L'Oréal Paris Touch-On Highlights

Bottom line

L'Oreal Paris Touch-On Highlights allows users to paint on highlights with their fingers in the comfort and convenience of their home. It's easy to use, but the process takes too long to apply the formula to all of your hair. If you prefer all-over color, Clairol Natural Instincts (Est. $7.25) is our best reviewed pick for non-permanent hair color.

Performance

Natural look. L'Oreal Paris Touch-On Highlights is praised by experts at Good Housekeeping and Allure magazine for producing attractive highlights at home. The formula comes in four shades that match up well with existing hair color. One tester at Good Housekeeping said, "I was surprised at how well the color matched up to my previously tinted hair. It seemed to self-adjust." Users at MakeupAlley.com agree and say the colors look very natural.

Ease of use

Simple enough for beginners. Reviewers say Touch-On Highlights is easy to use and especially praise the fingertip applicator. Editors at Allure magazine, where the formula has won a Best of Beauty award for three consecutive years, say the applicator makes easy work of what's typically an arduous task: placing the highlights correctly. It "glides effortlessly from root to tip," and the small size makes it easy to reach pieces on the back of the head. Editors say the applicator is "much more precise than brushes and combs." Some testers at Good Housekeeping complain that the comb slips off during use.

Some users also complain that the process takes too long to apply to all of hair. By the time you reach the last layers, the first highlights are done processing.

Smell

Telltale scent. Editors at Allure magazine say L'Oreal Paris Touch-On Highlights has a mild chemical odor, but that is common of all hair dyes. The included conditioner, however, has a fresh floral scent.