Afternoon beauty fix: Show off your love for bright colours without pulling a Katy Perry

I love Katy Perry’s blue hair but I could never pull it off amidst my real-life obligations. Is there a more accessible way to show off my love for bright colours?
I’m with you on adoring a splash of colour against a sea of typical shades—Kelly Osbourne‘s violet tint looks toned down compared to Katy’s, though it would still take an informed stylist and tons of work to maintain a bright dye job on your own. Candy-coloured hair started trending with the Thakoon Spring 2012 runway show and has caught on like wildfire with musicians and actors alike. (Though I’d like to note that Gwen Stefani did baby blue first when it was still the 1990s!) Carry on the trend by injecting your makeup routine with bright pops of colour in unexpected places—like your cheeks!—and leave your hair natural. Maybelline Dream Bouncy blush ($6, at drugstores) comes in a cool range of colours like “Fresh Pink,” a super-pigmented candy-floss shade, and “Hot Tamale” a fiery coral that will undoubtedly make a statement. If lips are more your thing, Cover Girl Blast Flipstick ($8, at drugstores) contain two bright shades per tube—apply them both on the same lip and that will definitely do the trick.

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