Reasons I adore Cara D: her killer eyebrows, her complete lack of caring what others think and the fact she can pull off blonde hair color and dark roots without looking like she's in need of a trip to the hairdresser. Less maintenance and less money -- I'm sold.
Who Can Pull It Off: "This is yet another version of the popular ombré look," says Petroff. "It can be really great on people who have trouble pulling off fully blonde color. The darker top can help the dye job look more natural and subtle."
What to Ask For: If you are keeping your roots dark, restrict it to one or two inches and avoid going too light on the rest of your hair. The skunk look is not what you're going for.
Beware Of: This is a more extreme look, so it may affect your fashion and makeup choices. "Less aggressive clothes and makeup can create a really nice juxtaposition," says Petroff. Our take? If you have the confidence, you can pull off anything you want. Just like Cara D.
Who Can Pull It Off: "This is yet another version of the popular ombré look," says Petroff. "It can be really great on people who have trouble pulling off fully blonde color. The darker top can help the dye job look more natural and subtle."
What to Ask For: If you are keeping your roots dark, restrict it to one or two inches and avoid going too light on the rest of your hair. The skunk look is not what you're going for.
Beware Of: This is a more extreme look, so it may affect your fashion and makeup choices. "Less aggressive clothes and makeup can create a really nice juxtaposition," says Petroff. Our take? If you have the confidence, you can pull off anything you want. Just like Cara D.
This season both Petroff and de Souza agree, there aren't very many color trends for brunettes if you're looking to stay in the brown family. However, various highlighting techniques are super trendy right now and can provide a subtle update to your hair color. For instance, the ombré trend isn't going anywhere soon, but 2014's sombré (subtle ombré) is the newest spin. Look to Mila Kunis and Olivia Wilde for textbook examples.
Who Can Pull It Off: Anyone can go brunette (spoken by a dark hair color devotee), but medium, olive skin tones pull off warm hues (caramels and auburns) best, without calling attention to any skin imperfections. If you have a cooler skin tone, choose cooler brunette shades (ashy colors, deep chocolate) for a more natural look.
What to Ask For: Rather than contrasting dark and light tones, de Souza says to ask for softer highlights that connect seamlessly from shade to shade. "Drastic shade changes more than two levels from your hair color are not the trend now. A shade and a half max for highlights."
Beware Of: Too often de Souza sees brunette clients who have gone too light in the name of "beachy." "Make sure the highlights blend softly or else the ends of your hair appear thin, or worse -- see-through,"he explains.
Who Can Pull It Off: Anyone can go brunette (spoken by a dark hair color devotee), but medium, olive skin tones pull off warm hues (caramels and auburns) best, without calling attention to any skin imperfections. If you have a cooler skin tone, choose cooler brunette shades (ashy colors, deep chocolate) for a more natural look.
What to Ask For: Rather than contrasting dark and light tones, de Souza says to ask for softer highlights that connect seamlessly from shade to shade. "Drastic shade changes more than two levels from your hair color are not the trend now. A shade and a half max for highlights."
Beware Of: Too often de Souza sees brunette clients who have gone too light in the name of "beachy." "Make sure the highlights blend softly or else the ends of your hair appear thin, or worse -- see-through,"he explains.
This French hair technique, whereby stylists freehand paint color onto the hair, can give you a dramatic or subtle ombré look, depending on your personal preferences. Take cues from Jessica Biel or Rachel Bilson.
Who Can Pull It Off: Literally anyone can pull off a stylish balayage color treatment, just be mindful of how much contrast and how much color you want.
What to Ask For: Be specific about what shades you want, how far apart you want them and where you'd like them placed. This season's trend favors more natural colors like caramel, rather than high-contrast blonde. Face-framing ribbons of color help brighten any complexion, Petroff says.
Beware Of: Consider the texture of your hair if you're thinking about doing a balayage color treatment. If you have finer hair, you'll want lighter, less chunky pieces of color. Thicker, curly hair needs larger sections of color to stand out, advises Petroff. But if you really want a high level of contrast, the balayage trend probably isn't for you. You should consider foil highlights.
