Fearne Cotton and Katy Perry have switched from natural shades to something a little quirkier while Blake Lively traded in her trademark blonde locks (if only for a few weeks) to debut a pretty shade of strawberry red, and Cheryl Cole made headlines when she said goodbye to her famed brunette extensions for a blonde bob.

Switch hair colour is nothing new for celebrities and after a summer spent frazzling your locks via sun, sea and sand, take a tip from the A-list and inject new life into tired tresses with a crazy new shade. 
 
Recent research by haircare experts Clairol found that nearly 72% of women say they feel more confident and attractive after they’ve coloured their hair, so what better excuse to take action?

Before you go wild with the home dye, however, visit your salon. “Do seek advice - drastic colour changes should only be attempted by a professional,” warns Duffy, Nice ’n Easy’s creative colour director.

Pick the right red

With fiery Rihanna red being one of this season’s hottest dos, always seek a shade to compliment your skin tone.

“If you have very fair skin then choose strawberry, copper, vibrant red or mahogany,” says Marie Robinson, Pantene Pro-V colourist. “Light and dark olive skins should choose chestnuts and darker auburns that don’t have copper or orange undertones.

“If you have natural golden undertones or freckles, then most shades of strawberry and copper hair will look good on you.”
 
Dip-dying for change

For those who aren’t content with one colour, there’s a two-tone solution. The hair du jour for many including Sienna Miller (pink) and Kate Bosworth (green) is a ‘dip-dyed’ effect. This is ideal for those a little wary of extreme makeovers - worst case scenario: grow it out and go for a trim.
 
If you’re getting a whole head of new colour, don’t forget the all important (and sometimes costly) aftercare. To avoid a wash-out you’ll need specialist colour preserving products, regular salon maintenance and the careful avoidance of exposure to chlorine.
 
Commitment-phobes - try before you dye!

For those too shy to dye, why not try a new colour on for size? Over at Hershesons they’ve created a product just for this very purpose - introducing the ‘winge’ (wig-fringe)! Simply clip one into your hair for a radical change without the pass-the-tissues regret, £30 (www.hershesons.com).

Alternatively, non-permanent colours are a good answer to indecision - allowing you all the fun of the rainbow - without the heartbreak of committing to a colour you grow to hate. Wash-in the new season!