Hair color secrets of a celebrity pro

We look at celebs our age and wonder: Are dark roots on a mature blonde tacky or terrific? Does anyone do a single process anymore? Is going lighter after 50 the best solution for all? Would

her hair color work for me? The last question is key. Every woman who colors her hair shows her colorist celebrity photos and says, “I want that!” For the inside story, I asked L.A.

celebrity colorist and Olaplex brand ambassador Tracey Cunningham — whose clients include Jennifer Lopez, Julia Louis-Dreyfus, Halle Berry and Holland Taylor — for A-list answers to these

and other top hair color questions of women today. And added some of my own beauty-editor tips too. (Left to right) Holland Taylor, Julia Louis-Dreyfus and Melanie Griffith John

Shearer/Getty Images; Jon Kopaloff/Getty Images for NRDC; Tibrina Hobson/WireImage 1. QUESTION: IS MY HAIR COLOR MAKING ME LOOK OLDER? Sometimes hair color simply stops flattering you. It

washes you out and emphasizes lines, wrinkles and discolorations. You end up piling on blush and bright lipstick to compensate, when it’s your hair color that needs a boost. “The best hair

color for women 50-plus will complement their skin tone first, hair second,” says Cunningham. “It’s true that a color that has worked for years may need a tweak as women age and the natural

color and texture of the skin changes. Schedule a 15-minute consultation with your colorist. At 50, look for color that adds warmth to the face and highlights that brighten — and be sure to

discuss any skin concerns so your color strategy can address them.” Whether you’re looking sallow, pasty or fatigued or showing visible signs of sun damage, hair color can work like a giant

dose of corrective makeup. The ironic thing is the right hair color will make you look terrific even without any makeup! Remember: Warm skin tones with a yellow or golden undertone often

benefit from cool highlights like champagne, sand and mocha, while cool skin tones with a rosy or ashy undertone often benefit from warmer highlights like honey, caramel, butterscotch and

cinnamon. (Left to right) Amy Poehler, Heidi Klum and Maria Bello Nathan Congleton/NBC via Getty Images; Steve Granitz/FilmMagic; VALERY HACHE/AFP via Getty Images 2. QUESTION: SHOULD BLOND

HAIR HAVE DARK ROOTS AT 50?   Not long ago a peek of dark regrowth would send chemical blondes (like beauty-editor me), racing for a touch-up. We thought visible roots made us look fake,

lazy and cheap. Now it’s a major trend. But is it a good idea when your roots are gray, not dark? “The shadow root trend — where the roots are darker than the rest of the hair — is very

popular now,” says Cunningham. “It’s harder for those with gray hair beneath the blond to maintain that look, but it can be done with regular salon touch-ups every four to six weeks. Clients

who are on this schedule get used to the maintenance. If you like this look, go for it!” OK, I’ll add my two cents here: Yes, if you’re gray, you will need to color your roots a deeper tone

and then do your usual blonding-up thing. The bonus is that dark roots on blond hair create the illusion of density at the scalp for those with thin or fine hair, and of course, they make

you look more contemporary and cool. The root show should be a gradual transition, not a sharp contrast. (Left to right) Christa Miller, Jennifer Grey and Kris Jenner Steve

Granitz/FilmMagic; Emma McIntyre/WireImage; Marc Piasecki/WireImage 3. QUESTION: HOW DO I KEEP BRUNETTE HAIR FLATTERING? Not everyone wants to be blond nor should they, though a frame of

inky-dark locks has a bad rep for draining color from the skin and emphasizing under-eye circles and wrinkles. Some mature celebs like Jennifer Grey, Crista Miller and Kris Jenner do manage

to keep their dark brown hair going successfully, so what’s the secret?