With fall underway, many women are likely to change their hair color from their summer standby to a more seasonally appropriate shade. And while some gals opt for subtle highlights, others prefer a more dramatic alteration to celebrate the arrival of a new season.

Though loads of ladies spend September darkening their strands to an autumnal hue, those looking to lighten their locks may have the right idea as well – the golden glow can beautifully mimic the afternoon sunlight that bounces off the yellow and orange leaves.

One such woman who opted for lighter strands this fall is none other than Nicole Richie. However, her hairstylist had his work cutout for him, as the former reality star started the process with dark brown locks.

“Nicole loves to play with her hair color and was just ready for a dramatic change,” George Papanikolas, who transformed the starlet’s hair, told People.com. According to the news source, he avoided damaging her strands by gradually lightening her hair over seven days and using a deep conditioning product between each process.

Ladies who dye their hair can protect their strands from harsh chemicals by using specially designed hair products, such as L’Occitane Aromachologie Repairing Shampoo, which can be used daily to repair and protect color-treated locks, and L’Occitane Ultra Rich Hair Cream Mask, which can be used weekly to revitalize dry and damaged hair.