When I write this column, I try to make it as personal as I can. I don't really want anyone reading something they couldn't believe. It needs to reach the reader on a more emotional level - not so emotional that he or she cries, just enough to relate to what I'm talking about.

I've acquired a new roommate, and she is most certainly fantastic. We love her to pieces.

But our little roommate has run into a mighty problem, one which most of us encounter: she wants to get a haircut but is struggling to choose one that she thinks will look best on her.

In an effort to help her (and womankind), I've compiled a set of guidelines that you may find useful.

1. What you don't want.
Before deciding what you want, make sure you have a set of things that you know won't work. A lot of people don't like bangs, whether it's because of a skin condition or their level of upkeep; we all have reasons for avoiding certain styles. The key point is to know what they are so that you can leave, for the most part, content and satisfied with your new 'do.

2. Analyze that!
This may sound like a bizarre thing to do, but try looking at yourself in a mirror — I mean really look at yourself. Look at your face shape and skin tone. Look at your eye colour. Then hold paint swatches up to your skin and immediately you'll see how different colours drastically change the way your skin looks. Some colours will make you look noticeably darker, some lighter.

One thing people never really pay attention to is the undertones of your skin. This is also a very important thing. Each colour has different undertones already in it, so when we bring each colour up to our skin, our undertones will peek out much more.

3. Read up.
A really great way of finding which hairstyles we like best is with a hairdressing magazine. Looking at how haircuts suit others really lets our own minds run wild with possibilities. Sometimes we need to see something on someone else before we can imagine it on ourselves.

Hairdressing magazines are also useful because they allow you to cut and paste hair onto a picture of yourself. In general, they're just great ways to get better ideas as to how to style and cut our hair.