Spring Fashion Week 2007 is winding down. It started in New York and went to London, Milan, and Paris. I attended events, read the newspapers, and perused the internet, watching for the newest trends in beauty. I found myself looking at the models so closely, as if they were under a microscope. The big news this season wasn't something new I saw, it's what I did not see. Highlights! There wasn't one streak on the runway. Is this the end of an era? Should I have my foils recycled into sandwich wrappers?

Wait a minute! I just did a segment on The Today Show last week on at home highlights, and the models looked great. How could this be? Am I becoming the "Jekyll and Hyde" of hair color? Not to worry, I think I still have my wits about me! The look of highlights and hair color in general has taken a radical change.

It is definitely the time for a revaluation of your hair color.

The way I see it is that there are three parallel universes: They are made up of the LA contingent (actors), the traveling gypsies (models), and we the people (you and I).

Actors are still having a love affair with highlights, but the romance might be on the wane. Think of some recent A-listers who have chosen a solid hair color. Nicole Kidman, Naomi Watts, Scarlett Johansson, and most recently young Hollywood's Rumer Willis and Nelly Furtado have become all over blonds. Angelina Jolie, Hilary Swank, Kate Beckinsale, Teri Hatcher are various shades of brown without a highlight in sight. Susan Sarandon, Julianne Moore, and Julia Roberts have chosen to be quintessential red heads.

The model world is small and has fewer main players. They are usually so young and beautiful that they still have great natural color that needs very little help. Most of the time semi-permanents and glazes are the colors used on these girls to add shine and to make their hair colors rich. But this is not the reason why models are not wearing highlights. Highlights are not the look this season on the runway.

Then there are the "we the people" in the real world. You know, the people who work, maintain a home, occasionally have fun, and always try our best to look great. It's not easy. Who has the time to watch television, read newspapers and fashion magazines, and go to movies to watch for new trends? Not too many people I know. So let me make it easy for you and give you the 411 on hair color today.

All over colors are becoming more important. Hair color with high contrast to the base color is out of date. Your hair should never look streaked, ash, and above all, frosted. Highlights still work and are the prettiest and most natural way to make you and your hair color look brighter.

Highlights are not to be ignored. Anything that helps us look prettier, younger, less stressed and tired, is something we should take full advantage. The tone of today’s highlights are different. They must blend with your base color. Special effect colors, bold stripes, dark tips, or colors not found in nature are out of style. Color that looks like you where born with it (if you were incredibly lucky!) is what's in. Today’s lesson is to keep it real.

TIP - If you want a dramatic color change, don't try to do it with highlights alone. You must apply a single process color first.

Hair color should look like it is yours, not from your hair colorist. This season's hair color theme, "keep it real and keep it simple." (By the way, I am keeping my highlighting foils!)

• Try on hairstyles by Louis Licari on Makeover-O-Matic!