I go to two separate hairdressers for my cut and color, yet often I like to schedule both appointments within a few days of each other to take care of my hair as quick as I can. Perhaps you also have stylists you stay loyal to, or you’re pressed for time and need to make two different visits—which do you do first, the cut or the color?

You know those T-shirts that say “Blondes Have More Fun”? They make me sort of wistful. For a hefty portion of my life, being blonde was a significant part of my identity, one that was hard to give up. I was born blonde and remained naturally so until junior high, when my hair started to darken with puberty. That’s when I took to the bottle—the bottle of peroxide that is. I associated being blonde with being pretty, feminine, and fun. In junior high I did not feel particularly pretty, feminine, OR fun, but I really wanted to be, so dying my hair—lighter ... and lighter ... and lighter—was my way of grasping for those qualities.

My biggest beauty expense has to be my hair color. Each year, I willingly give hundreds and hundreds of dollars to salons. However, I’ve been in a weird situation lately where I am looking to cut back on my expenses, but not willing to give up my super blonde locks. My answer has been to reduce the frequency of my salon visits for dye jobs, and rely on some tricks for prolonging a natural yet pretty shade.

A reader wrote in asking me why most men are “fascinated” with redheads. In this instance, I think “fascinated” is a nice way of saying “obsessed.” She admitted to being a redhead, and, therefore, the object of such ardor. She’s asked these men why they are so drawn to the crimson-haired, and the best she ever got out of them was “Redheads iz just hawt, yo!” This is true, but it is not the whole truth.

The editors of Harper’s Bazaar had an interesting idea for their August issue—get Lauren Conrad to sport a brunette wig for 24 hours. Not sure what the point of this was exactly—did they intend it as a prank or some lame-o social experiment? In the end, the California girl totally wasn’t feeling her brown hair, even though I think it looked kind of fantastic. “Day to day, I can only do blonde. Everything else makes me look sort of plain-Jane,” she told People.

Wait, being brunette makes you a plain Jane? God, I am so over this whole blondes-have-more-fun thing. Here are ten reasons why I’m a happy card-carrying member of the brunette club…

Times are tough and women are looking for ways to cut back. We at The Frisky are determined to bring you the best budget beauty out there, but we are also not going to lie to you: some things you just can’t skimp on. You may never notice the difference between a CoverGirl and a Chanel lipstick but there are certain beauty products and treatments where you will. So save yourself some medical danger and grief and read our five beauty treatments we beg you to fork over the dough for.

Vegans want to look good, but the beauty industry has a habit of ignoring their desire for completely animal-free products. At least until now. Advanced Cosmetic Technologies (ACT) has developed the beauty industry’s first entirely plant-based permanent hair color. The hair color is formulated with very pure, natural plant dyes that enhances existing color, covers gray, and adds highlights without any harmful, synthetic chemicals or peroxide. And, you won’t feel the least bit guilty for using this product because the packaging and insert materials are made from Forest Stewardship Council certified paper and 80 percent post-consumer waste and the packages are printed with soy-based inks using wind-generated energy. If only beauty was always this natural. [$29.99, Advanced Cosmetic Technologies]

Jessica Alba has given up the blond for a more flattering brown. [Beverly Hills, 5/10/09]

An easy ways to update your look is to change your hair color. But before you break out a bottle of peroxide, you should know that every hair color has a positive and negative perception. Before you send the wrong idea, find out what your hair color is saying about you.

Count the models—nine out of 12 of them are blonde. Is the Gap banking on blonde hair getting them through the recession?