I bleached my hair platinum for years. I just used 40 volume peroxide, WELLA powder bleach, and White Minx toner. It looked good, but the DIY thing had to end at some point! My rule of thumb is to make my color decisions based on how much maintenance I'm willing to give my locks and how much time I am willing to spend at the salon. I generally stay within two shades of my natural blonde, unless I plan on seeing my hairstylist every three weeks for root touch-ups and fresh toner.

I always ask my stylist to keep small sections of my natural color underneath the front and sides so that it mixes in with my lightened color and minimizes the "rooty" look when it grows in. The key to any good color is the cut, and I will stand by this statement! Unless you have extremely healthy-looking hair with a perfect mirror sheen (which is tough with processed hair) texture is important. It keeps things interesting and, more importantly, it disguises damage!

I keep my hair pretty short, so I can change up the color without wreaking havoc on my hair. My natural shade is a medium ash -- my stylist says it's about a level 8 -- but I have him bring it up to a 9 or 10 depending on the cut and the season.

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