9:44am (UK)

Bring Back Brunette

By Shereen Low, PA Features

The debate continues to rage on - do blondes really have more fun?

More and more celebrities, such as Sarah Jessica Parker who went brown for the new series of Sex And The City, are beginning to embrace their natural brunette, while others, from Britney to Sarah Michelle Gellar have flirted with darker locks.

The catwalk has celebrated elegant, ladylike 50s fashion a la Audrey Hepburn - and she too was a natural brunette. Blondes were even omitted from the spring couture shows from Chanel to Versace.

According to Carolyn Newman, Colour Director at Charles Worthington, brunettes are definitely back in fashion.

“Brunettes are the new blondes!” she says excitedly. “Shades such as earth brown, pepper and stone are all hot colours for this season.

“Sienna Miller has recently turned brunette and so has Sarah Jessica Parker. These people are high fashion opinion leaders and people tend to follow their trend.

“I was a blonde for 15 years and am now a brunette, and I feel the new season’s fashions work well with rich chocolate brown hair.”

If you’re not convinced brunettes have more fun, here’s how to make the best of your own shade.

COOL CHOCOLATES

To keep brown hair looking healthy and shiny like renowned brunettes Kristin Davis and Catherine Zeta-Jones, pick products designed to enhance colour and shine without ammonia and peroxide.

Susan Baldwin, Creative Colour Director at John Frieda, says it’s not just enough to go darker.

“The new brunette must look shiny and healthy, especially for summer,” she says. “Great condition and a sharp hair cut is perfect on dark chocolate browns, without any red tones, while medium to light browns look modern with highlights spaced through. This gives texture and life to longer hair.”

She adds: “Brunette hair needs to be groomed, but soft and young. Not too big for summer, but blow-dried or tonged into waves. Creating smoothness reflects the light and make the colour look great.”

John Frieda’s new Brilliant Brunette range is the first comprehensive brand formulated to address the specific needs of brown hair. There are specially designed shampoos and conditioners for two shades of brunette - choose Hazelnut to Chestnut for lighter shades of brown, and Chocolate to Espresso for darker hues

Finish with styling products including Shine Shock for glossy locks, and Satin Shine Finishing Creme. Prices start at £4.29 from Boots.

Treat your hair once a week with TIGI’s Chocolate Head, £11.05 (call 0870 330 0955), a hair repair treatment which should be applied after shampooing.

BRILLIANT BLONDES

Whether you’re a platinum blonde like Oscar-winner Charlize Theron or a darker shade of fair like Holly Hunter, it’s vital to invest in products to bring out that gloss.

Hair stylist Andrew Collinge says blonde hair needs extra care. A deep conditioning once a week is essential to keep it supple.

“Blonde hair needs special care to protect it from dryness caused by exposure to the sun and the elements, and from build up that can dull or darken the hair.”

He recommends his Perfect Blonde Conditioning Treatment with UV filter, 99p per sachet, a moisturising treatment to repair damage, protect and leave hair soft, smooth and bright.

Newman suggests detoxing your hair once a week. Try Charles Worthington’s Dream Unbelievably Clean shampoo, £4.99 from Boots, or a gentle formulation like Johnson’s Baby Camomile shampoo, £1.89, to refresh both coloured and natural blonde locks, and remove staining from smoke and pollution.

Andrew Collinge’s new collection, Perfect Blonde, has shampoos and conditioners in two shades - Platinum to Champagne blondes, and the slightly darker Honey to Caramel blondes, each £3.95, from Tesco and Superdrug from April.

RADIANT REDHEADS

Redheads like Alyson Hannigan tend to have fewer hairs, and the texture is often thicker with a tendency to coarseness.

Newman advises natural redheads to use glossing shampoos and treatments to maintain shine, while committed fakers like Cynthia Nixon need a rich colour-keeping shampoo. Go for Charles Worthington’s Dream Colourkeeper Bright Future shampoo and Stay True conditioner, £4.99 each, or TIGI’s Fashionista Colour-Safe shampoo and conditioner, from £6.95.

Rev up dull red hair with Frederic Fekkai’s mix of natural red henna, beet extracts and ginger in his Rio Red shampoo, £16 from Space.NK (call 0870 169 9999).

Aveda has a Colour Enhancing shampoo, £7.50, and conditioner, £17, containing scalp-purifyier madder root, to restore warmth to chestnut, auburn and red tones. (Stockists on 01730 232 380).

Nicky Clarke’s Take It As Red products from the Colour Therapy range, priced from £4.99 are available at Boots. And check out Toni & Guy Insights Colour Reviver shampoo in Cranberry Red, £4.99, and Te Tao Colour With Herbs Warm Henna Red colour enhancing shampoo and conditioner, from £3.45.

“Make sure you protect coloured reds when you’re in the sun, to stop your locks from fading,” insists Newman.

BEAUTY SPOT 1

If you’re still searching for that perfect present to show your appreciation for your dear mother, here are some suggestions. The Kenzo Flower Happy Box, £37.99, contains a bottle of floral Eau De Parfum Spray with key notes of Bulgarian rose, wild hawthorn and vanilla and Body Milk. Exclusive to The Perfume Shop - 0845 601 1950/www.theperfumeshop.com.

Or Molton Brown’s Mother’s Day limited edition gift box, £40 contains bath and shower wash, body cream, candle and relaxing spray, infused with a blend of eastern essential oils like ylang-ylang and lavender. (Stockists on 020 7625 6550/www.moltonbrown.co.uk).

If your Mum prefers going out to staying in and pampering, check out Estee Lauder’s limited edition Pure Color Lipstick Palettes, £20. Each compact contains four shades of lippy and brush for flawless application.

BEAUTY SPOT 2

Get into the mood for spring with Nars new spring make-up collection. Inspired by the seaside, Flirtatious Fantasy bursts with fresh, ripe hues reminiscent of rich blue tropical waters and coral sunsets. Revel in the soft washes of colour like Island Fever eyeshadow, with shimmering violet and pacific blue, or Fathom, a pink eyeshadow with silver glitter, while lips are luminous with raspberry Frisky Summer lipgloss, or pink Turkish Delight. Prices start at £13, from House Of Fraser, selected department stores and Space.NK nationwide.

BEAUTY SPOT 3

Hiding in gloves all winter long, one of the most exposed and neglected areas of the body are our hands. Make sure they are in brilliant condition with two new advanced hand creams, launched this month. The renowned Creme De La Mer has created The Hand Treatment, £60 (call 01730 232 566), a silky formulation made from their nutrient-rich marine extracts. Erno Laszlo has also launched an Intensive Hand Cream SPF25, £40, containing shea butter, a lightening complex to even out the skin tone a