roots

[wowenglish1]

I would like to know the meaning of "When was the last time you did your roots?" in the next passage.

One woman, while visiting her mother in the hospital, leaned over the bedrail, full of worry. Her mother's first words were, "When was the last time you did your roots?" The daughter immediately felt not anger but relief. Through the tubes and the fever, her mother was still there — still noticing, still caring.

 

[Barb_D]

You dye your hair.

Some times goes by, and your hair grows. The part that the dye covers stops half an inch from your scalp because there is no dye there at the roots -- where your hair meets you scalp.

If you looked at my head right now, you'd see clearly where my hair has grown since the last time I dyed it.

I really need to "do my roots."

In this case, her mother is not so sick that she doesn't see details like this; the author sees this as a good sign.