LIKE a real-life Rapunzel, I have had long blonde hair my whole life.

In fact, it’s the first thing people tend to notice about me. But as I’ve aged, my locks have become darker.

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And like most women who grew up blonde, I’ve spent the last few years contemplating whether to commit to regular highlights and maintain the fair hair of my youth, or embrace the darker, dirty blonde strands that now spring from my scalp.

The majority of Brits have naturally darker hair, with 48 per cent being brunette, compared to 29 per cent that are naturally blonde.

Given the average salon colour appointment costs upwards of £150 across the UK, it’s no surprise that darker hair is trending, as we all look for low-maintenance styles that require less frequent visits.

Even celebrities are in on the action, with stars like Hailey Bieber, Lily-Rose Depp and Saoirse Ronan sporting cool tones like worn blonde, golden beige and ‘bronde’.

But all these ‘new’ shades are pretty much just a re-brand of the dishwater blonde I despise on my own head.

Blonde is often associated with youth, but I’ve never thought there was any truth in the cliché that blondes have more fun. Or that those with darker locks are smarter and more dependable.

With my 30th looming later this year, could it be time to turn a new, more mature page and move over to the dark side?

On my mission to decide what would suit me best, I did what any Zillennial would do and opened TikTok.

And that’s when I came across the ‘sun or moon’ trend.

You might think this viral sensation is questioning whether you’re an early riser or a night owl.

Or maybe you’d think I was talking about star signs.

But it actually refers to a test to see which hair colour suits you best, with thousands of creators suggesting you’re either a ‘sun’ – and suit fair hair – or a ‘moon’ – in which case brunette or black shades flatter your features the most.

Every one of the women on TikTok had tried both blonde and dark, with dramatically different ‘before’ and ‘after’ clips comparing the results.

I’m not nearly impulsive enough to grab a packet of dye and find out for myself, so instead I used an AI colour try-on tool.

TikTok’s filters had far too many bright and bold colours to cycle through, and after trying a few apps and internet-based try-on tools,

I found L’Oreal Paris’ to be the best.

It is free on the brand’s website and there are endless, more natural shades to choose from than I found on TikTok.

You can choose to upload a photo of yourself from your camera roll or use the camera on your phone to try colours on in real-time.

Just make sure you’re in natural light to get the best results.

The TikTok filters often added make-up to my face, which skewed how the new hair colour looked against my skin, but L’Oreal’s tool does no such thing.

You get a life-like result and can see how your features change as you swipe through the different hues.

I expected to look like Wednesday Addams as I pressed ‘liquorice black’, but I was pleasantly surprised. My skin tone didn’t look nearly as pale as I had feared, which only complicated things further: should I have dyed my hair dark decades ago?

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I decided to call in an expert.

Jay Blitsas, a colourist at top London salon Larry King in South Kensington, took one look at the photo and immediately put my fears to rest.

“Blonde hair stands out as the most flattering choice – it gives you a more radiant, effortless look,” he assures me.

“Blonde brightens your complexion, enhances your eye colour and softens your facial features.

“In contrast, the black hair feels heavier and washes you out. It makes your features appear harsher and the shadows on your face more pronounced.”

I don’t get enough sleep as it is, so I definitely don’t need anything that could make my under-eyes seem darker.

The more I look at the photo with dark hair, the more I can see exactly what he’s talking about.

The blush on my cheeks has all but disappeared and my eyes look dull and tired. It’s subtle, but I’m sure if I was looking in a mirror, the difference would be even more stark.

“While some people can pull off both, many suit either fair or dark hair better based on their natural features,” explains Jay.

“If your skin is fair or has cool undertones, black can sometimes look too stark, plus regrowth is more noticeable if your natural colour is lighter.

“Blonde works well with warm and cool undertones, depending on the shade – especially if you have blue, green, or hazel eyes.

“Lighter hair enhances light eyes, while dark hair can sometimes make them look less vibrant and can be overpowering on fair skin or too severe on softer features.”

Unfortunately for me, that means booking in for my highlights, but at least I now know why I’m splurging all that cash at the salon – and it seems far more justifiable now I’ve seen what a negative impact dark, dull hair has on my complexion.

HOW TO TELL

“Before dying your hair, several factors determine whether a colour will complement your features, including eye colour, natural hair colour and facial structure,” says Jay.

“But your skin’s undertone is the most important factor in choosing a flattering hair colour.”

While a filter might help you decide, there are quicker, offline methods.

“The jewellery test is an easy way to work out your undertone,” Jay explains.

“If you think gold jewellery looks better on you, then you likely have warm undertones.

“But if you tend to wear silver jewellery, you probably have cool undertones and a pink or bluish tinge to your skin.”

If you can carry off both, then count yourself lucky, as you’ve likely got neutral undertones and will suit pretty much any hair colour.

“Shades like ash blonde, platinum, silver blonde, champagne blonde, ash brown, espresso and cool dark brown tend to work best with cool undertones,” Jay advises.

“For warm undertones, honey blonde, caramel blonde, golden blonde, butterscotch, chestnut brown, caramel brown and warm chocolate brown can all be flattering, depending on how deep your skin tone is.”

If in doubt, stick to your roots.

“Your natural hair colour is often the most harmonious with your features,” says Jay.

“Your natural hair colour has developed alongside your skin undertones and eye colour, meaning it usually creates the most balanced look, although that doesn’t always mean it’s the most flattering.

“If your natural hair colour washes you out, adding dimension or lightening it slightly can make your features pop.”

Not only that, it is far easier to reverse than picking a shade on the opposite side of the colour wheel.

“If you’re set on a major colour change, going from dark to blonde or vice versa, the best approach is slow and steady,” says Jay.

“Go into your hair appointment knowing that it’s going to be a process and it won’t happen overnight.”

Five products to make hair thrive

Before getting hair lightened it is important to get it in the best shape pre-treatment to minimise damage.

Jay says: “It’s imperative you use great products after and before you get your colour done to ensure hair is in the best possible condition.”

Here are five he recommends.

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1. Redken All Soft Heavy Cream Mask, £23
2. Olaplex No.3 Hair Protector, £28
3. Garnier Ultimate Blends Rice Water Infusion & Starch Hair Remedy Mask, £5.50
4. K18 Biomimetic Hairscience Leave-in Molecular Repair Hair Mask, £30
5. L’Oreal Paris Elvive Bond Repair Pre-Shampoo Treatment, £16.99