Landlocked mermaids in North Park

Punky hair colors are popping up on celebrities ranging from risk-takers like Kelly Osborne and Katie Perry to the more conservative Lauren Conrad and January Jones. The trend is starting to seep into the mainstream. I knew that the rainbow hair color trend was really taking hold the day I met my friend Erin for a lunch date and she showed up with turquoise streaks in her hair. Erin’s idea of risqué behavior is ordering a holiday beverage off the Starbucks menu.

“I was really nervous about adding such a bright color, but you wouldn’t believe how many compliments I get on my hair color,” she said proudly.

Recently, I ran into several women who, like Erin, embraced their inner daredevils with fun hair color.

At U-31, 22-year-old Luci Lenhoff, Otis College of Art and Design student, reminded me of the red-headed version of Edie Sedgwick with her spiky cropped hair. Accompanied by 27-year-old Matthew Dobbs, who works on motorcycles for a living, the pair looked like they could be on the cover of Nylon magazine with his deep-sea fisherman beard and her bright, orangish-red locks. It’s not everyone that can pull of a pixie cut, but thanks to Lenhoff’s ultra-feminine features and big brown eyes, the look really suits her face.

Leah Davison took the vivid-hair trend to the extreme. Her fluorescent green locks were so bright she was practically glowing. The cosmetology student diligently worked on model Mica Meyers' hair prior to a Fashion Whore runway show taking place at U-31.

Meanwhile, Issanna Loughman, owner of the vegan beauty company Rockeresque, paired her cotton candy-themed hair with a vivid statement necklace and a simple off-the-shoulder black tee.

If you’re interested in taking the color plunge but would prefer to take baby steps, there are products like Bb Spraychalk and Hot Huez hair chalk, that each come in a variety of bright candy-colored hues and wash out after one shampoo. However, If you are ready to take the plunge with permanent hair color, check out local salons like Hair Drezzers on Fire on Adams Ave in Normal Heights or Say Lula in Mission Hills, that each have the capabilities to turn your hair into any shade of the rainbow.