Who Can Pull It Off: Literally anyone can pull off a stylish balayage color treatment, just be mindful of how much contrast and how much color you want.
What to Ask For: Be specific about what shades you want, how far apart you want them and where you'd like them placed. This season's trend favors more natural colors like caramel, rather than high-contrast blonde. Face-framing ribbons of color help brighten any complexion, Petroff says.
Beware Of: Consider the texture of your hair if you're thinking about doing a balayage color treatment. If you have finer hair, you'll want lighter, less chunky pieces of color. Thicker, curly hair needs larger sections of color to stand out, advises Petroff. But if you really want a high level of contrast, the balayage trend probably isn't for you. You should consider foil highlights.
As much as we love/hated Rihanna's fluorescent red hair circa 2010, today's firecracker red hair color is sophisticated and show-stopping. We saw vibrant, true reds all over the fashion week runways, idolized it on TV women like Christina Hendricks, and ogled Karen Elson here (check out those matching brows!).
Who Can Pull It Off: "Cooler skin tones look best with deeper, true reds and violet tones," says de Souza. If you have darker or olive skin tones, stay clear. "Super red hues ... have too much blue in them and will make you look green, so be careful," he says.
What to Ask For: Bringing in a picture is often your best bet to get the perfect color. Remember: Your idea of "fire engine" may not necessarily be your stylist's same definition.
Beware Of: You can't be a slacker to pull off being a redhead. Petroff says it's even more of a commitment than being a blonde. "Ideally you should come into the salon every two to three weeks for a refresh."
Who Can Pull It Off: "Cooler skin tones look best with deeper, true reds and violet tones," says de Souza. If you have darker or olive skin tones, stay clear. "Super red hues ... have too much blue in them and will make you look green, so be careful," he says.
What to Ask For: Bringing in a picture is often your best bet to get the perfect color. Remember: Your idea of "fire engine" may not necessarily be your stylist's same definition.
Beware Of: You can't be a slacker to pull off being a redhead. Petroff says it's even more of a commitment than being a blonde. "Ideally you should come into the salon every two to three weeks for a refresh."
For darker-haired girls who have always wanted to try out something more vibrant, rich auburn is a happy medium between red hair color and brunette hair color. Coco Rocha, Julia Roberts and Debra Messing are our auburn-haired idols.
Who Can Pull It Off: If you're on the pale side, auburn hair color will complement your skin tone beautifully, but if you have medium to dark skin tones you're better off with a violet-toned red hair color.
What to Ask For: "The biggest mistake any redhead can make is over-highlighting," says de Souza. Be clear about how monochromatic or multi-faceted you want the color. This is up to the individual's preferences, but remember, color that's too uniform can tend to look flat.
Beware Of: Make sure to stay away from dark, eggplant hues, which can make your skin look yellow, and wine or burgundy shades, which can wash you out.
Who Can Pull It Off: If you're on the pale side, auburn hair color will complement your skin tone beautifully, but if you have medium to dark skin tones you're better off with a violet-toned red hair color.
What to Ask For: "The biggest mistake any redhead can make is over-highlighting," says de Souza. Be clear about how monochromatic or multi-faceted you want the color. This is up to the individual's preferences, but remember, color that's too uniform can tend to look flat.
Beware Of: Make sure to stay away from dark, eggplant hues, which can make your skin look yellow, and wine or burgundy shades, which can wash you out.
It's officially in: Our 2014 hair color trends report. We're bringing you what's new and hot in blonde hair color, brunette hair color and red hair color -- along with everything you need to know about caring for freshly dyed hair, wearing your hair color with confidence and choosing a color that suits your natural skin tone and hair color. So whether you're dying to try the vibrant, red hair color we saw on nearly every runway this year, or you're looking for soft, sombré (that's subtle ombré for those not in the know) highlighting to add to your brunette color -- we've got the lowdown. Dye away.