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Whoever made up that saying that blonds have more fun obviously didn't have blonde hair. Well, at least not dyed blonde hair. I've gone through a lot of hair changes in the past six months, but bleaching my hair has been the most extreme. Everything from how I style my hair to the makeup colors that look good on me has changed. So if you're a natural brunette thinking of going blonde, here are some things to keep in mind before you slap on the bleach — both from the experts and from the beauty editor up to her ears in color-preserving shampoo — when you keep reading.

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Sure, it's the summer — the time of year when most of us get a chance to escape on vacation or at least spend our weekends relaxing on the beach. But it's also the time of year for back-to-back weddings, long car trips, and one too many happy hour margaritas. I might be speaking from personal experience here, but all those factors combined equal dark circles and serious bags. Here are the tricks, tips, and products I use to keep my eyes bright (and open) after a long night out.

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If you love something, chances are there's a museum dedicated to it: for fashion, there's the Costume Institute; rock music has the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame; and for the lucky visitors to Yokohama, Japan, there's even one devoted to ramen noodles. For fragrance fanatics, there's the Osmotheque, in Versailles, France, where samples of some of the oldest known perfumes are housed. Learn more about Osmotheque when you keep reading.

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It's Summer, which means high heels and higher hemlines. And, if you lack coordination like me, more opportunities to show off the constellation of bruises on your legs. Blame it on the increase in outdoor activities — or, I don't know, daytime drinking — but we girls tend to fall down a lot more in the summer. And when it's time to slip into your favorite blue-and-purple sundress, the last thing you want is for the welt on your knee to match. I talked to makeup artist Quinn Murphy, who works with some of the leggiest in the business (Victoria's Secret models, hello!), for his tips on quickly concealing splotches, bumps, and scrapes. As for healing your bruised ego, you're on your own.

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During the summer (and in this heat wave especially), it's easy to fall into a lazy-ponytail rut. But trying something new with your hair is much more fun—just take it from Erykah Badu. The woman has endless hair creativity! Don't believe us? Check it out: Within the span of nine days, she's worn her hair wrapped into a twisty knot on the top of her head (at the Nice Jazz Festival in France); in an oversize, over-the-shoulder braid (at the Festival Jazz a Vienne in France); and in a billowy side ponytail (at the Tollwood Festival in Germany). See how to wear Erykah's best looks when you continue reading.

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You've planned the perfect vacation, picked out the perfect bikini, and even perfected your abs to show off in said swimsuit. But despite all that prep work, the coming heat wave could still KO your hair and makeup. (Sweating rivulets of blush and mascara? Not sexy.) To keep looking cool and collected, use these expert tricks.

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Whether or not you have celiac disease, if you've already cut gluten out of your diet, you may be wondering if you ought to clear your cosmetics bag of the stuff, too.

Since people with gluten sensitivities usually react badly to ingesting the protein (symptoms include cramps, constipation, diarrhea, anemia, bone pain, and migraines), whether it does anything nasty to the skin if applied topically isn't so clear-cut.

Dermatologists are currently trying to get a better idea of contact dermatitis caused by food allergens — essentially, what happens when you slather something all over your face that you're allergic to when you eat it. I chatted up Emma Guttman, director of the Laboratory of Inflammatory Skin Diseases in the department of dermatology at Mount Sinai in NYC, who happens to be the principal investigator of a new study on the topic, to find out more. Her research looks at all different types of food allergies (soy, peanuts, milk), including gluten. Get more details from Guttman's research when you continue reading.

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Rock of Ages opened last weekend, and by now you're more than aware that it stars a very ripped Tom Cruise as an aging metal rock god with eye-popping tattoos covering his torso. What's wrong with this picture? The tattoos, for one. They're way too bright for a guy who's supposed to have been there and done that twice over and lived to tell the tale. Look at real rockers from that era — Bret Michaels, Tommy Lee, Axl Rose — and you'll see that their ink today is closer to a gauzy scene by Monet. These colors don't run, but man, do they fade — especially when exposed to sunlight. Whether you're thinking about getting a tattoo this Summer or already have one, here's what to do to keep it bright and vivid:

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This season, we've seen many variations of the topknot (messy, huge and orb-like, braided), but the one I'm spotting over and over again is the version that's scariest to try and hardest to pull off: the superhigh, superknobby bun that Kate Bosworth and Shirley Manson have worn in recent weeks. Even Julianne Hough went for it at the Rock of Ages premiere, loosening it up for a more flattering silhouette. The great thing about the look is that it's made for Summer: it's out of your face, off your neck, and if you use the right combination of products, then there is no chance of frizz. What more can you ask for when it's so hot that you actually start contemplating a buzz cut? Oh, right — some tips to ensure you don't look like a post-face-lift pinhead:

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Ponytails — our style of choice this Summer — can range from practical and boring to gorgeous and chic. And the difference is as simple as a jar of wax. Celebrities like Jennifer Lawrence, Lea Michele, Eva Longoria, and Kim Kardashian have been kicking off the season with slick ponytails — they look polished and summery and are totally foolproof. Here's what you need to do:

We know you probably already wear a hat to protect you from the sun (right?), but just in case, check out these sunburn prevention tips from our friends at Allure:

Scalp burn. It's one of those things you never think will happen to you — until you can't blow-dry your hair without screaming in agony. Add in unsightly peeling, and you've got maybe the most distressing Summer beauty problem.

