True colors: from soft and subtle to blazingly beautiful, these hot hues are sure to spice up the season

CRIMSON TIDE

Coppery-red tones are all the rage this summer. To get this flirty and fabulous look, L'Oreal colorist Julia Youssef applied L'Oreal's Feria 55 Cinnamon, a bright auburn, from front to back. The model's naturally dark-brown unrelaxed hair had faded red color at the ends, so the coppery shade helped even things out. "When you use red on darker hair, it brings out the hair's natural tones and adds lightness and brightness," Youssef explains.

THIS BLOND'S FOR YOU

Blondes may not have more fun, but the color can definitely liven things up. The tonal trend du jour: warm as opposed to cool shades. John Whelan of the Garren salon in New York City took the model's hair to a light-caramel color. He then added pale golden highlights in a mohawk pattern at the crown. "I wanted to add illumination to the top and keep depth underneath," he says. If you have relaxed hair, proceed with caution. "Anyone with chemically straightened hair has to be careful about how much lightening they do," he adds. "The added chemicals in the dye can be damaging."

When Coloring Goes Wrong

If you're unhappy with a new hue, you do have options to correct it. If you're using an at-home kit and the shade comas out too light or too dark, you may be able to fix it with another application, but be sure to wait the recommended amount of time (color pros suggest anywhere from 24 hours to two weeks, depending on the type of color and condition of your hair). Most coloring products list an 800 number for the company's consumer-affairs department, where you might be able to get advice to help you correct the problem. You can always seek the advice of a professional. Of course, if you're dissatisfied with the color you received at your salon, express your concerns to your stylist. He or she can fix it on the spot, or discuss how it will be corrected on your next visit.

At-home Coloring Tips

Before you color at home, take note of these pro tips and helpful products:

* Read the instructions thoroughly. Make sure you understand the entire coloring process before you begin.

* Have everything you need laid out before starting. Once you apply color, you're on the clock. Don't get stuck without the necessary tools.

* Do a strand test Take a small section of hair from the back of the head and apply the color formula. This way you'll know the result before you go for the real thing. In addition, most coloring kits recommend doing a skin-allergy test 48 hours before you color your hair.

CLAIROL HERBAL ESSENCES HIGHLIGHTS eliminates the guesswork with formulas in visible colors and a special application comb that lets you see exactly where highlights are being placed. Available in three shades, it's safe for color-treated hair.

L'OREAL COULEUR EXPERTE is a two-step permanent hair-color system that lets you create a customized, multitoned effect. First, hair is colored evenly with a base color. Then complementary highlights are applied at will with a tool similar to a mascara wand. The result: natural-locking color throughout.

CLAIROL NATURAL INSTINCTS is a demipermanent color that's great for covering gray or bringing out your natural pigment. The formula--which is available in 31 shades and lasts for up to 28 shampoos--is safe for relaxed and color treated hair.

L'OREAL COLOUR RAYS BRUSH-ON COLOUR HIGHLIGHTS lets women with dark hair add highlights in bold shades like fuchsia and red. The directions tell you how to apply funky highlights all over, around the face, in the bang area or just at the ends.

SOFTSHEEN-CARSON Hi REZ HIGH RESOLUTION HAIR COLOR is a permanent-coloring system that banishes brassiness. It has a chromatic dye technology specifically formulated to give women with dark hair vibrant results and intensive conditioning.

DARK AND LOVELY

Who says dark hair has to be dull? Diane Bailey of Tendrils Hair Spa in Brooklyn chooses rich. warm colors like deep brown, cinnamon and burgundy as seasonal favorites. And colorful undertones mixed in with clean, dark color are a fun way to welcome summer's warmth. "Bright colors can complement deeper skin tones," says Bailey, who colored the model's unprocessed hair with semipermanent color in black, then went in with a plum-fuchsia shade.

A TASTE OF HONEY

A honey-brown base punctuated with highlights is one of the season's top looks. "Honey-brown hair color is great for those who want to brighten up their look without going too far into the blond family," says Clairol colormaster Veron Charles-Thornhill. She matched Clairol Textures and Tones 5G, a light golden brown, to the model's previously colored, relaxed hair.

HAIR-COLOR DO'S AND DON'T'S

What you need to know before you take on a new hue:

DO ask for a consultation before the actual color service. Most salons offer this option. During your meeting the colorist may ask questions about your lifestyle, grooming regimen, hair history and health to help achieve the best result. She may even want to do a strand test on a section in the back of the head to assess the color before processing all your hair.

DO pamper your colored locks. Hair color really pops on healthy hair, so deep-condition yours every time you wash it. Many colorists recommend using shampoos and conditioners specifically formulated for color-treated hair (try Aveda Color Conserve or Joico Color Endurance products).

DO understand the required maintenance, based on the type of color process you've chosen. Permanent color won't sham poo out; it has to grow out and typically needs to be retouched every four to six weeks, depending on the amount of new growth and desired effect. Semipermanent color rinses out in approximately four weeks. Demipermanent color lies between semipermanent and permanent color, and lasts from 24 to 28 shampoos. Highlighting hair with permanent color gives you more freedom, because you can have it touched up every six weeks or every six months.

DO approach dramatic hair-color change in stages. Go on and add a touch of diva to your do, but if you're a hair-color novice, you may want to do it gradually. Instead of going from black to blond in a day, try starting out with caramel highlights.

DO consider changing your hair color seasonally. "Hair should be deeper and warmer in the fall and more vibrant in the summer," says colorist Shirley Gordon of Strands Hair Studio in Silver Spring, Maryland.

DO stick with a good colorist. When you cultivate a relationship with her she'll learn which formula works best for you and have a better sense of your hair's needs.

DON'T apply a chemical relaxer and permanent color on the same day. Generally it's best to wait at least two weeks after using a relaxer to apply permanent color, Then wait at least four weeks for your next touch-up, and make sure the relaxer formula is mild.

DON'T choose color that doesn't work with your lifestyle. If you swim daily or have chemically straightened hair, intensive color processing, like Beyonces blond hue, probably isn't a viable option.

DON'T forget to moisturize your hair. Apply oil or cream every other day to protect hair from the elements.

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