Cooler Weather Means Cool Blonde Highlights for Lucy Hale

Whenever I get bitten by the hair-color bug — and I mean a big bite that makes me want to make a humongous change — my mom always says something along the lines of, “Why don't you see if you can get the same effect with just highlights?” Spoiler alert: On hair as dark as mine, highlighting alone rarely results in the same effect as bleaching and coloring every strand — but that doesn't mean you can't still get gorgeous, look-altering results. And I think that may be exactly what Lucy Hale just did.

You may recall that Hale had a fabulous photoshoot last month with Only Natural Diamonds in which she wore a wavy wig in a buttery blonde — a color she hasn't been in years. She's been sporting a rich, dark brown hair color for quite some time, but it seems wearing that wig might have started something of an itch to go back to a lighter, brighter color. And perhaps, like me, Hale has someone gently suggesting that maybe a dramatic, potentially damaging, high-maintenance dye job isn't necessarily the way to go.

Hale posted a super-cute selfie to Instagram Stories on Sunday, December 17, and her dark-chocolate hair is no more. It seems as the weather gets cooler, so goes her hair color, thanks to cool blonde highlights.

She thanks colorist Matt Rez, who proudly reposted the photo to his own Instagram Stories. The color still feels decidedly brunette thanks to her roots and base color, but the lightness of the highlights gives it lots of dimension — without the high-maintenance commitment.

If you've been thinking of lightening up, don't let the fact that it's winter stop you. Going blonder for the holidays is a clear trend this year — Selena Gomez and Kristen Stewart have both made the season brighter with highlights, too.

More on hair color:

• 2024’s Best Hair Color Trends Are Unbelievably Warm and Buttery
• Penélope Cruz Has the Ombré-est Ombré in Hollywood Right Now
• Selena Gomez Made the Last Hair Color Change You'd Expect for Winter

Now watch Charli D'Amelio react to TikTok beauty trends:

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