I’ve never really changed my hair color much. I always [...]]]> Spring is almost here and the one thing that most of my clients did in anticipation of its arrival was to lighten their hair. Beyonce at the Grammy’s was rocking a much lighter blonde ‘do. She and girlfriend Gwyneth Paltrow could pass for hair sisters.

I’ve never really changed my hair color much. I always prefer me with darker hair color, I feel it sets off my skin tone very well. But if your adventurous enough ask your stylist for a lighter shade. You can do this safely with highlights or get a few pieces of lightly colored weave placed strategically throughout your hair. If you want to go full throttle blonde and your hair is currently relaxed make sure your hair is in optimal health before going this light. Talk it over with your stylist and make sure it’s something that fits your lifestyle and something you can afford. (You will have to get your roots touched up at least every 4 weeks.)

If you’re something of a scaredy-cat like me but still want to rock a lighter ‘do consider asking your stylist for an ombre hair color. Now don’t get scared of the word—"Ombre" literally means graduation in French, which refers to the dark-to-light fade of color that is used in the technique. Instead of color that starts at the root, darker roots blend into a lightened mid-shaft and end.

The term was taken from the fashion world, where the ombre style of diffusing color is used for fabric, and is most often seen in kimonos. The shot of lightness adds a youthful look to hair, as strands naturally lighten under the sun further down the shaft from the root.

If you’re interested in trying the trend out, look for a colorist with experience in painting color and highlights straight onto the hair without using foils, as that’s the primary technique for the effect. Foiling can also be used, but is best applied by a colorist who has the ability to do both. Just remember that even though it’s low-fuss and budget-friendly hair (constant root touch-ups will be a thing of the past!), you still need to take care of it. Since you’re lightening the tips so much, the ends of your hair will be ultra fragile, so definitely invest in some restorative products. If your hair is naturally dark like mine you can get this look by asking your stylist to put in lighter extensions at the bottom of your hair and leaving your natural hair at the top. Just make sure she blends both colors so it looks like a graduation of color, a harsh line is big no-no.

Either way, be lite brite this spring and opt for a lighter shade with your hair. Can’t get enough of Beyonce’s fierce new hair color? Check out her Loreal commercial below: