Summer is the perfect season to get more adventurous and playful with your hair. Your wardrobe is brighter, braver and more colourful – so why stop there? We’ve paired up with L’Oréal Paris to give you the heads up on the hottest styles for summer, and the how-to guide on how you can achieve the looks at home.

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Ombré

This is a trend that’s not going anywhere! Beloved of some of fashion’s hottest stars, the dip dye look just screams cool, and you get the added bonus of not having to worry about roots – score! Amber le Bon, Jessica Alba, Anna Kendrick and fashion’s darling Alexa Chung have all embraced this look, you’ll be in very good company indeed.

Get the look:

Try L’Oréal Paris Préférence Wild Ombrés to get the perfect balayage effect at home. The three colour collection provided permanent lightening colour, easily applied with the exclusive patented Expert Brush. First, mix the lightening crème and the lightening powder in the developer bottle, cap on and shake well! Next, section the hair (which should be dry), and focus on the areas around the face. If you have long hair, start applying the mixture at about chin level, but if your hair is shoulder length then start around your ears. Simply comb through the lengths of hair you want to lighten. Leave to develop for 25 to 45 minutes, bearing in mind that the longer you leave it the brighter your hair will get. Keep your gloves on and rinse out, and use the conditioning shampoo with ceramides to leave your mane smooth and glossy! 

Which shade is for you? 

If you have medium to dark brown hair, choose No 1

If you have dark blonde to light brown hair, No 2

If you have light to medium blonde hair, No 3

 

RRP €12.19

 

Pretty Pastels

Chances are that at least once in your youth you desperately wanted to dye your hair hot pink or electric blue, but mammy put a stop to that… thankfully. You can still introduce some funky colour to your hair, but the new trend is all about a more subtle touch. Pale pastels that look edgy but chic, and are so much softer on the face are the order of the day. Kelly Osbourne’s lilac is a perfect example, and Dame Helen Mirren’s pink do shows you can rock this look at any age and still look amazing.

Get the Look: 

For this look, get your hand on the L’Oréal Paris Féria Pastels range. Opt for Pink Panter, Peach Punch or Lilac Lavender for a subtle shade that’s sure to turn heads. This collection is designed especially for bleached, highlighted or naturally blonde hair. Opt for all-over colour, or a dip-dye effect that’s perfect for summer festivals.  To apply at home, get your gloves on and work the product through wet hair, working up from the ends, and stopping at chin length if you just want a dip-dye, but carrying on up and massaging throughout the hair if you want all over colour. Comb to make sure the product is evenly spread, and leave to develop for 15 minutes. Rise until the water runs clear, and you have a brand new shade that will last for three to five washes!

 

RRP €12.19

 

Beautiful Brunette

Turn from mousy brown to shimmering warm tones and channel your inner Cheryl Cole. The Geordie pop stars hair is a thing of beauty, and some of Hollywood’s hottest stars are coming over to the dark side. Zooey Deschanel and Eva Longoria are just two of the other many famous brunettes whose locks we lust over!

 

 

Get the Look: 

Step one in your Cheryl lookalike venture is picking up L’Oréal Paris Casting Crème Gloss, a no ammonia colourant that will give you visible shimmering tones and glossy shine, as well as hiding any grey hairs that might be lurking around! Wet hair and towel dry, then apply Vaseline around your hairline to prevent staining your skin. Squeeze the Cream Colourant into the Developer Crème. Apply to your hair in sections, concentrating on the roots, and leave for 15 minutes. Spread the rest of the product through your whole hair, using all of the mixture. Massage through evenly, and leave for another five minutes, then rinse and condition with the included conditioner, and Hey Presto, Cheryl has a twin!

 

RRP €12.19