Who are your celebrity doppelgangers? Use them to help ID your perfect hair color. Look up photos of women who resemble you in skin tone and eye color and see what hair colors and tones look great on them.

Save some pics on your phone, then bring them along to your salon appointment -- or your trip to the drugstore, if you're DIYing -- to guide your hair-color choice.

Getting a new hair color is one thing; maintaining it is another story. The more your chosen color contrasts with your natural color, "the more upkeep you will need to do," reminds Lordet. "So keep that in mind." A natural blonde with rose gold highlights may need to hit the salon only once every eight to 10 weeks for touch-ups. But a natural brunette with platinum blond color will require much more maintenance (read: monthly salon appointments and money galore).

If you're not up for a major commitment, make a less extreme change to your overall color that you can maintain with at-home color, or consider partial highlights. A few foils around the hairline or some subtle balayage can help you change up your hair game without making you a hostage to your hairstylist.

If your hair's health is toast, there's a limit to how drastically you can change your color. Hair that's damaged from frequent hair-color changes, perms, or copious heat-styling shouldn't be lightened up with bleach due to the risk of breakage. Even dark hair color can do a number on weak hair, since permanent hair coloring products typically contain cuticle-swelling ammonia and drying hydrogen peroxide. If your hair is seriously damaged, think about getting some highlights or trying a temporary coloring product, which boosts hair color without intense chemicals.