Add Some Pizzazz to Hair With Autumn Shades

Fall is in full swing. Just as the weather changes, so should your hair.

The cooler new season is a fun time to change your look and it can start with your hair. Exciting new cuts and colors can make anyone feel like a new person.

Paul Faulkner, stylist and colorist at Village Cuts and Color on St. Simons Island, Ga., has been attending classes and hair education seminars in Atlanta and Orlando to bring locals, and visitors, the latest in hair styles.

Leaves are changing color, so is hair.

"Here comes the Aztec (colors)," said Faulkner, who used Redken products. "The browns, oranges, warm colors."

It is really easy to go from a lighter color to a darker one and we are not just talking about plain brunette.

There are all kinds of subtle hints of reds, oranges and browns that match the color of the changing leaves to add to your strands. Faulkner advises adding low lights to dark hair to give it dimension.

Forget the clean cut hair.

In Atlanta, Faulkner found himself in class learning how to cut hair in the shag-style, reminiscent of the 1980's.

"People are going from the posh look to the shag," he said. "It still has a lot of softness with a lot of movement."

The cut is very important and with the layered shag look you can throw in some cool different low lights that will really stand out.

After a hot and humid summer, let's get the hair in shape.

"Start with a clean canvas when changing hair color," said Faulkner.

That means using clarifying shampoo to get all the product build up out of the hair. Shampoos, conditioners, hair gels, hairsprays and mousse can leave some nasty residue in the hair.

A clarifying shampoo left on for 15 minutes or so will wash the hair clean of any impurities.

It will also help deposit the color better and make it last longer.

As the temperatures cool down, the heaters are being cranked up.

Heat can suck the moisture out of your skin and hair.

Faulkner said it is not a bad idea to carry a spray moisturizer for your hair so it does not dry out and lets it keeps its bounce and shine.