Find the hair hue that express you: think you need to be a blond to be a bombshell? Or a brunette to mean business? Au contraire. Today there's a fresh set of rules: Any color can make the statement you want.

* Look at the locks of almost any Hollywood hottie (think Rachel McAdams or Cameron Diaz) and you'll see that their hair-color history is its changeable its the weather forecast. On Monday, a star can show up sporting a sunny blond tint, only to unveil a sultry brunette hue just days later Their shade switcheroos have not only reinforced their reps as style chameleons but have also changed the assumptions we have about hair color. Gone are the stereotypes of blonds being the bombshells; brunettes monopolizing the smart-cookie look, mad redheads being the most brazen beauties.

"It's extremely modern to have an evolving personal image," says Los Angeles psychologist Debbie Then, PhD. "Women don't want to be pigeonholed into the same cookie-cutter look to express who they are," she says.

Another driving force behind this tint trend: "Hair-color formulas are more gentle and conditioning than ever before," says bicoastal salon owner Louis Licari, who created the stunning hair hues on our models.

So whether you're tempted to make a dramatic tress-tint transformation or just go for a subtle effect, flip the page to discover all of your hair-color options.

 
12 Ultrahot Hair Colors 
 
Bombshell                            Smart Cookie 
 
A sexy tempt-him tint is all about   "It's all about looking elegant 
brightness-even if your base color   and polished," says Then. The 
is a darker red or brown. "The       color should appear monotone at 
common thread for a bombshell        first glance, but on closer 
effect is to weave in lighter        inspection, there can be some 
tones so that your hair literally    special effects to make it look 
dazzles," explains Licari.           less flat and more eye-catching. 
 
Brunette 
 
Paint beaming honey highlights       A rich, warm, shiny mahogany 
throughout medium-                   brown is very sophisticated, 
brown tresses. The streaksy          says Licari. The right special 
should be at least three             effect: Follow up coloring with 
shades lighter than your base        a clear gloss. This shine 
to brighten it up as much as         enhancing treatment is the key 
possible. Try L'Oreal Couleur        to making dark hues look 
Experte Multi-Tonal Color System     extra-alluring. Try Clairol 
in French Eclair, $21.95,            Herbal Essences Bold 'n Brilliant 
which contains a light brown         Color in Chocolate Velvet, 
base plus honey highlights.          $9.99, which comes with a 
                                     conditioning gloss to use right 
                                     after dying your do. 
 
Redhead 
 
Ask for an auburn base (which        "A solid dark auburn is a smart- 
is soft and feminine), then          looking color," says Licari. 
sexify it with some alluring light   A reddish-brown base like 
auburn highlights scattered          Julianne Moore's reads well-bred 
on the top layer of your hair.       and chic. "It's the perfect 
We think Lindsay Lohan               balance between looking natural 
pulls off this effect perfectly.     and refined," adds Then. 
Already a redhead? Create            Make sure the color stays 
spicy streaks at home with           shiny by using a moisturizing 
a kit like Gamier Color              semipermanent color kit (you 
Breaks Dimensional Lightener         can redo it more often than 
in Light Auburn to Reddish           regular permanent versions to 
Brown, $7.29.                        ensure your hue stays true). 
 
Blond 
 
Go for an overall buttery golden     "Go for a darker blond, like 
blond hue, then add some             honey or wheat," suggests 
lighter highlights around your       Licari. "It looks polished, but 
face, like Carmen ...