Color Corrections

Lisa Uvanni, 50, Harsh, inky color

How she missed: Lisa was a study in black and white: her skirt, blouse, and shoes were either one or the other; even her black hair showed white roots.

It's a hit! Lisa's hair had to be stripped of the black dye before Frédéric could add a soft, iced-tea-brown base color. He pointed out that when hair is stripped and then re-dyed, the strands absorb different amounts of color, which often results in natural-looking highlights. He was right: Lisa's new color subtly shimmered with various rich, chocolate shades. Frédéric reshaped her cut, adding layers for body, and then painted only a few auburn highlights on the tips.

The point: Dark, unnaturally monotone haircolor looks severe, especially as you get older. Lighter is more forgiving.