Hair to dye for

Tulisa Contostavlos clearly likes to experiment with her hair colour, but switching up your tone for the new season doesn't have to be quite so dramatic.

Talking at this year's home of the X Factor contestants, London's Corinthia Hotel, where he has a VIP suite, celebrity stylist Daniel Galvin says your crowning glory shouldn't actually be the 'mane' attraction.

"When you have the perfect hair colour, the first thing other people should notice is not the hair colour but the eyes," he explains.

"The hair colour makes that possible. When you have the wrong hair colour, the first thing people notice is your hair."

COLOUR COMMITMENT

Beware if you're heading towards a Tulisa-style drastic transformation. You'll require a friendly (and affordable) colourist on speed dial.

But with new techniques like 'finger painting', 'hot fringes' and 'chalking' on hair colour menus, you can decide on your level of commitment.

Galvin's finger painting technique can add depth and movement, minus the pesky root re-growth, while chalking is a temporary way to dabble with brighter shades for parties or special occasions.

"Hair colour needs to be as low-maintenance as possible," Galvin advises, "but grey hair will need to be covered every four to six weeks.

"Condition of the hair is also paramount. You can be a little more experimental with short hair as it's less damaged."

Be wary of so-called home colour semi-permanents. Galvin warns: "Use a 'pure' semi-permanent. Level 2 has peroxide in it, which means it's a longer-lasting semi permanent but it alters the natural hair colour and doesn't fade back."

SEASONAL SWITCHOVER

Just like your wardrobe, changing your hair colour with the seasons can give you an instant boost. But that can be achieved with a new tone or technique rather than a full overhaul.

"There's no such thing as the year of the redhead, blonde or brunette," says Galvin.

"You can have 'in' cuts but the most fashionable colour is whatever suits the individual person."

If you're unsure about which colour direction to take, the head of colour at Errol Douglas Salon, Jessica Speechly, recommends a 'seasonal strand strategy'.

She says: "Wardrobe decisions can be virtually pointless if there's no complementary hair plan in place to blend with and make your clothes 'pop' the year round."

For autumn, she suggests warming up your colour, looking to darker tonal additions: "Blondes go golden, brunettes hint at red, and all hair types are steered towards rich, glossy warmth."

MAINTAIN MODE

Whether it's a professional job or a bathroom sink DIY, hair colour requires extra upkeep to ensure it looks glossy and vibrant.

"Immediately after having your colour done, wait a couple of days before shampooing to preserve the colour," advises celebrity hairdresser Andrew Barton.

Invest in shampoos and conditioners for colour-treated hair that won't 'strip' your new shade.

"Protection and TLC are the secret weapons in keeping coloured hair looking great," Barton says.

"Commit to weekly conditioning masks to pamper and nourish the hair. Blonde hair doesn't reflect shine as easily as darker hair so a quality hair care regime is essential."

Up the intensity of at-home treatments by using a plastic cap or warm towel to increase the temperature at which the product works.

Between touch-ups, coloured dry shampoos are a great way to disguise tell-tale signs of root re-growth.

HAIR COLOUR LINGO

Latest techniques in colour virtually require their own dictionary. Here are the hottest hair crazes explained:

:: Hot Fringes - a solid fringe in a contrasting colour to the rest of the hair.

:: Dip Dye - only the ends, usually the last few inches of the hair, are coloured.

:: Finger Painting - using fingers instead of foils to give a natural, ombre effect.

:: Chalking - a non-committal way to experiment with bright colours using chalk that lasts until you next wash your hair.

:: Double Glazing - a refresher for tired, dull-looking hair.