When a friend returned from vacation in Mexico this week, she called me the minute she landed for help. But, after scolding her for not wearing a hat, I didn't know what to tell her. It's one thing to soak your body in aloe, but your scalp? (And your $400 highlights?) I called hairdresser David Evangelista to find out what to do if this happens to you:

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It's not every day you get a lesson in blowouts from Alli Webb, founder of the Drybar blowout bars. Rule number one: If you've gotten your blowouts down to 10 minutes, you're doing something wrong. (Sorry!) Webb gave me the rundown on the other most common styling mistakes — and how to get the ultimate results. Get her advice when you read more.

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I recently met with Roxanne Valinoti, an educator for CND, a professional nail product line, who showed me a cool trick for sponge-painted nails. This is definitely worth trying the next time the urge for DIY nail art strikes. (Or does that only happen to me?)

You'll need a natural sea sponge from a craft store and five different polishes: a clear base, a warm gold base, a midnight blue, a purple, and an iridescent topcoat. Sounds complicated, I know, but Valinoti did the whole thing in 15 minutes. Here's how to proceed:

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When supermodel Coco Rocha tweeted that she was already in hair hours before the Met Gala, we knew we were in for something big. But it wasn't her side-swept waves or even her vintage Givenchy pantsuit that had style bloggers drooling — it was her My-Little-Pony pink extensions. Rocha is certainly not the first celebrity to go pink — or noncelebrity for that matter. But there's something to say when your hairstyle is shocking enough to distract photographers from the Met's notorious fashion set — or at least Anja Rubik's leg.

While many of us can't afford Givenchy-anything (let alone a celebrity colorist on speed-dial), mimicking Rocha's look at home is surprisingly easy and affordable. If you're ready to take the plunge, rather than try it out for a few days, follow these tips from Rick Wellman, owner and color director of the Patrick Melville Salon & Spa in New York City, when you read more.

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Nonmelanoma skin cancers may be slowly decreasing, but melanoma is on the rise — and it's the most common cancer for my age group (25- to 29-year-olds). Since this is Skin Cancer Awareness Month, I asked dermatologist Jeannette Graf, an assistant clinical professor of dermatology at Mount Sinai Medical Center in New York City, to demystify this important annual appointment. "Patients fear the unknown, or they cancel their appointment because they've been on vacation and they feel guilty about their tan. But before they know it, six months have gone by." Graf says there's nothing to fear. The appointment will be quick and painless — at least this time. Learn what really happens at a screening when you read more.

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Sexy hair traditionally means lots of volume, big waves, and a flirty side part. But this Spring, there's a new cool-girl alternative: a tough middle part with easy, loose waves. The combo looks naturally seductive — and not just because beauties like Doutzen Kroes (above), Brooklyn Decker, and DJ Harley Viera-Newton have been wearing the style. The look has an unpretentious, uncalculated feel that makes it so appealing. (It's also more grown-up than last season's omnipresent beachy waves.)

To re-create them: Start by combing a volumizer, such as Shu Uemura Art of Hair Fiber Lift Protective Volumizer, through damp hair. (Just because you're not going for full-on glam volume doesn't mean your hair should be totally flat). Define a center part, and then tousle your hair as you blow-dry, aiming the nozzle downward to prevent frizz. Now it's time to add in the waves: Wrap small sections of hair around a large-barrel curling iron, beginning just above the ends and working up to the chin. Finally, run your fingers through the waves to break them up. If they still look a little too defined, you can take a paddle brush to them. Just go over each section once, and then break them up with your fingers again when you're done. Voilà!

Related Links:
5 Minutes to Sexier Hair
How to Make Your Hair Instantly Hot
The chicest ponytail around

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Track and field star Jessica Ennis, currently in training for the London 2012 Olympics, recently admitted that she always competes in a full face of makeup. And Ennis's explanation of her race ritual to The Daily Mail certainly makes sense: "I definitely think if I feel I look good, it makes me feel more confident," she told the London paper.

Her story also made me wonder exactly what effect makeup could have on your complexion if you are really sweating up a storm. "Wearing makeup while working out can hinder some of the natural ways your skin adjusts to exertion, like sweating and dilating pores," says New York City dermatologist Erin Gilbert. "This can be a disaster as it often leads to clogged pores and breakouts." If you are like Ennis and feel the need to not go bare-faced, get her tips on how to protect your skin while you sweat:

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Hey, Olivia Wilde, you look pretty great as a blonde! The actress, who dyed her hair for her upcoming flick, Rush, is inspiring some of us around the office to lighten up. You in? Before any of us reach for bleach, though, I thought I'd check in with Sharon Dorram of Sharon Dorram Color at Sally Hershberger in New York City, who made it clear that going from brunette to beachy blond requires more than just making an appointment.

Here's what you need to know:

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Katy Perry's blue hair is still going strong, but others are ditching — or at least taking a break from — Crayola hair. Rihanna (whose hair has been fire engine red, then bleach-blond) and Lauren Conrad (peach and rainbow-colored) are now jet black and blond, respectively. In light of this return to normalcy, we asked Amy Huson of the Marie Robinson Salon in New York City how to recover from extreme color. Get her tips when you read more.

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If you're over long hair but too young for a bob, there's a happy medium. Literally. It's called the lob (short for "long bob"), and actresses in their 20s and early 30s are jumping on board: Emily Blunt, Emma Roberts, Nicole Richie, and January Jones have all gone for shoulder-grazing cuts. The good news: styling them is easy, since lobs look awesome straight and sleek (like Blunt's) or wavy and beachy (like Roberts's). And they're that rare cut that really does look good on everyone. "If you have a round face, it's not going to make you look too round, because the length is below the jaw," says hairstylist Chris McMillan. "And if you have a long face, the textured layers are going to add a really nice width." So take pictures of your favorite lob to your hairstylist. And these tips from hairstylist Chris McMillan couldn't hurt: