The right shade makes you look younger, prettier, happier -- and you don't need a stylist to get it. Read on for tips on how to colour your hair like a fancy pro...at home!

Find your formula

Stop staring at that drugstore wall of boxes like a zombie! Here's how to know what you need:

1. If you're more than 25 per cent grey or want to lighten your colour, buy a permanent formula, says Avon colourist Lorri Goddard, who counts Reese Witherspoon as a client. Try Garnier Nutrisse Nourishing Colour Cream, $7.99, or a foam formula, which is a bit easier to maneuver, like John Frieda Precision Foam Colour, $12.99.

2. To deepen your existing tone or even out highlights, get a kit that's demi-permanent. We like L'Oréal Paris Healthy Look Crème Gloss Hair Colour, $9.99, which fades within 28 washes.

3. "For the best results, stay within two shades of your natural tone," says Clairol colourist Marie Robinson, who works with Michelle Williams. Ignore the picture on the front of the box--it doesn't take your starting point into consideration. Instead, look at the "before" and "after" photos on the side panel for realistic results.