampoo. For darker hair add henna. Adjust the amounts according to your hair color. Start by using a one part color booster to five parts shampoo. Quick Fixes Sometimes you simply do not have time to deal with hair dyes and coloring. Fast ways to touch up your hair might not always be the best for your hair's health; but they do work in a pinch. Mascara, eye liner or even permanent markers can be used to color in roots or strands with speed. Opt for color similar to your own hair color, or a lighter shade to impart highlights. Hold a few strands of hair in one hand, and run the mascara wand or marker across the shaft of the hair to color it in.