NZhairdressers

This summer, there are definitely good blondes and bad blondes. If you're opting to turn a lighter shade of pale ask your hairdresser to work your hair towards the modern blonde palette of beige and oyster tones with the slightest hint of pastel to brighten the mood.

Don't take your lead from Pamela Anderson--brassy, bold blondes are definitely a no-no. "Foils are more subtle and softer now," says Cole Schierenbeck of Stephen Marr salon. "Colour is not as aggressive as it has been in previous seasons."

This means bold statements such as Christina Aguilera-style two-tone colour combos and sandwich layers have to go. The other big factor, says Schierenbeck, is shine. Previously, dull or matte finishes were popular so it didn't matter if blonde hair was looking a little flat, but this summer shine is of paramount importance.

"It could just be a matter of swapping to a new styling product that gives your hair a loose, chunky texture but also adds shine," Schierenbeck says. He's a fan of Kerastase Oleo Relax to calm frizzy hair and keep it looking smooth and shiny on humid days.

He also suggests sunscreen products to protect tresses from sun and wind damage. However, he's not too precious. When I suggest pouring on a sun-bleach boosting product such as Fudge's new Beach Bum blonding shampoo, conditioner and creme, Schierenbeck winces a little but doesn't faint. "You can sun-bleach your hair but it's a pretty harsh way to get highlights.

Most of those products contain hydrogen peroxide and it'll really strip your hair," he says. "Still, if you want to do it, there are always products that will help fix your hair up afterwards."

But while Schierenbeck doesn't rule out sun-accelerating blonding products he draws the line at home bleach kits. "Home dyeing isn't so bad but I've seen a lot of tragedies with bleaching," he warns. "Nine times out of 10 it's a frightmare."

The rush to turn blonde at this time of the year is a lemming-like phenomenon, says Stephen Marr head stylist Lucy Marr. "In winter our stock cupboard is 70% full of brown dye. In summer that figure gets turned on its head and we're doing 70% blondes." Not that there's anything wrong with that, she says. "It's part of shucking off that old winter image.

You get your highlights, your fake tan and your pedicure and, it's like shedding that winter skin. You're re-energising for the summer." This season however, the blonde explosion is bigger than ever. "We're doing an unusually high number of blondes right now," Marr admits. Could it be that everyone wants to have more fun?