For many, the thought of moving beyond the standard regimen of hair highlights for spring is like last year’s retro Farrah Fawcett flip—over before you can schedule an appointment with your stylist. But if expanding your hair horizons has ever been a consideration, this is the year to do it.

"It’s been a gloomy winter of mourning,” says Jennifer Scolnick, stylist, colorist and owner of Fratangelo’s Beauty Boutique in Hillsboro. "People are interested in brightening things up.”

Instead of the highlights and muted neutrals of spring past, salon-goers are asking for richer, warmer tones in the form of dimensional color (salon-speak for illiminating the naturaltone of the hair). The results: a sun –touched, all-over color update that draws attention to the entire head of hair.

This look is great for almost everyone, says Daria Daniel of Richard Herrera About Hair Salon in Portland, because it emphasis the beauty of each individual. A colorist will accomplish this look by adding either a darker or lighter version of the hair’s natural color.

Kim Laundeen, Artistic Color Director at Gene Juarez Salon and Spa in Bellevue, says that while blonde is always "in” for spring, golden and honey hues are definitely dominating the season. She is also seeing a drift toward dimensional color.

"The look creates movement because it appears solid,” Lundeen sats, emphasizing that is a great way to add the illusion of body or fullness.

Dimensional color is also very realistic and wearable, Daniel says. "It’s not a trendy fad,” she says. "It’s fitting for a professional career women.”

Another way to easily update your tresses is to consider eye color when selecting a spring shade. This is often overlooked in favor of matching to skin tone, Scolnick says. She suggests ginger and copper tones to complement hazel eyes, and beige or pink undertones if you have brown eyes. Blonde tones are sill a sure-thing for those with blue eyes. And if your blue eyes are somewhat icy, Scolnick recommends an icy-blonde shade.

While dimensional color is by bar the season’s leading trend, traditional spring highlights are not out of the question, Lundeen says. "This year, you’ll see more contrast in highlights__ a less blended look.”

Once the color is in, proper care is crucial to your new look’s longevity. Lundeen recommends using a color-safe shampoo with a low PH-level, and tells her clients to avoid shampooing everyday, as over-washing will increase color’s fade factor.

Another sure way to guarantee premature color fading (and poor-quality in general) is by using packaged hair color from your lock one-stop shopping center. Experts agree it is virtually unfeasible to achieve a natural, beauty-enhancing look through low-priced do-it yourself kits. These kits, Lundeen says, don’t consider the chemical process required to change the color of your locks, so your hair will never match the color on the box. For example, if a dark brunette craves a lighter shade of brown, the results will probably be a reddish-orange hue. Sconick states that do-it yourself color will not allow anyone to achieve this season’s dimensional look. "you’ll end up with flat, spotty color because you can’t get a consistent and even application,” she says.