You know the drill: Go to the hairdresser, get bits of your hair slathered in color and put up in foils to create a highlighted look. It’s still OK to do that, but many women are trying a much bolder look with highlights that evoke the rainbow instead of just different light hues. Lauren Conrad is one celebrity who tried out multicolored highlights and tweeted the unconventionally pretty results. It’s called “rainbow ombre” in stylist speak, and it’s a cool look for courageous fashionistas. But it can be worn by most anyone. Those with very dark hair may have trouble getting the look – it requires having a lighter shade of hair – but if you’re OK with bleaching the tips, then you can get vibrant color.

The ombre look is simply a graduation of color down a section of hair, usually underneath the rest of the hair in the back to achieve a subtle look. It’s not the bright, punk look of the ’80s or ’90s – it’s a more stylish, couture look that upscale women who even have office jobs are sporting. But if the color isn’t for you, then you can still rock an ombre look. Celebrities such as Sarah Jessica Parker, Jessica Biel and Alessandra Ambrosio all have darker hair beginning at the roots that gets lighter and lighter until it’s blonde at the tips. Brunettes and redheads are the best candidates for the look, and stylists say it offers more dimension to hair color. Be sure to get an experienced stylist before attempting one of these bold looks – you don’t want to end up looking like Cruella De Ville!