Martha Stewart

Beauty

Expert-Approved Tips and Tricks for Transitioning Back to Your Natural Hair Color

Here's a silver lining from the past year and a half: the realization that embracing your natural color can be totally liberating. Growing out your hair smoothly and (yes!) subtly, however, requires some help—which is exactly why we tapped a few experts. Their first tip? Add texture. "Heavily layered cuts can soften the contrast between different shades," says Chicago hairstylist Leigh Hardges. Waves and curls also help disguise new growth. For quick camo, spritz Sachajuan Ocean Mist ($34, amazon.com) all over and give hair a good tousle. Then, finesse the tone. If you're going gray or back to blond, cycle in a violet shampoo weekly to remove brassy tones, says Hardges. A tinted gloss makes any shade more uniform; try Color&Co Color Gloss Conditioner ($30, shop.colorandco.com).

Keep strands strong by scheduling trims every month or so to gradually cut off old color, says New York City stylist and Act+Acre hair-care founder Helen Reavey. And nourish with a weekly strengthening treatment. Try Olaplex No.3 Hair Perfector ($28, sephora.com), suggests L.A. colorist Tracey Cunningham. Itching to switch up your look, even if you're not hitting the dye? There's more than one way to refresh your hair this fall. Choose from these low-maintenance, work-on-any-texture cuts, and shake off the shapeless blues.

Curtain Bangs

A universally flattering, less fussy alternative to a blunt fringe. Plus, they require fewer trims and look chic whether your hair is up or down.

Modern Lob

Party in the front, breezy in the back! Longer, shoulder-dusting layers around the face soften the classic bob and lend it sophistication.

Long Layers

They draw attention to your facial features and conceal split ends better than a single-length cut, which means less-frequent trips to the salon.