Turn On the Highlights.(hair coloring)(Brief Article)

Put a gleam in his eye with a headful of sun-kissed strands. Here, the shade-boosting how-tos, whether you want to lighten up at the salon or your sink.

You have your string bikini and self tanner working to drive the boys wild. But don't forget the one finishing touch that'll have guys going loco over little ol' you! A seductive, sun-kissed mane. If the rays need help shifting into high gear, take the new-hue plunge and have a fling color that's irresistibly oomphed-up. We've rounded up the essential pro pointers to get your strands streaked and in sync with the season, whether you seek out a salon expert or act as your own pro and pull it off at home.

Deep-Hued Diva Even dark locks can give off a summer's-here-so-seduce-me vibe when they're glitzed with gold.

* For the salon savvy: The most flirtatious way to summerize a dark mink mane is to spike it with sparks of auburn and gold, says Victoria Hunter of Bumble and Bumble Salon in NYC, who created this look. To get this tantalizing tint, ask your colorist to pick out random sections all over--adding more around the face--and to use foils.

* The DIY dish: To soup up your shade at home, apply a spicy semipermanent color to select strands with a toothbrush. Try Garnier's Nutrisse Nutricolor Masque in Beechnut or Cinnamon Stick. (Win these shades and more on page 96.) Mix two tones--say, gold and copper-throughout hair for an eye-catching effect.

* For kitchen beauticians: Create some smoldering strands of color by adding two tablespoons of beet juice to half a cup of water, spray it onto wet hair, apply heat for 10 minutes (or sit in the sun), shampoo, and style, says Stephen Sanna of NYC's Pierre Michel Salon.

Beachy Blonds