Louis Licari: Hair and There Blog at iVillage.com

Beauty & Style
Hair and There

Is the blond-haired woman disappearing?

There was a time, not so long ago, when the quintessential beauties were always blonds. People born blond wanted to be blonder. People with dark hair wanted to be as light as they could be, even at the risk of frizz and brassy hair. The woman with the lightest hair was always considered the prettiest. Well, times have changed.

Women have realized that the most flattering hair colors often extend far beyond the blond pallet. I myself became aware of this doing the Today Show's Ambush Makeovers. The blonds always looked good, but the warmer, richer, darker colors looked great. They made the most significant positive difference on almost every makeover. More vibrant hair colors made women's skin tones look more radiant. The makeovers looked prettier and younger. No one was more surprised than me by this realization. I made my career keeping some of the most famous women in the world blond. Have I been blindsided by blonds? I might have been guilty of being a "blond addict", but one day at a time I am opening up myself to the world of more fiery colors.

Is brown hair the new blond? I can hear blond-haired women across the country saying, "This guy has really lost it". The fact of the matter is, I still think that blond is a great color; it's just not the color for everyone. Not being blond does not mean you are less than your fair-haired friends. It probably means you are smart enough to know that you look your best as a brunette. Brown hair creates skin tones that look alive that blond hair can often wash out.
TIP - Never let your hair color and skin tone be similar. It will make you look dull and drab.

Be careful of brassy or orange tones occurring when you make brown hair lighter. If you have yellow undertones in your skin color, this will instantly give you a more sallow look. Make brown hair richer by adding warmth. This will instantly make your brown hair come to life. Highlighting brown hair is an option if it is kept subtle. There is nothing more aging or old-fashioned than a brunette trying to pass as a blond with highlights. Frosted hair belongs in the 60's. If you even think your hair has this look, tone it down immediately. TIP - The best way to tone down overly highlighted hair is to use a semi-permanent color.

Red hair is the new blond. It is the most important color of this decade. Red has influenced every color from the lightest blonds to the darkest brunettes. You will see more and more red tones peeking through all hair colors. The reason is simple: It's a beautiful color that stands out from all other shades. If you are lucky enough to have a creamy complexion, you are a prime candidate for red hair. Olive skin can go with red if you choose a dark auburn shade. Remember: if you choose to be red, you choose to be noticed. There are fewer redheads, natural or tinted, than any other color.

Now that I said how much I love redheads and brunettes, I must admit I still have a passion for a beautiful blond. Gwyneth Paltrow, Reese Witherspoon, Cameron Diaz, and Michelle Pfeiffer are some of the most famous blonds and most beautiful women in the world. The lightness of the hair literally makes blonds glow and they always turn heads. Anyone can be a blond, but not everyone should be one. If you were born blond, the color belongs to you. If you were born brunette embrace all the other color options available to you. When you are brave enough and ready for a change it is probably time to start experimenting with other colors. Go slow to avoid color shock. You might be surprised how pretty another color choice can be.

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