No matter what your age or style, coloured hair is always hot, and whether you're a warm blonde or a cool brunette, the right hue will inject life and vibrancy into your locks.
By Rebecca Barnes
The good
As well as turning a flat, boring hair hue into one that is shimmery, shiny and full of life, today's modern colourants not only give hair a high-fashion look, but also improve the condition, giving a healthy sheen and masses of texture. Blondes can add instant sunshine with highlights ranging from buttermilk to rich toffee, while brunettes and redheads can enrich their natural tone with a whole spectrum of shades.
The bad
Coloured hair needs to be nurtured to ensure it stays in tip-top condition. To prevent your locks from ending up dry, frizzy or fragile, you'll need to use specially formulated products, and protect hair when it's up against the elements, heated applicances or chemicals such as chlorine. And don't forget, colour can be high-maintenence, so you'll be on first name terms with your colourist!
Styling and haircare tips
Coloured hair runs the risk of becoming dehydrated and can fade when exposed to the sun. Therefore, use a protective product such as Lab Series Nutriplexx Hair and Scalp Protector SPF 8 (£15) formulated for your hair type.
If you're thinking about getting your hair coloured during the summer months, do so a couple of weeks before jetting off for sunnier climes, or even better, wait until you're back.
Put the moisture back into chemically processed hair once a week with an intensive conditioning hair treatment or mask. We love Frederic Fekkai Technician Color Care 3 Minute Mask (£28).
Coloured hair and heat aren't the best of friends, so protect hair with a specially formulated product when blow-drying and styling, so hair stays smooth, healthy and manageable.
Blonde is a key trend for 2009: ask your colourist to freshen up your style with a luminescent blend of soft pastels for a translucent result.
It's crucial to keep your colour looking and feeling healthy by using specially formulated shampoos and conditioners designed to meet the needs of colour treated hair. Pantene Pro-V Colour Expressions has been designed to enhance the appearance of coloured hair and protect it from colour fade. For fair hair try Pantene Pro-V Blonde Expressions shampoo & conditioner containing sunflower extracts (£2.99 each). For darker hair there's Pantene Pro-V Brunette Expressions containing fennel extract.
Book in for regular trims so that hair stays manageable and free of split ends - your colour will look so much better.