by Ruby Cline

I recently had the best haircut and color of my life. It wasn't because I took in a handful of celebrity styles from the pages of InStyle or Glamour magazines. It wasn't because I told my stylist every meticulous detail of my hairstyle hopes and dreams. Instead, I told her what every skilled professional loves to hear when accepting such a task. I said, "Do what you do best." It turned out so well because she knows my lifestyle, my hair and me.

If you haven't yet located a professional you can trust with your tresses, take these tips on what to expect into consideration. "A lot of people are afraid to bring pictures in, even if the style won't work," says Heather Seay, stylist at Dominic Michael. "This way, I have an idea at least of where the person's coming from and where we can go from there. I can show her the parts that will work (then revamp the rest)."

Industry experts agree, suggesting clients bring in a picture of when they really liked their hair for the initial consultation. This way, it gives the stylist a picture of who the woman is.

To have your hair needs met, you have to be sensible about the strands that be. You have to be realistic with what you have in terms of hair type, where you can go with it and what you can do to achieve that look. You need a realistic overview of your expectations before making an appointment.

If you don't have a regular stylist or you've been in knots over what to do with your hairdo, take some advice from the experts. Find out the right hues to make your skin illuminate this summer and learn which cuts work best with the shape of your face.

Summer hues

As temperatures rise, women tend to look on the bright side of things, not only in their wardrobes, but also in their hair. In the spring and summer, people are always looking to go lighter and brighter. They wear brighter colors and, in turn, want to brighten up their hair.

"Color is still definitely a big trend," Seay says. "Everybody looks better with a little bit of color - no matter their natural hair color.

"For blonds, you can add more to brighten their color," she adds. "And red and golden blonds are definitely coming back again."

Typically, women want a multidimensional hair color that always looks great and doesn't require drastic touch-ups. Color experts are now marrying colors to create high-impact dimensional color.

Another trend is a duo-tone look. This style is achieved when the underneath is darker than the top. When the hair swings, it shows depth and dimension.

If you've lost track of your features and seem to be overpowered by your hair, think about changing your cut. To ensure happiness, take into consideration your face shape and hair type. A stylist can help you determine these factors.

A chic coiffure

Regardless of the trends, not every haircut looks good on everyone. Rather, it's an individual thing. "You need to look for something that will work with your hair," Seay says. Pay attention to your bone structure to make sure your hair isn't overpowering. It has to be an accent.

"You need to do what will work with your hair," Seay adds. "There's no perfect wake-up-in-the-morning look. Everybody has to do something with their hair whether it's drying it with the round brush or using a flat iron if that's what's needed."

When it comes to cuts, longer hair is still very hot right now. "It's actually easier to style versus a shorter cut," Seay notes. "Nobody wants to spend an hour on her hair. The longer layered cuts are definitely the most versatile. If you keep it trimmed regularaly, it looks clean like a style, not just 'she let her hair grow.'"

These days, there's no specific 'do, per se.

To track the up-and-coming styles, just follow fashion. "Hair kind of follows fashion trends," Seay says. "The soft flowy Bohemian trends call for softer hair, nothing severe. The big waves you can do with hot rollers have made their way back." Other ways to acheive summer's carefree curls, Seay suggests, are by using big barrel curling irons, twisting your hair when it's still damp, or using good old Velcro rollers.

Gone are the days of stick-straight hair. Currently, the look is softer and more ladylike. Women who used to come in to get their hair straightened are now having it diffused and having more curls put in.

Along with the no-fuss, no-muss styles, you'll find the reemergence of braids and easy up-dos.

Braids are coming back as are soft chignons. The cuts that go along with these styles are soft and tousled. The edges are left broken, not horizontal or geometric. To compliment the styles, there also is a lot of dry cutting to give a softer look.

For a carefree up-do, just pull back your hair in random pieces. There's no stark or put-together look. It's loosely arranged hair.

Back in full effect is the timeless 'tail, some teased and some simple. If you take note of fashion shows and magazines, you'll notice more and more ponytails in creative, sophisticated finishes. This is a great style because it can be achieved very easily by most women.

"The fact that hair's getting longer, you're going to find easier ways to do ponytails, quick little twists and easy up-do versions," Seay says. "You can style a ponytail, pull half through and leave the ends out for a good summer look." Another way to jazz up your mane is by using headbands. "The headbands are making it big," Seay says. "It's great to backcomb underneath at the nape of your neck so the hairband stays in. If you have bangs, pull some out. You should also pouf up the crown a little bit so it looks like you attempted to style your hair even though you do have a headband in."

Tool time

When it comes to achieving the perfect look, remember the importance of good tools and products. For great summer hair, Redken's UV Rescue Recovery Treat is a great after-sun restorative treatment. And if you want lived-in hair, you don't have to shampoo every day.

Before you can perfect your style, you have to start out with the perfect blowout. While they can be pricey, ionic hair dryers are the best for your hair. The Tourmaile Professional Ionic Hair Dryer goes for $200 at Sephora and boasts great benefits. This helps with fast drying and healthier hair, eliminates static and smooths hair surface for softness and shine.

If you get tangled up deciding on what to do with your 'do, set up a consultation with a professional. They can help you have a good hair day - every day. "It's all about communication," Seay says. "That's another reason why I want clients to bring in pictures. It gives me a starting point and an idea of what they want to do. When it's something that can be achieved, I can then let the client know what products they need to use and how to dry it to achieve the certain look."

The Right Style for You

Find out your face shape and follow up with these suggestions

Oval > You can pretty much get away with anything. Don't worry about hiding any particular feature. Avoid a blunt cut if you have thick, curly hair.

Long > Keep hair shoulder length with lots of layers at the bottom. Bangs also work well to help balance features. Look for a cut that adds volume on the sides to create balance. You don't want too much height on top.

Round > Deemphasize the fullness on the sides by trying softer layers that are

face-framing. Soft side swept bangs work well to balance features.

Square > Usually looks better with a soft layer around the front to help emphasize features. Avoid one-length bobs and blunt cuts.

Heart > Try longer side swept bangs and wavy styles to enhance the focal points, which are the eyes and cheekbones. Avoid middle parts.

Article appears as published in the St. Louis Woman Magazine June 2006 issue.